SI's Bonnie Scotland, 17thC: 2/9 tower house with village

[Silent Invader]

P.1 Project plan
P.1 WIP minis: 12 Scots plus markers for cattle, sheep, goods, etc
P.2 Bonnet colour discussion (but see also p.17)
P.3 Finished minis: 12 Scots plus markers for cattle, sheep, goods, etc
P.4 Blackhouse with fold - WIP
P.7 Field
P.7 Log bridge
P.8 WIP minis: 12 more Scots conversions
P.9 Finished terrain
P.10 Finished minis: 12 more Scots
P.12 WIP minis : Galbraith Axes
P.12 WIP minis: 22 more Scots conversions
P.13 More cottages wip
P.14 Cottages ready for painting
P.14 Backdrop
P.15 Finished village
P.15 Village with backdrop
P.16 Bagpiper conversions
P.17 Finished minis: 24 more Scots
P.17 Bonnet colour (paints used)
P.18 More buildings, Scottish Village by Hudson & Allen
P.18 Game report
P.19 command & artillery conversions
P.20 village expansion WIP
P.20 more minis WIP
P.21 artillery & crews prepped for painting
P.21 many finished figures / units
P.22 TPL rule for Scots Lancers
P.22 More units prepped for painting
P.23 more buildings almost finished
P.23 Finished Crofts
P.24 More finished artillery plus dragoons & shotte
P.24 Forlorn Hope conversions wip
P.26 Tower House progress
P.27 Tower House roof window WIP
P.28 Tower House perimeter wall progress
P.28 TH wall fitted
P.28 Three more units finished (FH, pike, shotte)
P.29 Tower House WIP update including wall sculpting
P.29 Tower House WIP, adding grass banks, more stonework, etc
P.30 Tower house stonework wip
P.30 Tower house flagstones/logs
P.30 Tower House rocky plinth
P.31 Tower house plaster to ground surfaces
P.31 Tower House construction finished
P.32 Tower house primed
P.33 Tower House core painting
P.34 Tower House finished (20 images)
P.35 Tower House with village (15 images)


Another new project! Well, sort of

Bonnie Scotland

This one, set roughly 1640 to 1680, is an adjunct to my 'Not so Merry England' ECW project:

https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=116169.0

I'd pondered adding some Scots to my armies but also fancied smaller scale games centred on theft, blackmail, plunder, rustling, kidnap and plain-old murder. When I saw the Scottish conversions by Abku Iskander:

https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=136631.0

and then by Captain Blood:

https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=130330.375

.. I hived off some of the exquisite Bloody Miniatures for what will be a mid/late 17thC escapade of Scottish Lowland grudge settling.

Obvs I'm hoping that in due course there will be some official Bloody Miniatures Scots, but to be getting on I've converted 12. A few surplus Bicorne or Renegade minis have donated lower legs to facilitate the replacement of cavalry boots with shoes plus a few plastic feathers from Perry kits, but other than that they're made from BM parts.



The following were a lot of fun to make. Being so characterful to start with, it was especially important that the conversions didn't detract.

First Clan:





Second Clan:





As can be seen, each Clan - names yet to be decided - is starting off with 6 minis, comprised as follows:

1 x sword and dirk
2 x sword and pistol
3 x sword and musket

I have to wait until Fathers Day for the latest release, which I suspect will offer up more characters for inclusion (I'd quite like a couple of archers and axe men).

In addition to the men, I have a couple of Highland Cattle and 8 Soay Sheep by Warbases ?



?. plus loot worthy of being stolen...



With regard to terrain, obvs I can use much if not all of that from the English project plus features like rocky outcrops. To kick off the Scottish terrain I'll probably make a small farm like that in Rob Roy (the Liam Neeson movie), gradually adding to it with more cottages in the style of 'black houses' to accumulate a hamlet, etc (for which Elk101 and OSHIROmodelterrain have provided much useful advice).

The Rob Roy croft isn't original, it being built in Scotland for the movie:





Another consideration is Leanach Cottage at the Culloden Battlefield, though the 'bump out'was a later addition:



I'm perhaps playing a bit loose with time and place as Rob Roy is set in 1713 with Leanach Cottage believed to date from the early 18thC, and both are set in the Highlands rather than the Lowlands. That said, I've yet to read anything that will make them out of place.

It could be a couple of weeks before these first 12 minis are painted, as I have some units of Wookies to finish first. When I do paint them I'm going for a mixture of plaid blankets, plus a mixture of bonnet colours (though some will be blue in case the whole lot find themselves becoming a unit for an ECW game).

[Blackwolf]

 This is wonderful 

[carlos marighela]

Fabulous project, will be watching this with interest.

May I suggest Clan Destine, Clan K and whatever the gaelic is for Cave Bear? 

[levied troop]

Excellent conversions, looking forward to following this project (as with all your projects)

[Friends of General Haig]

Wonderful work with the green stuff, SI 👍.

Very much looking forward to seeing how your project develops.

If I might humbly suggest some reading then The Heather and the Gale by Ronald Williams gives a very atmospheric background to the Campbell / MacDonald background to Montrose’s campaign.

[Captain Blood]

Bold conversions Steve 

[abu iskander]

These look brilliant. Can't wait to see what you do with them!

[Elk101]

Cracking conversions!

[carlos marighela]

If it’s the Lowlands, you might consider a small herd of these:

https://www.eurekamin.com.au/product_info.php?cPath=87_126_131&products_id=13590


And for your clans.

https://www.eurekamin.com.au/product_info.php?cPath=87_126_731&products_id=9949

https://www.eurekamin.com.au/product_info.php?cPath=87_126_731&products_id=9948

https://www.eurekamin.com.au/product_info.php?cPath=87_126_731&products_id=9948

[Blackwolf]

Unfortunately those Eureka chaps are rather slight. Great range though,I did consider them for my own Montrose project, alas moved on to a mate.

[Silent Invader]

Many thanks for all the comments and the interest is always appreciated. 

Hopefully my painting will be worthy of the figures (there are a lot of folds in the plaid, which might be a challenge). 

@CM
Hmm I don't think I'll be going for Clan K! But I do really like the Eureka minis - a nice selection of clothing types and action poses - but as Guy observes I'm afraid they'll be too small as Bloody Miniatures are on the larger side. Such a shame (and likely the same with the animals). Eureka are nicely sculpted minis so if it wasn't for the size they'd be a perfect fit for the project. 

@FOGH
The book recommendation is appreciated, thank you. I've added it to the list.

@CB
Ha Richard, I did feel some trepidation in taking the scalpel to your lovingly created masterpieces but the possibilities for such distinctive Scots are too much to resist.

More soon, including on rules.

[Malamute]

Superb conversions, very much looking forward to seeing the plaid

[Bloggard]

talented folk on this forum - brilliant work in all respects.

[Silent Invader]

Thanks very much chaps

very much looking forward to seeing the plaid

Me too. It's the painting before that I fear. 

[rumacara]

Now this is a project worth following.
As for all of yours...