15mm Medieval Cavalry

 After almost two years of painting doldrums after the death of my "sister from another mister" Lori Brom, I've finally begun to get my painting mojo back.  I have done some painting over this time, but it has always been 'hit or miss.'

But now that I have the Crusades expansion to Commands and Colors Medieval rules, I find that I need more early Medieval units, especially Saracen/Seljuq/Fatamid mounted and foot units.  But first I completed two units that have been hanging around for a while.  They are almost all (75%) Baueda figures.  Please click on each image for a larger photo.

Medieval European Heavy Knights

This unit has four 3-figure stands (to follow the C&C format) with each stand having a different colored shield.  They are based on standard 40mm x 30mm metal bases and then on a larger foam core maneuver stand.  They are all clothed in chainmail coats.

Medieval European Medium Cavalry 

This unit also has four 3-figure stands (to follow the C&C format) with each stand having a different colored shield.  They are based on standard 40mm x 30mm metal bases and then on a larger foam core maneuver stand.  But they are dressed in quilted gambesons rather than in chainmail.

They will soon see action on the miniature battlefield as I begin to work through the scenarios included in the C&C Medieval, Crusades rule book.

Saracen Leaders, Arab & Numidian Infantry, and Asiatic Horse Archers

The last 15mm painting for a short while includes two new Saracen mounted leaders, a unit of Arab infantry and one of Numidian infantry, and another unit of Asiatic horse archers.

First the two leaders.  These are both Miniature Figurines ZC-332, Saracen cavalry with sword and shield.  Although these figures are listed as being later than my period (900-1100 AD), their armor and weaponry doesn't put them too much out of time.

They are mounted on horses from an unknown manufacturer but are suitable for "noble" leaders by having a chest protector.  The one of the left is of metal scale while the one on the right is of horn scale.  These two were given a terrain treatment on the bases consisting of a grass tuft, some rocks and some earth-tone scatter.  They are the first ones with which I have done this.  I think it looks good and will most likely retrofit at least all of my mounted leaders this way.

The Arab infantry unit is all Miniature Figurines figures and also features a "made up" banner.

They are wearing light blue clothing with different colored head wraps.

The Numidian infantry unit is also all Miniature Figurines figures and features a "made-up" banner.

I made their shields dark to resemble animal hide such as rhinoceros or elephant.

And finally we have a unit of Asiatic horse archers.  They are Miniature Figurines ZC-350, Mongol light cavalry firing bow.  These are really out of my time period but as far as I'm concerned, an Asiatic horse archer is an Asiatic horse archer.  Many styles of dress didn't change that much from century to century.

I'm trying something new with this unit, basing the figures as if they are swirling around loosing arrows at various targets.  I think this gives a feel for the type of tactics used by Asiatic horse archers.

Well, this will be all the 15mm figures I'll be painting for a short while, taking a break from the little guys to paint some 25/28mm figures and guns for my 18th and 19th Century forces.

Khorasanian Horse Archers and More Arab Infantry

As I continue painting my way towards a break from 15mm Dark Ages/Early medieval figures, I added four newly purchased horse archers to four I had painted many years ago to make an eight figure unit of light bow cavalry.  These figures are from Alternative Armies' Dark Age Isarus line, the Arab ARC-8, Khorasanian horse archers.  I originally had twelve of these figures but when I got the GMT "Commands & Colors - Medieval" game, eight of them were quickly grouped into a unit of light bow cavalry.

These differ from the other unit only with their red skull caps.  The other unit, although wearing shades of red tunics, have light blue skull caps.

And I've added to my Arab infantry with two more 12-figure units.  These units can be used as medium infantry, warrior infantry, or auxilia infantry, which gives me plenty of latitude in deploying them in various Middle Eastern armies.

This "red" shield unit has nine assorted Miniature Figurines Middle Eastern infantry figures and three unknown manufacturer Middle Eastern figures.  The unit standard is just a "made-up" one using a geometric design.

