Tuscan Distraction - Painterman's (sporadic) 15th C Italian army build @ 13/12

[painterman]

I've been tempted to use Perry figures to add some Italian city state armies and have been have a go with green stuff over last week, with some modest conversions.
This will be a (very) sporadic build, fitted in between other stuff; based on the 1440/50s wars between Milan and a league comprising Florence, Venice and Papacy (so excuse to do all troop types of Italy), based loosely on Battle of Anghiari and using Pete's Flags excellent flagsheets. I'll probably start with Milanese.
First are some conversions, simply adding giornea (tabards) and a hat conversion, to Italianise them more. Fairly simple to do.



I've also tested adding cloth covering to the barding of the Perry plastic mounted men at arms.


To represent the Milanese 'Radia Magna' company, I've added some Mirliton helmet plumes - rather over elaborate and based on the Battle of San Romano paintings - but they capture the spirit. I now need lots of the Italian armour style bodies from the Perry mounted knights box (if anyone has them going spare?)


If I have any chance of making headway, painting will be as swift as possible, using washes and here are some units of skirmishers, completed a couple of years ago that kicked it off (...which shows how long this idea has been on the backburner!).



As I say, whatever occasional updates I manage, I'll keep posted here.

Thanks
Simon.

[nikko]

Hello,
Very nice miniatures !!!  ...
I like conversion too (and the bases).
Nikko

[Blofeld]

Nice conversions and beautiful painting style
Thanks
Blofeld

[Captain Blood]

Excellente 

All the best projects have a lengthy gestation period 

I will be following with much interest. It is a very tempting and colourful setting.

[Charlie_]

Oh yes, very nice! More please!

That metal head on one of your unpainted handgunners - is it from the metal Perry pikemen? I was actually just preparing some of them myself when I saw this...

[Atheling]

Good stuff Simon 

I'll be watching this thread carefully for every hint of heraldic info I can glean for the Fornovo project! 

Darrell.

[painterman]

Thanks for the kind words.
Charlie - the metal head is from the metal Italian Heads code.
Simon.

Darrell - lots of inspiration and info here: some later 15th Century stuff included (re Fornovo etc).
http://stemmieimprese.it/

[Atheling]

Darrell - lots of inspiration and info here: some later 15th Century stuff included (re Fornovo etc).
http://stemmieimprese.it/

Thanks mate, bookmarked!

Darrell.

[Dalauppror]

Lovely looking minis !

[painterman]

Brief update - unit of Milanese skirmishers, armed with spear and shields.
Perry metals - swordsmen converted to spears, with an arm change, halbard changed & a headswop - I did say this was a quick build army didn't I...  
Paint jobs are much swifter than usual though (so close inspections are not allowed!) - handpainted shields in the absence of any transfers - using contemporary battle scenes of Aghiari 1440 as references - visual cohesion with variety.



Will take some much better pics - in natural light - when the basing's all done.
Simon.

[Hu Rhu]

Blimey those are good.   

Excellent conversions and the paint job is none too shabby either.  They will look even more impressive when fully based. 

I love this thread. Can't wait to see more.

[Captain Blood]

Spectacular.
Your quick paintjob, Simon, is pretty darn good.
Love those.

[Atheling]

Interesting stuff, especially in terms of heraldry!

Have you got some examples of the colour on colour heraldry (usually a massive no-no) Simon?

I expect that it might have been in the link that you posted earlier? I'd love to know if the Italians were doing it as this makes all the difference!

Darrell.

[Mick_in_Switzerland]

Very nice project - I shall watch with interest
Mick

[painterman]

Darrell
Not too sure on your 'colour on colour' question - but the website cited previously is the source for this.
Just need to reboot the Italian into Google translator and look out for the embedded links in the articles on Battle of Anghiari - lots of line drawings re heraldic devices - and assumptions on colours from contemporary illustrations (basically paint that's now showing as black is discolouration of green or blue, upon closer inspection).
Hope thats of some help?
Simon.