Sunday 10 January 2016

From Curt - 28mm Italian Wars Bolognese Crossbowmen (55 Points)


I'm trailing Peter in our 'Renaissance Men' duel so I thought I best get something off my paint table to narrow the gap. 

This is a unit of crossbowmen from the Italian city of Bologna ca 1500. We see them here, shooting from behind their pavise shields, while under fire from some opposing missile troops.


I chose Bologna for a couple reasons. The first is pure laziness: Bologna's heraldic crest, a red cross on white background, is relatively easy to do freehand. 

A depiction of a fight between militias factions in Bologna, from the Croniche of Giovanni Sercambi of Lucca.

I also I appreciate Bolognese civil politics of the time. It seems that Bologna was the only Renaissance Italian city (and probably one of the few in Europe) who allowed women to excel in any chosen profession, even permitting them to attend the city's university. Also, Bologna was a center of the arts in its own right, with a residence of painters that rivaled that of Rome and Florence during the period. (In 1506 it was invaded and sacked by Papal armies, its art was stolen and its progressive civil liberties ended (yet another tick-mark in the scorecard of enlightened organized religion...).)


...and finally, let's not forget that a good Bolognese sauce is in of itself worthy to fight for...



These ten 28mm metal figures are from the Perry's 'European Wars' range while the pavises (pavisii?) are from their European Mercenaries box set. 


For the stricken crossbowman I used a plastic Perry Napoleonic British casualty figure, shaved off the offending detail, gave him a breastplate (roughly) made with a bit of green-stuff and then added a sallet helmet and crossbow. The city pennon is a repaint of one of the cutouts provided in the Perry box sets.

I often hot-glue a stump, boulder etc. at the back of my large bases to give players something to grip on to when moving them on the tabletop.


The irregularly shaped MDF base was a sample sent along to me from Simon Miller (aka BigRedBat). He's developed these for use for his 'To The Strongest' ruleset. (Thanks very much Simon!)  For the past year or so I've been thinking of creating basing like this and so I was really stoked when I saw Simon's bases on his website. I really like the organic shape of these bases and am planning to do-up my upcoming Italian Wars collection using these in various dimensions. 


For points, there are 50 for the ten crossbowmen, 3 for the converted casualty and say 2 for the shields and banner (yes, they were freehand, but they were pretty straightforward and not very good). So 55 points for the lot.

61 comments:

  1. Well done Curt. I like these guys a lot. Cheers Peter

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    1. Thanks Pete. Another unit for our tabletop shenanigans.

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  2. Like a red ragu to a bullognese...

    Splendid work, Curt!

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  3. Very striking work Curt. I really do like the reds on these guys and the basing is just perfect. Also nicely done on the converted fallen archer.

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    1. Thanks very much Anne. It's turning into a rather technicolour project, which is not surprising knowing the period.

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  4. Very nice work Curt! Italian Wars really are a great period. Flashy uniforms and so much going on all the time with allegiances and alliances changing constantly. It seems a bit like modern day soap opera sometimes.

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    1. It a flashy period to be sure. I like that pretty much any unit can be aligned with another as the allegiances shifted so often.

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  5. Cracking job Curt, the larger base really works

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    1. Thanks Dave, yes, I really like these irregular shaped bases. They can't be used for all applications but for certain grand tactical rules (Black Powder, Impetus, etc.) they'll really shine.

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  6. Fantastic stuff, that basing in particular really leaps out.

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  7. These are great, I like the irregular base as well, seems more appropriate than straight edged we all normally use

    Ian

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    1. Thanks Ian! Yes, I quite like the look they give. I realize you may want a flat edge for multi-based units, but I think you could still have the 'perimeter' base edge as irregular.

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    2. If the basing was designed properly, you could still get the "irregular" bases to lock together and probably create an even more seamless looking unit

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  8. bravissimo signore!
    mah que bella pintura!

    bolognese pasta, caffè e la nota, per favore;

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    1. I don't speak Italian, but I believe I heard coffee!? Yes please, here's my cup! ;)

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    2. Bellismo caffe e la nota, David!

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  9. Lovely work Curt :)

    The irregular basing looks great.

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  10. Nice painting and basing, and I too am a fan of the irregular base.

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  11. Love these minis, as others have said the irregular basing sets them apart but I also love the tufts of flowers. There is so much on the market now that we painters and gamers are spoiled for choice.

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    1. You're absolutely right Chris, there are so many excellent products on the market that we really are spoiled. Even five years ago there wasn't half of these wonderful things for us to work with.