This "dark" shield unit has the same composition.  The unit standard is also "made-up."

This post was delayed a number of weeks due to forgetfulness on my part.  But now it is up and the next post will catch us up to date with my 15mm early Medieval forces.

Khazar Heavy Cavalry and Moslem Infantry

Although these were started in May, I didn't complete them until now.

First, a unit of Khazar heavy cavalry (Essex Miniatures, Asiatic Hordes, #HA6a) have joined the Byzantine forces as foederati.  They are armed with lances, swords, and bows, giving them a multi-level means of attack and defense.

The Khazar unit of 12 heavy heavy cavalry

Close-up of a stand depicting the hand-painted "S" design on the shield.

And now the first of five units of Moslem infantry.  This particular unit has four 15mm Miniature Figurines figures (rectangular bases) and eight others from an unknown manufacturer.  These can be used as warriors, medium infantry, or auxiliaries.

The MiniFigs are rather "static" sculpts while the others are more animated.
But they both seem to work well together.

The command stand showing the leader brandishing his sword and another view of the flag from the Warflag web site .  Although dating from the Victorian colonial era (1880s), it works OK for me back in the circa 1000 era.

Next up are four Khorasanian mounted archers to complete a unit to 8 figures, followed by two more units of Moslem infantry.

Rebasing the Normans - Part 1

I spent a couple of days over the weekend beginning to rebase my Norman troops, starting with the mounted figures.  My Normans are a mix of vintage Miniature Figurines and Table Top Games castings from the "good old" lead figures days.  I painted all of the MiniFigs and a few of the TTG figures.  The rest of the TTG figures were purchased already painted.

Please click on each image to get a larger picture.

The Norman command groups.
Front center is the senior leader with his two main subordinate leaders to either side.
Across the back are four junior leader.
I use circular bases to distinguish my leaders from the combat troops, who are mounted on 'standard' 40mm x 30mm steel bases.

Norman mounted knights -- The Green Knights
These, as well as all the others, are mounted on 85mm x 65mm foamcore movement bases that have magnetic material on top and a piece of flex steel on the bottom.  The thickness of the foamcore makes it easy to pick up the whole base.

Norman mounted knights -- The Blue Knights

Norman mounted knights -- The Red Knights

Norman allied heavy cavalry, unit 1

Norman allied heavy cavalry, unit 2

Norman medium (unarmored) cavalry, unit 1

Norman medium (unarmored) cavalry, unit 2 

And I'm also taking this opportunity to show my 'jury-rigged' photo set-up.

It is made from three pieces of foamcore covered with a sheet of light blue poster board.  The small light on the left is an Ott Light while the one on the right is a standard clamp-on desk task light.  Between the two there is enough light cast for taking most pictures without having to use a flash.  I store the "booth" and the tripod (front center) atop my storage cabinet in another corner of the room.  

Just above the task light is a framed picture of three Franco-Prussian War soldiers, a bequest from the late Larry Brom, author of "The Sword and the Flame" and "Chassepot and Needlegun" rules, and a good friend.

Still working on painting more troops -- a unit of Khazar heavy bow cavalry is next in line followed by five units of Arab medium/warrior infantry.

A Third Byzantine Heavy Cavalry Unit

I just added a third Byzantine heavy cavalry (cataphract) unit to my Medieval forces.  This unit joins two others that I had painted many years ago.  The figures are from Alternative Armies Dark Ages Isarus range, numbers BYC-1 and BYC-2.  Please click on the picture to get a larger image.

Their primary color is "terra cotta" (or orange).  Their compatriots are in red or blue.  These three units will form a core of veteran cataphracts for my Byzantine forces.  They will eventually be joined by a unit of Khazar mercenary heavy cavalry using some Essex figures I have on hand and on order.

Work continues on my Medieval forces -- remounting Norman heavy and medium cavalry.

