Tag: Badger Games

Conquistador Falconet and Crew (Artillery)

Hernan Cortes had a number of relative technological advantages during the Spanish Conquest of the Aztecs in the 16th Century. One of these was the availability and use of weapons such as arquebuses and early artillery against a foe that had never seen steel let alone gunpowder. Cortes initially was to be given a charter by the Governor of Cuba (Velazquez) in 1518 to explore and gain territory in Mexico for colonization by the Spanish.

However, Velazquez distrusted Cortes and was in the process of revoking his charter – but before he could – Cortes absconded from Cuba with 500-600 troops, as well as 15 cavalry and 15 cannons in February of 1519. He initially went to the Yucatan and encountered the Maya. He fought them, won a battle, claimed the Yucatan for Spain, gained strategic intelligence, as well as was given several native women by the Maya. These included a key translator La Malinche, who would make a major impact on the history of Mexico (and later also bear him a son Martin). Cortes had heard from the Maya of the reputed wealth (especially in terms of gold) of the Aztecs. He reembarked and sailed north to land and found the first Spanish town in Mexico in May of 1519 – Veracruz.

At this point, Cortes then found himself facing a small insurrection among his Spanish troops who had loyalties to Governor Velazquez – and not to Cortes. He discovered the plot, and in response, he executed a couple of the ringleaders, and had a few of the others whipped or mutilated. Then, to make sure his men would have no further option of rebellion, he either scuttled or burned his ships (sources disagree on which happened). They unloaded everything at Veracruz, to include several types of cannon. One of the types commonly used at the time was a small cannon called a falconet. It was useful for clearing boarders from the decks of a ship. Think of it as a big shotgun or a swivel gun. As ammunition, it could use solid shot or langridge. Langridge is described by Wikipedia as “bags of any junk such as scrap metal, bolts, rocks, gravel, old musket balls, etc. fired to injure enemy crews”. Spanish sailors would have been the crews in the use of these pieces.

Moving these pieces inland would have been a challenge. As Cortes made his march towards the Aztec cities, his horses were saved for use as cavalry (a good decision given how effective his few cavalry would prove to be). Anything else was man-packed by native allies. The falconets had been ship-mounted, so therefore were the smallest and easiest to move on hastily-built carriages. Other cannon, such as culverins, were too big to easily move like this. Based on this, and the Osprey images I have seen, I decided to field one small falconet for my Conquistador forces.

The one metal 28mm kit I found was, like the Sword and Buckler Men from my last post, from Outpost Wargame Services via Badger Games. The SKU is #CONA1 “Falconet and Crew”, and consisted of two crewmen and the gun on a carriage. I did a few WIP shots which I’ll share – and then some close ups of the finished crew. Then I’ll list (as usual) my reference section.

The kit unassembled. I needed to use a slightly bigger (1.25″) steel washer for the gun. I also used some old Armory and Polly S glass paint bottles as painting mounts.
I also changed my painting order a bit in that I mostly finished off the base before I mounted the falconet to it (shown here painted but not weathered yet).
WIP shot of the figure with the long match to light the fuse. I tried to model and paint the crew as a sailors. This is before varnish and flocking the base – and adding a special wisp…
WIP if the second figure with the ramrod.
The falconet mounted and painted but before weathering and base completion.

At this point, I thought I needed to add a marker to designate that the gun had fired on the tabletop.

I decided to use the protective cap off of a CVS tooth flosser – ones I use to help clean my airbrush. Sizing and shaping it became a bit of a challenge.
I then added pillow batting strips – to my fingers and to the plastic! There will be more shots to follow later showing it painted. It also motivated me to do the same for my arquebus armed troops (smaller versions of course).

I designated the crew as CFA1 and CFA2, and the gun as FA. I will be formalizing the rules for its use in my  Civilizations Collide scenarios for games of Feudal PatrolTM  – I will be slightly modifying the rules written by Duncan Adams for the Combat PatrolTM supplement he wrote called Horse and Musket. It will be slow to reload but could be a very useful weapon against a massed Aztec charge.

Here are some shots I hope that you enjoy – click on any for a larger view.

CFA1

I also decided that his match needed some smoke – with some painted pillow batting.

CFA2

I think he looks like a sailor.

