Codsticker's Historicals: Fun With Plastic!(and now metal)

Much of this stuff has appeared in the Tale of Historical Painters this past year and some of my current stuff will also show up there. However, some stuff will be one off projects- individual minis and units- as inspiration hits and that is what will be shown here as well.

First off a summary of the previous tale: an 11th. Century Andalusian Army from the Taifa Kingdoms period. Many of the minis were converted from Wargames Factory Persians and Conquest Games Normans plastic kits. I will post complete unit shots followed by a few a WIP shots.

Noble Cavalry
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps85b686b9.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...DSCF1015-1.jpg
Archers
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psb8f7fff3.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...08-2012005.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...06-2012003.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...06-2012005.jpg

Spearmen
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps2a5cde4c.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psa77cc323.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psfbca2044.jpg
Crossbowmen
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...sbowmen004.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ov22012006.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ov22012007.jpg

Spearmen
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psd9684a81.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps79372600.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps9c483d1b.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps927f6ee9.jpg
Andalusian Jinetes
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps4ad8ec34.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...10-2012001.jpg

Command
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps90aba8c4.jpg

Army Shot as it currently stands
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psb0ef8927.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...pscc6dec96.jpg

Ohh nice. Ive seen some of them somewhere earlier but seeing them all together is so mutch more impressive.
Really great work with the kitbashing and greenstuff work.
:D

I am currently working on a unit of mounted Archers, kit-bashed together from Conquest Games Norman Knights with heads from Wargames Factory, Gripping Beast and Westwind.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps92cb8874.jpg
The heads, from left to right are from: WGF Saxon Fyrd, Gripping Beast Dark Ages Warriors, Westwind Saxon Bare heads.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps7dc035f4.jpg

Breathtaking fella. Thank you.

Great looking army, of course I'll subscribe. :)

Good stuff, subscribed. ;) Looking forward to your ECW stuff as well! :D

Awesome! Great work on the conversions and swaps.

THAT is a great looking army! "Looking forward to you ECW stuff"! OH, oh...me too. Hey, somebody has to assemble and paint those minies. Somebody has to look at the photos.:)

Really cool stuff. I have been interested in picking up some of those plastic Normans and it looks like I finally might.

This is looking so good... that is the best looking WGF Dark age Head I have ever seen.

I am impressed with what you did with the WGF Persians.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by StygianBeach

This is looking so good... that is the best looking WGF Dark age Head I have ever seen.

I am impressed with what you did with the WGF Persians.

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WGF Saxon and Persian heads are very good in my opinion (the two complete horse archers in the first photo have heads from their Persians).

Speaking of horse archers... just need a little tidy up and they are ready for primer:
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psa8e7ab20.jpg
I got as bit side-tracked... I just love the clothing on the Perry's plastic Mahdists so I bought a box although I had no clue what to do with them. Inspiration struck whilst reading the Saga forum and I decided to see if I could turn them into Dark Ages Irish or Scots. I took some bare legs from one of the Perry torsos and switched them with the legs from one of the bodies from Gripping Beasts Dark Age Warriors. Not perfect but passable I think (the head is Westwind Irish, and not as large as it looks in the first photo- must just be the angle):
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps3aa30ce4.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psc42f56d9.jpg
The other fella (I think I will get rid of the at over-sized spear and put a brass javelin in his hand):
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps5bb2d61d.jpg

I think I am going to re-size some of these pictures; it's too easy to see how messy the work is...:shifty::p

Love your work.

What game rules are they being built with in mind?

The Andalusians are for WAB/Hail Ceasar/what have you and the Irish are for Saga. I also have plans to paint a few Christian Spanish for use in Saga with boards of my own devising.

The last four horses for the Archers are finished...
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps9c5f5eaa.jpg
... and the archers have arms glued on; I gave a beard to the guy with no chin and the bad neck.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps8e3b3e2f.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps5a20e767.jpg

Amazing work.

Wow I'm very impressed mate. Fantastic conversion idea and execution. Kudos !