And More Arab Medium Cavalry

My first unit for May's painting is another unit of Arab medium cavalry.  This time they are Alternative Armies' Dark Age Isarus (old Table Top Games) Arabs line -- 11 ARC-1 Arab medium cavalry with the standard bearer from the ARC-13 Arab mounted command pack.  They should see their first action soon.

The 3-figure command stand was painting many years ago while the other nine were added just recently.

This unit can be used in a variety of armies from allies of either the Byzantines or Sassanids to riding to spread Islam throughout the Middle East and North Africa to fighting the Crusaders in the Levant.

Next in the queue is another Byzantine heavy cavalry unit.

Arab Allied Medium Cavalry

Both the Byzantines and the Sassanid Persians used allied Arab cavalry in many of their campaigns in the Middle East.  This unit was put together from various vintage Miniature Figurines castings.  They represent an amalgamation of different, but related, Arab tribal forces.

This unit shares a standard color scheme for the shields.

And here is how they look in an extended battle line.  You can really see all the different figures I used for this unit.

Another Arab medium cavalry unit and a Byzantine heavy cavalry unit are in the works for the near future.

And Some Mounted Leaders

Taking a short break from painting cavalry units, I turn some excess mounted figures into leader stands and paint some of the Old Glory 15s Hun command pack as an Attila command stand.  Please click on each image for an enlarged view.

First up is a spare Byzantine mounted extra heavy horse archer.  The figure is a vintage Table Top Games (now manufactured by Alternative Armies) BYC-2, Byzantine EHC with bow.

The dark rectangle is a small piece of magnetic material
to which the leader's nametag will be adhered for games.

Next are two spare super heavy cavalry figures from the Old Glory ES-3 Sassanid cataphracts pack.  They have been painted to match the colors of the two Sassanid cataphract units currently in my order of battle.

Both have copper metallic face masks which was a common addition to the cataphracts armor.
The "red" leader has a gold gilded helmet while the "yellow" leader has a silver gilded helmet.

And finally, Attila himself, along with his standard bearer and a mounted drummer.  Attila's color scheme is based on the Angus McBride rendition of the leader in the Osprey Attila and the Nomad Hordes (Elite #30).

Attila's horse harness is heavily decorated with gold ornamentation and, although not visible from this view, he has his golden gilded bow in his bowcase.

Work continues on additional cavalry units.

The Huns Have Arrived!

First, let me correct an error.  In three previous posts I misidentified some Miniature Figurines horse archers as Huns when really they are Cumans.  My apologies to the Cuman nation.

But now the Huns have actually arrived!  Part of an order from Essex Miniatures have been completed, 8 Hun horse archers from packs HU-1 and HU-6.

They will eventually be joined by another 8-figure unit and some heavier Hun cavalry.

Next in the painting queue is a unit of Byzantine medium cavalry and some assorted leaders, followed by a unit of Byzantine heavy cavalry and a unit of Sassanid medium cavalry.  This will complete the forces needed to fight the three-phase Battle of Decimum (533 AD) from the "Commands & Colors - Medieval" scenarios.

Byzantine Super Heavy Cavalry Unit #3

The third of three required Byzantine super heavy cavalry units was completed last week and fought in its first battles on Thursday. These klibanophoroi are completely armored riders on completely armored horses and can be some tough 'cookies' to kill. They are Old Glory 15s BZ-22 11th-13th Century klibanophoroi. Even though they are some 500 years or so after the milieu of the Commands & Colors - Medieval first iteration, I will also use them in other actions featuring the Byzantines.

Next up are some more Asiatic horse archers - Huns from Essex Miniatures, followed by Byzantine medium cavalry from Table Top Games.

More Cavalry and Infantry

I recently completed an Asiatic light bow cavalry unit and a generic Middle Eastern auxilia infantry unit for my Commands & Colors - Medieval forces. Please click on the photos for a larger image.

