In June 2024, after a long gestation period, I decided that it was all systems go for the project that I had been toying with for quite some time. I have not revealed it earlier in case it turned into false start. Plus, I fancied the idea of making the reveal to the Rejects in the form of a game. However, for a variety of reasons I can't wait any longer.
So, what is the new period? It is the Great Italian Wars, 1494 to 1559 in 28mm. As a period it is actually a good evolution (albeit backwards in time) from my French Wars of Religion. Plus, it seems to be very "on trend" as a period at the moment. Very unlike me to be fashionable.
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| Men at Arms. Perry Plastics |
Two or three decades ago, I collected and painted a 28mm Renaissance army (mostly Old Glory, a lovely range in my opinion). However, I sold them on. Big mistake! Instant regret! Ever since, I toyed with the idea of buying just enough to make one unit of Landsknecht for display purposes.
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| Landsknecht from Warlord Games. |
It was in the early autumn of 2023 that I come across an old set of late medieval rules in my "library" that made me think of doing something in that period. However, I couldn't work up the excitement, but I did realise that I could repurpose them with some amendments as a quick play set for the Italian Wars.
That took me into 2024 with rule writing and background reading aplenty to test the conviction of my initial passion. So, by the time of the Broadside Show in June of 2024 I had almost committed myself to making a "secret" start and to see if the project had legs. Then fate intervened. At the show is a flea market. On a stall at a bargain price were painted arquebusiers. Old GW figures, but reasonably finished. I snapped them up and that's what kickstarted the project.
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| The arquebusiers that represent fate's intervention. |
My painting speed is slow (glacial would be the more accurate term). This meant that from early on I took the decision to purchase some second hand figures. Some did not need any touching up. Some needed a little. Some, in the end, needed an entire repaint from scratch. I will give you a closer, more detailed look of my small collection in the next post (or two?).
Thank you your indulgence.
Oh, excellent looking miniatures!
ReplyDeleteThank you Michal.
DeleteYou are a very naughty boy, Richard!
ReplyDeleteLOL. Hmmm, a case of the pot calling the kettle black perhaps?
DeleteDon't know what you mean????
DeleteExcellent period to choose! One of my favourites and as quite a lot of my Great Italian Wars figures, I mourn your loss!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
I do enjoy everything about the Renaissance. Never, ever sell anything!
DeleteSplendid news, Richard! You are off to the races.
ReplyDeleteThank you and loving it.
DeleteI have held off selling anything for the same reason. I'll give it another ten years and then review. Lovely stuff Richard.
ReplyDeleteDon't do it Lawrence. Always delay by ten years.
DeleteThey look great - is this the most colourful period of all? Plus interesting transitional time, with both old-school armoured knights and new-fangled firearms involved. And probably not huge armies, so possible to game with a relatively modest collection?
ReplyDeleteThank you David. Such an interesting period of change. Knowing my own painting speed, this will inevitably be a modest collection.
DeleteA nice start to this new period Richard, and those GW arqubusiers are a real 'blast from the past', as I had plenty but never painted a single one! So I'm looking forward to seeing this project develop and to see what stuff you already have painted. Like you, my painting is glacial;)!
ReplyDeleteThanks Steve. They are a bit of GW nostalgia aren't they.
DeleteYou are certainly right that this period seems to be very "with it" currently, Richard! looks like you have made a good start, too. You don't have to convince me about not selling, apart from sone VERY old 25mm French Napoleonic stuff I painted as a teenager, I don't think I have ever sold any painted figures, and I don't regret the ones I did sell as they were not that great and I got a lot more for them than I expected 25 years ago, allowing me to purchase the start of my first Front Rank collections!
ReplyDeleteSounds like your sales are much better conceived than mine have been.
DeleteLooking forward to seeing this collection develop. It does seem one f the popular periods at the moment and why not, very colourful
ReplyDeleteThanks Neil. It will be a very slow development compared to your output, I'm afraid.
DeleteGood luck with the new project.
ReplyDeleteThank you Peter.
DeleteIn the attempt to avoid the "wargamer dies and leaves thousands of miniatures and boatloads of terrain to grieving partner" syndrome, I have decided to begin selling periods or scales I simply don't game anymore. I sold my 15mm Ancient DBA and Fantasy armies first. Last year, I sold my 15mm Seven Years War. I use the money to pay convention expenses and the odds and ends I pick up at shows. So, don't beat yourself up about selling a collection. Think how much better it will be this time around when you know so much more...!
ReplyDeleteExcellent insight Mike.
DeleteAn exciting development and as you say, very on trend.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lee
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