From Millsy: 28mm ECW Rupert's Regiment of Horse (101 points)

From Millsy:

This is my last ECW cavalry entry - Prince Rupert's Regiment of Horse. These go alongside the lifeguard of horse I've already painted this challenge, giving me a really solid core of top quality gallopers. Look out Cromwell, ye crop headed rebel, Rupert and his lads are on your case!

The models are a mix of Renegade and Bicorne Miniatures once again, both riders and mounts this time. I've used the same techniques as before, horses painted over a black undercoat and riders over a white. Everything is blocked in and then inked or brush dipped to add depth before highlighting.

The guidon is another home made effort, put together in Photoshop. I really enjoy doing these and it gives a good sense of finishing things off making them myself. It's also cheaper :-)

To finish off here's a couple of group shots of all three units of horse I've completed recently.

Right, that's enough chatter. I've got two rather complex vignette/diorama things on the go to finish off the challenge and I've got no time to waste!

Fabulous job Millsy! These cavaliers look more than ready to attend to some Parliamentarian 'issues' and I love the final shot of the brigaded Horse. Wonderful.

Rupert's Regiment of Horse will give Millsy 101 points, including a nod for the excellent banner. Well done! 

From Millsy: 28mm ECW Rupert's Lifeguard of Horse (60 points)

From Millsy:

See? I told you I was painting ECW cavalry. Despite my easily distracted nature, I have managed to get these chaps off the painting table today.

This is Prince Rupert's Lifeguard of Horse, armed and armoured as befits the best of the best. No pistols out for these lads, it's swords out and charging into the teeth of the enemy just as Rupert taught them.

The miniatures are a mix of 28mm Renegade and Bicorne riders on Renegade horses. An absolute joy to paint as always and packed with lovely detail and character. The sashes on the Bicorne figures are especially nice.

The guidon is a commercial one for once, as opposed to my usual home made efforts. I was given it as a prize years ago when I took part in a massive ECW participation game. I commanded the Royalist cavalry and drove the enemy horse from the table with their tails well and truly between their legs. In proper Cavalier fashion I immediately followed and myself and my opposite number retired to the bar early. :-)

Well, that was certainly worth the wait, eh? Bravo Millsy, these are some excellent harse boyz. Very clean brush-work and great basing to boot. Wonderful stuff.

These hard chargers of Rupert Lifeguard will give Millsy 60 points. 

From Millsy: ECW Regimental Command Stands for Talbot, Northhampton, Apsley and Rupert (52 points)

Another submission from the painting desk at Chez Millsy…

Some command stands for my 28mm ECW force this time. These are Bicorne and Renegade miniatures and represent colonel’s colour parties from the regiments of Talbot, Northampton, Apsley and Rupert. Talbot’s colour (above) is actually the first captain’s colour (the colonel’s colour is pretty plain by comparison). 

I love both the Bicorne and Renegade miniatures but if I had to choose it would be Bicorne. It’s the same sculptor but the Bicorne are just a bit more varied and elaborately dressed. As ZZ Top so eloquently explained, “Women go crazy ‘bout a sharp dressed man.” Next up from me some Spanish and British Napoleonics in 28mm.

Again, another lovely set of ECW command stands from Millsy.

These eight figures will give him a base of 40 points but I'll award another 12 for the four standards and the effort put into the groundwork, so 52 total. 

From Millsy: 28mm ECW Charles I & Edmund Verney (30 points)

Millsy presents to us Charles I (with his head) and Edmund Verney (with, well, all his parts). 

From Millsy:

Here are some more 28mm English Civil War mounted figures from Bicorne Miniatures. This time it’s Charles I, by the Grace of God King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith. The King is accompanied by his most loyal servant Sir Edmund Verney, carrying the Royal Standard.

Lovely work, Millsy. I've alway really admired those Bicorne sculpts and you've done a brilliant job with them. (Hmm, I should do an 'After' version of Verney where all that is on the base is his hand still grasping the Royal Standard...)

These two will give him a base of 20 points but I'm going to give another 10 for the excellent basework and the proud Royal Standard (am I showing my true colours?).

From KentG: 28mm ECW Commanded Shote (125 points)

This entry by Kent pretty much sees the last of a beautiful English Civil War collection that he began at the start of the Challenge (though he is murmuring about some artillery that he may try to do before the closing days).

 For the exception of two Bicorne figures these are all 28mm Wargames Foundry models.

These four bases of musketeers will give Kent 125 points. Again, lovely stuff.

From KentG: 28mm English Civil War Commanders, Cavalry & Shotte (354 points)

Kent grinds forward like a painting juggernaught and so sends these excellent ECW commanders, cavalry and musketeers for us to enjoy.

First the commanders. Both are Parliamentarians (or blackguard Rebels, if you prefer). The topmost figure depicts the warty and pugnacious Oliver Cromwell, while astride the white charger is the much respected Sir Thomas 'Black Tom' Fairfax. Both are from Bicorne Miniatures' excellent range of 28mm figures. I quite like the blue harness on Cromwell's horse - very sharp.

Next is a beefy unit of twenty-four ECW horse. These 28mm (closer to 25mm, actually) cavalrymen are all from Wargames Foundry. Kent has done these up for a friend who wanted to to the basing himself (thus the reason why they look like they're charging through a gravel pit ;)).

Last but not least is a unit of twenty-four commanded Shotte. I believe all of these figures are from Foundry as well.

This collection of figures will give Kent a very respectable 354 points. A very, very nice collection - bravo!

From DaveD: 28mm Napoleonic French Mamelukes (175 points)

Dave sends in this brilliant unit of French Mamelukes that have benefited from his exhaustive and painstaking conversions.

From Dave:

'These are 28 mm Bicorne Miniatures - a little know gem of a figure. The horses are by Bicorne, Connoisseur and Firing Line. Another of my full OTT converted units. check out the IMG1223 B4 image against 1229 , of the rearing horse and guy with a pistol in hand and sword hanging from his wrist.  Before and After the soldering iron the dremel & the brush!

IMG1223

IMG1229

Each rider is unique with arm and head repositions with soldering and twisting. Each set has reins added into the riders hand. The banner on the trumpeter is from brass sheet soldered on . The standard is made from milliput and solder. In addition these guys had extra detailing o the horses as they had tassels added from the chest straps of the horses - these again are created with the soldering iron. All together it took me 3 full days just to convert the castings before any painting. - Phew...' 

'Phew' is right! These are beautiful, Dave! 

These Mamelukes will give Dave a base of 100 points, but like his last heavily converted unit I am awarding 75 extra points for the extra effort he's put into them. Well done Dave!

From DaveD: 28mm Antoine Charles Louis, comte de Lasalle! (15 points)

Dave from England has submitted this fine figure depicting the famous French light cavalry leader General Lasalle.

This is an older 28mm Bicorne casting that pays homage to the painting by Edouard Detaille which depicts Lasalle at the Battle of Wagram, leading cuirassiers in his final charge. The pipe is also a good touch.

Dave did some nice conversion work on the horse's tail and used wire to better define the reigns. Well done!

 I'm awarding Dave an extra 5 points for the effort he put into the conversion which gives him 15 points total.