Buckinghamshire Trained Bands

I decided on the crazy idea to expand the size of the Buckinghamshire Trained Bands. This originally was going to be a smallish unit of Commanded Shotte. However, after finding a set of fantastic Buckingham colours, I've decided to create another large regiment.

The last colour is the Buckinghamshire one. As I come from Bedfordshire, this unit has a connection with me.

I'm going for a speed paint process of dry brushing and Contrast paints.

After three layers of highlights from a black undercoat, Contrast paints are carefully added.

Real fun can be gained by mixing different colours and getting unique shades.

I will use the tunic colours as a guide to layer up, the breeches will stay simple with just one layer.

This US cavalryman will need toning down slightly I think. 

Grey leggings work well on these highlighted figured.

I've ordered some flesh Contrast paint, so we'll have to see how that works out.

UPDATE: The first batch of the new unit are dipped. Working with the Contrast paints is fun and quite rewarding. The figure starts to come together once the flesh is painted.

I'm pleased because this new regiment will help use up all the Trained band figures I bought recently. They are the new ones from Bicorne Miniatures and sport the characteristic buff jerkins.

This regiment of will be bigger than the normal sized ones, as Trained Bands tended to be large donations.

I think in Victory without Quarter, I will keep their stats the same but just add another life to them, giving the unit four wounds instead of three.

I'm also really enjoying swapping the heads of these old plastic miniatures with lead ones. It allows so much more character to come through.

ECW Update.

This week I have been trying to finish an old horse unit that has been sitting on my desk for months. They have all been dipped now and are still in the lengthy process of drying. Still, it's great to finally have them off the painting table.

These troopers are waiting to be dipped in strong tone. Left over green stuff was used to create a swag bag on one of the cavalry troopers.

A couple of plastic musketeers also get the dip to finish off the latest foot unit. These are plastic torsos from Warlord games with metal heads added from Bicorne miniatures. The combo really improves the look of the figures and gives them much more character.

At this rate these two units should be finished at the same time. Another mega basing day is on the horizon.

 

The wrath of God.

Colonel Bills do some lovely battlefield extras in their Depot battalion range. These include lots of great ECW sets to spice up your games. I also see these as great command figures too that can be drafted into your field regiments. This set of a preacher berating two officers is perfect for my new Commanded Shotte unit.

I thought I would give the black Contrast paint a whirl on this preacher. I dry brushed him first with layers of browns to create nice shading 

Here is the set with the preacher finished. I think these are meant to be Royalist officers, but they will be drafted into my Round head battalion no problem.

This new Parliamentarian unit is going to be from Buckinghamshire and come across as very Godly, for it will have two preachers in the ranks. One of these was painted long ago and has sat waiting for a home to go to.

 Tyrrell's Buckingham Foot is just such a home. The unit will be musketeers taken from the Buckingham garrison to form a Commanded Shotte. They will carry two colours though from the garrison, just because I like the look of standards on the board.

 

ECW Commanded Shotte

I've actually missed dipping figures, the quick painting, the smell, the production line. After sitting for a few months on the waiting list, the latest Parliamentary unit gets down with the brown.

Groups of eight miniatures on the painting table keeps the process fun. There is a bit more detail and colours to do than on ACW figures, so 8/9 is the perfect number. Out of interest, when painting ACW I find a batch of 14 is the perfect number to paint at once.

My usual technique of dry brushing light browns and then using Contrast paints to add quick colours to trousers etc. Once all the base colours are blocked in, I will tidy up the details.

The squat little figure is from Essex, he is a classic officer of the New model army. A must for a Round head army.

The New noddle army...

As I've been using red browns for the Wood Elves, russet brown is on the menu, from my new Reaper paints. This should really please Cromwell who has a soft spot for russet coated captains.

 

I have to say this latest unit has been heavily inspired by the Sunnybank's foot, from the fantastic Marlowe to Maidenhythe scenario pack for the ECW. I'm tempted to call mine the Toddington Foot, as it is quite local to my area. 

However, I think Toddington might have had Royalist tendencies with the manor house there. I need to do some more research...

UPDATE: The second batch of musketeers are dipped. I shook the tin instead of stirring it this time, the results were a lot darker.

I used some old Foundry figures to add to the standing poses. I stuck them on plastic bases first to give them a bit of extra height, this helps them match with the large Bicorne sculpts.