From AndrewG: Wars of the Roses town militia (100 points)

 

Work on my Northampton project continues this week with some more bowmen. Records suggest both sides at the engagement bolstered their main forces with additional call ups from various town militias, so I decided to paint one of Fauconberg’s units to represent these troops. Not much is known about the colours of the liveries worn by them (if any), but some archives indicate red liveries, thus I opted to give the unit a bit of cohesion while still trying to project that these were otherwise just everyday folks whose military kit consisted mainly of a sallet and a bow.

As usual these are all from the Perry plastics Wars of the Roses infantry box, with a few head swaps and some minor kit bashing to give the unit a bit of variety. I stuck a fancy feather helmet on one of the front rank guys so if needed he can be designated as the unit leader. The painted banner in the back rank is simply a repositioned spear arm, green stuff, and some tinfoil, again being militia I imagined them carrying simple identifiers.

And here they are with the other two units I have done so far for this challenge. Just one more to go plus a command stand and Fauconberg's battle will be complete.

For this unit of 20 bowmen we're looking at:

20x 28mm infantry = 100 points

I nice set of militia bowmen Andrew, I am sure that they will provide numbers if not quality.  I like the simple red livery that you used gives the unit coherence.  Your verdant green flocking seems suitable for a rainy summer days in Northants.  The whole deployed battle looks aces. 

From Andrew G: Wars of the Roses Bill & Bow with Men-at-Arms (110pts)

One of my ongoing big army projects is to build a Yorkist and Lancastrian force to fight the various battles that occurred during the Wars of the Roses. Specifically, I’ve chosen the Battle of Northampton (10 July 1460) as my focal point around which to build my first units.

Why this particular battle? A few reasons. First, I didn’t want to snow base my figures for this project and Northampton was one of the few major engagements of the period to have occurred during the summer months. Second, the battle is notable for being the first in which artillery was used in England – though typical British wet weather that day rendered much of it useless during the fighting. Third, the battle had all the good stuff representative of the period – lopsided forces and formations, bad weather, arrow storms, treachery, etc. – making it a great project for wargaming ‘what ifs?’.

I’m currently leaning towards using the Hail Caesar Wars of the Roses ruleset, so I’ve opted to multi-figure base my troops accordingly. This group represents a unit of (William Neville) Baron Fauconberg’s household with the men-at-arms upgrade. The unit includes both bill and bow, with men-at-arms occupying the billmen’s front rank. The miniatures in this unit are all Perry plastic Wars of the Roses Infantry and Men-at-Arms with a few alterations here and there just to create some variety within the ranks.

Once assembled the figures were primed black and then batch painted with various Vallejo and Army Painter colours and washes. I purposely did not paint Fauconberg’s hook symbol on these figures yet as until I have enough troops painted, I may use them to represent generic forces in other battles.

After letting them dry for a few days, I gave them two coats of matt varnish and then positioned them on their bases. I find that typically I can get six billmen comfortably on a base but only five archers, thus my 4-base units tend to consist of 22 figures vice 24. However, since what matters in Hail Caesar is frontage and not figure count, it doesn’t really matter how many figures occupy the unit’s space. Last, I keep the troop types separate for flexibility as some army lists includes units made up of just one type or the other.

I make my own bases on my FDM 3D printer – these ones are printed in olive drab PLA and measure 40x60x2mm. I find anything thicker tends to make the figures look like they’re standing on a platform and takes away from the terrain aesthetic. The base is then covered using Vallejo European Mud (26.807), a mix of Tajima tufts, and some Noch static grass. Done and ready for the table!

Claiming 22x 28mm figures = 110 points

A fine collection of WoR infantry from those excellent Perry box sets.  Love the clean liveries and your basing really works.  I might suggest To The Strongest as an alternative to HC, we've found that it gives a fun and fast game with reasonably plausible results.  I like your choice of Northampton as you battle, my dad was born in Northamptonshire.  Peter

From KentG: 28mm Norman’s and Baron Wars (260 pts)

 

Baron Eustace of Lowdham and two men at arms from the baron wars range. These three chaps are my first entrance into the Library as new minis that arrived just of late

I was n’t looking forward to painting Eustance with all that white and tiny
yellow crosses but was really happy with how he turned out.
Total of 3 cavalry here.

   This next batch is my second entry into the Library as these chaps have
been sitting in their box for years, and they were actually bought second hand off a friend so who knows how long the lads have been sitting in the dark. I’m not the greatest fan of Gripping beast figures Until they are painted so I’m sure they are please to see the light of day.  9 cavalry here

Who doesn’t like a good smattering of Norman archers,
 unless you are on the receiving end, we have 12 archers here

And to finish off the boxset we have 8 crossbow which are a mix
Of armoured and unarmoured 

So for points we have

12 x 28mm cavalry for 120 points

20 x 28mm foot for 100 points

AHPC Library entrance 

Overdues & returns 20pts

New acquisition 20pts

Total 260 points

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First, welcome back to the Challenge, Kent! It's been a few years since you were last with us, but that certainly hasn't dulled your productivity. What a lovely medieval points bomb! As always, I admire your clean, precise and bright brushwork, especially on the heraldry and livery of these Norman fellows. I'm with you in your estimation of some of Gripping Beast's early sculpts, but as you say they look absolutely terrific when they're all painted up - especially to this quality. Bravo!

- Curt

From Guy B: [Orc's Pit] Token the Goblin Archer [25 points]

My last one for tonight, my goal of reaching the Knight's Solar is almost in reach... But I need a Greenskin! Behold, a plastic Oathmark goblin!

Introducing 'Token', the Toklienesque goblin! He does have many other fellows, but alas, they can't make it tonight. He will be fielded in my Gob-Lun Empire army - Goblins made using Imperial Roman bodies!

Token here is one of the 'loyal' cohorts of auxiliary troops for the Gob-Lun legions. As a shootiarii, if he serves a full term of service (most die in battle or of disease), he stands to gain full citizenship. Good luck, Token! So that's a quick 25 points! Ave Gobbo!

From Guy B: [Hall of the Ancestors] Bidets and Bowmen [80 points]

 

With a surname like Bowers, my ancestors were bow makers. So it is only apt that for my trip into the hall of the ancestors, I should use bow armed miniatures.

The miniatures are mostly from the excellent Antediluvian miniatures range, with some Footsore and the odd Crusader. 

I've used my usual 'go to' - contrast paints with highlights. I have tried mixing the contrasts together to make more variety in colours. I'm still perfecting the technique.

These will be bidowers and bowmen for my Lion Rampant games, and if I can get more painted, they might just see the odd game of Hail Caesar or WAB.  

So I make that twelve bowmen and the bonus means this little lot is worth 80 points. I hope you like them. I have some Knights next, but for that, I need to make it to the Knight Solar. Best get a move on!