These Asiatic horse archers are from the vintage Table Top Games line still manufactured by Alternative Armies in Scotland.  I ordered them, along with some other figures, in late January and got them about three weeks later.  Pretty good service in this day and time.  These figures will be in my Sassanid Persian army but I have a earlier painted unit of the same figures in my Byzantine army.  One of these days they'll probably be on the same side.
They are BYC7 Byzantine Asiatic cavalry.

I don't know the manufacturer of these lads since I obtained them as part of a lot of Medieval figures several years ago.  They are unarmored javelin equipped figures who are serving as auxilia infantry for my Sassanid Persian army.  They are generic enough that they can be used for any force fighting in the Middle East. The shield design was hand drawn with a fine tip black ink pen.

The next in the painting queue is a Byzantine super heavy cavalry unit from the Old Glory 15s.  the casting is the BZ-22 11th-13th Century Byzantine klibanophorus.  Although several hundred years after the period for the initial C&C - Medieval game, they will be especially useful in the "Crusades" timeframe which is to be the next expansion.

And Some More Cavalry

First off, I've "updated" my second unit of Byzantine heavy cavalry courtesy of my good wargaming buddy Lord Sterling.  If you'll recall from a previous post, I was missing a figure and had four regular heavy cavalry figures in the unit.  Now I have the missing rider and four "new" super heavy cavalrymen on fully armored horses.  Please click on the image for a larger view.

The new rider is on the right of the front left stand, carrying a red banner with a silver cross.  He's a slightly smaller vintage MiniFig.
The four new figures are on the right front stand.  They are also vintage MiniFigs and a little smaller than all the others but seem to look OK.

I also added an Arabic style light cavalry unit to my Sassanid forces.  They are Essex Miniatures Arab Conquest light cavalry, #AEA-4.  I've given them a "desert" base color.

I haven't done much this past week due to the unusual inclement weather we've had here in Mississippi.  See my two previous posts for some details.  When we get water pressure back, I'm sure I'll feel more like painting figures.  I have some Asiatic horse archers and Sassanid auxilia infantry ready to be undercoated and paintted.

Sassanid Persian Super Heavy Cavalry Unit

Yesterday I completed the second of two Sassanid Persian super heavy cavalry (i.e., cataphract) units for my Commands  & Colors - Medieval forces.  This unit is composed entirely of Old Glory 15s ES3 Sassanid cataphracts.  They were fairly straightforward to paint.  The lances were separate pieces of mild steel wire that I had to cut into two equal lengths.  A pair of wire snips made quick work of that task.  Please click on the photos for a larger image.

Here they are before I glued them to their movement stands.

And here's the unit ready for the miniature battlefield.

Sine the first unit is predominately red, I decided to make this one's color yellow.  I used Folkart yellow ocher for the helmet and horse plumes, horse reins, and riders cloaks.

Next in line are a unit of Middle Eastern light cavalry and a unit of Asiatic horse archers, both for the Sassanid army.  After them will be a unit of Byzantine super heavy cataphracts, which complete the forces needed for the Satala (530 AD) scenario.

Stay safe!

Byzantine Super Heavy Cavalry Unit #2

Right at the beginning of February I completed a final fourth stand for a Byzantine super heavy cavalry unit (AKA cataphract/klibanophoroi) unit for my Commands & Colors - Medieval forces.  This unit is a hodge-podge of figures representing a hastily thrown together command.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

First, the entire 16-figure unit.

As you can see, a mix of four different types of figures.

And now, each stand by itself:

On the front right are four Old Glory 15s Byzantine 11th-13th century klibanophoroi

Next to them on the front left are four vintage MiniFig "Armenian" super heavy cavalry

On the left rear are 3 Essex Byzantine klibanophoroi (I only was able to get three riders in the group of figures I purchased on-line)

And finally on the right rear are four Old glory 15s Byzantine kataphractoi on half-armored horses.  These will probably be replaced by some figures from my good wargaming buddy.

So there it is.  Mismatched figures, but super heavy cavalry are super heavy cavalry!

