Clubbing It! The Italian Wars II

Once again, while we were setting out a snap shot of the game we have planned for The Other Partizan on October 13th of this year at Newark Showground I managed to find a few minutes of my time to pop next door and get some snaps of The Italian Wars games that have been going on. In some ways, I'm conflicted as we're having a great time playing WAB on your usual table (though we could try to play some of the newer rulesets!), my absolute favourite "period" for history, pageantry and miniature painting is of course The great Italian Wars. The game was put on by Jon Severs and looked every bit as good if not better than the last game. The rules were Pike and Shotte with a goodly dose of amendments. 

I hope to be able to plunge into one of these games at some point soon, and if you're reading this guys, yes, that is a none too subtle hint! :>)

Cheers, more next week I hope!

My Italian Wars Units So Far

This project has been on the go for many years now. First in an attempt, interrupted by illness and a a four to five year hiatus away from the hobby, to put on a Fornovo game which, to be honest, at the time I had little chance of achieving. Then the goal changed from that of Fornovo 1595 to that of Cerignola 1503 or Ravenna 1512. 

I have a real Horde of Shame when it comes to models for The Italian Wars to paint up, Steel Fist, Wargames Foundry, The Assault Group and more but despite suffering from a debilitating mental illness which at time has taken me away from the hobby I love so much I have managed to make what is at least a start on first the Italians (Gonzaga Vignette) and tackled a couple of unit of Spanish and a gun so, as I have done with my Anglo Danes and Early Byzantines I am going to tally up what I have so far in one post.

If it wasn't for the illness and the time taken up in therapy and putting that therapy into practice there would be much more to show. But, it is what it is as they say. I make no apology for talking about Anxiety and Depression as I lost a friend a couple of years ago to the illness and I am determined to keep fighting, even though at times things are overwhelming. 

The Italian Wars have long been a favourite of mine. One just cannot beat the period for colour and spectacle. 

As usual, all the images are "clickable" if you want to see the work warts and all.

Federico II Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua's Fighting Crossing of the River Taro at Fornovo:

Small version of a picture of the vignette that featured in Wargames Soldiers and Strategy magazine:

Speed Painted French Mounted French Crossbowmen:

In retrospect I wish that I had really taken my time with these models, not least because some were kit bashed and converted and are some of my favourites. Still, they are definitely table top standard and I would not hesitate to put them on the tabletop.

Stradiots

Spanish Trastámara Arquebusiers:

The Assault Group produce some superb sculpts from the very talented hands of Nick Collier. lovely crisp clean castings and a real joy to paint up.

Spanish Trastámara Ordinance Piece:

Spanish Trastámara Rodeleros/Sword and Buckler:

So, there you have it. A short sojourn into one of my passion projects. I hope to have a 64 man unit of pike painted up next! And, a few more based of Arquebusiers to help make up the first whole Colunela.