Saturday, March 27, 2010

Work in Progress: Landsknechts!

My next big project for 2010 is to paint up a Maximilian Imperial army from the early 16th Century for DBA-RRR. All the figures are from Dark Dream Studios, comprising a box of their Landsknecht Dopplesoldners and Arquebusiers, a box of Landsknecht pikemen and a box of Renaissance knights. I've finished the first batch, the Dopplesoldners (double-pay men) whose job it was to hack their way into the enemy pike blocks using their monstrous two handed swords.

The first element completed for the army is the forlorn hope, who were identified by carrying a plain red Blutfahne ('blood banner')




I haven't based the other Dopplesoldners yet. The plan is to base the pikemen on extra- deep bases, and to include these figures ahead of the pikes.

Landsknechts are very tricky to paint, with their layers of slashed clothing revealing different colours. The best book I've found so far to explain how the clothing was actually made is the Osprey Landsknecht Soldier by John Richards, from their Warrior series.



6 comments:

  1. Would some of the guns in the Zvezda set work with this army.?
    Or are they just too early.?


    Cheers,

    Stan.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Stan,'t

    I think you mean the Zvezda Medieval field artillery? If so, then yes, I think the guns are too old fashioned. I have been looking into this, but I can't find any evidence of guns like this being used in the early C16th. C17th artillery is probably a closer match, with some tweaking. I'm very happy to be proven wrong though - I'd love to use this set.

    Cheers,
    Alan.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great work m8. Doing same thing myself soon, I've done some pikemen already (well assembled them anyway). Make sure the wife and kids are out of earshot when doing this, tricky is not the word for it!. Ended up replacing the original pikes with 1mm plastic rod as originals bend like crazy when trying to position arms.

    ReplyDelete
  4. How about the Orion set "Ukrainian Foot Cossacks and Artillery".?
    looks a bit like

    But what to use as the Organ Gun.??

    ReplyDelete
  5. Young Stan - Yes, I think these could be the way to go. Not sure about the organ gun.

    Cameronian - I started the pikemen last night, and I see what you mean. Did my head in. But I think I have a solution - I'm gluing the arms and just sticking a pin through the hands in place of the pike to make sure they are in the right place. Then I'll add pike made from broom bristles.

    By the way - you might know this, bbut I just found this great painting guide:
    http://www.stuartmulligan.com/landsknechts.htm
    Cheers,
    Alan.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Yup, interesting site, nice pic too. Good luck with the pikes, glad I only did 14! Please remember to post up the pics, you'll be finished long before me, mine are 4th. army on the 'to do' list.

    ReplyDelete

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