Brillant work! Excellent conversions!

Thanks for the comments everyone; I hope to have a couple more pics up come the weekend.

Horse Archers are complete. I Actually have one more horse painted up that needs a rider but I have not got around to making one.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps8159c798.jpg

Nice, they're looking good.

I like the way you paint your horses, very natural. i have a magazine with a good poster on military horse types which i hope to make some use of soon.

Subscribed

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Steam_Giant

I like the way you paint your horses, very natural.

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Thanks for the compliment. I work with horses everyday so I know them pretty well- some of the models are little mini-portraits of horses I know. :D

Nice to see you progress.

Looking great. An army to be proud of!

Nice, nice, nice. I like the basing as well. Maybe there's a way you could turn down the "warmth" of the picture a nudge in your editing software? Would give more natural looking pictures, showing these pretty models in an even better light!

Anyway, keep it up!

I use Photobucket and I have tried played around with the editing function but have not been happy with the results.

Never mind, the pictures look fine enough. What are you working on at the moment?

These guys... and I have started painting those two Irishmen for Saga.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Codsticker

some of the models are little mini-portraits of horses I know. :D

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thats cool. does it make sending them to war difficult though? :-)

Moving along with some Warlord Games Pike and Shotte. Putting together some pike men and a command group:
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psce37e5fd.jpg
The command sprue contains great models; super character and good options. The only real weakness of the Warlord infantry set is that the arms that both end on a weapon (pike shaft or musket) do not go together clean as shown by this picture:
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psa6b55bf0.jpg
I had to put in some styrene spacers and fill in with liquid greenstuff on the pike men models which hold their pikes at the ready;
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps61648bb5.jpg

Finished the unit (more pictures in the Tale of Historical Painters):
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psd670b2c0.jpg
I have now started Rupert's Bluecoats. A couple of broken pikes have led to impromptu conversions; I don't know what this guy is doing but if Space Marines carried pikes I imagine they would be posed thusly:
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps1573af36.jpg
... and another:
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps5b3b5c7a.jpg

The first conversion could make a neat banner. Throw a pistol or sword into is empty hand and he's golden! Anywho, they look great finished. The basing is especially good.

The units look great Codsticker :yes:

Thanks guys. Basing is probably my favorite part; perhaps because it finishes the unit.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Codsticker

Thanks guys. Basing is probably my favorite part; perhaps because it finishes the unit.

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Yeah I love basing too :) By the way yours look amazing. What manufacturer are you using for your tufts ?

The tuffs are Army Painter Highland Tuffs. The static grass is a mix of Woodland Scenics light green and harvest gold. There is a also a blend of various WS coarse and fine turf, mostly light and medium green with a little bit of yellow, and red thrown in.You can't really see it unless you look closely.

Ah, look, now we're talking! 17th century goodness, and goodness it is indeed. Nice variety of colour whilst keeping an overall green theme. :yes:

Do you somehow glue to models to this piece of wood for painting or is it just your presentation plinth?

It is just 40mm round doweling; the models are glued on with white glue for painting. I am mixing up the basing because I cannot decide which way to go :rolleyes:; I have them based as singles, doubles and triplets. So I glue them to the dowel for painting then pop them off to glue them to their bases before sealing and basing.

I had a unit of musketeers half done a while ago. I finished them off and here is Henry Tillier's regiment now complete:
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psaadb3c4a.jpg
The regiment was originally formed in Ireland from troops sent there under Tillier to fight the Irish Confederacy as well as local Irish troops.

The regiment was moved to England in February 1644 and garrisoned at Shrewsbury.. The regiment was involved in the relief of Newark as well as the Lancashire campaign. Tillier was captured at the battle of Marston Moor, his troops fighting bravely before quitting the field.

Those that made their way back to Wales reformed under Edmund Hammond however Marston Moor marked the beginning of their decline. As their numbers dwindled they were combined with other small regiments to become know as "the Shrewsbury Foote"; a mere 500 strong, they met their end at Naseby, the final nail driven by Sir Thomas Fairfax's cavalry.

