Henry Tudor

I honestly believed I had done painting figures for my Wars of the Roses project, at least for the foreseeable future! Then sorting through my latest Red Cross package from Aly - see an earlier post if you missed this - I found three figures for a Command Stand featuring Henry Tudor, soon to be Henry VII! Well, they had to be painted didn't they? And here they are ~

The figures are all from Perry Miniatures, as is the Standard I sourced via a web search; the base is from Warbases, who else? Next across the painting desk to endure their time under the Brush of Doom will be some Foundry Cossacks for the Crimean War collection. I guess they will take a while...

In the meantime,  Sue and I were out in Market Drayton on Wednesday last and while exploring the market and town centre came across this commemorative battle of Blore Heath plaque.

And this commemorating the battle of Trafalgar too! As I noted a couple of years back on a blog entry, our history really is all around us. Meanwhile, its back to painting those cossacks now though...

At Last!!!

Well, here we are then, at last some might say under their breath, the very last of the metal figures dredged up from my Lead Pimple for the Wars of the Roses project.  They are three Perry Miniatures standard bearers which I have repurposed into a small command vignette for the Burgundian mercenaries serving in the Yorkist cause ~

 The central figure with raised sword needs no fiddling to pass as Jean the Timid, as their commander will be known to posterity, while simply adding a war axe from the Agincourt range to a second makes a passably posed MAA,  leaving the third figure as intended to bear the Standard. The Standard I sourced after a Web search for Burgundian flags and banners; it was labelled as a Company Standard,  but it will do for me as Jean's personal Standard! They are merely 'Toys in a game' you should remember. Now, unless I order any more figures, that is that! I still have no firm ideas for what to tackle next and nothing prepped for painting either. It's a most odd feeling I have to confess...

Not the last...

...of the Yorkists, nor of my Wars of the Roses project as it turns out! These are the last three figures from Aly's most recent generous surprise package: Richard III, Sir Percival Thirwall, his Standard Bearer, and a Herald. All are Perry Miniatures of course, while the Standard I downloaded after a Web search, slightly enlarging it in the process. Well, he was the king for a time, so I thought it appropriate!

With these I thought I had painted all of my metal figures for the project, only to discover hidden away in the Lead Pimplette three MAA on foot from which I could make a personality command base for the Burgundian mercenaries serving in my Yorkist forces ~ rather as I did for the Scots mercenaries serving in the Lancastrian faction! They need cleaning up and spray undercoating,  both unlikely at present given hand and snow issues, but they are there for later. I have also rediscovered some unused Pete's Flags Banners and Standards, a good excuse to order some more figures to use them up do you think? Well, maybe not just yet...

Richard Woodville, Lord Rivers

Just when you thought that you were safe...along comes yet another base of mounted knights/MAA! As my hand has been improving by resting from painting over the festive period I've since been trying very short sessions of 10-15 minutes once or twice a day. I was helped by the fact that I had started these three figures before Christmas struck, so its mainly been wielding the Brush of Doom on highlighting base colours. The figures are from Perry Miniatures, the Heraldic Banner from Freezywater Publications, and the base from Warbases! See what you make of these ~

I'm just left now with three mounted figures from Aly's kind recent gift: Richard III, his Standard Bearer Sir Percival Thirwall, and a Herald. These six pieces will take longer I fear as I'm starting them from scratch. As an added complication there is the matter of adequately suggesting the Royal Coat of Arms worn by the Herald! These may be a while then...

In the meantime I've been glancing through the Lead Pimplette as I must label it now, only to discover, well, not a great deal in truth. I guess I must have been rather fixated on the Wars of the Roses project! There is a unit of 12 Foundry Roosian Cossacks for the Crimean War project, assorted Eureka Miniatures for the FRW collection, some Aventine skirmishing Light Infantry for the Punic Wars, together with some Heavy Cavalry and a General. Nothing though is cleaned up and spray undercoated and I doubt the hand can handle the former at present, nor the winter weather the latter! Worse still, I don't really feel up to tackling any of those, but nor as I said do I have even a vague aspiration for anything else right now...

