From Kerry T: Once more unto the breach (205 points)

 Morning, afternoon & evening all

When I started this challenge I envisaged that I would paint a fair chunk of my English and French 100 year war armies, focusing mainly on French Mounted Knights and more dismounted English Knights and Men at Arms. Last year I prepped some Perry Plastics and metals from their Agincourt range though they remain well down the painting queue.  The main reason for this is that I've developed more of an interest in the Edwardian phase of the 100YW. In short I've listened to too many audiobooks from authors like David Gilman, Griff Hosker and lately Dan Jones (Essex dogs) and others. Listening to audiobooks while you paint can be very distracting and easily set somebody like myself off on tangents and plays havoc with my painting plans.

Early on in the challenge I somehow wandered back into the Reconquista so displacing my Claymore Casting figures that continue to sit untouched on their bottle tops where they've been for the past 6 months or longer.  I hope I can get a few knights painted in the next week. The only substantial post depicting newly painted 100YW figure I've managed so far was for last week's Resistance bonus theme centered around a siege. I didn't manage to get all that I wanted done in time for that so this week I've decided to add to the scene or scenario by producing more English foot and a few French foot.

An overall view of the siege

The siege towers move closer

This week's figures are all from the Medbury Miniatures 100YW range which I had previously printed. I wanted some figures that I could use to populate the siege towers . I decided I would base them on 3 x 6cms bases in the hope that they would fit but also come together to form a standard unit usable in an ordinary game

Last base lower right doesn't fit as his sword is held upright

I decided to base others on single bases in anticipation of creating retinues for the recently released Ecorcheurs game written  by historian Rob Jones and released by Groping Beast. This is what comes of listening to too many audiobooks and wanting to send your figures on a chevauchee through French lands. 

Some are based singly and others in smaller than usual close order bases

In the audiobooks I've been listening to, the men in the retinue of Thomas Holland, 1st Earl of Kent seem to feature prominently along with those of William de Bohun, Earl of North Hampton - this made selecting an English retinue quite easy

Thomas Holland's retinue

This is where its handy to have a brilliant minion - normally we in the "Down Under" group meet on line on a Tuesday and Thursday evening for a paint  and chat. On Thursday I mentioned to Millsy that I was going to try and paint off a banner for Thomas Holland because I'd already used the one I had previously bought in a close order unit. Less than 10 minutes later he's got Chat GTP to make me one from scratch that will pass muster, Its in the picture above. 

Cheers Millsy, I think you should award yourself a flag bonus!

I hadn't given much thought to the French opposition so I gave them shields from some closely related French Nobles  that looked similar. The only problem is that having made these a few months ago after a bit of research, I can't remember who they are! all I know is that looking at the picture above they're a bit fishy! They may even have been from Luxembourg

Anyway, if my fictional audiobooks are anything to go by then its certain that Thomas Holland's men were good in a scrap so let's chuck them into the breach

Have at them lads

The reception is hot

The shield transfers are home made

Meanwhile those based in close order find themselves in the siege towers (if they can fit)

In summary

41 x 28mm Foot figures @ 5 points = 205

No squirrels on account of the fact its hard to kill a squirrel with a sword!

Many thanks and best wishes for the last week of the challenge

Valleyboy 

From Millsy:

Holy cow, another belter of a siege entry mate! After last week I thought you might take it easy, especially with golf on the cards too but I was WAY off the mark. Another 40+ gorgeously painted miniatures to feast our eyes on and a continuation of the narrative from last week complete with commentary and a storyboard. Do you ever sleep?

You are most welcome re the banner, it was an absolute blast working through that together in real time. It certainly looks the business. What a world we live in now right? From pitch, to concept, to reality in the time it takes me to put the bins out. Twelve year old Millsy starting out gaming couldn't have imagined what was ahead.

This lot nudges you back into top slot on the points roster but only just. Can you maintain the rage?

Cheers,

Millsy

From KerryT - French medieval bows and shields (240 points)

Morning, afternoon & evening all

I have only just realised that my entries to date have not contained a single metal figure and have all been plastic or 3D printed. The world of wargaming is changing it seems, though in my case this has happened by accident rather design. I'm so glad I bought both an FDM and then a resin printer. It has opened up a new world for me.

This week I've put together more 3D printed 100YW figures from Medbury Miniatures. The Perry Miniatures  Agincourt figures that I  undercoated in anticipation of last year's challenge remain untouched. I do hope to rectify that soon though.

