Final Norman archers

Archers are about finished.

Last batch of mailed archers completed with an officer and musician added (mainly to make up the numbers for basing.)

Mailed archers before basing.

Unarmoured and armoured archers now based and first coat of paint added to texture.

I have now finished painting all the archers I have (Crusader Miniatures.) I have some Gripping beast Norman archers and I'm thinking of painting them for 'Saga' (singularly based.)

Norman 'Mailed' Archers

Unit of archers in chainmail. Photos showing progress and completion of this unit.


Figures undercoated in black and then lighltly drybrushed (over metal work) with Vallejo Oily Steel.
Then some block painting (belts, quiver, shoes, flesh, bows ...) completed.

More block painting completed then highlighted.

Those on right nearing completion. On the left a new batch underway.

With these figures in particular (each different in terms of colour of tunic, trousers ...) I paint about 4 at a time and keep a rolling program going.

Below batch 1 and 2 are about complete.

Some more armoured archers I'd painted whilst doing the last batch of unarmoured archers.

Archers on bases.

Basing complete.

Some single base close-ups.

I'm currently working on another small batch of archers in mail then it's onto the crossbow men and some slingers!

New Norman Recruits

The third batch of archers have been prepared. The progress so far is:

Undercoat is Revel Black (No. 6) heavily thinned with Humbrol Enamel Thinners. It goes on like a heavy, but very runny, wash. It dries very quickly and leaves the detail easy to see. WARNING - the smell of the thinners will blow your head off so go careful!! I needed a stint in the garden afterwards to clear my head.

(In the background some mailed archers have been prepared and started. More later.)


The 'recruits' painted;

More recruits painted;

And more;

An officer added;

I think that is all my 'Crusader Miniatures' unarmoured Norman archers painted now. This batch needs basing once I've done another casualty (or perhaps a penon bearer) to give 3 figs per base.

More Norman Archers

Second batch of archers now based. A couple of mailed archers and casualty added for variety.

Texture added to bases

Bases part painted - first main coat is Humbrol Light Earth 119

Below are some pics of the completed unit so far.

Just a note here. I'm not making the units any specific size at present I'm simply painting all the castings I currently have and will group into units later.

Lord Brooke's Purple Coats

Lord Brooke's ECW regiment of purple coats. This was my entry in the painting competition at Salute 2012.

Lord Brooke's regiment was the only purple coated regiment of the civil war. They fought at Edgehill in 1642, at Brentford in 1642 and at the siege of Lichfield in 1643 -  that was it for them. They fought valiently at Edgehill but suffered heavy losses. Lord Brooke died at the siege of Lichfield 1643 and the regiment did not survive long after that.

I've always been drawn to this regiment - perhaps it's their distinctive purple coats or their actions early on in the war!

From a painters point of view I like the way the purple, buff/ leather, armour and orange work together to give a pleasing overall effect.

Figures Bicorne/ Renegade. Flag hand painted.