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Saturday, July 13, 2013

Two peas in a pod - Pavisiers and Crossbows

My Hundred Years War commission is moving along!  First up are 12 French pavisiers.  A pavisier is a spearman carrying a large convex shield called (surprise!) a pavise.  These fellows were a feudal militia raised by a French nobleman, city or place.  The heraldry on the shields reflects they were raised in the cities of Paris, Lyon and Soissons. Crossbowmen typically operated behind the protection of the pavisiers, with the large shields providing them cover during the long reloads.  

These are Perry metals paired with the superb LBMS transfers.  They're done in a dark and dirty style befitting their low position in life.  I brought the red and blue shield colors into the livery on some figures to tie the unit together just a bit.





Pity the poor French crossbowmen.  These fellows suffered in head-to-head matchups with the English longbowmen.  Crossbows had a rate of fire of 1–2 shots per minute while the longbow could manage 5-6 or arrows in the same time with superior range. Insult to injury, crossbowmen were also known to suffer at the hands of their own side.  At Courtrai and Crecy, French knights rode down their crossbowmen, first because they feared they'd take all of the glory and in the second instance because the crossbowmen performed poorly. Able to kill the greatest knight with a single bolt, crossbowmen could expect no mercy if they fell into enemy hands.  

These Perrys were painted and dipped to be dark and dirty.  That just might describe their tenuous existence on the battlefield!  

I've got a stack of knights to finish out the HYW commission and then its back to Saga painting. We're hitting 90 degrees lately, turning my painting room into a painting sauna.  If you pop by for a visit, knock before entering as I'm likely stripped down to my skivvies. I might need to put up a sign that says "No shoes, shirt, pants...No Problem!"

40 comments:

  1. Greate work !!!

    Best regards Michael

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  2. The earthy colors of the clothing combined with the vibrant pavise artwork produce a striking unit. Very nice!

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    1. It is a very nice contrast! Tip of the hat to LBMS for their great work here.

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  3. I'm jealous of your pavisiers...stunning work Monty, very colored! And I'm jealous of your crossbowmen, mines are in a single pose! This is a real feast for the eyes!!

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    1. :-)

      Thanks Phil, it is a treat to work with the Perry minis. It's also a bit of a challenge at times as I'm learning HYW as I go.

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  4. Looking good Monty...I love figures with nice big shields. This feudal stuff is superb to mix up, I don't think much of an army on campaign would be very clean and flowery from this period...bring on the dirt and grit :-)
    Richard

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    1. Coming from the fellow with the superb Burgundian force, I appreciate that!

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  5. Fabulous work especially the pavises, even if they're pantless creations, this heat is shocking!

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    1. Thanks Fran! If there is anyone who could understand the necessity of pantslessness, it's you!

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    1. Thanks Marcus! I was eyeing some Dystopian War stuff today down at the shop. THANKS for that. ;-)

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  7. Great job as always!

    Any hints at what's next in your saga, saga...or are we going to be kept in suspense?

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    1. No secrets here Iowa...it will be a Jomsviking warband. Variety, the spice of life and wargaming!

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  8. Great work. Pavises are also useful as large dinner plates or temporary shelter against rain, if you don't mind them getting dirty.

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    1. The dinner plate suggestion has me thinking you've seen me eat. Thanks Andras!

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  9. Hi Monty,

    they are really beautiful! you done a great work on them, fantastic work!
    is it your vision of "Paris by Knight"?;-)

    unfortunately for the crossbowmen at Crecy they came on the field after a long rainy travel and their pavises were in the bagage train far on rear and the French nobles charged through them just to not let all the glory to the commoners and we know what happened in the end;-)
    they missed the "Noble" prize of Wit;-)

    Cheers


    Gilles " crossbeau ;-) "

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    1. Gillies, you are a man who is NEVER at a loss for words, a pun or a joke. That is a rare talent sir! That is such a sad end, to be run down by your own men.

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  10. Lovely bunch of swarthy knaves, Monty!

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    1. Thanks Rosbif, I can't wait to see your huge Borodino mashup!

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  11. Really nice miniatures.
    And they look even greater standing together like that shield to shield.

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    1. Thanks Engel! Even if they're a militia force, the shield to shield look is a good one for them. Stand or fall together!

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  12. Nice troops, wouldn't want to be a crossbowman though.....

    Steve

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    1. I'd want to be the guy in the castle, protecting the ladies in waiting. Or the storeroom with mead. ;-)

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  13. They look rather splendid Monty, I love the photograph of them in a line showing off their decals on the Pavises and the colour palette on the crossbowmen is superb!

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    1. Thanks Michael, and they do look nice in a line!

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  14. Simply fantastic, Monty. They look perfect - very striking on the table. Most excellent.

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  15. So they're not bright and shiny like the knights? Who cares, they look tough and gritty enough to survive more than a couple of English arrowstorms!
    ; )

    Very nice work, as usual!

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    1. For the knights, I do cut the dip with mineral spirits. So those fellows will be a bit mudded but not as dark as the peasant class!

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  16. Great painting, those LBMs on the pavises look superb!

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    1. Like Carly Simon once sang, "Nobody does it better!" LBMS is tops!

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  17. They look great! A very nice contrast between the muted clothes/armours and the more striking livery colours.

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    1. Thanks Jonas. I must give credit where credit is due...LBMS transfers really make these shine.

      BTW, you and Michael have raised the bar, with your AARs of late!

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  18. Just saw them. I love them Monty!

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    1. Thanks sir! I sure wish I could pop over to get a game in with you and your crew. Art de la Guerre, FoG...I'd let you pick!

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  19. Love the pavisiers! Those LBM transfers look pretty good!

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