Happy New Year

 

Happy New Year to all of my Friends and followers, let us hope 2021 becomes a more normal year at some stage

Cheers

Matt

Jedi Starfighter

 

Jedi Starfighter

In the December pre Christmas sales, I picked up three Revelle Star Wars1/80th kits for five euros each. Overall they were very simple, with clear instructions and easy to fit components for construction. I base coated the main colours with a brush, completed the pilots and interior, and assembled the kit.  Then completed the painting, blacklining, added transfers and finished with a clear coat. All up about 4 hours work.

Over the last 20 years I have a collected plastic kits for a fleet of spaceship in various scales, they will join my aircraft in their display cabinet and may come out for a game one day........ I really enjoy a quick fun game in the evening with guests, and StarWars and WW1 Aircraft, Naval Dreadnoughts are part of our collection on offer at French Warames Holidays. 

I have had fun trialing a new App, for the background of the photos. It is not perfect but certainly does the job, to give the photos a fresh context and works ok.

Cheers

Matt

Seasons Greetings & a Very Merry Christmas

 

Étienne de Vignolles (The Knave of Hearts)

La Hire (the Knave of Hearts) 

Étienne de Vignolles, Chevalier, seigneur Lord of Montmorillon (Nouvelle-Aquitane) de Longueville (Normandy). Etienne the youngest member of his family born in 1390, he entered the service of liege Lord Bernard VII of Armagnac (constable of France) 1415-18 was a écuyer in the campaign against the comte de Foix.

1418 La hire and Poton de Xaintrailles, Vicomte de Bruillois both mercenary company captains, successfully raise the Burgundian siege of Coucy (Aisne) (Pontons brother Pierre de Xaintrailles was the chateau Captain). 

In 1419 he defended the chateau of Crépy-en-Laonnais (Aisne) against the Burgundians, Philippe le Bon successfully takes the Crépy in 1420. 

In 1420 At the battle of Mons-en-Vimeu where he is captured and after his ransom, La Hire and his company then moves south to join René de Anjou in his fight against the English in Maine. 

In 1421, he returns to the north to reinforce Ponton de Xaintrailles based in Guise, he leads a successful ambush at Notre Dame de Liesse killing Hector de Saveuse, the Governor de Beauvais and Compiègne (nicknamed the price of thieves and assassins); that same year La Hire was injured by a horse, when it fell on him and shattered his hip and leg and was left lame. 

In 1422, he traveled through Champagne and Picardy, capturing a new base for his company at Vitry-en-Perthois, from here he generally raids and harases the Burgundian countryside, La Hire and his men burnt 18 villages in the region. He defeated Antoine Count of Vaudémont, capturing him in 1423 in a raid and raised a large ransom for him, he then attended the handover of Compiègne to the Burgundians for the peace treaty. 

In 1423, he attacks Châlons-sur-Marne, leaving Vitry-le-François and sacked Luxembourg. 

In 1424 he moves to Maine in the Service of the bastard or Orleans and was at the Battle of Verneuil.  With the French army almost completely destroyed after the battle, new Captains are required and from this La Hire rises to prominence, several mercenary companies join his company most notably Antoine de Chabannes and Jean de Bueil, he is appointed captain of chateau Vitry-sur-seine (now Vitry-en-Perthois, Val-de-Marne). He is besieged at Guise en Thiérache, Jean de Luxembourg successfully sieges the chateaux in the region capturing la Hire, he is ransomed again. and departs with Ponton de Xaintrailles and their companies back to Maine. He enters the service of the Bastard de Orleans and is successful in the recapture of Le Mans (capital of Maine; Le Mans controls the trade routes North from the Loire to Normandy and from the west from Brittany, and produces high amounts of metal and linen, it falls to the English general Thomas de Montagu, Comte de Salisbury later in the year).

1425 departing Chateau Saint Suzanne (Maine) with a large company hear that the city of Le mans is lightly defended. La Hire, Jean de Beaumanoir (Lavardin),  Baudouin de Champagne (known as Baudouin ( I st )Baron de Tucé), and Pierre de Pasquier, Seigneur de Malidor: mount a successful surprise escalade and capture the outer city but fail to capture the chateau, they hold the city for 24 hours but it could not be held and they retire from the city.

