Or, let’s just call him Cortes for short – to avoid all the accent marks, surname confusion, and titles!
I got this figure from Gringo 40’s excellent collection of Conquistadores. It is from Gringo 40s Conquistadores line (#CONQP1 Cortez). The figure is 28mm in size, metal, and overall an excellent sculpt. I will be heading back to them for more figures. I had not painted a figure since I completed the war wagons back in August (also from Gringo 40’s), and really not a soldier since February. I am surprised at how much terrain took up the intervening time – as well as my garage (and now if you’ve not seen these you can see all of my garage+ project posts all in one place – here). But, let’s get back to Cortes.
In his early 30’s, Hernan Cortes made his way into the history books as a Conquistador and the vanquisher of the Aztec Empire. He lived to his early 60’s. Now, there are plenty of negative things to say about his life – and by no means am I considering him a “good guy” – just as I would not do that for Montezuma or any Aztec either. Both combatants were pretty damn brutal in so many ways. They were all men of their time – not today – and if you want to check out the Wikipedia page on Cortes you’ll get a flavor. He was remarkable in many ways, good and bad, and he was complex. I wanted a true Cortes figure for my Civilizations Collide scenarios for games of Feudal PatrolTM .
Of course, Cortes played a major role in the Spanish Conquest 500 years ago, especially as a combat leader. He also is bearded, and my good friend Roger over at Rantings Under The Wargame Table threw out a challenge for Mo’vember around such guys. Therefore, he is my submission for Roger’s challenge.
I was able to paint him up pretty quickly – and it felt great to paint again.
And add a label:
I enjoyed painting Cortes. I tried to give his armor different shading and tones while maintaining an overall proper look. The photo gallery below is not as good a group of shots as I’d like – it was tough to get the lighting correct – he’s thankfully not that shiny (as you saw above).
I thought I’d add a picture of Cortes and Montezuma II. Cortes will get a lot more play in my scenarios anyways, but his picture is a little less shiny and better here, so here it is.
I hope that you enjoyed this – I have one more related post to do prior to this week’s Historicon game (I’m running it there on Saturday morning).
Miscellaneous details and references for those interested in that sort of thing:
For all of my previous posts on games, units, and other projects for my 16th Century Spanish Conquest supplement for Feudal Patrol™ – “Civilizations Collide” – please see this page.
PAINTS, INKS, GLAZES, SHADES, WASHES, PIGMENTS, FLOCKING, GLUES AND MORE THAT I USED ON THIS HERNAN CORTES FIGURE:
- Gorilla Glue
- 1/8″ x 1″ Everbilt Fender Washers
- Poster tack
- Vallejo Mecha Primer “White”
- Vallejo “Flow Improver”
- Vallejo “Airbrush Thinner”
- Vallejo Mecha Color “Off-White”
- Vallejo Model Color “Black”
- Vallejo Model Air “Hull Red”
- Battlefront “GI Green”
- Battlefront “Boot Brown”
- Citadel “Ironbreaker”
- Vallejo Model Color “Red”
- Vallejo Mecha Color “Dark Steel”
- Vallejo Model Air “Steel”
- Vallejo Model Air “Bright Brass”
- Citadel “Contrast Paint – Snakebite Leather”
- Vallejo Model Air “Gun Metal”
- Battlefront “Flat Earth”
- Citadel “Contrast Paint – Blood Angels Red”
- Vallejo Game Air “Chrome”
- Army Painter “Tanned Flesh”
- Vallejo Game Color “Bronze Fleshtone”
- Vallejo Model Color “Sunny Skin Tone”
- Army Painter “Flesh Wash” (wash)
- Vallejo Game Color “White”
- Citadel “Nuln Oil GLOSS” (wash)
- Army Painter “Red Tone” (shade)
- Citadel “Cryptek Armourshade Gloss” (shade)
- Citadel “Agrax Earthshade” (shade)
- Elmer’s PVA Glue
- Army Painter “Brown Battlefields” (flocking)
- Vallejo “Dark Yellow Ochre” (pigment)
- Vallejo “Burnt Umber” (pigment)
- Vallejo “Pigment Binder”
- Citadel “Steel Legion Drab”
- Citadel “Tallarn Sand”
- Citadel “Karak Stone”
- Vallejo Model Air “German Red Brown”
- Citadel “The Fang ”
- Citadel “Seraphim Sepia” (shade)
- Vallejo Mecha Varnish “Matt Varnish”
- Army Painter “Grass Green” (flocking)
Mark A. Morin 
Wonderful figure Mark- really like how you’ve done his armour.
