This month I have been continuing my Pavia project, but also getting a naval project ready for Historicon in July. This won’t be a long post, but I want to show a few pictures of what I have been working on.
Modern naval project
My modern naval project is set off the coast of Yemen. It is set in 2024, with three Chinese ships, a Type 55, a Type 54A and a support ship carrying out a port visit. In the region, two USN Arleigh Burke class destroyers are carrying out anti-piracy operations. 4,500 miles away, war breaks out across the Taiwan strait, plunging the US and China into war. The scenario explores some of the most modern naval technology. I will be using the excellent Harpoon V rules to run a game for four experienced Harpoon V players.
The project uses 1/2400 scale models and a ground scale of 1cm = 1nm. I will do a full report on the game after Historicon, but here are a few pictures for now.
The port with Chinese ships leavingA closer view of the portContainer cranes are 3D printed and purchased from ShapewaysA closer look at the land
Italian wars figures
I have recently painted 24 Italian arquebusiers and 28 Landsknecht arquebusiers. This is just the start of my push in painting extra figures for the battle of Pavia. Next on the painting bench are 60 French heavy cavalry (archers to support the gendarmes). These figures will bring the total French heavy cavalry to 150.
This week the subject of my blog post is Pavia a project update. I have been working on both the park gates and the Spanish light Cavalry.
Park gates.
The only park gate that is somewhat intact is the gate at Certosa di Pavia. This gate is in the New park. I have not found much information about the design of the gates around the old park. I am going to assume that all of the gates, around both parks were of the same design. This assumption will have the added benefit that they will be easier to mass produce. As I am going to need six to eight gates for the old park, that is an important decision. Here are some images of the actual gate courtesy of Google Street View.
Right side – Image courtesy of Google 2023Front view – Image courtesy of Google 2023Left side – Image courtesy of Google 2023
Making the park gates
I contacted a couple of terrain building manufacturers to see what was possible. However, I eventually came to the conclusion that I was going to have to scratch build these gates. Foam was selected as the base material. I decided to buy a decent foam cutter to make the job easier. I will also be building many of the five chapel churches and the Castle Mirabello. With all of these buildings the cutter should be a good investment.
Here is my second attempt at cutting some of the front facade of the gates. The first attempt is in the bin. The cut facades are sitting on the foam cutter. This is my first attempt to make a foam building. The process is interesting. Don’t be too critical of my first attempts.
Foam cutter and front facades of the gates.
Here is my first attempt to carve the brick and paint the walls. I still need to weather and dull down the brick. As you will notice the bricks are larger than those in the original. This is because the required skill level to make smaller bricks is beyond my current ability. With eight gates and fifty feet of wall, I think that the overall impression will be good. It is a compromise that I am prepared to make.
Over the coming weeks I plan to finish two or three gatehouses. There is still a lot of work to do, I need to make the sides, back, roof and details at the top and then glue everything together. I also plan to use some pigments to improve the bricks. They will be minus some wooden arched doors in the centre at the moment. The company “Things from the Basement” are selling me some custom doors. These will be made from laser cut wood and they will be bringing them to Historicon for me in July.
Spanish light cavalry
I had 32 Spanish Jinetes and for Pavia I need 62. Over the last few weeks I painted up the remainder. I still need to touch up the flag edges of the new figures, but other than that, they are done. The first picture shows the Jinetes and the second picture includes a few mounted arquebusiers in support.
These Jinetes complete the dedicated Spanish Light Cavalry command. I always love playing with Jinetes in the Pike and Shotte rules. They use the fire and evade rule, which works really well for them.
Hopefully next time I will have more work to show you on the gates. I also will have 60-70 Italian foot arquebusiers that I am working on. They are beautiful sculpts from SteelFist Miniatures. I am also expecting another 80 heavy cavalry in the post soon and I am looking forward to painting them. That is all for this blog post, Pavia a project update.