In 1427 La Hire and Count Jean de Dunois (bastard of Orleans) successfully capture chateau La-Ferte-Bernard (Maine), then raise the english siege of Montargis (Centre val de Loire), chasing William de la Pole, duke of Suffolk and Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick north towards Paris. A wrought iron cross was also erected southwest of the city. On it was written: “In memory of Gaillardin, citizen of Montargis, who, in the fight against the English, under the walls of this city, seized the banner of Warwick, September 5, 1427 "

In 1428, leading raids into North-western Normandy from Mayenne, (Maine), he besieges Le Mans again unsuccessfully.

1429, He is in Orléans as one of the captains of the city and at the battle of the herrings ("La Journée des Harengs"); he was then in the entourage of Jeanne d'Arc, and participated in all the deeds leading to the crowning of Charles. He was at the battle of Jargeau (10 juin 1429 - 12 June 1429), battle of Meung-sur-Loire (14 June 1429), battle of Beaugency (15 June 1429 - 16 June 1429) and Patay (18 June 1429), July 2, 1429 siege of Auxerre, July 4, 1429-July 10, 1429 : Siege of Troyes (In the Aube department, in Champagne-Ardenne), July 14, 1429 : Capture of Châlons-en-Champagne, July 16, 1429 : Capture of Reims, remaining with Jeanne d'Arc and partaking as the soldiers representative at the coronation ofCharles VII at Reims. Appointed bailiff of Vermandois, with a pay of 292 livres; he successfully retakes Château-Gaillard (Vexin) in 1429 (losing it again to the English in 1430), 

1430 August at the siege of Chateau Aumale (Seine-Maritine) and raid of Louviers (l'Eure), where he was then taken by  the Earl of Suffolk: 

"this week was taken the worst and the most tyrant and the least pitiful of all the captains who were of all the Armagnacs , La Hire was taken and was placed in the chastel of Dourdan. " 

He escaped from Dourdan in March 1432, and gathered a band of mercenaries to roam Normandy and Vexin based around Beauvais. 

1433, La Hire occupied Beauvais in the name of Charles VII. 

In 1434, he attacked Guy IV de Nesle, Seigneur de Mello & d'Offémont, besieging the chateau and ransomed it. 

In 1435, His victory at the battle Gerberoy, where John FitzAlan earl of Arundel was captured but died from his wounds.  La Hire and Xaintrailles resumed there brigandage of the countryside. During the Arras negotiations, La Hire and Xaintrailles continued to sack many of the Burgundian towns as far north as Amiens. 

In 1436 At the siege of Creil his brother Amadoc de Vignoles was killed.

1437 at the siege of Montereau, from Chateau Beauvais captained raids into English Normandy 

1438 received the seigneury of Montmorillon (January 7, 1438) (Aquitane). That same year, he was found in Alsace, where he and his mercenaries committed the worst abuses. 

In 1440, he tried in vain to take Harfleur, then fought in Picardy. 

In 1442, he accompanied the king to Guyenne (Tartas),  a few kilometers from his birthplace. 

Wounded at Montauban, where he died on the eleventh of January 1443.

 His epitaph: Cy gist noble homme Estienne de Vignolles dit La Hire, dans son pays d'origine

His tomb, installed at his request in the Saint-Laurent chapel in Montmorillon and decorated with a recumbent figure representing him, disappeared during the Revolution . A commemorative stone is still there in the chapel.

La Hire lives on........

