KenR - The last 28mm Italian Wars Spanish Cavalry (75 points)

 

As it's the last one I thought I would start with a group shot ! 48 Spanish Gent d'Armes (12 done pre challenge) are complete, for now. If you think it's a lot it's half the size of Italian horde 😁

This week's entry is 6 28mm Spanish Heavy Cavalry from The Assault Group, based in twos on a 50 x 60 base, with Petes Flags to finish them off.

Points wise is 6 x 10 for the figs and a couple of Flags for another 2 making 62 points in total.

With about 3 weeks to go I need to crack on with the Pike and with two entries in this week, let's see if I can make it 3.

Just smashing work again Ken, a lot of eye candy to feast on here.  I am a little sad that this particular project has come to an end.  Surely you can find more can't you.  The opening shot is breath taking.  I am bumping your score to 75 to recognize the sale and quality.

KenR - 28mm Spanish Heavy Cavalry 4 & 5 (124 pts)

 

Not one but two units of Spanish Heavy Cavalry for my Italian Wars collection this week, a slight brain slip meant I ended up doing two horse units back to back as I forgot to do the planned infantry unit in between !

You should be familiar with these by now, 28mm figures from The Assault Group (TAG) based 2 per base on 50 x 60 bases with 6 figures per unit, horses painted in oil, figures in acrylics, flags by Petes Flags.

Unit one in a red, yellow, white and black scheme (based on the flags), I realised after doing the photos that the centre bases were in the wrong units !

Unit two in a yellow, red and blue scheme. Points are 12 x 28mm mounted at 10 points each plus 4 flags at a point each giving 124 points.

And finally because I know you like to see here are the Spanish Gent d'Armes so far, just 6 more to go, which could be done next week. On the table at the moment are the Prussian Landwehr Battalion I should have done this week 😆

They may be early, but they are a wonderful sight Ken.  Fantastic as always. Now put a sticky note up to work on the Prussian Landwehr. 

KenR - 28mm Spanish Italian Wars Heavy Cavalry Tres (70 pts)

 

No alarms and no surprises with the 2nd entry this week, it's the ongoing saga of my Spanish Gent d'Armes for the Italian Wars and here is the third of six units I have planned.

As previously the figures are 28mm from The Assault Group and Flags from Petes Flags.

6 x 28mm Cavalry at 10 pts each and a couple of Flags for 2, gives me 62 pts.

So that's half of these done, and there's just time for a couple of group shots (cause I know you like them !) of the completed units to date (plus the two pre Challenge)

See you all next week with some Swiss.

Another fine set of Spanish HC Ken.  I've bumped up your points score for the overall impression of the work  you've done on these riders.  That groups shot at the bottom is marvellous.  Does the tabeltop shake when they gallop across the field of battle?  The flags really help make the scene for this period.  Well done, and I for one am looking forward to seeing more Swiss next week.    

KenR - 28mm "Spanish" Heavy Cavalry Dos (62 pts)

 

Here is the 2nd of 6 Heavy Cavalry units I have prepped for the Challenge and a nice little Palette cleanser after the Pike guys I did last week.

The figures are 28mm Spanish from TAG (The Assault Group) with flags from Petes Flags, these are banners for Neopolitan Condottieri so the figures will have a dual use as and when required. Figures are based 2 per base on a 50 x 60 base which is my standard for the period. 

As always I've used the colours and designs in the flags as a guide to my Palette and look to the riders, 6 x 10 points for 28mm Cavalry plus a couple for the flags nets me 62 more points.

I've got some French Command Stands on the go (which may be a late entry this week) being finished off before I do the third unit of these and then its back to some Pike.

Below is a picture of the growing Spanish Gent'd'Arms (12 done pre challenge) so you can see how the group looks.

Wonderful stuff Ken, I just can't say enough about your units.  The full array is awe inspiring.  

KenR - 28mm Spanish Heavy Cavalry Uno - 62 points

 

The Italian Wars will form a good chunk of my Challenge efforts this year and here is the first of the bunch, a unit of Heavy Cavalry for my Spanish. The figures are from The Assault Group and Flags from Petes Flags.

I've got 36 heavy and 24 light ready to go. During the course of the year I have started to paint groups of 6 Cavalry in between larger units of foot and its really helped with motivation, it keeps things fresh and its amazing how quickly the horse builds up doing it this way.

6 figs is our usual size unit for Gendarme style Cavalry in the Italian Wars as they would usually operate in Squadron sizes of 100 - 120 (plus squires etc). Points wise it will be 6 x 10 for the 28mm Cavalry plus 2 for the Flags giving a total of 62.

Below is a picture of the new unit along with the other two I did earlier in the year, I think it's going to be pretty impressive at the end of the Challenge with 12 units all together.

