Both ECW deliveries arrived today. One from the US - Old Glory 25mm Parliamentarian Personalities - Cromwell, Fairfax, Manchester, Essex, Waller, and Skippon. The other, more substantial, was from the UK - Hinchliffe 25mm ECW. Very impressed with the UK delivery because they delivered precisely on the date they stated. Less so with the US order but glad nonetheless that it finally did arrive, and on the same day too!
Spent the evening sorting through the packets and labelling them according to their online listing. And then begins the preparation and actual painting process - trimming the excess and cleaning the mould lines, priming, undercoat, painting, sealing. Really want to do a smick-bang job with this lot so will be careful but fast.
Finally, a big shout out to Allan Lumley from Lancashire Games (UK), stockists of Hinchliffe ECW 25mm figures. He went out of his way regarding my first order, clarifying when I was confused and muddling my way through the website listings, and keeping me informed throughout the ordering process, when the order was packed and forwarded it on to the postal delivery carrier. And the carrier, for its part, really stepped up by delivering on time when they said they would. So, hats off also to FedEx UK and ParcelHero (UK).
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18 April
Math always trips me up. Miscalculated on the number of horses needed after a long night of assigning all the minis to their units. Got an extra Horse unit from it but have enough riders to fill another unit. So will need to order more from Lancashire Games. Anyway, here is how I've organised the minis received:
Army Commander - Fairfax
- 3 x Aides
- 1 x General assisting
Cavalry Brigade #1 - Cromwell
- Butler's Horse (Ironsides)
- Ireton's Horse (Ironsides)
- Whalley's Horse (Ironsides)
Cavalry Brigade #2 - Ireton
- Vermuyden's Horse (Carabiniers)
- Pye's Horse (Light cav) - newly raised
- Okey's Dragoons
Infantry Brigade #1 - Skippon
- Skippon's Foot
- Waller's Foot
- Pickering's Foot
Infantry Brigade #2 - Waller
- Montagu's Foot
- Fairfax's Foot
- Forlorn Hope or Commanded Shot
Artillery
- 3 Regimental cannons
Extras yet to be assigned
- King Charles I
- Earl of Essex
- Earl of Manchester
- 5 x Colonels/Generals
I am going to buy the rest of my list - two more light cavalry units, one spare foot unit (large unit of firelocks) plus four artillery pieces (sakers) formed into two batteries and attendant limbers, ammo carts and baggage wagons. Might as well.
What to paint first. Well, my Parliamentarian comrade urgently requires more cavalry including dragoons as well as personalities so will start there. Will post progress pics of the cavalry units and personalities over the next few days - inbetween ongoing yard work.
Renovating and thereby reusing the old garage next month which will provide a second gaming zone. Still keeping the existing studio but will employ it more for other activities (sewing circle anyone?). Anyway, the front two-thirds of the new garage will serve as a suitable tabletop gaming zone with the back third offering part space for my new secondary workshop. At least that's the plan, but awaiting final approval from the wife...as always.
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19 April
Navigating the minefield of researching units flags and standards can be perilous as well as frustrating, especially when not using existing reference books. But it adds to the fun, and helps pass the lonely nights. So far, I've learned the following:
Butler's Horse - Formerly Heselrige's "Lobsters" of Sir William Waller's Army (1642-5). Taken into the New Model Army as Butler's. Afterwards, became Horton's. Base standard colour is green with green and white edging. Device is arm with sword emerging from cloud and a device next to it distinguishing individual troops. Standard, or cornet, was 2 foot square. Carried by the most junior officer (known as cornet).
Ireton's Horse. Inherited from Sir Michael Livesey's regiment who also served in Waller's army. Cornet colour is red with white and black edging trim. Devices varied between troops and commander inclination.
Okey's Dragoons. Firstly, dragoons in the 17th century were simply mounted musketeers. The quality of mount was poor in comparison to their standard cavalry brethrens. Apart from riding boots and the occasional buff-coat, dragoons wore pretty much the same attire as their musketeer counterparts. Officers wore their own civilian clothes. Drummers were preferred over trumpeters for communicating orders and signals; there were 2 per troop. Dragoons were often split into smaller units of 2-3 troops and distributed wherever their specialised skills were needed. Dragoon flags are unique in that they carried swallow-tailed guidons 2 feet square. Following flag convention of the time, the flag was plain (left blank) for colonel's troop, a small St George Sross in upper left canton signified the second in command, and a st george cross with distinctive devices were used by the remaining troops. Exception to this existed, particularly Waller's and Luke's dragoons who dispensed with the St. George Cross altogether and settled on the device as their distinguishing feature.
Firelocks, being artillery guard, did not carry flags or standards. Carried flintlocks rather than matchlocks because of danger posed by lighted match around volatile gunpowder. Waller's Firelocks wore blue coats while two companies attached to the New Model Army wore tawny coats.
More to follow...
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