Landsknecht Pike Additions - Unit Done (phew!)

The first elements of this unit made their debut a little over a year ago, but its only recently that I've managed to finally complete it.

I could go on and on, whining about how painting Landsknechts can a complete rash in the codpiece, how their puff-and-slash uniforms are absolutely hell to paint, that they actually have no uniform so you can't paint-in-groups, but rather have to brush each one as an individual model, that you need a load of them to make a convincing unit... BUT I'd be lying like Conway because for all their fiddliness, and expense in time and energy, I still love working on the little blighters.

A few work-in-progress shots...

Standard bearer carrying the Fugger Family banner.

von Frundsburg banner bearer

Anyway, here they are on the last few bases that I needed to complete the unit, around 20 or so figures to add to the previous 32.

This base I completed during the final days of the Painting Challenge.

The hauptman leading the boys in...

These fellows below I just wrapped up a week or so ago for the Lead Painters League.

As you can see, I have a thing about flags...

And the completed unit of pike.

I had my good friend Byron from SG2 Creations make up some custom clear acrylic movement platters to save both fingers and figures when moving them around the tabletop.

Finally, a shot of my rather modest Landsknecht contingent as it stands now with pike, shotte, commander and handbusche heavy musket team.

Thanks for visiting folks and have a great week!

Next up: Something from Mars

Spanish Civil War Miliciana Standard Bearer and AAC-1937 Armoured Car - 5th Submission to AHPC VII

I know I had promised an Indochina post, but these two practically leaped onto the table demanding brush and paint, so here they are.

This past summer saw the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, and this autumn marked when Republican Madrid held fast against Franco's Nationalist forces. 

A significant amount of credit for the city's resistance was due to the arrival of reinforcements from Barcelona, led by the charismatic anarchist Jose Durruti. His force, known as the 'Durutti Column' became famous for its assistance in fending off Franco's hardened Moroccan professionals. The anarchists took particularly heavy casualties, including Durruti himself, fighting in the Casa de Campo (Madrid's largest park).

Durruti, in car crudely marked with 'C.N.T.', with his column heading west in the autumn of 1936.

Durruti's ad hoc column of Republican fighters on the move.

Durruti's death is still shrouded in controversy. Some say he was killed by enemy fire, while others contend he was a victim of friendly fire.  A few go so far as to say he was killed by Soviet-led Communists who saw him as a threat to their leadership within the Republican cause.

So, seen here is a miliciana standard bearer, wearing the distinctive blue workers overalls (el mono azul), giving the Republican clenched-fist salute and holding aloft an anarchist flag. The flag is emblazoned with 'Columna Durruti' and the acronyms of the two largest anarchist workers militias, the C.N.T and the F.A.I.

The figure is from the Empress Miniatures' range and the banner is from Flags of War.

Behind her is a AAC-1937 Chevrolet armoured car. This vehicle is often mistaken for a Soviet BA-3/6, but in fact was built in Valencia, using a Chevy 6x4 chassis as a basis. This one is armed with a hull machine gun along with a 37mm gun with a coaxial MG. It saw service in the later part of the civil war.

Many of these vehicles were captured by the Nationalists, or confiscated by the French during the Republicans' final retreat into exile. Oddly enough, many would see the end of their active service as German armoured cars on the Eastern Front.

This vehicle is, again, from Empress Miniatures. A nice, simple and clean kit. I've given it a fairly basic paint job in dark olive green, which seemed to be a relatively common colour  for vehicles at the time. It has 'U.H.P.' on the upper hull, denoting it's crew as supporters of the Uníos Hermanos Proletarios (United Brothers of the Proletariat) a socialist workers organization, part of the alphabet soup of socialist-anarcho-sydicalist trade unions that were (and still are) popular in and around Barcelona. 

Next up: Indochine (no really, it is, I promise) 

From JuanM: 28mm Battle of Otterburn - John Dunbar, Earl of Moray (21 points)

From Juan:

I have managed to paint a few more models. These ones are also from Claymore Casting, a Scottish command group with John Dunbar, Earl of Moray. The banner is specially designed for Claymore from 'Flags of War'.

This year´s Challenge is fantastic, what a great level of painting and of fast-painting as well! Great job everyone.

Beautiful work Juan. You've done a wonderful job on the armour, the banner is magnificent and the heraldry on Dunbar's surcoat is particularly fine. 

The Earl of Moray and his retinue will give Juan 21 points. Very nice Juan. You've certainly added to the excellent level of painting that we've been enjoying these past few months.

From SebG: 15mm Thirty Years War French Regiment de Bussy-Rabutin (42 points)

I have to apologize for the delay in updates but work had me dashing around the province for interminable meetings. (I've tried to explain to them my responsibilities as a toy soldier blogger but they pay me no heed. I know, the pitiless, slave-driving cads...) 

So, lets start catching up with a submission from Seb.

For my next entry, I've sent you pics from my last French unit: the Bussy-Rabutin infantry regiment. They fought at Rocroi and in Germany afterwards.

They were lead by the count Roger de Rabutin, born in 1638. He started his military career at 16 in Lorraine, and fought under Conde and Turenne. He was also elected in 1665 at the prestigious Academie Francaise (s'il vous plait).

Once again, 20 minis from Old Glory, and flags from Flags of war.

Another lovely regiment under your belt, Seb! How many are in your collection now? You must be amassing a good sized force. You should give us a group shot of them when the Challenge ends.

Regiment de Bussy-Rabutin, with their white and grey colours, will give Seb 42 points.