Swiss pikes II

These Swiss pike are from the region of the Tessin, next to the Italian border.

Click on the photo to super-size it. I purchased these such a long time ago that I can not remember the manufacture's name - if anyone can help.

Swiss pikes I

No Swiss army would be complete without hordes of pikemen. Four blocks have been drilled in the art of pikemenship and head out to their summer quarters.

Click on the photo to super-size it.

Swiss archers

The first block of Swiss archers have been trained and take to the field. The Swiss were not big fans of the bow but, non-the-less, they formed part of most Swiss armies of the 1400s.

Click on the photo to super-size it.

Swiss monks

The Swiss army of 1450 never went to war without a good blessing and these monks will do just the job. Figures by Essex (again) 15mm range and I intend to base them within the units of infantry. Click on the photos to supersize them.

Swiss Crossbow

The first of the Swiss come off the production line...

Swiss 15mm Essex Crossbow (click on the photo to supersize them)

Colonia lulia equestris / Swiss - flag and crest

Pictured below is a statue of a Swiss soldier circa 1450 holding the banner of Nyon. A unit of these locals will, of course, be included in my Swiss Army (1450s) but a decendant of them will also be found in my Seven Years War army for Colonia lulia equestris.

Swiss

I have been able to paint several units of Swiss:

1) 3 x 8 foot archers
2) 3 x 8 pike
3) 1 x 8 halberdiers

I'll post some photos later this week. I must admit that I am surprised I managed to do so much and am really pleased with the results.

Distractions

Well my project is taking a bit of a knock already. Three things have occured in the last few days and anyone could undermine the entire adventure!

Firstly, my fourth baby was born on Monday, a lovely little girl that we have called Lucy Morgan. Obviously my time will be taken up in looking after the other three and helping my wife with the wee one. But don't get me wrong, we are absolutely delighted of her arrival.

Secondly, I was recently given "Cossacks 2" a computer game which didn't worry me much until I tried it out! Gosh, what a game. It is a Napoleonic game and it is fan-bloody-tastic! Very very addictive and very much computerized figure wargame.

Thirdly, today in the post I received a large box of 15mm Swiss and Burgundian figures that will also need painting.... and they have arrived before the 7YW figures. Bad luck for them, good luck for the Swiss. I am, of course, going to be doing OSW and big battalions with the Swiss.