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
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
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
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!
cheers
Matt
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
