Finally I have finished my first group of Conquistadores for Feudal PatrolTM. These are a group of six 28mm figures from Wargames Foundry armed with arquebuses (hence they are called arquebusiers). The figures were sculpted by Mark Copplestone and are really nice. I got them from Badger Games. For once, I did not need to paint or assemble any extras like shields or banners!
I will use them in Feudal PatrolTM games using the supplement I wrote for the Spanish Conquest called Civilizations Collide. Firearms in Mesoamerica were subject to some tough conditions climactically and also there was the issue of powder and ammunition supply. In the game, arquebus fire does create a bit of panic on the receiving end, but the weapons can misfire and be put out of action for the duration of the game (or even put the firer out of action with an explosion).
Arquebuses were used by many armies. The Spanish used them extensively in the 15th and 16th Centuries, notably in the Renaissance Italian Wars, and the Spanish Conquest. They were the first reasonably portable shoulder-fired firearm used. Arquebuses were complex to fire, and could misfire or even as previously stated – actually explode in the bearer’s face. However, it was easier to arm and to train troops with an arquebus than with a crossbow. The addition of a serpentine firing device to arquebuses led to the type sometimes being called a matchlock. Once volley fire tactics were developed, the use of the crossbow was eclipsed, though clearly there was a period of overlap – particularly during the Spanish Conquest.
For those of you in the “Mark’s Conquistador Contest” (which is still open if you want to try to win some free – yes free – miniatures), this is six down, and 83 more to go! Entry is still open until Jan 2, 2021 – so click the link, check it out, and join in!
The blister as received 
After priming and a dark wash 
Progress through 12/17/20 
Progress through 12/18/20 
12/19/20 – ready for flocking and varnishing!
These were great fun to paint – and I still got to use a bit of color on them. From Steven’s Balagan blog, Osprey books, and good old Google, I got some decent concepts on historically-appropriate painting schemes. Apparently there was some grubbiness to them – but surprisingly, also some style and panache. I designated these arquebus-armed Conquistadores as CAB1 to CAB6. Check them out below, and click on any of the images for a larger view!
CAB1
This was the first figure that I tried to paint stripes on the hose. It was a new challenge, but I think it came out all right for the tabletop.
CAB2
The blister pack I got had two of the same pose (erroneously) – this is the same pose as CAB1 but I used a different color scheme (sort of reversed).
CAB3
This guy looks ready for action – a real veteran.
CAB4
This Conquistador was the grubbiest-looking of the lot, so I gave him a grungy-look to his leather armor. He has also adopted native footwear – Aztec style sandals.
CAB5
This Conquistador has also adopted native sandals – and he has red pants anyways (just in time for Christmas!)
CAB6
For the first time in months, I got to use a shade of purple – in this case on his blouse. No purple on Aztecs! Apparently some of the Conquistadores liked a plum-like shade (some style from Italian campaigns maybe?). Also, to vary the leather browns on armor, I actually used a dark flesh tone (“Gulliman Flesh”) on the kilt. I think it worked.
GROUP SHOT
I hope you enjoyed this post – and I’m off to paint the next group! Six down, 83 to go! Merry Christmas to you all and stay safe!
Miscellaneous details and references for those interested in that sort of thing:
Posts on games, units, and other projects for my 16th Century Spanish Conquest supplement for Feudal Patrol™ – “Civilizations Collide”
- Audacious Arquebusiers! (this post) – Wargames Foundry #SB012 (6 Conquistadores with arquebuses)
- Mark’s Conquistador Contest – for my loyal blog followers!
- Montezuma and Chieftains – Wargames Foundry #AZ011 for Feudal Patrol – 6 Aztec figures (Montezuma, 4 Chieftains, 1 Warrior Priest)
- Aztec Shock Troops – Cuachic Warriors aka The Shorn Ones – 8 Aztec cuachicqueh warriors
- Tloxtoxl and the Priests of the Great Temple, Wargames Foundry AZ021 – 2 warrior priests, 1 priestess, 1 priest, 1 leader, and 1 signaler
- Civilizations Collide – The Wars of the Aztecs, the Inca, the Maya, and the Conquistadores is now available as a FREE Download for Feudal Patrol™ – plus a Feudal Patrol™ review!
