WOTR Mounted Men at Arms

 These Men at Arms  have been painted for a commission in Australia 

Cheers

Matt

WOTR Perry Cavalry

 Perry Miniatures WOTR Cavalry 

Completed these 10 Perry Miniatures WOTR cavalry. These chaos are off to market as they are excess to my needs. See my for sale page above in full view or follow link here 

Cheers

Matt

 

Terrain Tuesday - medieval house

 Bourgeois House 

A project I started last year during the  analogue painting challenge in March 2023. I was in storage last week when I found the half finished, so I decided bring it down and comple it over the weekend. Quite happy with my results, I intend to base this also and make a gatehouse and outbuilding for it with the entry from the courtyard. It will join my other pieces and is suitable from 13th century to current. 

Medieval additions

 Medieval Additions 

A few small pieces off the table, two War of the Roses command pieces and a medieval siege machine. The figures are from Perry and the siege machine crew are from foundry, not sure where the trebuchet is from. 

Cheers

Matt

Test of Resolve Rules review

 Test of Resolve Rules Review

The War of the Roses always has been an interest of mine, but I have not really found a set of Rules that reflect the combat of the period. Recently I had David Knight one of the authors of the new Test of Resolve rules visit and he bought along his rules. We played 8 games over two days plus visited the Mad War chateaux and the battlefield of Saint Aubin du Cormier in Brittany. 

The rules are simple to follow and use a card driven mechanism for your turn, the units have simple formations and act how exactly how they should, archers, levy and MAA, plus mounted MAA options. You can easily build an army if you follow the basing recommended. The games are very rapid and you can easily complete a game in under two hours. The biggest bonus though are the scenario books which have every major conflict during the war, plus the rebellions and baron squabbles after. 

I would highly recommend them for those who are after a rapid war game that plays like a medieval battle. The research is excellent and I think the scenarios books are fabulous. The rules are available on Amazon. 

Marguerite of Anjou

La rose rouge d'Anjou

Marguerite of Anjou, one of the principal figures of the war of the roses. Daughter of Rene of Anjou, (King of Naples). Often named as the spark that started the 30 year War of the Roses.  A 28mm Perry miniature painted for the invasion of England during the War of the Roses to place her son Edward back on the crown . Inspiration for her dress from her portrait in Angers Chateau which we visit regularly.

Cheers

Matt

Edward Woodville the last Knight Errant, Breton Guerre Folle - Mad War

 The Last Knight Errant Edward Woodville 

Possibly the last great knight errant, Edward Woodville fought all over Europe and England, he was a leader in the War of the Roses, the invasion of Scotland, and France, fought as a mercenary captain in Castille War of Succession and crusaded against the Moors of Spain. 

I have written a summary of his last days leading up to the battle of Saint Aubin du Cormier where he died with his whole contingent except a young squire who returned to the Isle of Wight. Again Perry Miniatures based for Impetus.

Edward Woodville Lord scales

English Billmen lead by Edward Woodville

Rear English Billmen

Edward Woodville, known as Lord Scales by both the French and Spanish but he never held the title, tenth child of Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers. The Family initially supported the Lancastrians the changed allegiances to the house of York when his sister Elizabeth Woodville married King Edward IV. 

Longbow vs Armour 1418 English Longbow Myth

 English longbow myth busted

As I have long suspected from my reading that the myth of the high poundage longbow piercing quality armour covered with a quilted gambeson has been busted........ 

Reading the historical documents from the late Hundred Years’ War it was not the piercing but the kinetic energy and the morale that done the damage to any charge, multiple hits like hail stones would of been most disconcerting to advancing French, English or Scots, Italians et al under the hail of the longbow fire. Yes exposed parts would of been pierced, but in the majority a well armoured knight needed to put up with the hail of shots that would of caused blunt force trauma rather than actual piercing of the armour. Morale was the big factor and effected the charge more than I think we can possibly imagine. 

I was surprised that Toby Capewell had not done this type of experiment before, especially when it came to the quilted gambesons effectiveness in reducing kinetic energy. I have used one over my armour for 10 years or more, the reduction of a blow from a two handed weapon is worth the extra heat.

Enjoy the video amd let me know what you think 

Video presented by Todds Workshop 

Can arrows defeat armour?

Cheers

Matt

French Bandes d'Infanterie Pike Guerre Folle 1488

 

 French Bandes d'Infanterie Pikemen

As I am basing and completing miniatures this week, I have some more foot this week for my own project for the Guerre Folle, the 1488 campaign in Bretagne. 

The French Bandes d'Infanterie pikemen performed well in the campaign with a number of veterans from the Burgundian wars.  The Bandes d'Infanterie (old Arrière-ban) were to be formed along the Swiss model, but were in some documents were still referred to as Ordonnance still. The units if formed along the old ordonnance structure of one mounted MAA, 3 archers (mounted for transport) and one polearm foot, this gets confusing trying to make the numbers match up for the units, for the battle of Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier. 6000 odd of the Normandy Arrière-ban were raised for the invasion (only 3000 were present at the battle though)

These chaps will be one of 8 French pike double base units (representing 1000 men) for the French army, plus attached crossbow, archers and flanks of halberds, I hope to have them all finished by April this year.  Figures from the Perry plastic mercenaries box, which I think is the best box available.

Normandy Bandes d'Infanterie

"walk the battlefield in the morning, wargame in the afternoon"™ 

From Caesar to World War Two

cheers

Matt

War of the Roses look out for the billhooks 3

 War of the Roses Mounted MAA

Completed some more mounted Perry miniatures, these are such a joy to paint! 

"walk the battlefield in the morning, wargame in the afternoon"™ 

From Caesar to World War Two

cheers

Matt

War of the Roses.....look out for the bill hooks 2

 

 War of the Roses Men at Arms

Been a bit quite as I am slogging my way through 204 1/72 Cuirassiers for a customer order, in between I have been painting War of the Roses Men at Arms for another customer and some Gauls for myself.

 Figures are from Perry miniatures metal and plastic range, just lovely figures. Happy with the spirals on my lances, I use a hobby holder that I got on a kick starter that uses soft drink lids that screw on than can rotate on the holder, it makes life simple for these lances that is for sure. 

"walk the battlefield in the morning, wargame in the afternoon"™ 

From Caesar to World War Two

cheers

Matt