FA

Crew Shots

BOOM! The marker looked much better painted!
I then made some markers for my arquebusiers.

This crew and gun also count as yet another entry into Dave Stone’s Painting Challenge “PAINT WHAT YOU GOT CHALLENGE”.  Next up will be the cavalry and dead horse markers – and that’s it for my Conquistadores. As previously posted, if and when I’m able to (or if I did already ) finish my personal challenge contest, I’m going to announce the winners. I will possibly run a similar guessing challenge to “Mark’s Conquistador Contest” for the terrain that I have – and yes, if I do, I’ll be giving away prizes. But this is DEFINITELY GETTING CLOSE TO THE END!

Interested? Stay tuned…let me know your thoughts about this post!

Total figures completed to date for this project: 206 figures:  109 Aztecs, 32 Tlaxcalans, 65 Spanish Conquistadores (just 24 more to go in Mark’s Conquistador Contest!)

Miscellaneous details and references for those interested in that sort of thing:

Previous posts on games, units, and other projects for my 16th Century Spanish Conquest supplement for Feudal Patrol™ – “Civilizations Collide”

  1. Conquistador Falconet and Crew (Artillery) (this post). 3 figures total Outpost Wargame Services #CONA1 “Falconet and Crew”.
  2. More Conquistador Sword and Buckler Men. 8 figures total Outpost Wargame Services #CON001 “Sword and Buckler Men”.
  3. Conquistador Sword and Buckler Men (Wargames Foundry). 18 figures total in three blister packs: Wargames Foundry #SB015 “Swaggering Swordsmen”, #SB016 “Brutal Sword and Buckler Men”, and #SB017 “Bold Bladesmen”.
  4. Perro de Guerra (Conquistador War Dogs). 13 figures total: Outpost Wargames Services #CONS6 “War Dogs” (8 war dogs); Eureka #100CON13 “Dog Handler and Dogs” (1 dog handler/pikeman and 4 war dogs)
  5. Conquistador Foot Command, Crossbowmen, and a Couple of Officers. 11 figures total: Outpost Wargames Services #CONC1 “Conquistador Foot Command” (a leader, a banner bearer, a drummer, and a bugler); Eureka #100CON04 “Crossbowmen” (5 crossbowmen); and Eureka CONC1 “Conquistador Officer” and an unknown SKU officer (2 officers)
  6. Merciless Adventurers (this post) – Wargames Foundry #SB014 (6 Conquistadores with arquebuses)
  7. Audacious Arquebusiers! – Wargames Foundry #SB012 (6 Conquistadores with arquebuses)
  8. Mark’s Conquistador Contest – for my loyal blog followers!
  9. Montezuma and Chieftains – Wargames Foundry #AZ011 for Feudal Patrol – 6 Aztec figures (Montezuma, 4 Chieftains, 1 Warrior Priest)
  10. Aztec Shock Troops – Cuachic Warriors aka The Shorn Ones – 8 Aztec cuachicqueh warriors
  11. Tloxtoxl and the Priests of the Great Temple, Wargames Foundry AZ021 – 2 warrior priests, 1 priestess, 1 priest, 1 leader, and 1 signaler
  12. 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!
  13. 18 Aztec Novice Warriors for Feudal Patrol Walk into a Bar – 18 Novice Warriors
  14. Aztec Warrior Priests (painted as Tlaxcalans), Ral Partha 42-302, circa 1988 (this post) – 6 figures – 6 Tlaxcalan Warrior Priests
  15. Tlaxcalan Novices, Elite Warriors, and Command Group – 18 figures – 8 Novice Tlaxcalan Warriors, 8 Elite Tlaxcalan Warriors, 1 Tlaxcalan Captain, 1 Tlaxcalan Conch Blower
  16. Tlaxcalan Archers – 8 Veteran Tlaxcalan Archers
  17. Aztec Game for Feudal Patrol across thousands of miles – via Zoom!
  18. Aztec Snake Woman and Drummer – 1 Aztec General, 1 Aztec Drummer
  19. 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
  20. Doubling Down – Aztec Veteran Warriors – 24 Aztec Veteran Warriors
  21. Aztec Arrow Knights, Ral Partha circa 1988 – 6 Aztec Arrow Knights
  22. Aztec Eagle Warriors from Tin Soldier UK – 6 Aztec Eagle Knights
  23. Aztec Novice Warriors and a few Frinx – 12 Novice Warriors

Total figures completed to date for this project: 206 figures:  109 Aztecs, 32 Tlaxcalans, 65 Spanish Conquistadores (24 more to go in Mark’s Conquistador Contest!)

