Wednesday, 6 July 2011

Roundway Down Project (8) - More Useful Info

I've found more info for my Roundway Down refight in The Battles of Lansdown and Roundway 1643 by Robert Morris (ISBN1858040132), thanks to Mercurius Atticus for posting the book info on his blog. I used Bookfinder.com to search for the lowest priced one.

I've had a quick dip into it since it arrived today,  a nice informative little book. Will settle down to good in depth read later on.

Saturday, 2 July 2011

Horse Finished - ready for Roundway

The last of my ECW lead pile is now painted, the third of three regiments of horse for my refight of Roundway down.
They seemed to take ages to finish, I think I took my time as they are the last of my planned ECW units for a while. I have some future thoughts on what to add, which are:
1. Clubmen (along the lines of this link)
2. Firelocks
3. Mounted horse firing their muskets and pistols
4. Folorn hope - musketeers

Monday, 30 May 2011

A Messenger arrives at Pokesay ...

Captain Philip Stanhope has a message from Lord Hopton for Sir William de Willoughy commander of royalist forces in Wiltshire; he has been re-directed to Pokesay after looking for him at Wallingborough.
---oXo---
Capatin Stanhope arrives on the outskirts of Pokesay by the parish church ...
Startled by the sound of musket fire, he looks into an adjoining field and sees some dragoons at practice ..
Arriving in the town square he asks for directions from one of the locals ...
The sentry at the castle gatehouse notices the arrival of a rider and calls the officer on duty ..
Stanhope moves towards the castle, he can see a galloper gun being repaired by the blacksmith ...
He approaches the gatehouse ...
Stanhope: Captain Stanhope with letters for Sir Willaim de Willoughy from Lord Hopton
Officer: please wait here, I'll find Sir William

After a short time Sir William arrives
Sir William: Good Day Captain Stanhope
Stanhope: An honour to meet you Sir William
Sir William: come with me, we'll find some refreshment for you

A regiment of foot undergoes drill outside the castle ...

They have a quick discussion in the hall ..
Sir William: Stanhope, what's the gist of these letters ?
Stanhope: Lord Hopton seeks troops and supplies for the army of the West
Sir William: I think I will be able to provide dragoons and some supplies, come we'll get some lunch and then I'll read the letters and we'll sort out the details ..

The next day Captain Stanhope departs with Colonel Wemys's dragoons and some supplies ..

Sunday, 29 May 2011

New regiment of horse completed

My bumper ECW bank holiday weekend continues - another of my new regiments of horse completed for the Roundway down project (one left to go); figures are Sash & Sabre with command from Jacdaw.

Saturday, 28 May 2011

Pokesay Castle - home improvements finished ..

After a couple of enjoyable sessions at the modelling desk today the improvements to the courtyard of Pokesay have been completed. New lean-to building, steps up to curtian wall and a new well head (all scratchbuilt from card and foamboard).
The gatehouse has had a little more decorative woodwork added to make it look a bit more like the real one at Stokesay.

Pokesay Castle - Home Improvments ..

Sir William de Willoughby and his wife,
discuss how to best accomodate the newly arrived small garrision

The local craftsmen will be busy for a short while, on the list is:
1. A new well top (replacing the adapted large barrel in use)
2. New steps up to two sides of the curtain walls (avoiding soldiers having to pass through parts of the living area)
3. A new lean-to building to hold supplies for the garrison.

Roundway Down Project (7) - update

I'm just finishing off a regiment of horse and the next one is undercoated; that'll finish the units for the battle. I want to try and work the Roundway down battle into my imaginary ECW campaign in Wiltshire, so there will be some fictional involvement from the forces of either Sir William de Willoughy (Royalist) or Sir Warwick Hunt (Parlliament) 

I recently obtained a copy of Touching History series on ECW,
Lots of good modelling tips, and some good ideas on scenics for the ECW period. I'm currently looking at my Pokesay Castle model to see what improvements can be made.