Landsknecht Arquebusiers part II

You can never have too many !

This is part 3 of a re-basing project for the Landsknechts in my collection, some of which were painted quite a while back. I opted to re-base and re-invigorate my troops by adding newly painted figures to the older ones in my collection then mixing them. This worked really well for the pike in my collection, you can read more about that here, and more recently with another re-invigorated unit of arquebusiers which you can read more of here.

These figures from Wargames Foundry hold up remarkably well despite their age and are still among my favourite Landsknecht figures out there, they certainly beat the current plastic alternatives hands down.

For this particular pack one pose is supplied with 8 head variants so they do present something of a challenge to try and bring out some individuality and interest.

Being Landsknechts half the battle is won there in having each figure painted as an individual but in returning to some sources I learned a bit more about their clothing. In particular understanding what is being depicted in the sculpt.

I have shared my collected thoughts upon painting Landsknechts in a chapter in Helion's wargaming compendium for the Italian Wars 'All is lost save honour'  In this, I emphasise the importance of reviewing primary sources, one of which I recommend considerably is the First Book of Fashion by Matthaus Schwarz of Augsburg.

In this, and with this particular sculpt in mind, I noticed something, on the right leg the arquebusier wears over-hose, 'überzüg' in German, roughly translating as an 'over covering'. here's some examples from the book.

Schwarz states that the white over-hose could be worn with any hose. To dress the legs, first the hose are put on, these are essentially woolen tights, over this - for our interest - a pair of over-hose, 'überzüg' with integral codpiece are added, these are also fixed by laced points to the doublet.

It's the same again here though because the under-hose are green it's easier to see. Note also that each leg is a different colour and that the over-hose are lined with red taffeta and include lower stockings.

Here's an example from a different primary source and something a little closer to the arquebusier figure. To dress the legs the blue and white striped hose are put on first. Over this upper hose with codpiece are put on - like a pair of shorts, these are attached to the doublet by points. On the right leg red over-hose are added with a ribbon tied below the knee, these are attached to the bottom of the upper hose. On the left leg the striped over hose have been untied and gather above the knee.

Using these sources, I offer my interpretation in this new batch of nine marching arquebusiers. Here they are prior to being mixed in with my existing figures and re-based.

I also wanted to mingle in a few in other poses and a halberdier for protection.

Spare arquebuses are from The Assault Group Miniatures

Here's the full re-based and re-invigorated unit. There is a 20 year gap between the 12 most recent and 12 earlier figures. I can spot the difference but they still work pretty well. 

I've really enjoyed doing these, each time I return to the Landsknechts I find something new.

I hope that was useful, all the best

Stuart