Cheers,
Pete.
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Thanks Pete, the armor was fun to do
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Nicely done, Mark! 🙂 I do like his armour!
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Thanks John, and who knows armor better than you – so high praise!
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Haha, except it’s really a different kind of armour I usually go for! 😉
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Yup!
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He turned out great, Mark!
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Thanks buddy – might be your guy soon!
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Lovely work on a smashing figure mate, lots of lovely detail work there, as said above the armour has come out particularly well! Great to see you painting again, we miss these posts form you.
Thanks for taking part 🧔
Cheers Roger.
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Glad to be back on so many levels Roger, and thanks for the appreciative words. Besides, I cannot grow a good-looking beard anyways, so his beard will do!!
Cheers to you!
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A really nice mini Mark. I think you got the metal armour spot on, it really looks the business. 🙂
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Thanks Dave!
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The more I read the more I realize how close to being annihilated Cortez faced even the last battles by the starving and plagued Aztecs, with good reason it was a victory by the allies who made up 90 percent of his alliance! Viva! Tarascan empire, and Gran Chichimeca!
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Oh definitely Cortes would have failed absent the Tlaxcalans. I just wonder why the Tlaxcalan forces were not so devastated as were the Aztecs by smallpox and the other diseases so as to reduce their combat effectiveness? Thanks Ernie, someday I will paint up some Tarascans!
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He looks brilliant Mark. I wonder why he has his hand open like that? He looks like he’s trying to extend a hand of welcome but then to only stab his unsuspecting victim with the other hand hehe. After seeing Cortes I’ve decided to join in with Rogers Mo’Vember challenge. 😊
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Thanks pal. My guess (and it’s only that) is that the hand depiction represents the persuasive aspect (some would say con man) of his persona. Time and again he cajoled, convinced, and persuaded his enemies to do what was in Cortes’ best interests. The Tlaxcalans initially fought him, but he convinced them not only to stop fighting him but to join him as an example. Helluva salesman no doubt. Plus he’s got his other hand on his sword, so he’s ready if negotiations break down too. And glad to see you join the challenge with Roger too.
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Great work on Cortez Mark, your painting has captured his essence perfectly
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Thanks Dave!
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Love that mini! Great work Mark! A true hero in miniature! Never mind the “ allies” ; more liberators!!!!!!!
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Thanks man, he did take down a pretty brutal empire over which few tears were shed by any neighbors.
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My point exactly! We’re like brothers separated by an ocean!🤭
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So, I’m in the Dice Studz and you’re in the Mass Pikemen!
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Dice pikemen!!!!!!?????
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Mass Studzmen?
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Now that is truly Transatlantic quality!🤩
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Great job on this mini, and as just about everyone else has said, his armour is really good. And it’s great to see you painting again!
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Thanks again!
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Cortes came out nicely, Mark! It is a tough model to get impressive results with because it doesn’t have many details. Having said that, I think he looks like a worthy leader for the Spanish and as Matt said, its awesome to see you showing off some hobby progress again!
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Nice to hear from ya and thank you much, I’m glad to be back in a bit of a hobby swing again. He’s scheduled for battle soon, I’ll let you know how he fares.
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Brilliant work Mark. He has come up really well.
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Nice work on this guy Mark!
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Gracias Senor Pat!
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