bench update 28 August 2022

On the bench: Carolingian horse, bottom right, sub-roman mounted, top right, and a box of saxon and sub-roman foot.

IV/7 Early Crusaders complete

After letting the sabot dry overnight, it's a reasonable result. 

And with that I move on to adding grass and dry brushing white.

The camp followers rondel is off to right, ready for Norman/West Frank build.

 The Army morph assembled!

bench update 26 August 2022

Whipped through final color, wash, highlights and initial basing!

The crossbows and Turcopoles are strictly Early Crusader:

 This is my attempt at a sabot mount for either 7Hd camp followers for Normans/Western Franks, or 7Hd pilgrims for Early Crusaders:

The basic idea is to leave a round base impression in the sabot base, and slot the relevant round base into it. I do not plan on an invisible join, just a good fit into the latex grouting ground cover.

bench update 20 August 2022

I've been adding a bit of color to the crusade/Norman extras, over a base of brown. Yes I recalled how much brown I needed to add to the original lot and covered them all in a sort of chocolate, mixed from Vallejo beasty brown and burnt Siena. Still slow going though, and it's tempting to drastically shortcut.

bench update 13 August 2023

I finally got daylight and mood enough to complete trimming-out the minis, put down the base varnish (even on previously-painted ones) and dab a bit of flesh on.

bench update 5 August 2022

The next minis on the bench are the extras needed to complete Early Crusaders. Plus... yeah I have the idea to make the 7Hd morphable within itself! 

Feudal Spanish III/35b, plus morphs

With beige grass from Gamers Grass, and dry brushing stone and grass alike with silver gray, they are pretty much done!

Army core: 3Kn/5Bd general, 3x3Kn (of which 2 are old-fashioned round-shields,) 1x3Cv, 1xLH, 3x4Sp, 2xjavelin Ps, and options of either 1x3Cb or 1xsling Ps.

Extra elements: From the wealth of the HaT Spanish foot, I have 2 more Bd and 1 more Sp; 1 base of bow Ps, 2 bases 3Bw. These are all used by either/both III/52 Normans and IV/7 Early Crusaders.

More wanted: in order to get a full morph with Normans, six to eight more 3Kn are needed - Normans love knights! In order to get a full morph with Early Crusaders, I need 2x4Cb, and 1 turcopole horse archer LH.

It would also be handy but not mandatory to get 7Hd elements for both morph armies. If need be I can bring those in from other feudal armies.