Good looking regiment. :)

Thank you. :) Not a very flattering picture but the best I could do without puting in a lot more effort. :D

THOSE are fine looking troops. My group of old farts and I are discussing a Spring campaign. NOT a refight of historic battles. I don't think the guys realize I do use maps of various battles.;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Crazy Harborc

THOSE are fine looking troops. My group of old farts and I are discussing a Spring campaign. NOT a refight of historic battles. I don't think the guys realize I do use maps of various battles.;)

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I am rather envious CH; I think a ECW (or 30YW) campagin would be lots of fun.

I have finished off the commnad for Rupert's Bluecoates; I just have to wait for a rise in temperature before I can seal and base the unit.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps24e1c43c.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps3f960e13.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psa6ba1357.jpg

I am thinking......about a couple of SMALL battles, followed by a few bigger one. THEN, a big one. There will be reinforcements (or not) depending on D6 rolls.

There WILL be a defendable positions with at least 8 ships deck cannons ALLLL in a row:evilgrin:. CHARGE that positions lads.

I would have to drum up some opposition before I could start a campaign. I may have to build another army. ..:angel:

That officer especially looks just amazing. Great job there, Codsticker. :yes:

Campaigns are always great stuff. I'm currently one game into a Gorkamorka campaign and two games into a Dux Britanniarum one. Let's see when those continue. ;) This weekend I re-read the Father Tilly rules (very interesting stuff, I think I may have to give them a try. They model a lot Pike&Shotte doesn't.) and there's a very interesting campaign supplement out for that set of rules for playing connected scenarios and such, grander strategy things and events going on and so on. Should be a breeze to convert them for any other 17th century battle gaming needs

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sigur

That officer especially looks just amazing. Great job there, Codsticker. :yes:

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The Officer is a very nice model- excellent detail (no mould lines running down the centre of his face)- it's not hard to do a nice job on him

Quote:

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They model a lot Pike&Shotte doesn't.

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I am not sure what you mean by that; is it that there are rules to cover aspects and/or situations that are not present in the Pike and Shotte rules?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Codsticker

I am not sure what you mean by that; is it that there are rules to cover aspects and/or situations that are not present in the Pike and Shotte rules?

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Yup, exactly that. They make much more of a fuss about formations of different sizes being able to move at different paces, are easier and harder to disorder and so on. I guess it plays a bit slower due to that but on the other hand they don't have the Warmaster-like command and control system. Instead they do a rather fun system in which each player has to spend a number of "activation points" (not sure if they're called that in the rules) for making units or groups of units do certain things. The beginning of each turn each player writes down the number of activations he needs, then reveal the numbers to each other, the player who thinks he needs less gets to go first. There are a bunch of other fun mechanisms in there as well. Not sure I'll ever get to give the game a try but maybe some day. In the end it probably does about the same as P&S does, just takes a different rout to get there.

The current version of the rules sadly is written for use with single-based 28mm figures and casualty removal but I'm sure it's not hard to convert to using the warmaster-y kind of basing I did.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sigur

Yup, exactly that. They make much more of a fuss about formations of different sizes being able to move at different paces, are easier and harder to disorder and so on. I guess it plays a bit slower due to that but on the other hand they don't have the Warmaster-like command and control system. Instead they do a rather fun system in which each player has to spend a number of "activation points" (not sure if they're called that in the rules) for making units or groups of units do certain things. The beginning of each turn each player writes down the number of activations he needs, then reveal the numbers to each other, the player who thinks he needs less gets to go first. There are a bunch of other fun mechanisms in there as well. Not sure I'll ever get to give the game a try but maybe some day. In the end it probably does about the same as P&S does, just takes a different rout to get there.

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Sounds interesting. I imagine that each player only has so many activations to spend and making a unit do complex formations would require more activations; is that correct?

Quote:

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The current version of the rules sadly is written for use with single-based 28mm figures and casualty removal but I'm sure it's not hard to convert to using the warmaster-y kind of basing I did.