The Medbury range is pretty big and over the past week I've managed to get both French crossbowmen and infantry with pavises completed. Luckily with a bit of fiddling I've been able to get the transfers for the French pavises designed for the Perry range to fit these.

The four transfer sheets are quite varied with each sheet containing 4 different shield designs, 3 for each city. My plan was to use these for both crossbow units and spear armed town/city militia. Its obvious from these pictures that with so many lovely shield designs to choose from that I couldn't make up my mind which to get, so I got one of each! 

The cities and their militia  represented are from Paris, Dunkerque, Peronne, Angers, Limoge, Alencon, Orleans, Pontoise, Lyons, Soissons, Rouen & Tours. I would probably have been better off with less variety though, but which would you chose?

Soissons back left, Pontoise back right, then Peronne, Orleans, Paris and Angers

Dunkerque right, Rouen & Limoge mixed

While putting these together I also realised that I've not really represented the most numerous crossbowmen in the French army during the 100YW, the famous mercenary Genoese crossbowmen. However I do have some figures over and will try and add these in a few weeks time.

There's a bit of a glare off the shields because of the lights I use to photograph figures

The other problem I had was deciding whether to represent them as individual crossbow or spear units, or together in combination. In the end I opted for one crossbow unit, one spear and one mixed, but it was only when I took the photos I realised that the crossbow unit contained a pavisier!

Medbury make a few crouching figures

A few close ups....

The men of Paris & Lyons in the front

The men of Peronne & Alencon up front here

Les Bleus

Les Rouges

Buildings from the Printable Scenery Country range

I hope to complete more 100YW units as the challenge progresses

In summary

48 x 28mm infantry @ 5 points each = 240 points

1 Squirrel

Many thanks and best wishes Valleyboy

From Millsy:

Aha! Another paint and chat subject has made an appearance. I was wondering when we'd see your pavises and apparently there wasn't long to wait.

Such a riot of colour Kerry. I've never been as tempted by French medievals as I am right now I think. I disagree completely that less is more, at least in this instance. Smashing stuff mate.

240 points busts through the 1K barrier and takes you halfway your target. Nice one.

Cheers,

Millsy

From Kerry T - Miserable Scots (160 points)

Morning, afternoon & evening all

Miserable Scots I hasten to add is not a title intended to upset or insult my fellow Celts but rather a description of these peasant archer figures from the Medbury Miniatures 100YW and Scottish Wars of Independence range. Medbury produce a lovely and large varied range of figures for these conflicts and these are 3D printed

I've chosen the description of miserable because of their appearance and poor attire and have painted them in muted colours. I've also chosen the word because it describes the weather on our summer break here in a little seaside village called Whangapoua in the Coromandel peninsula in NZ! We are currently cut off by the consequent flooding

205mm of rain in past 24hrs with another 250mm to follow today

Its not all bad though , though we're cut off, we're with good mates and have ample supplies of food and wine.

Scottish peasant archers defending a village

A few close ups showing the variations

Ragged and poorly armed

Many are depicted in bare feet

the lack of equipment meant they were quick to paint

from behind shooting at haystacks

I'd initially planned to paint a unit of 24 based in 4s on 60 x60 mm bases but on reflection they may have been better arrayed in 5s on a base. I found myself with 8 left over figures and completed these in a day before leaving for our break.

My knowledge of this period is reasonably sparse but improving. I understand that the Scottish did have archers but nowhere near the numbers that opposed them in the armies of their  English opponents. I've been listening to quite a bit of historical fiction set in this era and every author seems to comment on the use of ordinary hunting arrows by Scottish bowmen, decrying their lack of bodkin arrows. How accurate or true this is, I have no idea.

In summary then

32 X 28mm Scottish archers @ 5  points each = 160 points

1 Squirrel

(Squirrels to date- Berbers, Goblins, Dwarves, Military order knights & now Scots)

Many thanks and best wishes

Valleyboy

From Millsy:

More lovely (is that a thing?) Scots from you mate!

Your muted colour choices perfectly mirror their dour Scottish countenance. These stout lads really look like they mean business. No doubt they would feel perfectly at home in a downpour just like what you are experiencing yourself.

Beautifully photographed as usual too, your stuff is always just so atmospheric Kerry. One day I will make it to NZ and we can have a game in your wonderful space with your beautiful collection.

160 points it is. Hope the weather improves!