PAINTS, INKS, GLAZES, SHADES, WASHES, PIGMENTS, FLOCKING, GLUES AND MORE THAT I USED ON THESE CONQUISTADOR FIGURES:

  1. Gorilla Glue
  2. 1/8″ x 1″ and 1/8″ x 1.25″ Everbilt Fender Washers
  3. Poster tack
  4. Vallejo Mecha Primer “White”
  5. Vallejo “Flow Improver”
  6. Vallejo “Airbrush Thinner”
  7. Citadel “Nuln Oil” (wash)
  8. Vallejo Model Air “Weiss” (off-white)
  9. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Cygor Brown”
  10. Battlefront “Sicily Yellow”
  11. Army Painter “Tanned Flesh”
  12. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Black Templar”
  13. Citadel “Ironbreaker”
  14. Vallejo Model Air “Gun Metal”
  15. Secret Weapon Washes “Armor Wash” (wash)
  16. Vallejo Model Air “Wood”
  17. Citadel “Seraphim Sepia” (shade)
  18. Citadel “Agrax Earthshade” (shade)
  19. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Snakebite Leather”
  20. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Gore-Grunta Fur”
  21. Vallejo “Thinner Medium”
  22. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Flesh Tearers Red”
  23. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Space Wolves Grey”
  24. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Creed Camo”
  25. Vallejo Mecha Color “Off-white”
  26. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Iyanden Yellow”
  27. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Contrast Medium”
  28. Vallejo Model Air “Brown”
  29. Vallejo Model Air “Armor Brown”
  30. Vallejo Game Air “Wolf Grey”
  31. Battlefront “Worn Canvas”
  32. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Apothecary White”
  33. Citadel “Nuln Oil GLOSS” (wash)
  34. Vallejo Model Color “Brown Rose”
  35. Vallejo Game Color “Bronze Fleshtone”
  36. Vallejo Model Color “Sunny Skin Tone”
  37. Army Painter “Flesh Wash” (wash)
  38. Citadel “Drakenhof Nightshade” (wash)
  39. Army Painter “Red Tone” (shade)
  40. Vallejo Mecha Color “Dark Steel”
  41. Vallejo “Gloss Varnish”
  42. Vallejo Game Air “Black”
  43. Citadel “Runefang Steel”
  44. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Gryph-Charger Grey”
  45. Vallejo Model Color “Vermilion”
  46. Vallejo Model Color “Neutral Grey”
  47. Battlefront “Dark Leather”
  48. Vallejo Model Air “Bright Brass”
  49. Vallejo Model Air “Dark Brown”
  50. E6000 Epoxy
  51. Battlefront “Flat Earth”
  52. Elmer’s PVA Glue
  53. Army Painter “Brown Battlefields” (flocking)
  54. Vallejo “Dark Yellow Ochre” (pigment)
  55. Vallejo “Burnt Umber” (pigment)
  56. Citadel “Steel Legion Drab”
  57. Citadel “Tallarn Sand”
  58. Citadel “Karak Stone”
  59. Americana “Desert Sand”
  60. Vallejo Mecha Varnish “Matt Varnish”
  61. Army Painter “Grass Green” (flocking)

More Conquistador Sword and Buckler Men (Outpost Wargame Services)

Wait you say – Mark, did you not just finish a group of Sword and Buckler Men (SABM) on your last post? Yes, but those eighteen were from Wargames Foundry, and the eight that this post will describe are from Outpost Wargame Services (via Badger Games). These would round out my SABM for Civilizations Collide scenarios for games of Feudal PatrolTM . AND these are part of “Mark’s Conquistador Conquest” – so I know some of you are entered and wondering how that is going. All I’ll say is that it’s going well.

