varnish barely dry...

[Captain Blood]

Actually, that's not quite true.

I've been finishing these over the last week or two - the first 14 cavalry figures to go with my Elizabethan swashbucklers.
The astute will notice these are from the Bicorne Miniatures English Civil War range. It's a huge range, and quite a few of the cavalry figures are wearing 'old style' helmets like burgonets and cabassets (i.e. from the late 1500's / early 1600's). Some also have doublets or Casaques, rather than buff coats - all of which persuaded me that this lot would pass for late Elizabethan / early Jacobean cavalry, rather better than most of the ranges of Border Reivers out there!

Plus, they are just sumptuous figures.  :wink:

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I'm particularly pleased with this chap, who I converted by sticking a Foundry (Mike Owen) Tudor head onto a Bicorne cavalry figure in a doublet - instant Tudor cavalry. Nice.





And finally, here's the whole troop on the move...



I have another 10 or so suitable figures to paint, then I'm into more conversions. Meanwhile, I've been seduced by the 'real' ECW figures, and have a regiment of 16 Ironsides on the workbench! Ho hum... Those Copplestone cavemen are just going to have to wait  :wink:

[Neldoreth]

These figs are great, full of character! The scenery is quite excellent as well and your picture execution and composition is fantastic! The conversion is great as well. Very inspiring, thanks for posting and keep them coming

n.

[Helen]

I take my Bonnet off to you. These figures are quite beautiful and you have planned the range selection well.

I've also been interested in the Reivers and its lovely just seeing some excellent models here.

[Bravo Six]

Wow Cap'n, those are amazing!    

What do you use for bushes? Is that lichen?

-Todd

[Lowtardog]

Very Nice Cap`n

[PeteMurray]

Gorgeous! Nice job on the head swap, too. The whole troop looks very tough, and very good en masse. I'm jealous!

[Auton]

Excellent work, full of character!

[Malamute]

Awesome stuff, very inspirational, excellent terrain as well

[Captain Blood]

My Fellow lead adventurers - thanks for the kind comments.

Todd - yes, it's just good old-fashioned lichen for bushes! Some things you just can't improve on!  

The figures really make it to be honest. They are a joy to paint, and I do think these Bicorne ECW odds and ends (sculpted by Nick Collier) make for  Reivers every bit as good as the two currently in vogue ranges from Graven Images and Vendel.

I admire the ambition and scope of both these ranges - particularly Vendel's (which is huge, with 200+ different figures) - but unfortunately, I find the Graven Images Reiver figures too large (closer to 36mm), and  with a few odd poses. The Vendel figures meanwhile, are distinctly of the munchkin variety, with horses which are, erm... well, just not terribly horse-like (even if you take them for hill ponies... )

That said, I have painted up a few Vendel figures for my Elizabethan swashbucklers collection - pic below. They've got something. (I just wish they had necks!)



The Vendel helmets are very good though. The second pic shows a Vendel head transplanted onto a Foundry (Mike Owen) sea dog body.

[Lowtardog]

Fantastic, :love:

Could I be cheeky and ask you to post them on the Steelbonnets Yahoo group that I moderate

http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/steelbonnets2/

It is to do with Reiver Wargaming and these images are fantastic

[Captain Blood]

Yep. No problem. I'll do it this evening

[Prof.Witchheimer]

really great painting work, Captain! The minis are more then nice and your colour choice is very effective. Another historical gaming era I would like to play