Scots Highland Archers

 

The ranks of the Scots Army continue to grow with this latest addition. Some Highland bows to act as skirmishers and protect the flanks of the pikes for the Scots armies of Flodden and Linlithgow.

They're equally useful in their own right for the raiding and feuding that took place in the highlands and isles and as mercenary 'Redshanks'* for service in Ireland.

*Scots seasonal mercenaries from the Highlands and Isles known in Ireland as New Scots (as opposed to earlier settled Galloglass in Ireland) and Redshanks so called because of their bare legs.

All figures are from Antediluvian Miniatures and painted without any further conversion.

Easy sculpts to paint but they did need quite a bit of cleaning up and a couple were lost to a misaligned mould / spin sadly but hopefully that was a one off as i'd like to get some more. The Galloglass in this range are good too.

I opted for a mix of light and heavier armoured figures to represent highlanders and caterans (similar to Irish Kern), and initially thought to base them as heavy and light bases but during the painting they started to look better when mixed together;

Here's some images prior to basing. I did them in batches of armoured and unarmoured. the figures in armour in particular have some interesting additions to their kit, hunting horns, plaids, axes and such. I tried to keep a fairly muted palette which helped to bring out the faces and really highlight the saffron leine.

I had a figure left over so converted him to create a casualty marker - I must get more of these as I haven't been creating them in line with new units. These Warbases dial markers are great.

The whole unit based and ready to go. I used various sets from Gamers Grass for the tufts, there's actually a highland set which I added heather and some low tufts and small scrub too. These are my go to tuft supplier, a little bit more expensive but the quality is consistently good. These are available direct from Portugal or from Firestorm Games in the UK, often at a slight discount too.

Scots Highland Archers

Scots Highland archers and Galloglass mercenaries in the retinue of Earl Huntly

Highland archers as mercenary 'Redshanks' in Irish service

There's also a command to go with them which is presently on the painting desk. Hopefully these should be along soon after I emerge from the rabbit hole of 16c plaid and who the personality should actually be, Argyl and Lennox are in the lead at present.

All the best

Stuart