French Pikeman conversion

[Stuart]

@Jimbibbly

Indeed there were, Flodden was almost an entirely infantry engagement save for a single swift action by some indifferent border horse but Pinkie saw the Scots pike in succesful defensive action against charges by English heavy cavalry, killing some 200 and mauling many more.

On the continent, cavalry were very much a force to be reckoned with and could be decisive when efficiently put to use though, equally the opposite at times - Pavia in 1525 saw French heavy cavalry surronded and hacked to pieces by arquebusiers and pikemen.

English pike (around 800) made a brief appearence in the army Henry took to France in 1513 though sadly there is no record of how they fared or whether they even saw action.

In the later Scottish wars English pike did increase though they did not fare well in the first pike on pike engagement; the battle of Ancrum Moor, 1545 was a rough defeat for the English, principally due to the Scots having longer pikes - and no doubt, the better experience;

'The Scots spears were longer than the English by five quarters of an ell, which when they joined with the Englishmen they had them all run down ere the English spears might touch them and so they rushed them roughly to the earth.'

This battle was fought over a gentle hill so, higher ground, longer pikes, and momentum made for a very short and bloody scrum of a fight.

A later description of the battle of Langside (1568) gives an indication as to how the Scots fought pike on pike (this was a scot on scot engagement) an eyewitness described how they let their adverseries lower their pikes first in order;

' ...to bear up their own, the pikes being levelled in such dense array that assorted missiles hurled overhead by the rear ranks - including spent pistols, stones, broken pike shafts and empty flagons - might be seen laying upon the spears.'


@Hendrid

Oh I think so, in the fullness of time for sure, i'd do the English at Flodden also - the prospect of many hundreds of conversions like this is a little daunting but i'm sure / would hope by then (a few years) the gap may have been filled by some wily manufacturers.

[Stuart]

Number 2

[Arlequín]

I think that actually looks better than the first one... which is saying a lot. 

[Captain Blood]

Brilliant Stuart. Love that one. The pavise is superbly weathered.

[Stuart]

I think the sculpting helps quite a bit to bring the figures into the early 1500's, here's another shot with some leg detail;

[Hendrid]

I think the sculpting helps quite a bit to bring the figures into the early 1500's

Definitely agree with that. Like the second one a lot and that's to do with the sculpting you've done there. Excellent again.

[OSHIROmodels]

Thanks for the comprehensive answer Stuart, that new addition looks fantastic 

cheers

James

[max]

Wonderful free hand! I tried a small ship on one of my pavises, looks like a child's drawing next to yours 

[janner]

Sorry matey, I have visited this thread several times and am really inspired by your skills, but failed to post anything. Poor show on my part 

These are fabulous. Which rules do you plan for this project, are you sticking wit Impetus?

Regards and Happy New Year!

[Stuart]

@Janner

My default rules /  basing is for DBR but despite that i'm not that much of a gamer, more of a painter really.

[Atheling]

Certainly works for me in the execution of the conversion and the lovely brushwork!!

 

Darrell.