One interesting feature of the French dominance of playing cards in this time is the attention given to court cards. In the late 1500s French manufacturers began giving the court cards names from famous literary epics such as the Bible and other classics. It is from this era that the custom developed of associating specific court cards with famous names, the more well-known and commonly accepted ones for the Kings being King David (Spades), Alexander the Great (Clubs), Charlemagne (Hearts), and Julius Caesar (Diamonds), representing the four empires of Jews, Greeks, Franks, and Romans. Notable characters ascribed to the Queens include the Greek goddess Pallas Athena (Spades), Judith (Hearts), Jacob's wife Rachel (Diamonds), and Argine (Clubs). The Knaves were commonly designated as La Hire (Hearts), Charlemagne’s knight Ogier (Spades), Hector the hero of Troy (Diamonds), and King Arthur's knight Lancelot (Clubs).

cheers

Matt

English Archers Guerre Folle-Mad War

 Another English Archer unit complete, or are they..... this unit will be a proxy English unit. The Bretons placed 1700 men with Tabard of the Red Cross of St George, the victorious French at the battle of Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier put everyone wearing the Red Cross to the sword, only the young squire of Sir Edward Woodville (Lord Scales) survived as he was wearing his own arms.

28mm WOTR Perry miniatures 

Cheers

Matt

11th Annual Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge

 Well this year I have decided to enter the Analogue Hobbies painting challenge for the first time, aside from painting miniatures worth various points you can also participate by painting small challenges along the way for extra points. I have decided to stay focused and complete my own painting schedule, unless I finish early or get a little ansty and bored of what I am painting.

This challenge I will be painting some 28mm Napoleonic Cavalry, Infantry, and Romans to the total of 1500 points. You also need to paint a gift for one of the other participants...not sure what to do yet....

Each 20mm foot figure 4 points, cavalry 8 points

28mm figure is worth 5 points, cavalry 10 points

Napoleonics 

• Cuirassiers 
• Gendarmes d'elite
• Dragoons
• Mamelouks

Romans 

• Imperial Legionarys
• Auxillia
• Cavalry

And if I get board Medievals

• Bretons Guerre Folle
• French HYW
• Maine Plantagenet wars

wish me luck

cheers

Matt

Prince François de Rohan and Breton MAA Guerre folle -Mad War

 Breton Noble Men at Arms Saint Aubin du Cormier

A number of leading Breton nobles mustered to the call of the Breton Ordonances call to arms, like all border regions some families were split, especially those who had lands and Family in the border Marchers of Anjou, Maine and Normandy. 

Prince Francois de Rohan the 19 year old son of Jean II Vicomte de Rohan and Marie de Brittany(daughter of Duke Francois I of Brittany) . His Father Jean II Vicomte de Rohan had elected depart his allegiance to Francois I Duke of Brittany to side with the French King handing his border chateaux over to the French armies, coming from the Blois line, he also an ancient claim to the Dukedom of Brittany.  

At the coming of the war young Francois de Rohan like most young Breton Nobles was in the household of the Duke Francois, and in 1487 rallied to the Breton Duke, when Nantes was under siege lead the Arrie Ban of Cornouaillais and Leonard in its relief breaking the siege. 

In 1488 at the battle of Saint Aubin du Cormier he lead one of the Breton MAA companies on the right Flank, he was killed it was thought by French artillery. 

from the left 

• Pierre de Francheville (Scottish) wounded at Saint Aubin du Cormier and lance captain, taken prisoner was ransomed. After the war was appointed Seneschal of Rhuys, appointed the tax commissioner of the salt mines at Truscat and Seigneur de Sarzeau.
• François de Rohan killed at Saint Aubin du Cormier. 
• Baron Pierre du Pont de l'Abbé, seigneur de  Pont l'Abbé, de Rostrenen, and Ponthou, killed at Saint Aubin du Cormier, Lance Captain.

                              Raoul d'Estimbrieuc, écuyer seigneur de Estimbrieuc

cheers

Matt

Pegasus Bridge build part 1

 

Building Pegasus Bridge

The most famous bridge and coup de main of DDay is pegasus bridge on the orne river canal. I have already started the tiles for the bridge and I am hoping to really produce a lovely table to be able to replay this famous event on the tabletop. I also plan to build the village and road bridge over the river this will play on a 5 x 12 ft table. 

For the bridge I am using the Raventhorpe Sentry 20mm Pegasus bridge made from resin. I plan to add a few changes to this plus make some improvements and additions to the piece. 

My plan is to remove the solid handrails and replace them with wire ones, drill out the girders and above the control shed, file out the lifting beam arms, replace the cross beam, add plastic ladders and continue the light rail entry and exits off the bridge ramps.

drilling and filing out the girders, a bit of work and a mask and a vacuum cleaner nearby 

I hope to have this completed by next week.