I've got a unit of Arab Cavalry for the Crusades nearly done as well and they may make the cut before Curt hands over the reigns, if not then it will be on the first Minion Tuesday.

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Gorgeous work, Ken! These Spaniards look magnificent with their lances and pennants. I love seeing Italian Wars stuff. It makes me want to return to them for another run. Perhaps I'll have to try your approach of breaking up the units in more manageable (and varied) chunks. Great stuff and I look forward to seeing more!

- Curt

From KentG: 28mm cavalry (320pts)

Well here we are back again, this time it’s all cavalry 

The funny thing is I had said that after the last challenge 

I wouldn’t be doing much cav well you can see how that plan worked 

Out. There’s three different lots of cav, not sure what I was thinking

All those hand painted shields took way to long especially 

The checkered pattern

These first 12 are Spanish Jinetes by Gripping Beast

Not the most detailed figures but they still really nicely

Next up just because who needs more detailed shield yip me

So here Gallic cavalry by Gripping beast again I actually really enjoyed 

These 

 I had a lot of fun painting these next 8 figures by

Bloody miniatures, the detail on these English Civil war minis

Is so really nice and great to paint

Black is always a fun colour to paint

As most if not all of us know, but I’m 

Really pleased with the result on this chap

No flag on the pole here the new owner of

These figures haven’t made up his mind yet.

So let’s total up for the week 

32 x 28mm cavalry @ 10pts each 320pts 

Which means I’ve hit my target for this challenge 

From Millsy:

A wonderful batch of cavalry Kent, all beautifully painted as ever and with a great mix of coats colours on the horses which adds so much interest and variety. 

My initial though was the shield designs were decals and then I read your copy. These are absolutely brilliant mate, particularly the checks which are an absolute bugger to get right regardless of scale.

This 320 point cavalry bomb blasts you through your original 1,500 point total and we're not even halfway! Please let me know your revised total and I will update the roster accordingly.

Cheers,

Millsy

From KenR: 28mm Spanish Italian Wars Cavalry Part 2 (62 points)

Following on from last week's Spanish Gent d'Armes I have another unit of, guess what, Gent d'Armes! Which doubles the amount of heavy Cavalry I have for that army, they won't have long to wait for action as the Italian Wars collection will be out and about at the York Show at the weekend.

I've already ordered another 36 of these figures from TAG, they are 28mm figures from their Spanish Renaissance Range, this unit has a larger number of Sword bearers with a couple of Lances required for the obligatory flags.

They are based on 50 x 60 bases which is my standard for the period, horses painted in oils, figures in acrylics. 10 points a piece for the Cavalry gives me another 62 points when you chuck in the flags.

The joy of painting for me is when the individual units I paint join up in a larger mass and even with just two units I get a sense of how spectacular these boys are going to look on the table when I've done 12 to 16 of them. 

Next week I hope to have some Prussian Landwehr done but don't worry, there should be a ship as well this week!

TeemuL: RayR just had a cavalry unit added to his army, KenR does the same. Both are counting on to get some bonus points for their troubles. Both units look great. Both have a lastname starting with R. Are you guys related? :)

My Thursday crew is making this rather easy to me, no nasty surprises of minis in strange scales, no last minute entries, just pretty models and all the maths done for me. And as said Ken, those two units together look quite spectacular, one unit of six looks a bit thin, but that unit of twelve looks just great. Looking forward for more - and the ships, too.

From RaulM: Black Seas 1st Rate, Xebec, and Cutter (60 points)

My second post for the challenge is even more Black Seas, covering a spread of vessels that all could have been found in the Mediterranean during the Napoleonic Wars. A Spanish 1st rate, a Barbary Pirate xebec, and a French cutter. 

The Spanish 1st rate is one of the generic resin Spanish 1st rates that Warlord offers. I didn't like the white metal masts provided, so I took the yards and the fighting tops and attached them to masts I made with brass tubing. The paint scheme is based on the Santa Ana, who fought in several fleet actions, notably surviving the Battle of Trafalgar. 

The Xebec is another Warlord resin model, the large xebec. I kept the metal masts for this as they are chunkier and therefore not as prone to bending. The paint scheme is nothing special, very similar to the official box art that Warlord uses. 

Finally, the cutter. This is a metal model from Hagen Miniatures, with quite a bit of conversion work done to it to add the 12 guns on the deck and the square topsail. I used the Renard for reference, as it was the first thing that came up on google search when I was looking at French cutters.

For points I based it on the small brig being 10 points and the medium frigate as 15 points, so a 5 point up or down based on the size the vessel is given in game. 

1st Rate (XL): 25 points

Xebec (S): 10 points

Cutter (T): 5 points

For a total of 40 points. 

