France v Burgundy in the 15th century, 28mm, Dbm,

 I was able to get away to my friend’s for the first game in ages. It was a medieval affair with the flower of chivalry on display from both sides , not to mention lots of my ropey French archers reputed historically to be hardly able to shoot a chicken. 

The view from behind the arrayed French troops looking across at the Burgundian camp. We had deployed  unit by unit alternating.

The French knights in the foreground awaiting their enemy equivalents. Message to self must get some banners for these troops!

The Ordonnance bows and halberd/bill/ partizan equipped men steady themselves and wait for the enemy…

Aforementioned French dross archers ( irreg bow (I) ) advance across the table towards the Burgundian camp and troops who refused the flank.

Flanking fire ( what should one say when bows are involved )from the above archers kills quite a number of Bungundian Ordonnance bowmen.

French light infantry ( wonderfully known as bidet) attempt to stop the knights attacking them down the hill. Sadly this vainglorious effort was to no avail.

Burgundians commanded by Antonine the Bastard come to close combat with the French.

Burgundian Flemish pike stomp across the table towards be met by semi withering fire. And that was all there was time for. We will finish it next week. A most enjoyable game in good company and with super hospitality. Viva la 28mm French!

Fun with flags

 I popped into Edinburgh to accompany my daughter who was off to a textile exhibition at the Dovecote Studios. We were to meet for coffee afterwards and I took the opportunity to go into the National Museum of Scotland to look for a BorderReiver / Warden of the Marches flag I had seen before…

Found it on the ground floor. A little before my period but l ain’t no rivet/stich counter.

Nice accompany exhibits but they rather obscure the standard!

Close up detail and the museum blurb below.

Sadly I cannot find out more about this standard online or even a drawing of the complete one . Can anyone help?

As I have a 28mm sedan chair awaiting painting l took this photo for inspiration.

Spotted this book . Looks interesting on flick through so have ordered it. Cool photo of reenactors shooting with longbow from the saddle as well as lovely illustrations by Embleton.

This week so far…

 On Monday I got the bus there and back  to Inverness to attend a funeral. I was surprised how much snow was about.

Thought of my Hessian friends camping nearby during the ‘45…

Lots of flooding too en route to the North, was across half the road just north of Blair Athol.

Had my Triple A scan this morning ( all fine , thankfully) and I would urge you to go when invited.

Basing and finishing off some troops for a Border Reivers game in a few weeks. Mine are the forces of law and order (ish) in the shape of those of the Marches Warden- 28mm and various manufacturers.

Getting ready for a medieval game and marshalling the pride old French chivalry and their chums…

Jabs big and small

 My first Shingles jab has left me exhausted. I wasn’t expecting this as l have never had any reaction to any jabs before, except for a sore arm. I haven’t been doing much just resting and drinking weak tea.

However some work has been done on the pikemen of O’Cahan’s. 

I have given them their jabbing weapons in the shape of pikes but have run out of them. The mat is just a stable surface to stand them on while gluing the pikes to the figures. It is not planned basing as the figures come with cast on bases and I have no intention of sticking them to card or anything.They will drill on their own bases and muster thus on the battlefield.

The Pikemen on the painting table with some musketeers, officers and musicians in the background. My haul of Suren figures has the musketeers with helmets so l will just run with that.

In other news l located the photo of the O’Cahan’s standard from my time-

This will be the one to be replicated in miniature.

We Three Kings- my favourite carol

 

Original Lyrics by By Reverend John H. Hopkins, Jr.

We Three Kings of Orient are,
Bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain,
Moor and mountain,
Following yonder Star.

Chorus:
O Star of Wonder, Star of Night,
Star with Royal Beauty bright,
Westward leading,
Still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect Light.

[Gaspard]
Born a King on Bethlehem plain,
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King for ever,
Ceasing never
Over us all to reign.

(Chorus)

[Melchior]
Frankincense to offer have I,
Incense owns a Deity nigh:
Prayer and praising
All men raising,
Worship Him God on High.

(Chorus)

[Balthazar]
Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom;–
Sorrowing, sighing,
Bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.

(Chorus)

Glorious now behold Him arise,
King, and God, and Sacrifice;
Heav’n sings Hallelujah:
Hallelujah the earth replies.

(Chorus)

Manus O’Cahan’s , Sealed Knot and Willie Figures

 Last year l bought quite a lot of Willie Figures on EBay. I wondered what to do with them and mused about painting them in the uniforms of the Sealed Knot , circa 1979.

Uniform information from the current Sealed Knot website. Note Manus O’Cahan’s in the first picture.

Brigadier Peter Young’s ECW organisation, the one being used in this project.

O

The pikemen of O’Cahan’s regiment in brown breeches and green jackets.

The Duke of Tradgardland in his O’Cahan’s days- a pikeman btw.

O’Cahan’s camping. Is that a reader of this blog on the right hand side?

Guard duty at the camp entrance.

The young pikeman resplendent…

O’Cahan’s pikemen drilling, have a care…

The enemy (?) King’s Guard and Rupert’s Blue Coats.

Watch this space for further figure updates etc…

Shiny versus Shiny Grimy People

 Got the Airfix Space Warriors out today. Gave two a paint wash then varnish and two just a varnish. Hence the grimy shiny v shiny . Here are the results-

                                                                    Grimy and shiny.

                                                                              Just shiny.

The figures side by side for comparison purposes.

I think I favour the grimy and shiny as it brings out some detail on the figures. What do you think?

In other matters currently got these 60mm Egyptians and Nubians on the painting desk-

Coming along rather nicely, not particularly good photo though.