Note to Self: Painting Horses Reference Link

I always need to be reminded "how to" paint horses!

https://blog.vexillia.me.uk/2008/06/horse-colours.html

28mm Renaissance Mounted Harquebusiers (Impetus Troops)

This posting has been over a year in the making.

Ever since my Burgundian Knights and Germanic Men-At-Arms were added to my Renaissance army I felt the need for lighter mounted troops to cover them to create a sense of balance (speaking of which the infantry needs more Pike). My Mounted Crossbows (CL) were only one half of the equation, these Mounted Harquebusiers (CM in Impetus terms) are the other (see below, in their current most advanced state, with the basing 'half' complete):

"Impetus" has fast become my favourite wargaming rule set for linear pre-musket era (stretching back to the ancients, but I still am active in the DBMM camp). It certainly ranks alongside "Chain of Command"  for enjoyment an non-deterministic "shock" value. My only problem is that I have kit but seemingly not the time to paint them! The painting started over a year ago (see below, a basic undercoat black):

Though technically not Light Horse (so it is harder for them to get out of the way) these are destined to be an important screening force to 'shove in front' of some decent impact cavalry to avoid them getting cheaply spent. Wanting them to do "them proud" I searched the Internet and pulled this useful  "crib painting sheet" in the below  photograph from:

http://rctlittlesoldiers.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/detail-on-knights-and-light-cavalry.html (see below):

I tried to give the horses a three-tone treatment, but always feel I chicken out of washing the legs dark enough. My lack real horse experience shows here methinks, I paint almost a typical cartoon representation, but at least try and vary the shades of colour. I decided to make these rider's jackets a bit more brighter (see below):

Then the riders were 'browned-up' in the legging department (see below):

The good news is that the 'boys' have already made it to the tabletop for an Impetus wargame in a "basic paint form" (see below):

They did well enough, shooting at some offending infantry at close range, but true my earlier comment "got in the way" of the very troops they were supposed to be screening. CM cavalry seems to have been more useful in earlier ancient times, when armoured four-legged tanks were less common. I might even 'pretend' they are Mounted Crossbow if the need comes in the next game ;)  

At the moment they just need to be finished off with the basing painted, highlighted and flocked. Watch this space for a final photo later.

Link to Painting Horses in 28mm Tutorial

Always good to hear about another persons experience in painting horses:  

http://mageknightkevin.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/tutorial-painting-horses-28mm.html

First stab at the finished product 1/300 Heroics and Ross: Panzer IV F2's and a Hanomag 251/1. The base coat of Tamiya XF-60 Dark Yellow, covered by a wash of Games Workshop Devlan Mud. Strips of Tamiya Olive Drab XF-62. An additional wash of Devlan Mud, a tad watered down, followed by a lighter highlight of Olive Drab XF-62 mixed with the drying remains of a Sunburst Yellow (now contaminated with various greens it has to be said) over the green stripes and Dark Yellow XF-60 mixed with Anita's Acrylic Cream. Just to experiment I dabbed another Games Workshop wash, a redder Ogryn Flesh as a final brown wash. I then had a dab here and there with tiny amounts of Anita's Acrylics Cream. See below for the result. 

The bases were small,granular grit (I forgot to top up with some sand from the local beach at the weekend when I took the family out for the fresh salt air - tires the kids out!) laid over wood glue which works a ton better than the old PVA I previously used. The grit and glue is allowed to dry and then a wash of Anita's Acrylic Earth Brown is soaked into the surface. When dry a Anita Acrylic cream light wet brush picks out the tops of the pebbles. Patches of watered down PVA then catch a light flocking (not the static grass type but the more crumbly stuff) of a green/brown mixture.   

Well that's my home grown "cookie recipe" for painting and basing the 1/300 toys. I am not too sure that this works well, I think it looks a tad spotty rather than stripey. Meanwhile on the painting tray I finally took on the "Four Horsemen" so desperately needed for my next Impetus game (see below for a look at Mr. "War"). 

Again the Blackberry is a poor choice of tool to get a fine detail, I will try and get my other camera on the case. These 28mm figures were hit with the standard three tone painting scheme I adopt for the big scale stuff. The hardcore element of the figures was painting the darn horses, how to get various shades and a mottled skin (see below). This is something I wrestled with and had to resort to reading my daughter's "Horses and Ponies" books. Answering questions like what colour is a horses tail and mane to be painted? Sometimes "just brown" is not the answer.

Soon the "Four" shall be unleashed on the unsuspecting Impetus world as my learning adventure continues ... scene fades with manic laughter echoing away ...

Renaissance Reinforcements (3): Germanic Men-At-Arms - Horses and Riders

Horses are now united with their riders:

Two ranks deep so hence twelve figures or there about, needed for the "large" formation allowed in Impetus. Front rank charging, back rank with lances raised, a nasty sight:

They are covered in almost as much armour as those crazy Gendarmes from France:

Lots of Anita's Acrylic Metallic Black used with varying amounts of Mithril Silver from Games Workshop (the latter was really to use it up before it went completely solid). Finally a watered down black wash to pick up some details and then just a trace of silver highlighting again.

Used three tone painting all the way through.

Renaissance Reinforcements (2): German Men-at-Arms (Knights)

The horses are under orders:

Damn them for being so big (28mm) and "gorgeous" to paint. Trying to do them fast for this coming Monday but don't see it happening.

I will have to try and 'borrow' some cavalry again, oh the shame of it

:(

Renaissance Reinforcements (1): Germanic Men-At-Arms (Knights)

High on the adrenalin rush from the last Impetus game (see previous posts), I not only purchased the rules (my gaming luck can now only go downhill after "reading [and not understanding] the rules") and decided it was time to acquire some Renaissance Germanic Men-At-Arms cavalry types (see below) to complement my Formed Pike infantry and Shot Harquebusiers:

Courtesy of Redoubt Enterprises I now have twelve armoured cavalry "brutes" which will be enough to cover two "CP" (aka "Impact" Cavalry) formations. I found out to my cost that heavy 28mm metal is not cheap, but it has to be said they look "the business" and I just hope my painting does the figures the credit they deserve.

A look at the riders (see above) and a closer look at one on the horses (see below)

All I need is some space at the painting table, watch this space ;) 

PS: Another stack/cluster of Games Workshop paints were found dry as a bone and consigned to the waste bin. The change over to other acrylics (Vallejo and Anita's Acrylics continues apace)

Painting Horses

It may be Games Workshop but it is still a good link to paint horses

And I always wondered how ;)