A short consultation ...

Sir William de Willoughby halts the royalist column a few miles from Whitchurch to consult with his officers on the best way to encircle the town ...

Hurstbourne Manor

The Royalists of northern Wiltshire commanded by Sir William de Willoughby are on the move west, having mustered at Pewsey they proceeded to Burbage and then onwards; their aim to reach Whitchurch and take the nearby Hurstbourne manor. From Whitchurch they hope to open up some form of supply system to Basing house some 10-15miles further west.

Holding Whitchurch would also allow the Royalists counter any move form the south-west by the Parliamentarians based in Sarisbury, commanded by Sir Warwick Hunt.

 ---oXo---

 An officer heads to the corner of the market square at Whitchurch, before a brisk walk to Hurstbourne manor.

On the way he'll have to pass the outpost at the manor farm

then onto the manor house with its improvised defences

Mortar Team Special - WIP 2

Have got the two chaps carrying the mortar shell done

these are off to the paint queue with the rest of the new artillery crew

'Down scaling' a 1/32 cannon

As I'm working on artillery I decided to have a go at making a Call-To-Arms 1/32 cannon I was using more 'in scale'.

I've replace the wheels with some smaller Lego ones, shorted the gun carriage and moved the barrel forward.  Green stuff covers the gaps :)

Mortar Team Special - WIP

I've started work on the special for the mortar team which is to be two men carrying a mortar shell. Two figures have been prepared, arms removed and holes drilled to take the wire armatures and replacement Sash& Sabre heads fitted. I also made some mortar shells from green stuff

Artillery crew - modifications (WIP-3)

I've finished the conversions/modifications for the artillery crew, chap with rammer, one carrying cannon ball and another cleaning his sponge in a bucket.

I'm looking at what to do with the remaining spare figures and the special for the mortar team which is to be two men carrying a mortar shell.

Artillery Battery (with latest fgures in use)

Putting together existing figures I had retained as suitable, plus some of the converted figures which I've finished - I set up a quick layout of a gun battery of two culverins. 

I've about 10 or so figures to do for 4 other guns and a mortar.  The mortar team is started - chap with a larger sponge

Artillery crew - modifications (WIP-2)

Some new Sash&Sabre figures tweaked and a couple of existing ones with larger bases with additions

Artillery crew - modifications (WIP)

Doing some figure modifications, mostly arm & head positions ...

Revisiting artillery ....

I'm going to be sorting the artillery out before continuing with special items for sieges. So a quick review of what was lurking in the storage boxes.

The cannon (and one mortar),  I'm happy with these and will add another cannon.

 The gun crew - Ok but pose wise limited - need more variety.

 So I'll be working on the crew, re-modelling as needed to get some more 'active' poses. I've ordered a some Sash&Sabre figs, some spare heads and an extra cannon; in addition I have some Papo mini-tube pirates (approx 40mm) from which I salvaged the usable poses/parts and I'm going to try and use these as well.