November Challenge #2

"The Swiss took heart and made to charge again with a big force, and came to fight the said landsknechts hand-to-hand, but I assure you that the Swiss found a marvellously good band [to resist them], and for a long time I thought that the Swiss would lose the battle. However, the landsknechts were not very numerous, and believe it that there were not more than 5,000 fit [landsknechts] at the point of combat. And the first Swiss to arrive were repulsed, and I assure you that since then I never saw a band of landsknechts and harquebusiers that did its duty so marvelously. And the said Swiss forced to detach 400 halberdiers that they had, and went to attack the harquebusiers who were 800, so that they made them flee, and then these halberdiers attacked the landsknechts from the flank. When all is said and done, the battle was lost. And the landsknechts were so badly supported, for the French infantryman were neverd or willing to fight: when they saw the second force of Swiss, they all fled."

-Robert III de la Marck, seigneur de Florange

Unfortunately I got sick so I wasn't hobbying so much for the last few days, however, today I was able to get another two pikemen done.

I bought a mounted men-at-arms kit from Perry not too long ago that I'm planning on turning into gendarmes, and the spare heads you get in there are perfect. Particularly the sallet's because by the beginning of the 16th century they were more or less out of style; I think logically it would make sense for one to find its way into a Landsknecht's hands.

Glad to get paint to plastic again, however, what irks me about Warlord's Landsknecht pikeman kit is the lack of some proper slashed, puffy jackets. One pair of arms could pass but the other's are disappointing, namely the arms with the metal plates on the side. I'm going to go ahead and sculpt over that pair of arms the mentioned style and have those be the front ranks. 

Ta

November Challenge Day #1

Emperor Maximillian I gave the newly raised Landsknecht companies freedom to wear whatever clothing they pleased as he exclaimed they lived such "short and brutish" lives. This led to incredibly flamboyant, and outlandish outfits which were worn to protest against the social hierarchy at the time or just shock commoners with their bright colors, puffy clothing, and unreasonably large codpieces. 

This is day 2 of the 30 day November painting challenge which I've decided to personally change to fit my goal. Instead of painting 30 minutes every day, I paint a minimum of one model per day. I've been looking forward to painting this army for a while and don't see this being too much of a stretch. 

Today's progress includes the completion of 2 more Pikeman (just the clothing) forming one 40x40mm base. After I complete the second base in the front rank of bases (3x3 formation) I'm going to start working on my command base for the unit which I am buzzing about. Without further ado

Hopefully, I can get out and buy the last few paints I need to finish the miniatures but until then..

The Bad War

The Schlechtekrieg or "bad war", was the bitter rivalry between the Swiss mercenaries and their imitators, the Landsknecht. Emperor Maximillian I of the HRE jealous and impressed by how exceptional the Swiss were in battle, created his own mercenary companies trained to fight and compete with his enemy. These outlandish warriors in no way impressed the Swiss, and ever since battles between the two usually ended in a bloodbath as there was no quarter given. 

The Battle of Marignano can be considered the battle that began the descent of Swiss superiority. Nearly 20 years after the Great Italian Wars had begun, the French Expedition into Italy found itself facing off against a Swiss army half its size in the southeast of Milan. 

This will be the Battle that my project is modeled after. A pivotal battle in the War of the League of Cambrai, a clash between my two favorite renaissance factions, the Swiss and the Landsknecht.

A box of Warlord's Landsknecht Pikemen arrived in the mail not too long ago, and to help myself along with the painting I've chosen to participate in the November Challenge, where I have to hobby for a minimum of 30 minutes a day, posting my results.

Today, 30 minutes turned into a few hours and I'm proud to say I've finished the outfits of two Landsknechts. Unfortunately, my paint range is lacking so I can't finish them 100% at the moment but that will come soon.

More to come soon!