Cheers

Matt

Terrain Tuesday Artillery Redoubt Fortification

Terrain Tuesday

This terrain Tuesday I am working on another two pieces, one is from my Napoleonic project drawer, the other is from my WW2 20mm project drawer. 

The first piece is a 28mm Horse and Musket to ACW fortified redoubt, I originally made five of these for my Borodino demonstration game  in 2012. I only used four of them for the game as I decided to make the Raevsky redoubt as its own stand alone piece. This piece has been half finished in the terrain drawer for 8 years, about time it departed, as you can see flock is still drying!

cheers

Matt

Jean IV de Chalon-Arlay Prince of Orange Mad War-Guerre Folle

Prince of Orange, Jean IV de Chalon-Arlay

Jean IV de Chalon-Arlay Prince of Orange , Lord of the House of Chalon-Arlay. Vicomte de Besançon , Vicomte d' Auxonne, Lord of Arlay , Nozeroy , Arbois , Bletterans, , Cuiseaux , Varennes-Saint-Sauveur , Beaurepaire-en-Bresse (Burgundy) Lord of Lamballe , Moncontour , Rhuys and Lespine-Gaudin (Brittany). Jean was born in 1443 in the County of Burgundy. Son of Prince of Orange William VII of Châlon and of Catherine of Brittany (daughter of Count Richard d'Étampes and sister of Duke François II of Brittany). He fought at the battle of Grandson during the Burgundian wars in support of Charles the Bold. 

In 1477 at the close of the Burgundian wars and following the death of his powerful ally the Duke of Burgundy Charles the Bold, King Louis XI of France took a position of strength and confiscated all of the property of the House of Chalon-Arlay, forcing the Prince to 'Orange to compromise and enter the service of the king. However, he returned to the side of the Duchess Marie of Burgundy to facilitate her marriage to Emperor Maximilian of Austria . In 1477, in anger Louis XI banished him from the kingdom of France and had him hanged in effigy.

Nephew of Duke François II of Brittany , he travelled to the Duchy of Brittany sent with a marriage proposal by Maximilien I in 1481 for the hand of Anne of Brittany who was a minor. He returns to Brittany in 1486 with a contingent of Bearn Mercenaries halberdiers and crossbow (1100) and Burgundian nobles MAA. 

 He was in the main body at the battle of Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier the July 28, 1488, after having fought fiercely, he tries to pass himself off as dead but is taken prisoner, and remains under house arrest in Riom until February 1489. 

He returned to Rennes in 1489, sent by Charles VIII of France to prevent Anne's marriage with Alain d'Albret and to negotiate with her the French occupation of the duchy. After the death of duke Francis, John became heir presumptive to the new duchess, Anne.  As a member of the high council, he was appointed commander of Rennes and lieutenant general of Brittany. Jean once again attempted to secure Anne's marriage to Maximilian, but the French intervened. John negotiated the eventual marriage between Anne and king Charles VIII, where he was one of the witnesses. He surrendered his own claim to the duchy for the sum of 100,000 livres, and was re-appointed as lieutenant general of Brittany, a position he held until his death.

Figures are again Perry Plastics 

cheers

Matt

50th Northumbrian Infantry Division Tyne Tees Work in Progress

50th Northumbrian Infantry Division Tyne Tees

This month I have started on my 20mm Collection to complete some half completed projects in my project drawers.


On the work desk this month are 100 plus 20mm British Infantry for the 50th Infantry Tyne Tees Division. I hope to have these completed by the end of this week. I have decided to build several elements of the division, first up will be the


69th Infantry Brigade
BHQ
5th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment
6th Battalion, Green Howards
7th Battalion, Green Howards
support elements
I also plan to build the DLI, No.47 commando and the crab flails of the Westminster dragoons, plus RMASG, and other support elements, engineers, artillery etc for Dday and inland.


I also have a lot of support elements and drivers to complete, plus vehicles. Infantry Figures are all Britannia miniatures which I like to paint, some of the crewed vehicles will have some AB and SHQ bits too.

