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Miniatures Adventure => Pikes, Muskets and Flouncy Shirts => Topic started by: Stuart on 01 November 2015, 02:38:47 PM

Title: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 19 April
Post by: Stuart on 01 November 2015, 02:38:47 PM
Currently working on a unit but they're proving quite intricate so I'll update as I go.

Thanks for looking

Stuart
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes
Post by: Hu Rhu on 01 November 2015, 04:17:49 PM
Wow Stuart.  He is fantastic.    :-* :-*   Is the model a Foundry or Eureka cast or have you converted him?
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes
Post by: Stuart on 01 November 2015, 04:36:06 PM
Straight out of the box Foundry, I really like these sculpts, a joy to paint.
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes
Post by: OSHIROmodels on 01 November 2015, 05:07:06 PM
Utterly sublime  :-* :-* :-*

I hate you  >:D

 ;)

cheers

James
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes
Post by: Captain Blood on 01 November 2015, 05:17:10 PM
Bloody hell Stuart  :o
You have excelled even your own high standards with that one. The caparison is truly brilliant  :-*
Only 19 more to go  ;)
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes
Post by: nikko on 01 November 2015, 07:42:00 PM
Hello,
Excellent French Gendrme !!!
Nikko
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes
Post by: thebinmann on 01 November 2015, 07:44:09 PM
Damn that's good, almost a shame some will be lost in the unit (you'll have to have them in congo formation!)
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes
Post by: Sparrow on 02 November 2015, 05:03:32 AM
Wonderful......
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes
Post by: von Lucky on 02 November 2015, 12:11:56 PM
Very nice - the detail is stunning. My wife asked me if I was going blind as I had my nose pressed against the screen to check out the detail.
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes
Post by: Earther on 02 November 2015, 12:31:25 PM
Amazing!  :o
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes
Post by: olicana on 02 November 2015, 12:32:06 PM
OK, you can stop showing off now. ;)

Seriously Stuart, how are you going to keep this up? How many are you planning on doing?

Regards,

James
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes
Post by: Stuart on 02 November 2015, 01:09:59 PM
Until my eyesight fails ! Though this did give me double vision at times. At the very least I wanted to show a French lance of 1513 which means along with the mounted archers and men at arms I've done I'll need at least 4.

This approach does mean that for every gendarme I do I'll then have to do 2 conversions as above to get the numbers right. I love making it easy for myself  o_o

I've got 2 conversions on the go at present, adding barding to the Foundry horses, not too bad so far.

Stuart
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes
Post by: flags_of_war on 02 November 2015, 01:28:33 PM
A simply stunning job there
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes
Post by: olicana on 02 November 2015, 02:14:47 PM
Keep 'em coming, so we can marvel. You are nuts, of course, but who could live life with crisps alone.

My Respects,

James
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes
Post by: painterman on 02 November 2015, 09:28:19 PM
Speechless....Ok I'm not...
The toppest, top drawer stuff, of a very very high set of draws!!!
Wonderful - waiting for more.....
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes
Post by: AlyMorrison on 04 November 2015, 08:24:41 PM
Lovely stuff Stuart ...

You do know ... When you get them on to the table they will die to a man ... Or run away in a comedy style...

All the best.  Aly
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes
Post by: Jeff965 on 04 November 2015, 09:30:10 PM
Oops nearly missed this, absolutely amazing painting matey, can't wait to see the finished unit.
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes
Post by: Furt on 04 November 2015, 09:35:58 PM
Mind boggling amazing!!  :o :o :o

I can not even begin to understand the skill required to produce that.
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes
Post by: MaleGriffin on 07 November 2015, 01:31:30 AM
Superb doesn't even begin to describe the beautiful brushwork!  :o :o :o
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes
Post by: Stuart on 07 November 2015, 08:38:01 PM
Out if interest was the barding cloth over armour or just thick cloth or either / both depending on budget?
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes
Post by: levied troop on 09 November 2015, 04:22:11 PM
There's also the option of painted armour?