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There are many means of getting around casualty removal if you don't like it; I am not sure why some get stuck on it. Even in a system where a unit takes wounds but there is no casualty removal- such as Hail Caesar or Pike and Shot- you can remove single figures if that is how you choose to track wounds.

I finally finished painting up those two Irish warriors. In Saga terms the one with the shield will be a bonnacht (Warrior) and the other will be a kern (Levy).
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps57c007b9.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps3a2a58a8.jpg
I have also started smashing together a Warlord using a body from the Warlord Games Auxiliary sprue.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps3b9087ed.jpg

Looks promising. Keep it up.

The warrior and the levy look spiffy Codsticker. And I look forawrd to seeing the completed Warlord. Can I ask what you're using to sculpt your cloaks?

The only bit of sculpting is the front of the Warlord's cloak. The main part is a cast cloak from Victoria Lamb's company I think. I used "grey stuff";I don't recall the manufacturer. It's different than green stuff; you don't wet it when working it. In fact, it degrades it when you do.

Nice, that first one looks very characterful. :)

He's a real mishmash. :D The torso is Perry plastic Madhist, the legs Gripping Beast Dark Ages Warrior, the head Westwind Irish , the javelin is from Warlord and I think the shield is from WGF Saxons.

I got a few more musketeers painted. Progress is slow this month due to work and family stuffs.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps03c2f252.jpg

They're looking good. You won't use any musket rests?

I forgot about them with first unit and was painting the second when I realised I hadn't used any.:o I should probably make use of some for the next unit.

Great paintjob.

They look mean and brutal, down to buisness.

You do not want to be on the recieving end of that line.

I like that Irish warrior especially. That nose is very characterful!

Musketeers look good as well. Musket rests I'm sure you can scratchbuild rather easily using thin plastic rods or wire with some u-shaped wire on top if need be. But then again, especially if you're doing ECW there were a bunch of lighter muskets around then too already.

Oh yeah. Hey, don't forget that those rods often were used as weapons in HtH. No....I wasn't there, just read about that in OLD fashioned books.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Crazy Harborc

Oh yeah. Hey, don't forget that those rods often were used as weapons in HtH. No....I wasn't there, just read about that in OLD fashioned books.

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:D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sigur

I like that Irish warrior especially. That nose is very characterful!

Musketeers look good as well. Musket rests I'm sure you can scratchbuild rather easily using thin plastic rods or wire with some u-shaped wire on top if need be. But then again, especially if you're doing ECW there were a bunch of lighter muskets around then too already.

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I have all the plastic ones from the Warlord sprues, I just never used them.

Nice 28 mm historicals. :yes:

Codsticker's latest post reminded me...I have those plastic rests too. A source of spears/javelins. I just have to find the sprues.;)

Well, it's taken me a while but I finally finished off Rupert's Regiment of Foote, the Bluecoates.
The last unit of shotte:
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps1c40bb05.jpg
Here is the whole regiment:
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps8a1ae0ad.jpg

Looks great, very immersive.:)

Fantastic regiment ! The look amazing :)

Thanks guys.

I also got a start on some cavalry:
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...psbcc26670.jpg

Nice work on those infantry sir. Though I must say that I feel sorry for those cavalrymen and their clearly painful predicament :D

Nice work on the cavalry so far. :)

Good painting on those Bluecoates, nice models too with good variation

I should be done both the riders and their mounts before the weekend is up. WIP shot:
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps946c854b.jpg

Horses are finished and awaiting their riders.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps4d623dae.jpg I won't get them finished today as I like to let the paint cure for 24hrs before sealing them and then basing.

Nice colouring. I like the white grey horse the best.

Yes I am happy with the way it turned out. I found the fastest way to make dapples is to dot black ink on and then very thin white paint in between the black dots. It looks great and is quite simple.

4 cavaliers done, coming to a baggage train near you!
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps7d9e4cfe.jpg

Like the grey horse, consider the idea stolen. ;)
But as gorgeous as they look, i won't let those guys near my baggage train. :)