Flodden Final Units

 

Truth to tell I have 2 Scots and one English units to do. They will have to wait a while. As you will see quite a bit has been accomplished. 

Above, Scots Demi-Lancers under the banner of the Scots Earl Marischal. One of Ray at Don't Throw a One's flags.  The Race of Somerled below. 

Both Clan Donald units. Flags located from the internet by Stuart at Army Royal and overpainted by me.

Lots of Borderers. 

Could be Scots, could be English. The banners of the Commanders enable us to tell them apart.

Below, The English Lord Dacre and his men. Banner from Ray.

The other side, William Graham, Earl of Montrose with his banner. Also from Ray.

The King of England's Spears from Roundway. If I have this right, Stuart of Army Royal drew the flag and Ray coloured it in.

That's it for the moment.

A Flodden Update

 

About three years ago I set out on a Flodden Project. As often happens I wrote and painted away and then got diverted. Permissible, because this is a hobby not a job. You can see my previous progress by hitting Flodden in the tags. Above, not Flodden. Just a Border skirmish.

A couple of days ago I finished the first draft of “Flodden Moor” the working title of my Flodden Game. Yesterday I proof read it. The result is 14 sides of A4 intended to enable gaming the Anglo-Scots Wars of the Flodden Period. Of course you could also use them for intra England or Scotland fights. There were plenty of them. Playtests will follow.

There was still a bit of painting to do. Surprisingly mostly involving the Border Reivers those workmen of the Wars. Now it may be that this is just your thing. An enduring interest perhaps? If so you might want to know what is available in 15mm.

I have 15mm Border Horse from Alternative Armies (1 pose), Minifigs (1pose), Roundway (2 poses), QRF, Essex (1 pose), and ERM. With troops like the Reivers as much variety as possible was my aim.

These days only Alternative Armies ,Minifigs and Essex are still in production, or so I thought. 

Happily ERM are now being sold by East Front Miniatures (EFM). They have the most complete range of Border Reivers, horse and foot, civilians and dogs. I have ordered a few packs and will review them upon arrival here. 

In the meantime you can see an EFM Reiver below. He’s the one in the blue doublet and jack facing a QRF Rider.  A fair fit wouldn’t you say?

Currently I have a couple of units of Border Horse. This is fine for Flodden where the Scots Borderers fought on foot. My 2 units can be English. For other engagements I need a couple more. 

They aren't big units 6-8 figures each. I'm giving some of them little St. Andrew's saltire or St. George cross patches. Mostly my Borderers won't wear them. It was said the Riding Clans were "English by choice and Scots at will."  You can see a couple of standard bearers here to help identify who was, at least temporarily, who.

QRF is currently missing in action. I’m watching with interest Geoff’s efforts to sort things out. I do wish him well. 

Below some English Demi-Lancers from QRF. 

The green and white caps indicate their Tudor allegiance. 

If QRF return I’ll do a Scots version too. 

There is more to the period than the Battle of Flodden.

On this page you can see English and Scots units from my Flodden Collection.

More on this one soon. Starting with a playtest. I really should work out the points for both sides for a balanced game. Truth to tell I'm more interested in the feel of it as a representation of the period.

Flodden Project -An update

 

Above we have James, King of Scots.  He is a converted QRF dismounted gendarme, his comrades are from the same stable.  I gave him a green stuff   "Base".  The "Base" is the wee skirt thing and added a pike.

 

I cannot complete this unit until QRF fully restocks.  The same applies to the unit below. I'll show the completed units when I can.

Scots archers, there were none, bar Highlanders, at Flodden. There were a few about all the same.  Probably my last Scots unit until the re stock.  That said, I might manage the burgesses of Edinburgh.

Luckily, I have English galore to be getting on with. 

The Earl of Essex's contingent here.  All from QRF.  Later, we will see some Khurasan figures.  The two are happily compatible.

The Earl's standard is from Pete's Flags. That of the archers is one of Ray's flags.  The latter St. George's flag shows Tudor allegiance by virtue of the roses.  

The Earl of Norfolk's men here.  

Flags sourced ditto.  

QRF figures once again. 

Here are the men of York.  Note the City banner and the flag of the Holy Trinity both from Ray at Don't Throw a 1. 

  

We will be seeing the Holy Trinity flag again carried by Northern contingents.  Also, The Five Wounds of Christ one ditto.

 

You can probably guess where I am considering going.  Project creep, as ever.  If we get there we might have a look at northern English attitudes back then.  

Note the illustration below. The banner of St. Cuthbert (Sacred battle icon of the North) and a Percy standard.  Percy flags are easily sourced. Ray has one and a nice St. Cuthbert one too.

The game plan so far is like this.  A core of Royal English troops in green on white livery, say 4 or 5 units. All from Khurasan. Followed by six units of Northern troops and four to six others contingents. 

Now, we may not get that far.  I have bothered to take a period political refresher so there are grounds for optimism.

More Bill Hooks 2 fun shortly.