Cheers,
Millsy

From Kerry T: Hold, hold, hold - Scottish foot (100 points)

Morning, afternoon & evening all

I've often made comments in the past about what I call my wandering ill-disciplined brush. Today's entry is an example This leaves me to wonder how the mind works, or perhaps more specifically how the mind of a wargamer works (or doesn't). 

I raise the subject really because I find myself now  having completed  a unit of Scottish spearmen from the "Wars of the Bruce" range from the  Antediluvian Miniatures range. What's so special about that? Err, well the project actually started with a plan to do the Wars of the Roses (1455 to 1487). So how come I find myself offering an entry from the Scottish Wars of Independence (1296 to 1328 & 1332 to 1357).

It all started a few years ago when "Never Mind the Billhooks" was gaining in popularity, when seeing other gamers' efforts, I felt the attraction and bought a load of Perry plastic and metal figures for the period. Now there is an overlay between the WOTR and the Hundred Years War  (1337- 1543) and my mind suggested that with a switching  I could do both, perhaps using many of the same figures.

How did I get here though? - well I think its a combination of factors really

1 The joy of painting and staying productive by flitting between periods - what I mean by my ill-disciplined brush

2 The inevitable cry of " Oh look shiny". Thus the siren call of miniature figure ranges as you browse the net. This time it was the Antediluvian Miniatures range,  Claymore Castings, Perry Miniatures Agincourt range, Footsore Miniatures Baron's war range and lastly the Medbury Miniatures STL range. Oh yes and flags the twin calling of Flags Of War and GMB flags, I've always been a sucker for flags. In the main though I blame the figures, hence in the past seeing Artizan Landsknechts and Artizan Moors along with the Arab irregular cavalry in the WW1 range have led to a weakening of the will and thus new projects

3 A degree of megalomania... I started off intending to paint some English and French, then thought oh I could add some Scottish, Welsh and Irish.....

4 Media -In the past films like Lawrence of Arabia, The Last Samurai, and Kingdom of Heaven have led to the start of new projects. Then there are books or more recently audiobooks, essentially historical fiction (I listen while I paint) - Griff Hosker, Harry Sidebottom, David Gillman, SJ Turney & Christian Cameron whose words have filled my imagination with visual images of tabletop figures and before I know it my wallet's been opened and my brush is off on another wander!

I suppose a medieval purist will be having kittens now, figures from the Baron's war through to early/mid 100 years war are likely to come together to form my intended armies.

I could go on I know but this is by way of explanation of how I find myself here, with these....

Antediluvian Miniatures Wars of the Bruce range spearmen and knights

Based in 5s on 120 x 60 mm Warbases 2mm bases

I just love the action in these figures and was astonished by how good the  painted examples on the Antediluvian site look and so I was hooked. 

Spearmen on this base with a figure from the command pack at the back

They need something behind them I think though, more depth

Aonghus Og Mac Dohmnaill of Islay"s banner

Wasn't sure how many figures to add per base, 6 might have been better

Flags of War banner - a Scottish Saltire

The nearest base shows the knights rather than spearmen

My troops always run away

Used army painter on these, they're a bit shiny though

Well there we are, I'm not sure where I'm going with this project, all over the place as usual. When collecting I didn't really plan the units but I think in the long run I'll try and mix different figures into each unit using a mix of Claymore, Antediluvian, Footsore, Perry and Medbury. The Front Rank I have I think will have to be kept separate. There's an inspirational thread on the Lead Adventure Forum by Gareth Lane or Lord Raglan https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=135278.0 that I've followed

I'm not sure what I'll do for rules yet and a measure of my flutterbyness is that I've bought flags for 100YW French, English and Scottish along with flags for Bannockburn (1314) and Otterburn (1388). I'll just have to see where the butterfly takes me! I think WOTR is going to have to wait

So in summary

20 x 28mm Foot figures @5 points = 100 points

1 Squirrel

9 x 5 - 45 Can opener points

With many thanks

Valleyboy

From Millsy,

I was hoping to see these after you mentioned them on our regular paint and chat sessions!

They are absolutely smashing and the large bases to the front make them both safer for opponent's minis but also add a real sense of theatre. The fact enemies will be pushed back away from the pikemen reflects the way the weapon works and I love it.

The basing itself is great too and has a really compliments the colours of the padded jacks and surcoats. Lovely work mate and another well deserved 100 points.

Cheers,
Millsy