Spoons' Militia

[Captain Blood]

Wanted to share the first of my C17th foot with you... Sir Edgar Spoons' Militia.

These are a collaboration - mainly someone else's work.

Still struggling through 70 cavalry, the thought of tackling 120 infantry was just too depressing, so I have subbed the job out to Michael Siwak.

I clean up, base and prep the figures, then send them off to Berlin, Michael paints them, and I get them back and do the scenic basing, and a teensy bit of retouching to suit my tastes. I should emphasise though, that 90% of the painting you see here is Michael's work, not mine.

And jolly good it is too (and at a very nice price )

So, here's the first of 5 units Michael is doing for me. These units are musket-armed, because I'm not really all that interested in fighting big pitched tabletop battles of the Civil War. I want to re-enact the sieges, skirmishes and street-fighting that was typical of most of what went on, rather than big set piece battles. Hence, very few pikemen for me. (I will have a few though, as I also bought a very nice bluecoat pike and musket unit from Michael... )

This first unit are 'village militia' - I wanted some non-uniformed types I could use for either side, and also as general purpose C17th militia for my 'Lorna Doone' project (more about this to follow...  )

Sorry - photos not quite up to scratch. It's a filthy, dark, rainy day in the South of England today. Poor natural light for decent pics, but you get the idea...

[The Hooded Claw]

Nicely done. I really like the use of a very narrow palet to pull the whole unit together. Effective and nicely detailed.

[Regulator]

The models and the paintjobs are just perfect!

[Argonor]

Please stop... I cannot afford to get tempted by yet another period.... 

Well, wait... such minis can also be used for pirates games 

I like the dark paint-scheme on this one - and the church is probably just another left-hand project like those of Theomar...?

[Ray Rivers]

 

More magic from Cap'n Blood.

[theoldschool]

I love these. Having sold off my painted ECW figures I wasn't going to do the period, but you are sorely tempting me.

[Furt]

Beautiful! 

I agree that the darker colors appeal to me as well.

[Lowtardog]

I have always worried about getting figures painted but these are beauties and really fit in with your style of painting. They are lovely

[bandit86]

ECW  oh no not another range no no no.  but these are fantastic

[Captain Blood]

I have always worried about getting figures painted but these are beauties and really fit in with your style of painting.

Thanks Karl. I too have always resisted the idea of paying someone else to paint stuff for me, when I can paint quite well myself. But 120 figures staring at you is quite a hill to climb, and would have meant nothing else in the lead mountain seeing the light of day for at least a year. You're right - the clincher was finding someone whose style was not too dissimilar to my own. Michael's style is quite similar, and a few little retouches from me - plus me doing the basing - brings them plausibly into line.

I love these. Having sold off my painted ECW figures I wasn't going to do the period, but you are sorely tempting me.

Pat, the first 5 (then 25mm) figures I ever bought - about a lifetime ago - were an officer, drummer and three musketeers from Hinchliffe's ECW range. Over the following years I collected several armies and did ECW to death. I sold my extensive Hinchliffe / Minifigs collection after about 10 years, and never thought to go there again.

But honestly, these Bicorne and Renegade figures are simply so brilliant, so varied (between the two ranges - both by Nick Collier - you have a choice of about 500 individual figures) and so evocative of the period that I was simply unable to resist. 

Watch this space. Lots more to follow. 

[Vanvlak]

Inspiring - at least I've already bought some figures for the ECW, so I'm not being dragged into another period

[dodge]

Lovely all perfectly enhanced by the scenery too 

Dodge

[Malamute]

Wonderful stuff as usual. Great photographs, they capture the mood of the period well. I like the choice of drab colours and his work is great. They look like they will blend in well with yours.

[Admiral Benbow]

Lovely stuff, Captain! Perfect blend of miniatures and scenery.
 

[skirmishman]

Superb I have been looking for some ideas for what to do with my civil war collection if you have any more ideas keep us posted .I like the idea of siege games and small skimishes without pike men getting in the way.Any idea what rule set you are likely to be using Cheers david.