Normans in Italy Pt.5

Finally, I am painting some proper Normans!  True, the Lombards have some units of Conquest Games Normans, but in my mind they are not true Normans.  Just people mimicking Normans.  Now that the Byzantines are finished, I decided that it was time to get to the main army.  My overall goal is to have about 3-4 mounted units, mostly knights but also a unit or two of retainers.  2 units of mounted javelin troops.  2-3 units of bow/crossbow men, and 3-4 units of spearmen or levy troops.  Once that is completed, or close to completed, I may add some other units that I want to paint for fun.  I decided to use mainly Victrix for my Normans.  They are some really nice figures and are fun to paint. 

I have just finished basing up 4 units, 2 bow/crossbow men, 1 spear, and 1 dismounted knights.  I really don't like paining bases and put it off until there are a few units ready to go.  

First up are the crossbowmen and bowmen

I tried to use more "exotic" colors for the crossbowmen.  To me it blends a little bit of the Saracen influence with the Normans.  In Hail Caesar, these would be treated a bowmen. 

Dang, I need to make the flag for these guys.  

Next is a unit of spearmen. All the shields are hand painted, had a blast painting the dragons on some of them. 

Well. it looks like I will have a flag making session soon...

Next is a unit of dismounted knights.  I used the armored bodies and gave them all hands weapons to differentiate them from the spearmen. I really like these figures!

Finally, for now, are some command bases.  I had these figures kicking around for a while now.  They were originally for my generic medieval project that I started back in 2016!  They are Black Tree Design Normans.  They are really nice figures and were easy to paint up.  I didn't want to mix them in with Victrix so they were promoted to command status.  The monk is from EM4 and the dog is from Wargames Atlantic WW2 German Sentry set.  The mounted female is my version of Sikelgaita, Robert Guiscard's second wife.  It was rumored that she sometimes marched with him and fought in a few battles.  The figure is from Pulp Miniatures.  At least she gets a flag!

Next up on the painting table is a unit of retainers.  After that, I plan on painting up some mounted knights.  I have also been 3D printing some scenery.  I now have a large castle, and enough building to make a small village. 

Normans in Italy Pt 4

 

Now for the Kavallarioi.  These are all Fireforge Games.  I mixed in some archers to represent the rear row of archers in the formation.  

To differentiate this unit from the other, I decided to have them be heavily armored. I think the metal barding came out good.  I painted it mostly silver and tinted it red with Speed Paint.  

To add some mobility and range to the army, I added two units of light missile troops. These could represent Skythikoi, nomadic mercenaries, or Turkopoloi, Christianized Turks.  Again, they are Fireforge Games. 

For the command elements, I used Gripping Beast with Little Big Men Studios flag transfers. 

With this army complete, I am now caught up with my painting.  After I finish the other armies, I may go back and add a unit of Latin mercenary knights.  If I have any figures left over.  

For my Norman army, I have finished a unit of crossbowmen, archers, spearmen, and dismounted knights.  They just need to be varnished and based.  Which hopefully will happen this weekend.  I also have a unit of retainers I just primed on the painting table.  Got to keep motivated, I'm over half way done with this project!

Thanks for looking. 

Justin

Normans in Italy Pt 3

 

Now that the Lombards are finished, for now...  I started on my next army, the main opponents of my future Normans, the Byzantines.  While reading up on Byzantium during this time, I quickly realized that I wanted to follow the rule of cool and add whatever I wanted while keeping it relatively historical.  This army is mainly made up from Fireforge Games with some Victrix, Crusader, and Gripping Beast added to the mix.  One of the traits of the army was that the units combined missile troops in the back rows of the formation.  I pondered on how to show this in the units sizes for Hail Caesar.  I feel like I came up with an adequate solution. 

First up are the Kontaratoi.  For the first unit, I wanted to make a large unit so it has 4 bases instead of the normal 3.  I read somewhere that by this time, archery across the board had declined.  Not that people stopped using the bow, they just were not that good.  To represent this visually, I mixed in some slings as these were easier to use. 

Next, I wanted to add some variety to the army.  To represent some mercenary tribesmen, I mixed some Victrix Rus and Saxons.  I like the "not from around here" vibe they give off. 

Finally, what Byzantine army would be complete without some Varangians?  This unit was made up from Crusader and Gripping Beast metal Varangians.  I could have used Victrix Rus but I like the look of more "civilized" Varangians. Of both the Lombards and the Byzantines, this is the only unit to use shield transfers, the rest are hand painted.   

Up next are the mounted units.  Thanks for looking.

Justin