East Yorkshire flashes

The unofficial Green Flashes, not approved until after the war, I have found no solid proof that were worn in France

The official Flash which I will use

Cheers

Matt

Louis II duc de Orleans (Louis XII King Of France) The Rebel Prince

 The Rebel Prince!

My next unit for the Guerre Folle-Mad War is Louis II Duc de Orleans, born at Chateau Blois, raised from a minor by King Louis XI. A very interesting figure in the early French renaissance. After the death of King Louis XI, his son young Charles VIII was crowned in minority (13) the regency was then held by his older sister Anne de Beaujeu.

Louis II duc de Orleans lead the opposition against the regency of Anne along with a number of leading French Princes in the west, particularly Maine, Anvegvin, and Blois Lords, predominantly to gain back territory annexed by Louis XI during his consolidation and unraveling of feudal rights within France (this lead the War of the Public Good/Weal). After the war of the public Weal, and the Death of Charles the bold of Burgundy, Louis XI annexed all of Armagnac, Anjou and Maine, taking it by force in 1471 from his Uncle René of Anjou, thereby in 1476 disinheriting Marguerite of Anjou queen consort of King Henry VI of England (who was executed in 1471). Louis XI had also obtained Burgundy and Picardy by 1482 making him the direct ruler of France rather than through the feudal fealty.


A plan is hatched by the Princes and Dukes after his death in 1483, Louis II Duc de Orleans joined with a great number the western Lords, René duc de Lorraine, the Breton Duke Françios, Jean de Chalon-Arlay Prince of Orange, Comte Alain d'Albret, Charles d'Orleans-Longueville count of Angouleme constable of Normandy, Odet d'Aydie count of Comminges, Phillip d'Comminges Flanders, and the Emperor Maximilian I of Austria. to overturn the annexations and the changes.


Louis II Duke of Orleans then tries to kidnap Charles in 1484, this fails, so he sieges Paris, this fails and he retreats to Maine, then back to Orleans. He is then besieged in Beaugency in central Val-de-Loire and captured imprisoned in Blois. Francois of Brittany signs the peace treaty of Bourges on the 2nd November 1485, this ends the first phase of the Mad War.


The rebels then are still planning rebellion, fighting again breaks out with the invasion of France by Maximilian I of Austria in the North in November 1486, the successful siege and capture of Parthenay by Charles d'Orleans-Longueville. On January 11th 1487 Louis II duc d'Orleans, is broken out of jail and rides hard for Brittany with Franc archers in hot pursuit


The French sent an armies North, South and West to deal with the rebels. The Northern Alliance was easily defeated by Philippe de Crèvecœur, Lord of Esquerdes Marshal of France. In the South-West the French army arrives in Bordeaux besieging the city, and Oydet d'Aydie, governor of Guyenne, is dismissed and replaced by Pierre de Beaujeu. The west however was a whole new exercise, negotiation began with François of Brittany, but Guy fealty to the King of France and the Duke of Brittany give over there important border chateaux to the King.


At the end of the month of May 1487, the French troops, nearly 15,000 men entered Brittany. The army of the Duke of Brittany is concentrated towards Malestroit. It has 600 MAA and nearly 16,000 men in the Archer Ban.
However, the advance of the French troops is dazzling Charles VIII and Anne de Beaujeu arrive in Laval: the border Breton Chateaux of Ancenis, Châteaubriant, La Guerche and Redon surrender after short sieges. Plöermel tries to resist, but fell after three days of bombardment and was taken on 1 st June. By this bad news, and political differences between the Breton nobles, the ducal army is dismembered. There are only 4000 men remaining in the field, unable to rescue Plöermel. François II and Louis II Duc d'Orlean fled to Vannes, and then onto joining Nantes, before Vannes was also taken.

