From GrahamB - Italian Wars Swiss Pike Block (253 points)

I finished painting these a couple of weeks ago but hadn’t got round to making the flags until recently. Then I suffered from technology challenges and was not able to upload photos for a couple of weeks.  

I have been interested in the Italian Wars since the late 1970s and the fabulous Hinchliffe Italian Wars figures by Hinchliffe sculpted by Peter Gilder as featured in Battles for Wargames magazine.  A couple of years ago, I was fortunate to win several eBay lots of vintage Hinchliffe and Connaisseur Italian Wars figures.  2025 saw the release by Warlord Games of their Death and the Landsknechts Pike and Shotte supplement and several of the scenarios therein prompted me to increase my Swiss from a contingent to an army, and this is the latest addition to my Swiss.  This pike block inspired by my long-gone Hinchliffe 1970s collection comprises veteran Hinchliffe, Connaisseur and the odd Minifigs figure.  Unlike my earliest Italian Wars collection from back in the 1970s, many of these figures have been converted by the use of Perry metal heads, Perry plastic and Wargames Atlantic Conquistador components to make a unit of Swiss from the Canton of Grisons. 

The unit comprises of 9 stands of 4 pike including 3 flags, 3 stands of 3 double handed weapons, 4 stands each with one skirmisher and a separately based figure for the blood flag.  The 16 stands depict one Large pike blocks under the Pike and Shotte Italian Wars rules and represent the unit upgrades of heavy armour, halberds forward, aquebusiers forward and a blood.

So 36 pike, 9 double handers and 5 skirmishers = 50 figures @ 5 points each plus 3 flags at 1 point each gives a total 253 points.

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Well, that is quite the pack of chaps with long, pointy pikes! There is something deeply awesome about a miniature pike block on the gaming table, and when you factor in the splendid setting that is the Italian Wars, I totally get the appeal of the setting! I nearly been trapped into it myself - and submissions like this from Challengers don't help me stay focused, that's for sure. 

Glad the technology challenges have been sorted, at least for now. 253 points for you!

GregB