More Braw Laddies

Before my brush with an RSI to my right hand I'd one more unit of figures painted ready to be based before showing them to you, a second base of mercenary Scots spearmen. It's been a bit of a struggle as I'm sure you appreciate to get them ready to reveal, but finally here they are as my first new unit/base post of 2026 ~

This view from above hopefully provides a different perspective on how I try to arrange my figures to suggest a whole unit on one base as an alternative way of representing armies using fewer figures than has traditionally been the case ~

I've used this system now in several collections where its seemed appropriate: Punic Wars, Late Romans, 1066 & All That, Italian Wars, and now the Wars of the Roses. All Ancients or Medieval armies you'll no doubt have noticed. Would it translate to Black Powder period armies? I'm not so sure myself, with formations becoming more complex, but in my ECW armies a sort of hybrid basing system evolved which lead me eventually down this route. I don't have plans for wholesale rebasing though, so don't panic on my behalf! It's more a case of mulling over what might be possible...

Back to the figures in question now: all Perry Miniatures from Aly's most recent gift parcels: from the Agincourt, European Armies, and the Wars of the Roses ranges. Their flags are from Flags of War, although from a slightly later period of history. The base is from Warbases, as noone surely needs telling by now! Even now though those six mounted MAA are glaring at me, daring me if you will to pick up the Brush of Doom once more...

'Black Geordie'

I mentioned previously that I had sorted through the metal figures in Aly's surprise gift parcels and made up a command stand for the Scots mercenaries serving in my Lancastrian army. I'd originally 'named' him Black George in honour of a good friend having a difficult end of year. I was persuaded by the same towards 'Black Geordie' as more appropriately Scots. I was also provided with a version of the family Heraldic Banner to add to the look of the vignette! See what you make of him ~ 

As the festivities edge ever closer I'm still managing to wield the Brush of Doom intermittently, though I've finally had to deploy a new incarnation! I buy my brushes from ABC Brushes, usually at Partizan. The Series 40 Sable Rounds have proved their value. One brush has painted all of the Wars of the Roses collection with no special care beyond a wash in clean water at the end of each session! Does the job for me at 3 for £7 the last time, if I recall correctly that is! Meanwhile, Merry Christmas one and all! Back after the festivities I hope...

Not forgetting my favourite genre at Christmas, a momento gracing our tree...

The King Takes Counsel

One of the small issues which is a disproportionate irritation to me is those odd figures in packs which just don't fit in to the overall look of the group. Back in the day when figures were almost universally sold individually those could just be ignored, not now though. I have paid for them, so being a typical wargamer understandably I want to find a use for them on the tabletop! In the case of my Wars of the Roses project this has lead me to combine three Lancastrian personality figures with a spare standard bearer to create a small vignette, a table decoration if you will, depicting Henry VI taking Counsel with his close advisors, Edward, the Prince of Wales, and the Bishop of Bath and Wells {?} - for Black Adder fans. Perry Miniatures figures, Freezywater Publications Royal Standard and base from Warbases of course ~

Again for the heraldry on the Standard Bearer I've opted out of necessity for suggesting the Royal coat of arms as my right eye has recently been giving me some issues on close focus. On the tabletop battlefield here in GHQ I'm confident it will pass unremarked on!

I have managed to clean up the remaining metal figures I had for this project: 3 mounted MAA; yet another mounted Warwick; and a final MAA as a Standard bearer. While from Aly's gift parcels I've processed a Command base for my Scots mercenaries, a second unit of Scots spearmen, and a command base featuring Richard III. They can be spray undercoated after I finish typing this blog entry as the persistent rain has finally given over, for a day or two anyway, and the sun is shinning!