 Ian Heath notes that there was a shortage of English horses able to bear the weight of armour, leading to export bans (perhaps the need for export suggests other European countries had the same horse shortage issues?) which suggests that purely cloth boarding was an option.

Amazing painting on that figure, my gob is literally smacked  :-*
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes
Post by: Totleben on 11 November 2015, 03:32:06 AM
A tableau vivant of the epoch.  :-*
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes
Post by: Metternich on 11 November 2015, 09:15:39 PM
Simply magnificent.
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, update 14/11
Post by: Stuart on 14 November 2015, 12:07:11 PM
Steady progress on the second gendarme; here I wanted to create a half caparisoned horse, these feature fairly heavily in the Pavia tapestry.

I began by cutting and filing the basic shape of the side and frontal panels from the Italian horse armour in the Perry plastic mounted men at arms set, this was something of a shortcut to use as a base from which I could sculpt on to. You could create the same with a rough green stuff base but this was quicker.

Each side panel was sculpted in turn, then the round bosses - don't know what they're called, I assume they allow free movement of the horse's shoulders.

These were then fine tuned to get them in the right place and as identical as I could, lastly the reins were built up. Overnight drying between all stages. The final part will be the addition of tie fastenings on the front panel then it's ready for painting. As sculpts go in my meagre experience I'd rate this a fairly easy one.

Stuart
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, update 14/11
Post by: Stuart on 14 November 2015, 12:10:05 PM
Ps do the front panel last as it overlaps the side panels.
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, update 14/11
Post by: Stuart on 15 November 2015, 10:35:49 AM
Job done  :D
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, update 14/11
Post by: OSHIROmodels on 15 November 2015, 10:37:20 AM
Very good  :)

Looking forward to seeing it splashed with colours  :D

cheers

James
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 23/11
Post by: Stuart on 23 November 2015, 07:40:13 PM
Here's Gendarme no. 2

The Horse was converted with the addition of a GS front caparisoned armour, the rider also was a skirted figure which I added a slashed top to.

Suns feature quite a bit in tapestries and paintings so I had a go. Each panel features a different expression. My eyes hurt.

Thanks for looking

Stuart
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 23/11
Post by: Stuart on 23 November 2015, 07:42:50 PM
We now have plural gendarmes !
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 23/11
Post by: War In 15MM on 23 November 2015, 08:08:03 PM
Really beautiful work.  Richard
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 23/11
Post by: von Lucky on 23 November 2015, 08:12:19 PM
Stunning. I almost wouldn't want to game with them. Almost.
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 23/11
Post by: Captain Blood on 23 November 2015, 08:14:41 PM
Work of art, Stuart. Lush  :-*
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 23/11
Post by: Jeff965 on 23 November 2015, 09:10:31 PM
Absolutely beautiful  :-*
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 23/11
Post by: Hu Rhu on 23 November 2015, 09:46:05 PM
They are truly gorgeous  :-* :-* :-*
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 23/11
Post by: Romark on 23 November 2015, 10:14:27 PM
Wow,very very nice  :)
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 23/11
Post by: Sparrow on 25 November 2015, 05:17:13 AM
Oh my word!!!  :-*
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 7 December
Post by: Stuart on 07 December 2015, 03:27:39 PM
Third in the series we have a rider with a rich damask pattern coat with cloth of gold and gilt armour.
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 7 December
Post by: Stuart on 07 December 2015, 03:29:22 PM
Here's a unit WIP group photo
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 7 December
Post by: Captain Blood on 07 December 2015, 04:02:28 PM
Simply sumptuous  :-*
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 7 December
Post by: Atheling on 07 December 2015, 04:03:56 PM
So delicious!!!  :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*

Beautiful work Stuart  8)

Darrell.
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 7 December
Post by: Fabien on 07 December 2015, 04:13:55 PM
Really impressive!  :-*

