Tuesday 7 February 2023

From KerryT: Mercenaries and their Masters - The Great Italian Wars ( 505 points)

 Morning, afternoon  and evening all


Why do I always bite off more than I can chew? Having failed to complete an entry last week I now find myself typing away and starting to write this just before I leave for work on a Tuesday morning. Thankfully, for unlike Finland (Sorry Teemu😂) NZ leads the world so while most of you lot sleep through the night I'll try and get home early from work, finish the flags and the odd base, take the pictures and try and get this completed. Then you won't know how much hassle it caused!

I wrote that introduction last night, tonight 3 hours after getting home I've finally managed to finish everything and take a few pictures. I'm up late and my wife has gone to bed

Mercenaries & their Masters is the title of a book that I have and hopefully should get me onto the book studio. Its a great little book detailing the antics of many of the leading figures in the Italian wars. I think I might have to read it another half dozen times before I remember who stabbed who in the back or reneged on this or that or changed sides yet again


This hopefully gets me into my first blue studio, the bookish one and thankfully that nice Lady Sarah gave me a lift as rather than lying down in the road this time I accompanied my Blue Nun (remember that wine?) and simply hitched a lift

These figures are from Lead Adventure Miniatures Bruegelburg range

I'm the handsome one on the right

I failed to post an entry last week as I started too may things and failed to finish basing anything, so what follows represents 2 weeks work

There's quite a mix of figures here

In no particular order.....

The standard indicates these are Genoese not English

Maybe I should have added Pavises, at least the cross would have been easy to paint compared to other city states

Next up more Perry Miniatures, this time Westernised Stradiots in the service of Florence

Flag by Battleflag

There's no way they'll all get through that door ahead

More Swiss and again from Perry Miniatures

Maybe they're wargamers who think they've found a new tabletop mat!

Its a bear ok, no squirrel this time as I've already posted Swiss


Perry Miniatures do produce quite a range of figures

Clergymen who it seems were often found to be stirring up trouble

He's got a funny hat but its not the Pope

Who mentioned the Pope? Here area few of his commanders

Montefletro as Gonfalionere of the church

I really rushed these and regret not adding more detail

The last of the Perry Miniatures 

Montefeltro, as the Duke of Urbino

Flag by Pete's Flags


Now onto something more colourful - Landsknecht. Last post I posted some missile troops for my Artizan Designs Swiss.

This time here are some Artizan Designs Halberdiers protecting a pike block that was finished a few years ago

Only the 12 Halberdiers in the front rank were painted for this entry, but some of you seemed to like the Pike block last time so here are more


A fierce lot


Same door, well the Stradiots have gone so these should get through

More Landsknecht - this time some command figures from Steel Fist Miniatures



Mounted command and a few Steel Fist foot knights








More well dressed troops, this time a Venetian Command group

Wargames Foundry Gendarmes as Venetian Command

Pete's Flags again

Finally the last command group, Maximillian himself

Mad Max is on the left - a Warlord Games figure



Accompanied by Steel Fist Miniatures Landsknecht Command and Foot Knights


2 of the standard bearers are kit-bashed plastic Landsknecht WG plastic missile troops 

Standards from Battleflag which are good value

Well that's it folks

Maybe a group shot as the Churchmen and Venetians haggle and try and outbid each other and secure the services of the various mercenaries


In Summary points wise

Nun and companion @ 10 points
12 Genoese Crossbowmen @ 5 points = 60 points
12 Florentine Mounted Stradiots @ 10 points = 120 points
4 Swiss Bear baiters and bear @ 5 points = 25 points
3 Mounted Papal Command figures @ 10 points = 30 points
2 Mounted and 2 Foot Clergy = 30 points
1 Mounted Duke and standard bearer on foot = 15 points
3 Mounted Venetian Commanders @ 10 points = 30 points
12 Landsknecht  Halberdiers @ 5 points = 60 points
4 Mounted Landsknecht Command @ 10 points = 40 points
9 Imperial Foot Command @ 5 points = 45

Blue Book studio bonus @ 20 points
Lady Sarah's Limousine @ 20 points

Points total - 505 points total?

Codpiece & feathers = 455 points
Squirrels = 6 - Genoese, Florentine, Papal, Clergy, Venetian, Imperial (Landsknecht)



I must say that these were well worth waiting an extra week to see, Kerry. Fantastic points bomb! 

Tamsin

37 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Cheers Martin but it is 2 weeks work which included 2 public holidays and other days with lots of rain

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  2. Great work Kerry. I'm so intimidated by the Italian Wars period, but I just love seeing the efforts of others on this setting!

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    1. Thanks, the eye catching way you paint space pixies so nicely means you'd have no worries

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  3. Wonderful stuff Kerry. Fish fingers, priests and standards what’s not to like (rumour is that what we know as fish fingers were originally to be called cod pieces 🤪)!

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  4. That’s more than a bite , it’s a ruddy big mouthful . Lovely stuff all the way through .

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    1. As I said Dave 2 public holidays and lots of rain on others its like being in the UK again!

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  5. What’s not to like here? I love the variety and the vibrant colours, and the great painting in general. Excellent work, Kerry!

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    1. Thanks all a bit too rushed though for comfort

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  6. So much stuff to love here. The book is a favourite as is the Perry range. All looks fabulous

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    1. Thanks Peter Perry's for presidents I reckon

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  7. Smashing work, Kerry! I love the color and hue of these minis, but my favorites are the command stands! The color and armor of the Italian Wars are grand, but I really love the gonzo hats and turbans....the taller and wider is in direct correlation to importance! Grand stuff!

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    1. Thanks David, I'm going to get more Italians and take more time over them next time

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  8. Well that's one heck of a codpiece you just slapped onto the challenge here now isn't it??? 😂 Amazing work and lovely painting all around. I especially like the clergymen as they at first glance reminder me of the Spanish inquisition... Which means I think you need to paint the Spanish inquisition as noone ever expects them 😅

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    1. I'd like to make a start on Spanish Colunela though

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  9. This is great to see, really well done Kerry!
    TomC

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  10. What a submission! So much colour, action and character. Hard to pick a favourite but the Bruegelburg figures might just edge it for me.

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    1. Thanks Millsy, I love the Bruegelburg range and just must get more just because!

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  11. Awesome post - love this as I have 28mm Italian Wars as well. My favourite pic is of the Venetian command stand but love the Landsknechts as well!
    Cheers JezT

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    1. Thanks Jez, I think the flag should take the credit

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  12. Great entry and bomb. I really enjoy the little add ons such as the nun.

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    1. Cheers Bruce, nunthing ventured, nunthing gained :-)

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  13. Those models all look truly amazing, well done.

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    1. Thanks Stu they all take paint nicely being so well sculpted

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  14. That's a spectacular set of medieval mercenaries!

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  15. Oooh, the Landsknechts are rocking the high fashion colour palette!
    Such a lot of goodness in this post, but I particularly like the very characterful Blue Nun.

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  16. Love this! Wonderful work, Kerry. I have some Bruegelburg figures in my collection and, while a bit whacky, they are my favourites.

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    Replies
    1. Cheers Curt, they are great figures, I found I had these 2 left over from a purchase more than 10 years ago

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  17. Awesome looking Italian wars troops, lovely and colourful!
    Best Iain

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  18. Thanks Iain I think that's the attraction behind the Italian wars

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  19. You did spoil us with these superbly and crisply painted figures!

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