John Clifford, 9th Baron Clifford

The second of the two new Command stands I have been working on for my small Wars of the Roses project has finally been completed. The figures will represent Clifford, sometime known as 'The Butcher', and two knights from his Household, one bearing his Heraldic Banner and the other his Personal Standard. The figures are from Perry Miniatures, the flags are from Pete's Flags and the base is from Warbases as ever! As a slightly different look for this base one of the knights is depicted on foot raising the Standard in salute to Clifford, who in turn acknowledges him by raising his helm in response. Well, that's how I see it anyway! Nothing much else needs saying by now, so here they are ~

The project had very nearly reached its conclusion, at least for now, and just in time for the festive season wind down too. I had four metal foot figures ready for painting remaining in the Lead Pimple: Henry VI, Edward, Prince of Wales, the Bishop of Bath and Wells {for fans of The Black Adder of course}, and a MAA  bearing the Royal Banner. All could be grouped together it seems to me on a vignette base which can provide a bit of interest beyond the battlefield action. Hopefully these will be finished well before Santa calls! In addition there were 3 mounted MAA, a MAA standard bearer and yet another Warwick! I've no idea at present as to when those figures might reach the head of the painting queue for their encounter with the Brush of Doom! And that would have been it, honestly, but for an unexpected parcel which arrived on Friday afternoon!

From Aly Morrison as a surprise gift, no doubt excavated from amongst his Lead/Plastic Alp during the move into his newly refurbished wargaming quarters. Lots of figures to sort out and put to use, but my favourite piece has to be the Snowman figure painter. It now has pride of place on my desk!

With all this mention of gifts I should end with a sincere Christmas greeting for all who visit this blog, but especially those who take the time and trouble to leave some words of encouragement. 

Now, there's still time to sort through all those new figures and see what new units and characters can be added...A Happy Christmas!

Richard, Duke of York

Regular readers of the blog will know only too well that I've been working on adding two more Command stands to the Wars of the Roses project. The first of these features Richard, Duke of York, whose overweaning ambition to the throne of England may be said to have been one cause of the wars. The base features three mounted figures: Richard himself and two knights; one who bears his heraldic Banner and the other his personal Standard. The figures are from Perry Miniatures of course and the base from Warbases, while I sourced the two flags via a Web search. {I'm pretty sure the Standard was originally on a Perry Miniatures' flag sheet while the Banner looks like it might have been originally from Freezywater Publications?} Not a great deal more needs saying about these for now, so here they are ~

The figures for the second Command stand I mentioned at the start are already enduring their moment under the Brush of Doom too. That second base will comprise two mounted knights and one foot knight and will represent John Clifford, 9th Baron Clifford, "The Butcher". More to share of those before the weekend I would hope, all being well of course! 

Meanwhile here in GHQ the tabletop battlefield is all laid out ready for a return to action in Pendawar, pitting that stalwart British Gentleman, Lord Rawnsley, against the cunning and devious Typoo Byka, the Tiger of Pendawar! More on that too in due course.

Thomas, Lord Roos

Here we have what would have been the last of the bases/units for my Wars of the Roses project, a base of Foot Knights/MAA representing the Household of Thomas, Lord Roos, as the focus of this entry. The base boasts two banners, those of Lord Roos and of his son, and are from Freezywater Publications. The figures are from Perry Miniatures and the base from Warbases as usual. There's really not a great deal more to be said about them by now if I'm honest is there?

My order to Perry Miniatures came last weekend, despite the expected pre-Christmas postal trauma, so the mounted and foot figures for the two additional Command stands are cleaned up, spray undercoated and fixed to temporary MDF bases ready to risk exposure to the Brush of Doom. First up is Richard, Duke of York, to give an alternative Command element to Edward. Hopefully I'll be able to show you this base next week sometime... At present though William has commandeered the painting desk to process a few of his WWII figures!

Commissions of Array

At last the final retinue of figures for the Yorkist faction in my collection has passed beneath the Brush of Doom and mustered into GHQ, just in time to join its fellows in Winter Quarters! It is comprised of the troops gathered by three lesser Midland nobles under the Commission of Array granted to them by Edward. They comprise my by now standard bases of Bows and of Bills, together with the smaller Command base of four MAA. The latter can be added to the front rank of the troops in hand to hand combat for the look of the game if you like. Here they all are for your delight, or otherwise, firstly as they will combine for action on the tabletop battlefield here in GHQ ~

Then in potentially alarming closer shots featuring each individual noble's array ~

The figures are all by Perry Miniatures, from their Wars of the Roses, European Armies and Agincourt ranges. The Banners are from Freezywater Publications and the bases from Warbases as ever. 