A very beautiful work.
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 7 December
Post by: Sparrow on 07 December 2015, 06:04:06 PM
Wow
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 7 December
Post by: Steve63 on 07 December 2015, 06:10:12 PM
Beautiful   :o
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 7 December
Post by: Lt. Hazel on 07 December 2015, 06:21:08 PM
I am in awe :-* :-* :-* what a Great project, and your painting is so good.
Jan
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 7 December
Post by: NurgleHH on 07 December 2015, 07:57:55 PM
Your work is outstanding! A great pleasure to watch such gigantic work. Please, more of it.
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 7 December
Post by: Romark on 07 December 2015, 08:09:08 PM
Oooh ! Lovely  :-*
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 7 December
Post by: Totleben on 08 December 2015, 09:56:29 AM
Art!  :o
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 14 December
Post by: Stuart on 14 December 2015, 04:14:42 PM
Number 4. Knight in gilt edged Maximilian armour with a painted cross of St. Denis on his breastplate.

He almost seems dull against his more colourful compatriots  :P
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 14 December
Post by: Captain Blood on 14 December 2015, 08:44:27 PM
Gosh  :o  :-*
Love them.
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 14 December
Post by: Hu Rhu on 15 December 2015, 09:06:21 AM
They look brilliant together.  Can't wait for you to base them and let them bask in all their glory.
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 14 December
Post by: pocoloco on 15 December 2015, 09:42:39 AM
Stunning!  :-*
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 14 December
Post by: Atheling on 15 December 2015, 01:34:21 PM
Really lovely  :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*

And very inspiring!!  ;) :)

Darrell.
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 14 December
Post by: Gangleri on 19 December 2015, 02:53:09 PM
Beautiful and meticulous work as always, Stuart.  They look as though they've ridden straight out of a contemporary illustration.
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 14 December
Post by: aircav on 19 December 2015, 06:07:42 PM
These are superb  8) :-* 8) :-* 8) :-* 8) :-* lol
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 14 December
Post by: Steve63 on 19 December 2015, 07:20:49 PM
This project just keeps getting better and better
 :-*
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 14 December
Post by: Atheling on 19 December 2015, 07:52:19 PM
The more I look at the beautiful piccies Stuart, the more I want to paint some that I've had primed and undercoated for a few years!!

Hastings (and Haggis!) first though..... but a few wouldn't hurt surely? :)

Darrell.
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 14 December
Post by: archiduque on 20 December 2015, 11:53:01 AM
Fantastic work!! :-* :-*
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 20 December
Post by: Stuart on 20 December 2015, 07:26:54 PM
I'm Currently working on another geometric caparison pattern and thought I'd share this WIP to hopefully illustrate the method I use.

I prepare the base colour then apply the brown dots in rows, this way, if one is out of line you can just overpaint and start again having not lost too much time and effort. Each dot then centres the motif in the grid, in this instance I'm using stylised stars but I'd do the same if they were fleur de lys or whatever.

The other thing to add is to paint the area as a whole rather than each bit of attached caparison, it looks better and replicates what tended to be done; an overall design in component parts.

Finally, keep the rows straight rather than bending them around the contours, this ensures the geometrical look.

More soon hopefully

Stuart
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 20 December
Post by: AlyMorrison on 20 December 2015, 07:59:53 PM
Really nice Stuart ....

How many more ?

......100...... :D

All the best.  Aly
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 20 December
Post by: Jeff965 on 20 December 2015, 08:03:12 PM
Nice to see how the "magic" is created, more please  :-*
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 20 December
Post by: Hu Rhu on 21 December 2015, 12:12:37 PM
Thnaks for sharing your trade secrets.  Nice to know how to do it even though I don't have the skill to replicate it.
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 20 December
Post by: thebinmann on 21 December 2015, 06:09:18 PM
AMAZING

Really nice Stuart ....

How many more ?

