French Infantry

I'm pleased to present the latest batch of converted French Infantry, in the making since August but worth the while I hope.

These are sculpted conversions using the Perry Mercenaries set as dollies, you can see the initial conversion stages and source information in this earlier post.

Not wanting to repeat anything from that post but as with the recent Tudor conversions I think I've arrived at a point that I'm satisfied with and will work upon as a general theme for any forthcoming French infantry. With the figures in skirted coats and jackets I was very much applying a procedure and finished them comparatively quickly. As for the others it's still somewhat experimental to get the sleeves and hose right but the painting really adds another dimension and is in some respects forgiving of the errors that no doubt only I can see.

Here's a closer look at the painted figures prior to basing.

I have used a loose palette along a blue, red and yellow theme to give these a unit identity. Rather than adventuriers which were used more on the Italian front these are intended to represent the Franc Archers more typical of the infantry raised around Picardy. If you're interested to know more about the recruitment and organisation of these troops you can read my short study on an older post here.

These troops were required to present for muster with the necessary equipment for war and were to wear hocquetons (sleeveless coats) in the liveries of their Captains. Perhaps coincidentally the livery of Therouanne, Louis XII and Sieur Heilly (one of the captains during the siege of Therouanne) is red and yellow so this made things easier.

Of particular note for the siege of Therouanne is the surrender of the garrison to whom upon marching out of the city were noted in Tudor records as being in livery and having either 'Sercus, Heilly or Bournonville upon their chest'. Each of these were the names of captains from noble families of Picardy, I keep meaning to do this but it's a very small area in which to try and paint in one case quite a long word but I will try it one day. I'll have to double check the source as saying that it could just be a livery badge.

Another perhaps national livery is the blue and white as can be seen in two of the coats, the remainder of the figures have variations on that theme but are essentially in their own clothes and wear a sewn on white cross of St. Denis for identification.

The two figures in the middle of the last two photographs above are intended to be Swiss as a small number of these bolstered the defence of the town in 1513, I wanted them to be distinct from the Landsknechts in French service so they're in slightly more plain dress but distinct from their French colleagues.

Here they are based and ready for action.

As with the other missile foot they are in a loose formation engaged in fire and manoeuvre.

Finally, here they are with the rest of the missile foot in my collection from which I think it's evident that my ability has increased somewhat but they're good figures nonetheless.

As luck would have it these will be used in a game of Lion Rampant tomorrow which if I pull my finger out I'll take a few photographs and maybe do an after action report in time for Christmas.

All the best

Stuart