The last figures for the project are a base of MAA for the Yorkist faction, currently undergoing their turn under the Brush of Doom. I say last, but that's not strictly true as I have ordered some more mounted Knights/MAA recently, with a view to adding two further Command stands and a base of mounted MMA. As it happened I found I had some unused Standards and Banners in the Lead Pimple, so it was a case of waste not, want not! After all this is surely every wargamer's maxim: no project is ever really finished after all...

"This is the day, and this is the time!"

A second Wars of the Roses battle in a week! Paul was finally able to find a slot in his busy schedule for a game after an overlong hiatus. We agreed on a Wars of the Roses battle using Hail CaesarMk2of course, so I rearranged the tabletop battlefield and the forces after the recent tussle with Phil earlier that week. By way of introduction the opening positions of both armies: first the Yorkists under Edward, then the Lancastrians lead by Henry VI ~

The Yorkist Army of Edward, Earl of March.

The Lancastrian Army of Henry VI.

Both armies started out of bow and light artillery range of each other. Light Artillery may only attempt to move once at any point in the game, then becoming fixed in position. Archers are limited to three Turns of shooting, in this way suggesting resupply issues for both sides. The game must be decided in 12 Turns, before 'nightfall'! Now, as is my wont, an annotated photomontage carrying you down into aspects of the tabletop battlefield action ~

A {borrowed} prayer to the 'dice gods' might have been appropriate before today's battle is joined?

"Lord, you know how busy I must be today.

If I forget you, do not you forget me."🎲🎲

The Duke of Buckingham ponders the battle ahead and perhaps offers up his own private prayer.

Edward surveys his army, eager for the day's action to begin, perhaps hoping fortune may favour his cause this day.

Like a tightly coiled spring, the Yorkist host holds itself ready to throw all its might on the Lancastrian foe! Dice permitting of course!

Oxford's Ward looks to advance boldly on the Lancastrian left...but🎲🎲

Henry orders his Main Ward forward to close with the traitorous Edward. In the foreground the Commons attached to Buckingham's Ward nervously loose off their first arrows on the distant Yorkists of Warwick's Ward. 

Warwick's Household MAA clash with the Billmen and MAA of Sir John Savage early in the exchanges.

MAA of Clifford's and the Royal Household clash with the Retinue of Fauconberg and the knights of Edward's Household. Closing Fire has mixed effects on them, with those of Henry falling short of their target!

Warwick orders his Ward forward in a boldly aggressive move, feeling Buckingham's men are of poorer quality and may respond badly to the move.

Both sides are now in bow and light artillery range. Storms of arrows are loosed and shot exchanged, but still they both press on.

In a reverse of fortunes, Edward is wounded badly and lead from the field to seek aid. Will the Yorkists falter or will they double down on the fight?

Disorder is spreading in both armies leading to much confusion of the lines of battle. Henry boldly moves forward into the fray to encourage his men least they faltering.

De La Pole leads his mounted knights and MAA in a wild charge into the Prince of Wales' mounted men. The fight is brisk and bloody, Edward's men break and the Yorkists are in the Lancastrian's rear!

The confusion of a medieval battle and the difficulty of command and control seem evident in this photo!

Warwick's Vanward is making good progress against Buckingham. Events seem at this point to be turning in favour of the Yorkist cause.

On Oxford's flank things are also looking grim for Henry's Lancastrians. Losses are mounting and courage is failing it seems.

As Henry sees the MAA of his Household flee the battlefield he must sense that it will not be his day!

Only Buckingham's Ward is holding its ground against Warwick,  but with Henry's Main Ward and Oxford's Van Ward Broken the Lancastrian army must quit the field while it may. News of the victory will no doubt speed Edward's recovery from his grievous wound to good health.

Edward returns to survey the field and savour his victory! No doubt though that Henry will regroup and once more the clash of steel on steel will rent the air in a future battle.

For now though, peace is once more restored to this corner of the rural idyll of Old Englande, so sheep may safely graze again...

Both armies will move for now into winter quarters: lick their wounds, sharpen their steel, revise their plans and recruit fresh men to their cause. In the meantime games using Hail Caesar Mk2 will be superceded  here in GHQ by a return to Black Powder games in the coming weeks.