......100...... :D

All the best.  Aly

Damn if that's true you'll deserve a medal... and need an eye test!
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 20 December
Post by: smirnoff on 21 December 2015, 06:23:05 PM
Beautiful stuff
More tutorials please
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 20 December
Post by: Stuart on 21 December 2015, 07:31:45 PM
Fifth in the series is a return to geometric pattern as shown earlier. I toyed with having the knight's skirt in the same design but thought the plain colour would better emphasise the Maximilian armour and caparison. That and painting stars was losing its appeal !

I also tried a new trick with the plumes; the odd thread of bright orange seems to give them a bit more body and life.

More to come, I'm going to stick at it until I get distracted. No flags quite yet though they will come.

Stuart
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 22 December !!
Post by: Atheling on 21 December 2015, 08:30:35 PM
 :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*

I think that expresses my feeling nicely :)

Darrell.
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 22 December !!
Post by: Stuart on 22 December 2015, 08:17:45 AM
Slightly better light

Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 22 December !!
Post by: von Lucky on 22 December 2015, 08:05:06 PM
My feeling? With all that lovely converting and painting, I'm just glad you've showed off these five so that they can't be entered in the LPL for those thinking of entering!
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 22 December !!
Post by: Paul Richardson on 08 January 2016, 04:53:33 PM
These are just fantastic - some of the best minis I've ever seen.
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 22 December !!
Post by: olicana on 08 January 2016, 04:58:02 PM
Those are wonderful.
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 22 December !!
Post by: Metternich on 26 January 2016, 09:17:03 PM
Amazing how you can so capture the period in just 28mm scale.  Simply marvelous.
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 22 December !!
Post by: fred on 26 January 2016, 10:39:17 PM
Awesome work. Really excellent.
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 22 December !!
Post by: vcina on 27 January 2016, 12:48:52 AM
Just amazing work!
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 22 December !!
Post by: FierceKitty on 27 January 2016, 01:55:04 AM
These are provoking an uncomfortable feeling that I may need to redo my own renaissance gensd'armes....
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 22 December !!
Post by: Metternich on 04 February 2016, 03:06:04 AM
Simply put, I am in awe.  They look like something right out of a renaissance tapestry.
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 22 December !!
Post by: Stuart on 05 February 2016, 12:19:59 PM
Thanks all

I'm in a bit of an artist block at the moment but hopefully more soon
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 22 December !!
Post by: Captain Blood on 05 February 2016, 12:48:35 PM
Daaaahling, it happens to all of us from time to time ;)

I find painting something totally different from what I've been working on can help recover the mojo... (So in your case, this might be a dangerous departure to the 1540's or the 1480's :D)
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 22 December !!
Post by: Stuart on 05 February 2016, 01:48:15 PM
1512 or 1514  lol

Thanks Richard

Decorating is to blame, painting gloss is what I imagine purgatory to be like
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 3 April
Post by: Stuart on 03 April 2016, 05:12:37 PM
Bit of a hiatus since the last post, here's the latest addition, a vision in damask !
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 3 April
Post by: Stuart on 03 April 2016, 05:13:38 PM
Detail image
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 3 April
Post by: Phil Robinson on 03 April 2016, 05:36:09 PM
Bloody hell Stuart that's rather good, not difficult to see what you have doing :)
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 3 April
Post by: Corso on 03 April 2016, 07:15:44 PM
Great detail there! :-*
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 3 April
Post by: Captain Blood on 03 April 2016, 08:22:28 PM
Pure art. That level of detailing on the caparison and skirts is simply the best I've seen.
Stuart, you are a madman. You will go blind and must be using a one-hair brush. Unbelievably good.
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 3 April
Post by: painterman on 03 April 2016, 08:31:21 PM
I second the comments of the good Captain B.... splendorous!!
Simon.