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  12. Damn Curt, each time you post a contribution I cannot help but be glad you do not compete in the ranking your stuff is superb indeed. Not only is the painting realistic and crisp as ice; the basing is to die for...

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  13. So far in the challenge, to my eye at least, the best painted figures. But I am very slightly bias as I love this period and setting.

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    1. Wow, that is high praise indeed Clint, especially when I look at the work of others these past few weeks. Nonetheless, I'm delighted you like them.

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  14. Wonderful entry - I really like the painting and your basing is simply the best (as I've said before).

    Sadly, part of this submission is sadly lacking. I was extremely disappointed and in some ways shocked to see the incomplete presentation of the pasta Bolognese. One simple does not serve a Bolognese without the proper accompaniment in the form of a nice Italian red. We are not savages! A generous glass of Barolo or even a Barbaresco would do nicely. I'm feeling generous today, so there will be no points deduction for this type of indiscretion - this time.

    Lets keep our eye on the ball, shall we Mr Curt?

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    1. I stand chastised and shamed. I will make sure to include appropriate libations in the future.

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  15. now i am Curt fan boy. really exellent work and wonderful unitlook

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    1. Oh, I'm sure I'm not worthy of that, but thank you Alex, I'm delighted you like the unit.

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  16. Although I remain stubbornly in the individual basing camp, I really like this big base. I really need to get of my duff and start my TtS/ Kingmaker mash up campaign.

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    1. Ooh, TtS/Kingmaker mashup!? THAT would be a heap of fun as they would work perfectly together. I'm so jealous.

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    2. Well you know Curt, my vague plan was to have it be a remote play campaign. Because I don't have anyone locally to play with. :(

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  17. My basing tastes remain a bit more bourgeois, but these are lovely dude - well done.

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    1. Thanks Dude! They are a bit 'out there' I realize but for games like Pike & Shotte they should work fine.

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  18. Well done, Curt!! A really excellent unit, which will look wonderful on any tabletop. I particularly like the lengths you've gone to with the casualty figure, and the colour scheme. The trick with the boulder or tree-stump is a really nice touch (great thinking, as well). I definitely like the bases. A bit revolutionary, but I think they look the part. Great work, Sir!

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    1. Thanks Sid! I'm very happy you like them. The tree stump 'handle' was learned from the school of hard knocks (or dropped figures). :)

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  19. Very well done, Curt! I appreciate they may be simple, but you did go above and beyond presenting them as befits that colorful period. The basing is really awesome too.
    These and your gun team are my favorite works so far! ;)

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    1. Thanks David, I'm really happy you like these recent works. That's great encouragement.

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  20. Great painting work, really fine. The base is wonderful!

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  21. Stunning work Curt! Realy like the basing and the pavisii (guess this should be about correct) are a great addition. And Bolognese sauce certainly is well worth fighting for... if not dying.

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    1. Haha, I think I'd take a light wound for it, for sure. Thanks Nick!

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    2. Ah. Maybe a tiny scar on the cheek? I've heard such scars are popular with the ladies.

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  22. Great work, even if it did make me hungry! I like that organic base quite a bit as well. Are these based for Impetus or some other system?

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    1. Thanks David. They are designed for Simon Miller's 'To the Strongest' but I think they would have great utility for Impetus and the Black Powder/Hail Caesar suite of rules.

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  23. A wonderful, interest filled unit Curt. Loads going on and yet it doesn't look overdone or cluttered. I especially like the red sallet, very nice indeed!

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    1. Thanks Millsy! I could have put on a few more finished figures but it would have seemed too busy for the base. I like that some soldiers during this period seemed to have painted their armour, so I though one or two items wouldn't be too over the top.

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  24. A wonderful looking unit Curt - you're almost making me want to a) convert to unit basing and b) dabble in the period.

    How many more of these will we see?

    Bravo!

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    1. Thanks Phil. I think you'd really like the period. I hope to grind away with Renaissance units for the majority of the Challenge (with a little dalliance here and there to keep things fresh).

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  25. Ah Bologne, home to some of the greatest rapier and sidesword master. Now if only the diagrams in their manuals were clearer it would be easier to learn :/

    Anyway... I love the irregular base edges, it makes it look like they are standing on a small hill rather than a box. And the painting... what can we say about that, other than perfect!

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    1. Yes, I really like the more 'organic' feel these bases give. Thanks foe the comment!

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  26. Lovely work indeed Curt! Italian Wars is on my list if I can ever get organized enough to figure out how I want to do it!

    Christopher

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    1. Do like me and do what you find interesting. Most factions moved around as alliances changes so you really can't go too wrong.

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