Monday, January 4, 2016

Entry #3 to the AHPC: 28mm Landsknecht 'Handbuchse' Light Gun


I've been promising a Renaissance-themed submission for a while and so here it is. 

This an example of an early heavy rifled musket, sometimes called a 'Handbuchse'. These tripod mounted guns were often too cumbersome and slow for field engagements but would be utilized during sieges, assumably to pick off defenders and make a general nuisance of themselves. I had an opportunity to see one of these weapons close-up on display in Les Invalides in Paris and marveled at what must have been the bravery of its crew. From examining the contraption, its gunners must have been in as much danger from it flying apart as to those they were supposedly shooting at. The risks of being on the cusp of cutting edge technology, I suppose.


These figures are a mix from both Warlord Games and the now defunct Pro Gloria Miniatures (Warlord bought the range a few years ago). 

I recruited a Master Gunner from Warlord's Pike & Shotte range and re-purposed him for this vignette as I liked his pose.


He has a technician/alchemist air about him.

I imagine him as a Spaniard mercenary gunner in Imperial pay who has dropped by to help his German friends sight their 'silly Teutonic popgun'. 

The two Landsknecht and the light gun are pretty much stock from the kit, except for a  bit of careful bending and re-positioning for the vignette.



I thought I'd indulge myself with an autumnal setting for these boys as I thought it worked with their colourful garb. Hmm. I sort of like it and am thinking I might maintain it as the theme for my developing Renaissance collection - we'll see. 

 
'Rodrigo, get that blasted thing out of my face... Niles! Wait! No, not yet you fool!!'

16 comments:

  1. Stunning Curt... simply stunning. Just a fantastic little piece.

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    1. Thanks very much Simon. I've just noticed that I've been kinda hung-up on big round bases lately. Hmm, I wonder what that's all about? Must try a few small ones for a change...

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  2. Beautiful work Curt! :)

    When I got to "Niles" in the last sentence, my mind immediately skipped back to the start and read it again in Frasier's voice ;)

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  3. Haha, thanks Tamsin. It's sealed then. We'll have 'Frazer' as the panicking gunner. :)

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  4. I thought this was a tremendous piece of work, but the basing really was eye catching - lovely work Sir.

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    1. Thanks Michael. It's a bit over the top but I like the punchy colours.

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  5. Really excellent, Curt. I imagine that operating one of these weapons must have been a question of trial and error. I wonder how many very experienced Handbusche gunners there were.

    "Ah...sorry about Gunther. We had high hopes for him after Max had his accident. But don't worry, I'm your new Handbusche gunner. I'd not exactly call myself experienced, but how complicated can this be?..."

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    1. Haha! Very good. Yes, I would think it would take a special kind of personality to be playing around with early gunpowder weapons.

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  6. Replies
    1. Thanks very much Cincinnatus, I'm delighted you like them.

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  7. This is a wonderful vignette, with perfect colours and a great base!

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  8. Nice job !
    I did the same figure mix a few months earlier.. ;)
    http://www.1-72depot.com/miniatures/28mm/the-september-issue-ii-landsknecht/

    I hope to back soon to Landsknecht, once arrive Adam Holmes kickstart.

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