- 18 Aztec Novice Warriors for Feudal Patrol Walk into a Bar – 18 Novice Warriors
- Aztec Warrior Priests (painted as Tlaxcalans), Ral Partha 42-302, circa 1988 (this post) – 6 figures – 6 Tlaxcalan Warrior Priests
- Tlaxcalan Novices, Elite Warriors, and Command Group – 18 figures – 8 Novice Tlaxcalan Warriors, 8 Elite Tlaxcalan Warriors, 1 Tlaxcalan Captain, 1 Tlaxcalan Conch Blower
- Tlaxcalan Archers – 8 Veteran Tlaxcalan Archers
- Aztec Game for Feudal Patrol across thousands of miles – via Zoom!
- Aztec Snake Woman and Drummer – 1 Aztec General, 1 Aztec Drummer
- A June and July Jaguar Warrior Frenzy (plus some Aztec Veterans and a Warrior Priest to Boot) – 3 Aztec Veteran Warriors, 17 Jaguar Warriors, 1 Aztec Warrior Priest
- Doubling Down – Aztec Veteran Warriors – 24 Aztec Veteran Warriors
- Aztec Arrow Knights, Ral Partha circa 1988 – 6 Aztec Arrow Knights
- Aztec Eagle Warriors from Tin Soldier UK – 6 Aztec Eagle Knights
- Aztec Novice Warriors and a few Frinx – 12 Novice Warriors
Total figures completed to date for this project: 147 figures: 109 Aztecs, 32 Tlaxcalans, 6 Spanish Conquistadores
PAINTS, INKS, GLAZES, SHADES, WASHES, PIGMENTS, FLOCKING, GLUES AND MORE THAT I USED ON THESE CONQUISTADOR FIGURES:
- Gorilla Glue
- 1/8″ x 1″ Everbilt Fender Washers
- Poster tack
- Vallejo “Surface Primer – White Primer”
- Vallejo “Flow Improver”
- Vallejo “Airbrush Thinner”
- Testors “Universal Acrylic Thinner”
- Citadel “Nuln Oil” (wash)
- Army Painter “Tanned Flesh”
- Citadel “Runefang Steel”
- Citadel “Ironbreaker”
- Citadel “Contrast Paint – Snakebite Leather”
- Citadel “Contrast Paint – Skeleton Horde”
- Citadel “Contrast Paint – Cygor Brown”
- Vallejo Mecha Color “Dark Steel”
- Vallejo Model Color “Vermilion”
- Vallejo Model Air “Weiss” (off-white)
- Citadel “Nuln Oil GLOSS” (wash)
- Vallejo Model Air “Bright Brass”
- Vallejo Game Air “Black”
- Vallejo Model Air “Armour Brown”
- Vallejo Game Color “Bronze Fleshtone”
- Vallejo Model Color “Sunny Skin Tone”
- Army Painter “Flesh Wash” (wash)
- Citadel “Contrast Paint – Dark Angels Green”
- Army Painter “Red Tone”
- Citadel “Coelia Greenshade” (wash)
- Citadel “Contrast Paint – Black Templar”
- Citadel “Contrast Paint – Gore-Grunta Fur”
- Citadel “Contrast Paint – Gulliman Flesh”
- Citadel “Contrast Paint – Magos Purple”
- Secret Weapon Washes “Armor Wash” (wash)
- Citadel “Agrax Earthshade” (shade)
- Army Painter “Purple Tone”
- Battlefront “Flat Earth”
- Citadel “Contrast Paint – Apothecary White”
- Vallejo “Gloss Varnish”
- Elmer’s PVA Glue
- Army Painter “Brown Battlefields” (flocking)
- Vallejo “Dark Yellow Ochre” (pigment)
- Vallejo “Burnt Umber” (pigment)
- Citadel “Steel Legion Drab”
- Citadel “Tallarn Sand”
- Citadel “Karak Stone”
- Americana “Desert Sand”
- Vallejo Mecha Varnish “Matt Varnish”
- Army Painter “Grass Green” (flocking)
Mark A. Morin 
A good start, Mark! 🙂 These look great! Could you try and incorporate more stripes and complicated bits to paint so it slows you down a bit and keeps me in with a chance of winning the competition! 😉 I like all of the above and can’t really pick a favourite!
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Thanks John, but no shields here and some will be easier than others (like dying horses and some wardogs!) Right now the spread is close to 70 days from the mean so it’s anybody’s game – just (for fun) hoping for more entries!
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Those are really great Mark. Yopu’ve really brought the best out of the Copplestone sculpts. Love the way you’ve done the metallics.
Cheers,
Pete.
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Cheers Pete, glad you like them!
