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Post by patrick on Dec 21, 2020 22:58:37 GMT
Hello everybody,
I'm new to the forum, my name is Patrick.
I live in Herefordshire in the United Kingdom.
I'm currently building my first wargame armies, two Anglo Norman skirmish forces for the civil war between Stephen and Matilda. The forces are in 54mm, using minor conversions of lead figures from Irregular miniatures. I've replaced all the spears and bows with brass rods so the figures will be more durable for wargame handling.
I plan to use the lion rampant rules.
I have not yet played a game, my initial 'table' will be my lawn, but being winter it is too wet at present. At least there is room for a shed when I have the money.
My painting skills are not great so I have gone for a gloss toy soldier style, that is a bit bayeux tapestry in look, which I personally like.
Painted I have
3 units of 6 armoured cavalry (enhanced sergeants)
2 units of 12 unamoured spearmen (yeoman)
1 unit of 12 mailed armoured spearmen (sergeants)
2 units of 12 sergeant archers (may actually field as 4 units of 6 bidowers, may be more acurate historically) 1 unit of 6 yeoman slingers (bidowers)
1 unit of 6 yeoman archers (bidowers)
2 ox carts for convoy scenarios
Being Painted 4 units of 6 armoured cavalry (irregular miniatures have kindly done me a variant of their norman knight figure with mail hose for the lower leg, mail for the lower face and mail sleeves to the wrist) which will represent better equipped knights of this era.
Being planned more spearmen, I would like some quilted armoured spearmen but that would be beyond my conversion skills
2 custom ox carts for convoy scenarios
I've stuck magnetic squares to the base of each figure, and have two movement trays for each unit covered in steel paper. So I will be able to move the figures quickly, and won't have to spend time measuring for unit cohesion, I will also have the option of easily playing Daniels Mersey's extra unit facing rules. Also as I remove 'killed' figures the unit can still occupy the same amount of ground, given that removed figures represent stress and fatigue more than casualties and routers.
regards
Pat
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Post by paulcollins on Dec 21, 2020 23:06:42 GMT
Welcome aboard Pat! I believe you will find this to be an open and friendly group of individuals. Your Normans are very nice, as are your cottages. Are those made by you?
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Post by patrick on Dec 21, 2020 23:09:59 GMT
Hi Paul,
Nice to meet you.
Yes I made the cottages myself.
Pat
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Post by twogunbob on Dec 22, 2020 1:57:03 GMT
Well come! Lion Rampant and its compatriot rules systems are pretty spiffing. Well, I have quibbles with Rebels & Patriots but need to give it a try again. Figures look great and love the houses, scratch built is best built!
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Post by aducknamedjoe on Dec 22, 2020 6:18:02 GMT
Welcome, and I love that block color style painting!
Are the roofs on your houses made from towels? It's a brilliant innovation. And how did you do those fences?
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Post by davel on Dec 22, 2020 7:33:28 GMT
Hi Patrick.
Great to see your figures. Don't knock your painting. They look great to me. Hope You'll post more photos and don't be afraid to ask for advice.there's a mine of information on this forum.
I live in the Staffordshire Moorlands.
If ever you put a demo on at shows, let us know so we can come and see your lovely figures
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Post by tradgardmastre on Dec 22, 2020 8:45:02 GMT
Great to have you with us. Lovely figures and I look forward to seeing your project moving forward.
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Post by spiritofethandune on Dec 22, 2020 10:02:12 GMT
Wonderful figures Pat, lovely painting, clean and shiny! Irregular do have the most comprehensive range of 54mm figures I know. I am a great fan of Lion Rampant et al but as I only have a 6' x 4' table in my shed I have used half-size 54mm units. Another option that I have yet to try is counting each figure in a half-size unit as two figures when counting casualties, which would make the game last longer!
Best wishes
Anthony
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Post by gonefishing on Dec 22, 2020 14:26:54 GMT
That's one heck of a way to join a group, I must say. Your collection looks lovely, and as others have said, don't knock your painting; it suits both the scale in general and the figures you've chosen, and the whole thing does have a feel of being lifted off the Bayeux tapestry. To my mind, there could be no higher praise. The houses, too, are superbly and creatively done. Even the fencing looks great.
So welcome, Patrick! Looking forward to seeing how the project develops!
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Post by patrick on Dec 22, 2020 22:57:34 GMT
Thanks everyone for the great welcome. Regarding the fences Joe I just used soft garden tie wire, put Haxnicks Tie010300 8 m Slim Soft Tie, Green, 800 x 3.5 x 0.03 cm in amazon.co.uk and it should come up. However humbrol gloss would not stick to the plastic coating of the ties, plastikote paint would just about stick, but even then I'd coat the wire fully but the paint would roll back to leave bare patches.
And yes the roofs are from towel, folded over a rectangle of foam camping mat. The ridge of the roof is just a narrow length of doubled towel, without any camping mat inside. By a fluke having camping mat underneath the towel allowed me to stick dress maker pins into the towel to keep it fairly taunt whilst the glue dried.
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Post by zuludon on Dec 23, 2020 0:20:23 GMT
Beautiful. I wish my approach to a new period was as planful as yours. Now all you need is a Norman Keep.
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Post by 79thpa on Dec 23, 2020 13:59:51 GMT
Well done. A great looking force.
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Post by patrick on Feb 1, 2021 23:26:39 GMT
Setting a new slow painting record, another 4 units of norman cavalry for Lion Rampant. Irregular Miniatures kindly made me a variation of their norman knight, with mail sleeves to wrists, mail over lower face, and mail hose for the legs. This is probably how the best equipped knights would have been armoured at the time of the Anarchy 1135 to 1153. Unlike my previous 3, more lighter armoured cavalry units, I've given each man a gofannon. Historically it is not clear if all knights had a gofannon by then, but they will provide a visual indicator if I ever decide to split my cavalry into separate units of knights and sergeants, although to start with I am planning to mix them in the same unit. www.findingthepast.org.uk/normans/knights1.jpgwww.findingthepast.org.uk/normans/knights2.jpgwww.findingthepast.org.uk/normans/knights3.jpgI don't like looking at them in close up, but from a gaming distance, through my aging eyes they look fine to me. A second unit of armoured spearmen will start at the weekend. |
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Post by aducknamedjoe on Feb 2, 2021 4:43:24 GMT
I just love this glossy style.
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Post by spiritofethandune on Feb 2, 2021 9:19:35 GMT
Yes, just mouth-watering! I also really love your approach to getting things right. I too have in the past got IM to make a special figure to fill a gap in their ranges (in my case it was a 42mm Tommy with sten gun).
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