Monday, July 25, 2016

28mm Landsknecht Arquebusiers


Finally. Another Italian Wars unit done - Hooray! I can't tell you how delighted I am to get these guys off my desk and into the cabinet.


The majority of these figures are from the venerable but excellent Wargames Foundy range, with the casualty figure sourced from Artizan Designs. A few slight mods but nothing too fancy. The banner is from Pete's Flags.


Like the other units in my Italian Wars collection, I've done the groundwork in an autumnal theme (dunno why, I guess I just liked the colours when I started). The whole group is mounted on a single irregular-edged base, one of several that I had the good folks over at Warbases do up for me. It's roughly 180mm x 60mm.


I have to say I find these guys to be a complete and utter slog to paint. What with their puff-and-slash sleeves, striped trousers, wacky feathered headgear, oh yeah, and lets not forget their exuberant and rather, ahem, 'optimistic' codpieces. I think the reason they got such a reputation as hard-asses is that everyone picked on them for dressing like complete gits.  
 

Oh well, they're finally done and now I can finally move on... 

...to more Landsknechts!! 

Fuuuuk.

56 comments:

  1. They look wonderful Curt! I can see how painting them would be a slog :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks John. They're a bit of a bother but nice to have done.

      Delete
  2. Wonderful work Curt. Colourful but muted - as though their outfits have faded and worn while on campaign :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Tamsin. I can just imagine the battalion of laundress/tailors following behind these guys.

      Delete
  3. Amazing painting-I appreciate that these were indeed hard to paint. Well done Sir.

    ReplyDelete
  4. No wonder it takes you some time to get them done. So much variety and beautifully executed. Well done mate!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Very nicely done, you must have quite a collection of these now.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great work Curt! You are a brave man painting a whole army of Landsknechts! I've been dreaming about it, but just painting a Frostgrave warband with all those frills luckily cured me of any delusions of being able to do it. Looks amazing, but I would never be able to bring myself to painting hundreds of them. I salute you for your brave efforts! :) Can't wait to see the force completed

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, it didn't start as any army but it's kind of grown past what I was expecting. Nonetheless, they're fun on the table and look colourful in the display cabinet! Thanks Samuli!

      Delete
  7. Congratulations on finishing these guys Curt. I know that awful feeling of slogging through a hobby project that seemed like such a good idea at the time...these fellows look magnificent. Well done.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're right on that. I just thought I'd do one or two units ... I have only myself to blame. :)

      Delete
  8. Replies
    1. Cheers for that Mr. Lee. Much appreciated.

      Delete
  9. Great looking shot unit Curt. Now I know why there's been no word on our 1805 Campaign.
    Peter

    ReplyDelete
  10. Er, what everyone else said. Corking

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll definitely take 'corking' from you Martin!

      Delete
  11. Love the overall look and the animation of the unit!



    ReplyDelete
  12. These really are gorgeous Curt, I do love this period of yours.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Great work, Curt - Landsknechts are certainly a challenge!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Fantastic, really nice and a wonderful painting work. Now, you need a complete block of pikemen!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Juan! I've got a start, but they need to be fleshed-out more.

      Delete
  15. Excellent work for sure Curt! I can understand how difficult it is to paint Landsknechts.

    Christopher

    ReplyDelete
  16. Just excellent, even though they drive you nuts I am glad you keep them coming

    Ian

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the encouragement Ian - much appreciated.

      Delete
  17. Exceptional work, Curt! I'm sure they look really smashing in the cabinet. Quite the characterful force you've amassed now!
    Hopefully they will get even more chances of smashing opponents on the table too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you David - the collection is starting to come together into a somewhat coherent force.

      Delete
  18. You mad fool you! I am sure it's the cod pieces that attract you to them .

    Don't forget you need to ping me some references for the cav you left me..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They're preferable to Haddockpieces, I suppose...

      Reference-ping coming up!

      Delete
  19. Awesome work Curt! You really did an amazing job on those Landsknechte. Maybe, just maybe, that's just the inspiration I need to finally get that figure done I promised you... I wouldn't hold my breath though ;-) Maybe some more inspiration is needed. What about some more Landsknechte?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Now, that's incentive to get some more done! Thanks Nick. :)

      Delete
  20. Curt, some of us are just suckers for elaborate fancy clothing, optimistic codpieces and slashed sleeves and multi-coloured leggings.

    But moving on from personal tailoring decisions ...

    ... seriously, they're great. I love the autumnal theme, the colours and the (very trendy) naturalistic basing. A great unit and a wonderful standard. Looking forward to their comrades arriving in force.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Sidney! Your sartorial sensibilities are to be commended. (I just knew you're sporting a jewel-encrusted codpiece in your work's employee photo gallery. Probably why they kept the framing to head and shoulders. They're just jealous.) ;)

      Delete
  21. Superb work! Never been brave enough to attempt these but you make it look worthwhile :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks very much Mike! The first few models were the worst but it soon got better. I find coming up with interesting colour combinations to be the hardest part. I have about six or so variatiations that I play upon to keep things interesting.

      Delete
  22. Great looking landsknechts, it's just a wonderful period and you've done your usual fine paint job on these chaps. It's very interesting basing, makes it even more like a diorama, looking forward to the next unit (after you've had a lie down )
    Best Iain

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks very much Iain. They're a challenge but I feel I've really atomplished something when I get a unit done.

      Delete
  23. Beautiful work as always Curt!

    ReplyDelete
  24. So very pretty. You should include some of the new Westfalia ogres in Landsknecht garb. :--)

    https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/13503092_535682183284567_3231083085089613076_o.jpg

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Noice, very noice. I definitely need some of those!

      (Though, my mind revolts at the thought of an Ogre codpiece...)

      Delete
  25. Stunning work, and I love those irregular bases. Landesknechts are a bit of a holy grail for me. I desperately want a massive army of them, but feel I will have to be kicked in the head by a horse before I decide it's a good idea to paint some. Yours are too inspiring. I must avert my eyes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah, and I was wondering what that horseshoe shaped mark on my forehead came from.... Thanks Dux, but really, with your brush skills you should really give them a go - I think you'd do a wondrous job.

      Delete

Thanks for your comment! As long as you're not a spam droid I'll have it up on the blog soon. :)