Back to the figures, they are metal, 28mm, and came in eight different poses. Six of the one-handed sword-armed figures needed assembly with sword arms and shields, and two had two-handed broadswords (they will of course get no shields but will have a more deadly blade). These figures came with eight shields as well – but these included shields were far too large to be considered “bucklers“. Therefore I replaced them with six better-sized Wargames Foundry shields. The figures are certainly “chunkier” and not at the quality of the previously-completed SABM that were Mark Copplestone sculpts. Still, this group of eight will bring my available SABM figures to 26. Additionally, this brings my project total to over 200 figures.

As I am stretching to finish the project and the blog posts about it, I did not do many WIP shots – and I did basically follow the same processes that I have done previously. Some of the figures here (and some future ones) were amenable to some amount of batch-painting, which has been helpful. I also do want to keep folks a bit in the dark on the contest’s progress until I can declare the winners officially. I MUST give another nod to Steven Thomas’ blog post on Conquistador painting – it and Osprey books were of great value – thanks to all the authors.

As a reminder, I started off with these like this:

The OWS SKU CON001 assembled (less shields which I mounted later) and mounted on poster tack on specimen jars for painting.

And my only WIP shot was this one:

Here you see this figure (CSW23 seen below as well) before I applied varnish, mounted the shield, and finished the figure.

So let’s get to it! Continuing on my previous numbering system, these figures are numbered CSW19 to CSW26. Click on any of the images for a bigger view.

CSW19

This Sword & Buckler man has a round bucker (rodela) from my excess Wargames Foundry shields. He has adopted the ichcahuipilli braided cotton armor favored by the Aztecs and Tlaxcalans.

CSW20

This was one of the two figures in the SKU armed with a broadsword. He can do more damage, and has decent plate armor protection.

CSW21

Another SABM with a WF rodela shield and decent mail armor. He has adopted Aztec sandals over his socks – not a great fashion look IMO – and these are wearing out like his clothes are overall. He has a scurvy dog look!

CSW22

This SABM has good plate armor and a WF rodela.

CSW23

This SABM has also adopted the braided cotton armor of the Aztecs, and carries a WF adarga (kidney shaped shield).

CSW24

Here is another SABM with braided cotton armor and socks and sandals. He has a steel WF rodela.

CSW25

The second figure armed with a broadsword wears sandals and (thankfully) no socks. His mail armor should provide him good protection even without a shield.

CSW26

The last of the group, with sandals, braided-cotton armor and an adarga.

Group Shot

I thought a quick comparison with the Wargames Foundry figures would be helpful – see below:

Comparison of similar Outpost Wargame Services and the Wargames Foundry SABM figures.

A couple more points – this group of eight also counts as yet another entry into Dave Stone’s Painting Challenge “PAINT WHAT YOU GOT CHALLENGE”.  Next up will be a falconet and crew, and then I’ll share the cavalry and dead horse markers. If and when I’m able to (or if I did already 😉) finish my personal challenge contest , I’m going to announce the winners. Then, if I do finish before the end of February I will try to take a one-figure break to complete a female figure for Alex’s Fembruary painting challenge. Then possibly I might run a similar guessing challenge to “Mark’s Conquistador Contest” for the terrain that I have – and yes, if I do, I’ll be giving away prizes. Interested? Stay tuned…let me know your thoughts about this post!

Total figures completed to date for this project: 203 figures:  109 Aztecs, 32 Tlaxcalans, 62 Spanish Conquistadores (27 more to go in Mark’s Conquistador Contest!)

Miscellaneous details and references for those interested in that sort of thing:

Previous posts on games, units, and other projects for my 16th Century Spanish Conquest supplement for Feudal Patrol™ – “Civilizations Collide”