But... you have 3 Agincourt chappies to do, don't you know... ;)
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 3 April
Post by: Keith on 03 April 2016, 08:38:28 PM
Jeepers ... words fail me at this point in the thread ...
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 3 April
Post by: Paul Richardson on 03 April 2016, 08:41:51 PM
Amazing
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 3 April
Post by: NurgleHH on 03 April 2016, 08:50:42 PM
Outstanding! I have never seen such detailed painting in 28mm. :o
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 3 April
Post by: toggy on 03 April 2016, 09:27:38 PM
That is just beyond superlatives, cannot imagine how long it took to paint.

Looking forward to more of the same please.
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 3 April
Post by: Romark on 03 April 2016, 09:46:13 PM
More stellar work Stuart,love him,can I ask,is this a bog standard casting or did you make any changes to the mini before the painting process ?  :)
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 3 April
Post by: Stuart on 03 April 2016, 09:57:12 PM
Straight out of the box in this instance. While I've been painting these I was trying to remember your definition of French Gendarmes, what was it?
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 3 April
Post by: Romark on 03 April 2016, 11:15:44 PM
Lol. Was it "an uncontrolled advance,looking for somewhere to happen !"  :)
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 3 April
Post by: Licantropo on 04 April 2016, 12:05:07 AM
 :-* :-* :-* :-* BUFFFFF AMAZING WORK!!! what miniatures are this ones?
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 3 April
Post by: Stuart on 04 April 2016, 07:54:34 AM
Wargames Foundry. A little dated in some respects but still the best of what's available IMO
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 3 April
Post by: Jeff965 on 04 April 2016, 10:49:46 AM
Bloody lovely as always mate, I didn't think you'd manage to top the last lot but I was wrong. Now do another hundered by the end of the month please  :D
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 3 April
Post by: Paul Richardson on 04 April 2016, 12:09:21 PM
Looking at it again, I do think the painting is just amazing. Out of interest, have you any idea how long it took you to paint this? I don't have the skill to do anything like this but, even if I did, I don't have the eyesight anyway. 

As an aside, I used to be quite interested in model railways. I collected models in scale 4mm to the foot. Quite a few well-known modellers started in that scale but have had to change to scale 7mm to the foot as they got older because their eyesight deteriorated and they could no longer manage in the smaller scale.
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 3 April
Post by: Stuart on 04 April 2016, 02:09:51 PM
About 5hrs on the horse and 3 on the rider. Damask is less time consuming than the geometric designs.
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 3 April
Post by: Paul Richardson on 04 April 2016, 04:19:13 PM
I'm not surprised at the amount of time taken. You should be very proud of the result. A truly amazing piece of work.
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 3 April
Post by: Captain Blood on 04 April 2016, 05:11:37 PM
Damask is less time consuming than the geometric designs.

That's a thing I never expected to hear on a miniatures wargaming forum  lol

Stuart, you are a blinking genius.
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 3 April
Post by: Lt. Hazel on 04 April 2016, 06:14:21 PM
Well you are a bit crazy, aren't you?  Perhaps that comes with the talent.
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 3 April
Post by: Patrice on 04 April 2016, 08:50:46 PM
Aaargh! Magnificent.
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 3 April
Post by: Metternich on 04 April 2016, 11:03:00 PM
Stuart you are obsessed !! (but brilliant).
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 3 April
Post by: Atheling on 07 April 2016, 09:14:29 AM
Magnificent Stuart  :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*

Attention to detail is sublime as is the painting  :)

Darrell.
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 3 April
Post by: Stuart on 19 April 2016, 04:22:28 PM
Job done

Lots more on my blog post;

http://stuartsworkbench.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/early-renaissance-french-lance.html?m=1 (http://stuartsworkbench.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/early-renaissance-french-lance.html?m=1)

I'll do more in future and carry on this thread

Thanks for the encouragement

Stuart
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 19 April
Post by: von Lucky on 19 April 2016, 10:42:11 PM
Oh my gawd, those are some lovely photos!
Title: Re: Early Renaissance French Gendarmes, new painting 19 April
Post by: Metternich on 19 April 2016, 10:52:57 PM
That is possibly the most beautiful miniatures unit I have ever seen.  Thank you.