Next up, a 16-figure unit of Old Glory 15s Sassanid cataphracts super heavy cavalry.

Some Medium Infantry

After painting a bunch of cavalry, as a 'break' I just finished a 12-figure unit of medium infantry using the Outpost Miniatures Sudanese javelinmen pack (CI21) and part of the Saladin dismounted command pack (CIC3).  This unit will fight for the non-Byzantine Middle Eastern forces, although being Sudanese they could also be a Byzantine unit.  Don't you just like getting dual use for a unit?  I do!

 They should get their 'baptism by fire' soon.

Now it is back to more cavalry - cataphracts and partially armored heavy cavalry.

Test of Battle of Thannuris (528 AD) Scenario

Last Thursday, our "Old Guys" group gathered to play our first game using my Command & Colors - Medieval game.  But instead of the tan and purple blocks and the laboriously applied labels, we used my 15mm figures, some of which I described in previous posts.

Unfortunately I did not take any pictures until about the 6th turn.  Please click on the images for a large picture.  The pictures were taken with my Motorola phone camera.

Overview with the Byzantine right/Sassanid left in the foreground.  The Byzantine left wing commander stares in dismay at the losses he's taken.

The Byzantines slowly moved forward on their right until they got within bow range and started a desultory ranged fire on the Sassanids.  They moved their medium bow-armed cavalry unit onto the hill and, with the two bow-armed light infantry units, returned the fire.  Casualties were minor here.

Another view of the action along the hill line taken from the rear of the Byzantine force.

But the main action was on the Byzantine left/Sassanid right.  Here the Sassanid right wing commander ponders his attack options.  As you can tell, he's dealt quite a bit of destruction to the Byzantine left wing cavalry.

The Sassanid super heavy cataphracts launch an attack against the remnants of two units of Byzantine cavalry, destroying both of them

Then wheeling around behind the hills on the next turn, the cataphracts position themselves for the coup de grace.  But it was the Sassanid medium cavalry attacking from the front that garnered the honors.  Rolling only three dice (two for attacking a hill and one for an Inspired 'battle bonus' Action, they got the one blue triangle they needed to destroy the last stand of Byzantine cavalry on the hill.  And then they rolled a single die to see if the Byzantine leader was killed -- and lo, he was with a roll of a helmet, garnering the last two victory banners needed to win the game.

The Sassanids won decisively 6 banners to 2 for the Byzantines.

My 15mm figures are a mix of various manufacturers, primarily vintage Miniature Figurines and Table Tops Games figures.  The hills were hand cut from 1/2" extruded insulation foam upon which I glued  an enlarged image of one of the C&C-M hills.  The mat is from Cigar Box.

This coming Thursday we'll fight the next scenario, the follow-up battle of Melebasa (528 AD).

15mm Medieval Painting - Phase 1b

I've added two more cavalry units to the expanded rebasing of my 15mm Medieval figures.  These two will give me enough units to fight the first Byzantive vs Sassanid scenario of "Commands and Colors - Medieval" -- Thannuris, 528 AD.

The first unit is light bow cavalry (to give it the C&C-M designation) for the Byzantines.  The figures are vintage Miniature Figurines.  Two of the mounted archers were previously painted while the other three mounted archers and the three with light spears are newly painted.  Correction - These are actually Byzantine Cuman mercenary cavalry, D-373.  I had misidentified them as Huns.

The second unit is 'Sassanid' light cavalry.  The figures are Essex Arab Conquest light cavalry.  They are a little 'out of time' as the Arab Conquest didn't begin until about 100 years after the battle at Thannuris.  But they are what I had and the dress of  'desert' light cavalry probably didn't change very much.

I've got two more cavalry units in the pipeline, another unit of Hun light bow cavalry for the Byzantines that will complete the second scenario's order of battle (Melebasa, 528 AD) and a unit of LBC for the Byzantines to get a start on completing the third scenario's OB (Dara, 530 AD).  I will definitely get the Huns painted before the end of the year!