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Stunning work Raul - anyone who has dabbled in the majestic art of naval warship modelling (the creme of the hobby obviously, apart from Miles that is) knows what fine work this is. Wonderful lines, dynamic flags and billowing sails. Stirring stuff!

I'm awarding 20 bonus points for the conversion work, scratch building new masts, the lovely ratlines and taut rigging work - beautifully done!

Fair winds and following seas to you Raul!

-Paul

From Kerry T - Italian Wars Spanish Jinetes (140 points)

 Morning, afternoon and evening all

I didn't think I'd manage an entry this week but have managed to finish one thankfully.  The idea of painting a  large batch of horses in readiness over the Christmas period when I had quite a bit of time turned out to have been a good investment time-wise. 

These 36 are left, 24 completed now and 12 half finished

I had a really nice evening on Tuesday painting and chatting online with Millsy and the rest of the Antipodean crowd, though I did get a minor scolding from my wife when I rolled into bed at 11.30pm. That's one of the problems in living in the most advanced place on earth, its always late here while its early for you lot. (ok point taken NZ is only the most advanced place in terms of time and nothing else!)

I've managed to knock off 12 more cavalry getting sidetracked from painting more Normans by these Jinetes

Spanish light cavalry for the Italian wars

Casting Room Miniatures - Wargames Foundry

Flag from Maverick Models this time

I was happily snapping photos an hour ago having only just finished the bases and only realised when editing that I hadn't finished one of the shields so dumped those pictures, added paint to the shield and then took fresh photos. It's amazing what you miss when you're in a hurry

I wasn't that enamoured with the castings when I started out but they've grown on me and look better with paint and when together as a group. Again the fiddly bits took more time than I'd allotted - adding the spears and shields with epoxy and the hateful basing

As I'm still in the library entranceway, these will count as my "overdue & returns" as I bought them  for last years challenge but never got to them. I hope to finish some Andalusian horse next and then make a start on some Footsore Welsh, unless of course I get sidetracked by something else shiny

Many thanks for your support and encouragement to date and "up the Antipodeans"

In summary 

12 x 28mm Cavalry @10 points = 120

Overdue & return bonus 20 points = 140 total

1 squirrel

From Millsy: I reckon a scolding from Mrs KerryT is well worth it when this is the result mate. These are absolutely glorious and I am sure will look every bit as good in game as they do here. Despite your feelings about the castings they have come up a treat and your choice of colours really does lift them up. The dominant red/yellow pairing sets them firmly in the Spanish camp and everything else just adds to the visual interest.

Looking forward to the Normans now you have set the bar with these! 140 well deserved points.

From AdamC: Black Seas Overdue (134 points)

Here is a Black Seas offering Three English Frigates and and Six Brigs, three Royal Navy and three Spanish.  These are for my friend Frank Shephard in exchange for several 1/2400 ships he gave me last year.  I asked him what you want for payment and he asked me to paint is Black Seas Starter set.  I told him sure as long as you don't need them in a hurry.  Well a year later is longer than I expected so these are overdue. 

HMS Squirrle  a 6th Rate Frigate the served in the Seven Years War and American Revolution.  I have told Frank he needs to pair ith with a Canadian Privateer named the Moose... a possible future project. 

HMS Enterprize another AWI era 6th Rate and yes historicly the ship's name was spelt with a "z" her service was extensive but fairly unremarkable. 

HMS Serapis  a famous 5th rate Frigate of the AWI period here I think Frank just likes the name as the historic Serapis was a two decked ship of 44 guns something that isn't modeled by Warlord Games at this time. 

Three English brigs HMS Teaser, HMS Sparkler, HMS Fearless done in the 10 a penney fassion of the 18 gun Royal Navy hard working smallships with weather stained sails. 

Three Spanish Brigs: Destructor, Furor, and Mistral probably privateers or smugglers possibly auxiliaries of the Spanish navy, ready to play cat and mouse with the Royal Navy ships above. 

This is my fist real broadside of the challenge.  Based on past scoring each brig should be 10 points each for 60, and the Frigates 15 points each for another 45 and Overdue gets me up to 125 a solid step toward my goal of 500.   I'll leave it to Sylvain to handle any extra points for rigging, flags etc. and hopefully Frank will like them. 

 

Sylvain: I especially like how you shaded your sails to create volume. It really gives a realistic feel to your miniatures. The extensive use of flags is not only a cool addition, it helps to instantly identify the nation of each of your ships. Well done!

As suggested, I will throw in 1 point per ship for the extra bits and details, bringing  the total to 134 points. Voguent les bateaux!

If you could provide a map of the Analogueville Library showing your progress, that would be appreciated.