Starting possible Scots Covenanter Army.

by **Colonel White** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 7:19 am

Thanks MikelandWhat I will do once I have a unit based and finished a unit I will put them on display in Brian's cabinet. I don't think Brian will have any objections since he is hastily painting a ECW Royaslist army himself pending a visit from John Stallard !I did get the Scots Battalia box last night and the most noticable difference between this and the other sets is the extreme weight of the box. It is crammed full of goodies but the star of the show as regards the figures is the preacher . He has bags of character and I have earmarked him as the first character to be completed for this army.What I have planned for this army for the weekend is to work on another 10 men ( I have decided to work on batches of 10 for this army) and possibly the preacher as mentioned above.As some of you have suggested once a unit of infantry is done , I will turn my attention to another type of unit including the cannon I bought last night.I am even toying with the idea of building one of my spare GW cannons up and crewing it with a Warlord Crew. This can then represent a heavier piece as I believe all sizes of artillery guns were used during the ECW. What do you guys think?

by **BigMike** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 7:43 am

Nothing to stop you using the GW gun for heavy artillery but you'll find it's bore is absolutely massive for that era guns! Speaking of which I agree with you about how great the preacher model is - I've used mine as a master gunner, i liked the idea that he's reading the manual as he gets the gun laid!Have fun!

by **Cubster** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 8:27 am

Your big gun will no doubt find use in sieges, either as defender or attacker. If could turn into a great tool for making imaginative objectives - either the gun itself or the powder train needed to fire it.

by **BigMike** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 9:19 am

And now there are some nice mules to carry said powder and sundries!

by **Colonel White** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 9:29 am

Oh no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!More money to spend! Surprised

by **potter** » Sat Feb 26, 2011 3:40 pm

I actually had the same idea using a GW Cannon, but it seemed a little to heavily decorated for the ear, then again I figured that there'd be plenty left over from the Elizabethan period. Some huge seige piece, a fatter version of Good Queen Bess' Pocket Pistol.

by **Colonel White** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 5:02 am

OK It looks like the GW cannon is going to be in, however I noticed that i do have an old metal GW cannon in my old Empire army , which has a smaller bore than the current model. Yes this will be a goer I think. I will now try and get a Warlord Crew from somewhere.I managed to paint up quite a few troops from the First Convenantor so the state of play for this unit is as follows.10 men done except basing20 men painted and shaded . Will be varnished tonight.6 men part painted.4 men (command unit ) not started.Against my normal practice I have decided to build an opposition army to this one at the same time. Trying to keep everything Scots flavoured , I am going to build a Scots Royalist army to oppose this army . sO Da plan!Once I have a unit completed for the Conv army plus a supporting unit either cavalry or artillery. I will then do the same for the Royalist army. This wil enable me to get to Skirmish size quite quickly.JUst need to do some research.................

by **Colonel White** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 8:44 am

Just got some information including some from this site from an older thread on collecting a Montose Scots Royalist army. Some useful and helpful info from John.For those of you who are interested in doing a similar thing, I would recommend looking at the blogg "Project Auldearn" .Just ordered some Royalist Scots flags from BattleFlag as they are inexpensive uncluding the famous Strathbogie Regiment.Managed to order a new copy of Osprey Men at Armes 331 Scots Armies of the ECW from Amazon which I believe is currently out of print.I will probably pick up a box of Irish Brigade figures this week and supplement it with the pike men out of a spare box of Warlord plastics.Or should I do the Strathbogie regiment ? Choices choices!The Highlanders are going to be a must and the great thing is I can use them on either side. I also know Brian has a Warlord Montrose figure in his shop which is a must have figure.JUst a bit dissapointed that Warlord don't do a model of Earl Levin. I have found out that Bicorne do one and I am pretty sure they are compatable, I will be able to check as I do have some of their figs in my loft from my first attempt at this era.TUM Te TUM better get some work done now!

by **charge the guns** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 6:30 pm

Hi Colonel. Scots Royalist is I think a cracking little army to get. I would aim to get up to 3 regiments of the Irish Brigade (pike and shot that must never be spearated Wink

), as you say you've got to have the lads from Strathbogie (more pike and shot), rucks of Highlanders, a couple of regiments of horse, and then spoil youself with a small gun and a small unit of dragoons (Captain Blackadder is almost compulsory - cunning!).You could go with almost any ratio of pike and shot in the foot regiments and you would fit with someone or others interpretation. I think somewhere between 3:2 and 2:1 shot to pike looks nice.In a similar way, you can have your highlanders as anything between raving Bravehearts and ordinary pike and shot with bigger beards, and you'll find someone who agrees. I think mostly shot with a sprinkling of pike, lochaber axes and stone throwing lookes good with plaid, hose and breeches types. Bowmen certainly fought on both sides in Scotland but difficult to say if there were massed units of them.Led on by the Gordon boys, Big Alasdair, and Montrose himself, who would dare stand in their way?Alba go bragh!

by **Colonel White** » Tue Mar 01, 2011 3:46 am

Yes you are right CTG , the Royalist Scots army is a cracking little army with bags of character.The first unit I think I will do will be he Strathbogie regiment which was quite an Elite unit and is painted I believe in a similar style to the Covenanters.For me both Scots armies are full of character and I don't know why but neither of the English armies appear to have the same attraction for me.I think both Scots armies, since their battles were much smaller affairs are also more achievable collecting and playing wise, without having to paint massive armies.Anyway I managed to do quite a bit of work last night. First of all I varnished 20 soldiers which means I have now a total of 30 finished awaiting basing. 6 soldiers were fully painted last night and are now awaiting the Army Painter shader. This just now leaves the command rank to be done in unstandard colours. I will probably have a break tonight as there is a certain football match to be watched! Sorry Paul I don't mean Notts County! Wink

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