A Major Incursion-Lion Rampant 1513

I have some nice toys for the Tudor Wars (Henry) and recently came by a bunch of Essex Gendarmes for buttons as they say.  Not only that but for the princely sum of £5.00 I got my dibs on a rather splendid castle barbican.

It will serve nicely for an Anglo-Scottish border stronghold and ditto in Ireland.  All of which made me think it was time for a game of Lion Rampant. 

 

The scenario involves a strong Scots force seeking to invest an English castle and its force its garrison to surrender or flee.  The Scots are escorting a piece of heavy artillery capable of successfully battering the English stronghold.  The English need to destroy it.

The game will be the beginning of a sporadic mini-campaign.  Regardless of the outcome of the initial contest a number of possibilities are waiting in the wings.  

French allies may arrive to aid the Scots.

The English Crown may organise a relief force. 

English reinforcements, including Continental mercenaries, may arrive by ship from the south.   

The Riding Families on either side of the Border may mobilise for a big raid-but who will be the target?

I had Highlanders and Border Horse galore but no Scots Pike, at least not painted ones. 

So, two units of Scots Sergeants in Schiltron moved to the front of the painting queue. 

While I was on I thought I’d do a bit of conversion with Green Stuff so the nobs got base coats and the plain folk got St. Andrews Cross patches sewn on their Jacks which looks nice. 

I was pleased with them. Pleased enough that I thought I might as well do another unit. 

You’ll notice the big bases for the pikes, I’m a convert.  I like the look of them and have bought some dial casualty markers to go with them.

While we are talking about things that please I got a pack of Minifigs Highlanders dating from God knows when.  Sometime between strip Minifigs 15mm and the new 15s in the very early 80s I guess.   

They’re the guys with acorn helmet, shirt and Jeddart Stave.

All this meant I needed a unit of Scots archers, and one of demi-lancers and one unit of dismounted Men at Arms. 

While I was on I thought I'd paint a couple of new commanders Lord Scrope for the English 

and the Scots Earl Marichal. 

To add to the jollity QRF have released two packs of mailed warriors that are just the ticket for the better equipped Highland soldier. One bunch are shooting their bows t' other are hefting their two handed slaughter swords. No acorn helmets though!   

I'll have to get some even though I already have quite a few Highlanders.  The ones below are Minifigs, Roundway, Matchlock and 15mm Co.

I intend to review the new QRF figures because they have a history going back nearly 40 years.  It'll be a sort of war games archeology. Also, as a subscriber to the QRF Newsletter I currently get a 20% discount, hard to beat that.

It is all coming along nicely. The toys are mainly QRF and the nice flags are mostly from Ray you can find them on his blog under Flodden Flags.  Here's the link.

Don't throw a 1