In Nantes, the defense is organized, the French troops lay siege on the city on the 19th of June. It dragged on in front of the effective Breton defense, and the loyalty of the inhabitants, helped by the foreign mercenary Germans and Gascons, finally the city received the decisive support of the Arrie ban of Cornouaillais and Leonard who arrived lead by Léon Rohan, the son of the Vicomte de Rohan, and broke the encirclement. The French troops held in check lift the siege on August 6th. In the North Guy de Laval XV hands over Vitré on the 1st of September the Royal troops then move and capture Saint Aubin du Cormier and Dol de Bretagne on the 10th. Another ceasefire comes into effect and the King returns to Paris.

On January 20th 1488, the Duke of Orleans and the Duke of Brittany are both declared rebels and guilty of lese majesty. In March the Duc de Orleans leading his own household troops and the newly arrived German mercenaries recaptured the chateaux and cities of Vannes, Auray and Ploërmel. Capturing the Vicomte de Rohan in the process.
The Royal French Army musters at Chateau Gontier under the command of Louis II de La Trémoille Vicomte de Thouars. A large contingent of Swiss and Italian Mercenaries join them along with a large artillery train. On April 24, a confiscation order was issued against all of Louis d'Orléans' property.
La Trémoille and the royal army, 15,000 strong, easily took Château Marcillé-Robert on March 28. On April 7, François II ordered the muster of the Breton troops in Rennes. On April 15, the royal army laid siege upon Chateau Châteaubriant, it fell 8 days later. La Trémoille then moved towards Ancenis where he laid siege during the night of 12 to 13. The town and chateau fell on May 19 the large Royal French artillery train completely destroyed the citadel. While negotiations begin with the Duke of Brittany seeking a truce, La Trémoille seats Chateau Loroux-Bottereau, which also falls on the 14th., the southern Breton chateaux are all taken.

On the 1st of June, a thing begins, the Breton nobles and peasants returned home for harvest, but the Royal army remains in the field. La Trémoille moves north and Château-Gontier becomes one of the stores of the army of La Trémoille.

La Trémoille anticipates the end of the truce, and from June 17, he sets off his army towards his next objective Chateau Fougeres the largest fortification in the west (and France). The talks breakdown on July 9th, the Royal army departed Vitré and besieged Fougères around the 12th. The city is defended by a garrison of 3,000 men, the French artillery train again batters down the walls and the chateau falls on the 19th.


The Breton Army Musters in Rennes, pulling together an army of around 11,000 men by the 24th of June. They depart Rennes moving north meeting the Royal army just south of Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier on the 28th of June.
At the battle of Saint Aubin du cormier Louis II duc de Orleans, was given the left flank command position of the Breton Army, leading the German Mercenaries, some loyal Blois nobles and some Breton nobles, in the battle the wing suffered terribly under the French heavy artillery fire, and fell back, leaving the hole that the Italian Mercenary cavalry to punch through and role up the center and right flank from the rear to the wood after a successful one.

cheers

Matt

WW1 20mm/172 Jasta Pilots

 WW1 1/72-20mm pilots

A few little pieces off the table in between jobs, some metal Wartime Miniatures 1/72-20mm ww1 pilots. I commissioned these figures a number of years ago so I could fill my WW1 aircraft both Allied squadrons and German Jastas and my  Spanish Civil war, and early war german aircraft. I have three Fokker DR1 aircraft to finish off from Jasta 11 in my project draw, I hope to build them over the christmas break

cheers

matt

German Landsknechte Pikemen Guerre Folle-Mad War

German Landsknechtes in Brittany

Maximillian I of Austria raised the most famous of mercenaries in the Renaissance, the Landsknectes. These mercenary Saxon princely bands started to become more common after 1488. As part of his support for his future wife 11 year old Anne of Brittany, he sent a small contingent as a body gaurd of 32 Halberdiers in 1487 commanded by Henri de Villespern. When the French launched their invasion of the duchy a promise came from Maximillain I that he would send 3500 mercenaries to support the Duchy of Brittany. 

Only 840 men arrived in Brittany in time for the battle of Saint Aubin du Cormier, the contingent contained three troop types, Pikemen, Halberdiers and arquebusiers, they were placed under the command of Louis II duc de Orleans (plus he added his retinue of 230 MAA, Louis became the future king of France Louis XII 10 years later) 700 pikemen and Halberdiers commanded by Captain Bhler of Jullac (thought to be the bastard son of Duke Heinrich VIII of Braunschweig-Wolfenbuttel), and 90 arquebusiers. I will break this into three contingents, one pike, one Halberdiers and a skirmish base or Arquebusiers. 

