ECW: Hungerford's Dragoons

 

This will likely be the last unit I paint for quite some time to come. I anticipate deploying to PNG in the next week or so and a-packing I must go; sans miniatures.

My rendition of Colonel Sir Edward Hungerford's parliamentary dragoons relies almost entirely on the wonderful sculpts from Bicorne Miniatures - they are great looking and great to paint. I say 'almost entirely' as the standard bearer on foot is a head swapped Foundry miniature if I remember correctly.

My good mate Grant and I have embarked on ECW wargaming with an approach which relies on Robert Giglio's English Civil War Campaign Scenarios Vol 1 for the 1643 campaigns in the South West between William Waller and Ralph Hopton. I listed all the units from every engagement to ascertain the most commonly present on either side and then Grant and I took turns in picking one each so we can build both sides and co-operate in getting our armies ready for games ASAP.

Due to a series of dire events for me last year, my production slowed to an all time low. Almost a year later I have managed only three cavalry and this dragoon unit with a pair of cannon before shelving it as I depart for two years. Such is life.

I really enjoyed painting these wonderful figures and I have to observe that after two plastic cavalry sets it was a pleasure to get back to metals - they are just better.

The standard is speculative, based from Hungerford's heraldry and in keeping with the style of dragoon guidons. As with the preceding units, I will texture the bases after I create my green fields scenery - whenever that's going to be. Looks to be a retirement project (there's a lot of those).

One thing to observe is how intense a project creating fully representative dragoons can be compared to all other unit types. I need them mounted, deployed on foot and with a horse holder stand - if I want to depict them right.

I noticed quite early on that Bicorne's sets do not match up (as far as I could see) - then again, it may have been how I divided my purchases as I have two unit's worth to work on. So the deployed dragoons do not correspond with the mounted figures. I got over this niggle as neither should ever be on the table-top at the same time anyway.

Over the last ten years I have grown to love painting cavalry and these dragoons have been a favourite to create. When I get back to the other set, they will be for the King.

As dragoons are skirmishers in Pike & Shotte I based the deployed musketeers on my usual round based (three to a stand) and based them mounted two-to-a-stand on the same bases I base three cavalry to depict them in open order. The horse holders (like an artillery limber) is on a bespoke base to accommodate the three figures and mounts. I cut the reins from heavy foil.

Whilst I will cease painting figures and building models for my wargaming, I will focus on research, creating artwork, unit and command cards, scenarios and of course some compulsive purchases. So the postings will continue but on a different tack.

Happy gaming.