Cry Havoc!

 Sadly I am still too busy to do any actual gaming so will take this opportunity to share some of the stuff I have been up to. As usual, I have been painting lots and having crazy ideas. The latest thing that has enthused me, beyond the ongoing obsession with recreating the entire Napoleonic (and possibly Revolutionary Wars) on the tabletop, is the idea of doing some medieval skirmishing in 54mm. I have loved the period, the scale and model knights since I was a nipper - I may even have a picture somewhere of a mighty battle on my bedroom floor with such figures. 

Anyway, there has been a trend of late for skirmish wargaming that I do not entirely approve of. Some people's idea of 'skirmish wargaming' is just (as far as I can see) a normal wargame with less figures. This isn't what I am aiming for - I want to recreate the kind of scuffles that were historically fought between a handful of troops. These could be clashing foragers; troops of light cavalry, with their support, trying to ascertain their enemy's whereabouts or irregulars harrying lines of communication and supply. Much potential I feel.

The 'medieval' period is pretty vast in scope so I have decided to concentrate on two or three main areas where I believe there may have been small scale battles. The first will be the Anglo-Scottish wars of the 14th century, which featured a lot of cattle rustling and cross boarder raiding. The second will be the hundred years war period which featured a form of raiding known as the chevauchee which is ideal my purposes - this can also be expanded to include similar squabbles occurring elsewhere in Europe at the time; particularly Italy where Free Companies caused much bother. I also plan a force of Turks to be used against either of the forces raised above for various crusades. I am less sure of my ground here but feel there must have been attacks on caravans and scenarios around siege warfare (besides I've had the figures for some time and want to use them!)

For the 'blue team'! Airfix Medieval Foot soldiers - painted pretty much as they come. I chopped off the shield boss as they were quite rare by the 13th century and certainly by the 14th. Also tried to make the two handed sword less silly and obviously 16th century - whilst the figures for the medieval period are nice, the sculptors seem to have played fast and loose with the historical details. I bought these from the local newsagents in 1979 for 50p!

OK - the two on the left are a bit late for HYW but the chap on the right is spot on - all figures here are Irregular Miniatures.

These are all Scottish knights - they seem to be having a falling out! The figures are from those packs of 'Hero Knights' you can get in some toyshops and online - They are (I believe) copies of 1/72 Italeri crusaders upscaled. They paint up alright and a very cheap!

A mix here - Ralph de Warenne is a Britains knight with a repaint. The others are again Airfix - this time with a new sword replacing the, probably, mythical flail.

English knight - repainted Britains 'detail' with new sword.

Now this lot I am quite proud of! French knights; two repainted Britains, two are heavily converted from some Chinese made tat from Ebay - origins obscure. They are very thin, almost demi-rond and had what looked like Roman helmets. Bascinets were fashioned from Milliput and the figure on the left got a new shield from card - you'd never know! 

Well, you've got to have some of these! - Irregular, Airfix, Britians/Herald & Britains 'Detail'.

The opposition - Irregular, Italeri and a Britains kneeling archer with a repaint and a crossbow from the spares box. You can't really fire a longbow from a kneeling position so they will all become arbalesters.

Few more French knights - You need quite a few of these too really! - Irregular and Italeri.

We probably all had one of these! Britains Detail painted as Sir Thomas Kyriel - he was right at the end of the HYW so can probably get away with this late gothic harness! There are still quit ea few to paint - they are fun and look quite nice - I wonder if they will ever get used?