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Excellent results. I think the striped pants a re a great choice and really add interest. The stripes are also well done. If you paint such pants again you can try to highlight the mid section of each stripe to make them pop even more, but they look good as is.
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Thanks much and that was something I am considering for the next group. I do have many to go (not all have hose)The stripes are quite narrow but I think I could use my 0000 Windsor brush to do that. I’ll be mixing up the colors too, using some darker stripes additionally. As I worked through the Aztecs I found I could get better, and that’s my plan here too.
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Off to a cracking start Mark, if you want to shade or highlight the lighter colour on the hose I find the easiest way is to paint them as you normally would if you were doing just one colour ( shade and highlight) then add the dark stripe afterwards( especially black) which will need little to no highlighting.
The metal work looks spot on as does the grunginess of them.
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Thanks Dave, funny enough I basically painted the hose off white, then added the stripes and cleaned up with off white again followed by a touch up of the striping color, then added shade in certain crevices. It was fun to do metal again that was not gold! App the feedback Dave!
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Or appreciate damn spell check!
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As others have said Mark your are off to a great start. The stripes look very good and as I found, once you start adding freehand a whole new world opens up. 🙂 Have a great Christmas. 🍻🎄
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Thanks Dave and as I was attempting to paint the stripes I was thinking of your sterling efforts (what other types of effort would a Brit have 😁 btw?) on your killer clown. Like the Aztec shields, I think I’ll have a lot of opportunities to try a lot of different colors and patterns. Saw your PM put you guys back in lockdown, that sucks. Try to have a great Christmas nonetheless- and keep making magic on your hobby bench! As you all say, Cheers!
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Yes the lockdown is a disappointment but given the way people have been behaving it has come as no surprise. All in all it is a small price to pay if the vaccine is only a few months away. I’m sure we will make the most of it. Merry Christmas to you and your family. 🙂
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Fantastic start mate, they’re all great, but wow, that purple works really nicely!!
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Thanks Alex, I do like it too, and will be adding that color here and there I think!
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Great work, I like the pinstripes they look great.
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Thanks lordcommandereloth (and that’s an impressive moniker!). Glad you liked them, more to come (like 83 more 😲), some easier than others. Feel free to jump in on the contest if you like!
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Good luke on the rest! All with the same weapons or a mix?
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I need luck – but maybe luck can be with you? Check out the ones in the queue and the contest here https://markamorin.com/2020/12/14/marks-conquistador-contest-for-my-loyal-blog-followers/
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Great work Mark, two of my favourite things in one post, I do love a stripy pair of pants!!
And as always M.Copplestone has done some top notch sculpts too!
Cheers Roger.
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Thanks Rog, though some are mostly without pants. Just some fancy hose and codpieces! But hey, we call that going commando Over here! These are my first from Copplestone, (and not my last) so I’m happy about that. All the best – and may your lockdown be brief.
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This what happens when you put a top mini together with a top painter! So jealous- great to see the Spanish in the Americas- eye catching photography too!
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Thanks! I knew they’d tickle your fancy!
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I forgot to leave a comment earlier when I followed you but once I stumbled onto your site, I was impressed by the painting and subjects I’m not very knowledgeable about so I knew it was well-worth keeping an eye on. These Arquebusiers look awesome and are a really cool subject for wargaming. Exploring any conflict between the Spanish forces and natives sounds pretty interesting to me! I look forward to seeing lots more content like this in the future.
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Thanks Kuribo! Really happy to have you here. I have been working on this project since March, including writing a supplement for Feudal Patrol for the period. The supplement is a free download and has a historical summary at the start that you might find interesting http://www.bucksurdu.com/feudalpatrol/free-supplements/. I have a lot of posts and show my progress on Aztec, Tlaxcalan, and now Spanish forces. I really enjoyed learning about the period, it’s a fascinating chapter in history.
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I gave the rules a quick flip through and they look very impressive to me. I commend your effort on such an ambitious project! I will try to catch up on this project and learn more about it over the holiday break as it is fascinating.
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Awesome!
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Those foundry miniatures surely show their age, but you made the best out of them, really nice paintjob. I especially like the look of those stripes!
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Thanks and glad you liked them!
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These look great Mark. The stripes are excellent and they work really well individually and grouped up.
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Thanks BTTH! Great to hear from ya!
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Nice paint work! I’m planning to use this range also for my Warhammer Estalians, so it is very inspirational to see your army being put together.
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Thanks and it will be cool to see yours! I did finish several more groups since this one that you might find of interest too.
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