The figures are from the Perry Miniatures mercenaries box

 Cheers

Matt

Special Forces Splinter Teams

 Special Forces Splinter Teams

Another completed unit from the project drawers, almost completely emptied one this year, these guys have been sitting in there for at least 10 years. 

I completed these three sections of four man splinter teams  for my Cold War collection, all based on different bases to tell them apart. The bases are built up with green stuff for tiles or floorboards. Perfect for indoors ops during Covid! I will use them for my Force on For e skirmish games and perhaps for Cold War skirmish games. They are from the platoon 20 Israeli range. Quite happy with the results.

cheers

Matt

Terrain Tuesday- Steam Traction!

 

Terrain Tuesdays!

 Each week until March, I have decided to spend some time on some terrain each tuesday, I will try to complete a piece or at least add some detail to a piece of terrain for my table, sometimes really useful or just a filler, results of today's efforts! 

Steam traction engines have always fascinated me, in my childhood I would often visit the neighbours saw mill that has a steam traction engine the dove the great saws that cut down the Australian hardwoods from the forests of New England Tablelands. Later in my teens when I joined the engineers we had as our regiments mascot a Frog and a steam traction engine (2/3 Feild Engineer regiment) and I volunteered to work on the beast. 

So with that in mind I picked up a Steam Engine pencil sharpener around 6 years ago, these are often found in Australian tourist gift shops, particulary in country areas and have been around for 30 odd years. 

First job remove the sharpener and the wheel assembly, add decent axles, then undercoat.

Next I scratch built the flywheel, and the housing 

Then a quick fit before I attach the linkages, then paint job green and red plus Brass work for the bling!

getting close, still some highlighting and bits to do

Mounted, I did F?U and forgot to add the rubber band belt......oh well nothing a bit of superglue will not fix.

Now I am not certain if it will drive a saw mill or a chaff cutter, both were widely used in Maine and Normandy during the war.

The Chaff cutter may be more suitable for Normandy/Maine

Second item I have been working on is a ww2 destroyed resin building, a refurbishment and completion of a part painted piece that has been in my collection for ten years or more. It suffered a little in the move so I decided to do a few repairs and touch ups, a bit more to do then complete.

cheers

Matt

Guerre Folle-Mad War Breton Crossbowmen

Breton compagnie d'ordonnance crossbow 

Another Breton unit off the table for my Breton army for the Mad War. The Breton Ordnance companies were required to have one Archer (crossbow, longbowman, or spearman) per every 10 hearths. In 1488 less than 20 per cent mustered, mostly because the French Army invaded during the harvest season. Some of the northern Arrie ban did muster from the city of Rennes and the border marches( Vitré, Dol and St Malo was occupied by French) and the Comte de Laval sided with the French, and many of the Marcher lords of Maine and Brittany owed fealty to both sides and did not even take part on either side.

Perry Miniatures again, the pavises are Perry plastics, lots more coming this week.

cheers

Matt

Renaissance Swiss Mercenary crossbow

 Swiss Renaissance Crossbow

The first of my Swiss mercenary units for the Guerre Folle (Mad War), 4000 Swiss fought at the battle of Saint Aubin du Cormier, in 12 companies. I am not certain what the mix in each company was but crossbow and arquebusier were both present along with pike and halberdiers.

cheers

Matt

Aulerci Cénomani III

 Completed another Gaulois tribal stand for my Aulerci Cénomani, again I have tried to make them look a little different with plumes and larger plaids, the miniatures are 28mm victrix miniatures.

Also as a plus I completed some casualty markers from my project drawer, they are the Wargames Factory Gauls, which are not the best sculpts, but with a few cuts and a little green stuff to fill gaps make good casualty markers.

Back to medievals for the next few days mostly completing standards as I think I have 8 bases to complete,  then I will complete the last 40 odd Gallic figures before the analogue painting challenge begins on the 15th of December. 

Cheers

Matt