  1. More Conquistador Sword and Buckler Men (this post). 8 figures total Outpost Wargame Services #CON001 “Sword and Buckler Men.
  2. Conquistador Sword and Buckler Men (Wargames Foundry). 18 figures total in three blister packs: Wargames Foundry #SB015 “Swaggering Swordsmen”, #SB016 “Brutal Sword and Buckler Men”, and #SB017 “Bold Bladesmen”.
  3. Perro de Guerra (Conquistador War Dogs). 13 figures total: Outpost Wargames Services #CONS6 “War Dogs” (8 war dogs); Eureka #100CON13 “Dog Handler and Dogs” (1 dog handler/pikeman and 4 war dogs)
  4. Conquistador Foot Command, Crossbowmen, and a Couple of Officers. 11 figures total: Outpost Wargames Services #CONC1 “Conquistador Foot Command” (a leader, a banner bearer, a drummer, and a bugler); Eureka #100CON04 “Crossbowmen” (5 crossbowmen); and Eureka CONC1 “Conquistador Officer” and an unknown SKU officer (2 officers)
  5. Merciless Adventurers (this post) – Wargames Foundry #SB014 (6 Conquistadores with arquebuses)
  6. Audacious Arquebusiers! – Wargames Foundry #SB012 (6 Conquistadores with arquebuses)
  7. Mark’s Conquistador Contest – for my loyal blog followers!
  8. Montezuma and Chieftains – Wargames Foundry #AZ011 for Feudal Patrol – 6 Aztec figures (Montezuma, 4 Chieftains, 1 Warrior Priest)
  9. Aztec Shock Troops – Cuachic Warriors aka The Shorn Ones – 8 Aztec cuachicqueh warriors
  10. Tloxtoxl and the Priests of the Great Temple, Wargames Foundry AZ021 – 2 warrior priests, 1 priestess, 1 priest, 1 leader, and 1 signaler
  11. 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!
  12. 18 Aztec Novice Warriors for Feudal Patrol Walk into a Bar – 18 Novice Warriors
  13. Aztec Warrior Priests (painted as Tlaxcalans), Ral Partha 42-302, circa 1988 (this post) – 6 figures – 6 Tlaxcalan Warrior Priests
  14. Tlaxcalan Novices, Elite Warriors, and Command Group – 18 figures – 8 Novice Tlaxcalan Warriors, 8 Elite Tlaxcalan Warriors, 1 Tlaxcalan Captain, 1 Tlaxcalan Conch Blower
  15. Tlaxcalan Archers – 8 Veteran Tlaxcalan Archers
  16. Aztec Game for Feudal Patrol across thousands of miles – via Zoom!
  17. Aztec Snake Woman and Drummer – 1 Aztec General, 1 Aztec Drummer
  18. 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
  19. Doubling Down – Aztec Veteran Warriors – 24 Aztec Veteran Warriors
  20. Aztec Arrow Knights, Ral Partha circa 1988 – 6 Aztec Arrow Knights
  21. Aztec Eagle Warriors from Tin Soldier UK – 6 Aztec Eagle Knights
  22. Aztec Novice Warriors and a few Frinx – 12 Novice Warriors

Total figures completed to date for this project: 203 figures:  109 Aztecs, 32 Tlaxcalans, 62 Spanish Conquistadores (27 more to go in Mark’s Conquistador Contest!)

PAINTS, INKS, GLAZES, SHADES, WASHES, PIGMENTS, FLOCKING, GLUES AND MORE THAT I USED ON THESE CONQUISTADOR FIGURES:

  1. Gorilla Glue
  2. 1/8″ x 1″ Everbilt Fender Washers
  3. Poster tack
  4. Vallejo Mecha Primer “White”
  5. Vallejo “Flow Improver”
  6. Vallejo “Airbrush Thinner”
  7. Citadel “Nuln Oil” (wash)
  8. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Gore-Grunta Fur”
  9. Vallejo Model Air “Weiss” (off-white)
  10. Citadel “Ironbreaker”
  11. Reaper MSP “Black Primer”
  12. Vallejo Mecha Color “Dark Steel”
  13. Vallejo “Satin Varnish”
  14. Vallejo “Gloss Varnish”
  15. Citadel Air “Evil Sunz Scarlet”
  16. Vallejo Game Air “Black”
  17. Citadel “Runefang Steel”
  18. Citadel “Nuln Oil GLOSS” (wash)
  19. Army Painter “Red Tone” (shade)
  20. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Black Templar”
  21. Vallejo Mecha Color “Off-white”
  22. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Snakebite Leather”
  23. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Flesh Tearers Red”
  24. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Akhelian Green”
  25. Battlefront “GI Green”
  26. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Magos Purple”
  27. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Space Wolves Grey”
  28. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Blood Angels Red”
  29. Vallejo Game Ink “Red”
  30. Vallejo Model Air “Brown”
  31. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Gryph-Charger Grey”
  32. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Contrast Medium”
  33. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Iyanden Yellow”
  34. Vallejo Game Ink “Blue”
  35. Vallejo Game Ink “Yellow”
  36. P3 “Blazing Ink”
  37. Citadel “Waywatcher Green” (glaze)
  38. Vallejo Model Color “Vermilion”
  39. Vallejo Model Color “Neutral Grey”
  40. Vallejo Model Air “Silver”
  41. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Apothecary White”
  42. Vallejo Model Color “Brown Rose”
  43. Army Painter “Tanned Flesh”
  44. Vallejo “Thinner Medium”
  45. Battlefront “Dark Leather”
  46. Vallejo Model Air “Bright Brass”
  47. Citadel “Drakenhof Nightshade” (wash)
  48. Vallejo Model Air “Light”
  49. Citadel “Agrax Earthshade” (shade)
  50. Vallejo Game Color “Bronze Fleshtone”
  51. Vallejo Model Color “Sunny Skin Tone”
  52. Army Painter “Flesh Wash” (wash)
  53. Vallejo Model Air “Dark Brown”
  54. Secret Weapon Washes “Armor Wash” (wash)
  55. E6000 Epoxy
  56. Battlefront “Flat Earth”
  57. Elmer’s PVA Glue
  58. Army Painter “Brown Battlefields” (flocking)
  59. Vallejo “Dark Yellow Ochre” (pigment)
  60. Vallejo “Burnt Umber” (pigment)
  61. Citadel “Steel Legion Drab”
  62. Citadel “Tallarn Sand”
  63. Citadel “Karak Stone”
  64. Americana “Desert Sand”
  65. Vallejo Mecha Varnish “Matt Varnish”
  66. Army Painter “Grass Green” (flocking)

Conquistador Sword and Buckler Men (Wargames Foundry)

The English term “Sword and Buckler Men” refers to what the Spanish called rodeloros (shield bearers) and espadachines (swordsmen). For those unfamiliar with the term, a buckler is a small shield held by the fist and used mainly to deflect an opponent’s blows (as opposed to mainly protecting against missile weapons). The Conquistadores were professional soldiers and veterans of many wars – and Sword and Buckler Men made up the bulk of their number. It is well-known that the Conquistadores had a major impact during the Age of Discovery/Exploration. They had fought extensively in the Italian Wars (1494-1559) and had the spirit of the men who had driven the Moors from the Iberian peninsula back in 1492 during the Reconquista. The Conquistadores brought their experience and their warfighting characteristics to the New World.

I have incorporated these into my games of Feudal PatrolTM ) using my supplement for Civilizations Collide. I definitely need the bulk of my Conquistador forces to be made up of Sword and Buckler Men (let’s call them SABM for short). To reflect their elite status and general all-around technological and tactical excellence, they are pretty expensive point-wise versus most Aztecs. This is as it should be – as SABM had better weapons, armor, and experience. The Aztecs had numbers – which the Conquistadores made up with allies like the Tlaxcalans.

For my SABM, I got three blisters of Wargames Foundry 28mm metal SABM from Badger Games. Each had 6 figures, all Mark Copplestone sculpts (who also sculpted the arquebusiers I posted about previously here and here). These are really beautiful sculpts – and I am glad I got them. The three SKU’s were SB015 “Swaggering Swordsmen”, SB016 “Brutal Sword and Buckler Men”, and SB017 “Bold Bladesmen”. After I finished my War Dogs, I decided that it would be best to do all of these figures together. They are by the same sculptor, and I wanted to have some differentiation among them. I jumped into painting these 18 SABM on January 12th and finished them on January 28th (and I have 8 more SABM to do from OWS but that’s a future post). I was pretty happy with that pace of production given that I had a few distractions on the way (like snow removal, Board of Health work, auto repair, etc.). I also need to catch up on blog posts I follow – and I will indeed do that too.

For the contest that I am running (“Mark’s Conquistador Conquest”) – in which people could try to pick the date on which I would finish 89 Conquistador figures, this group made up a big chunk. As I am trying to finish sooner than later, I did NOT take many WIP shots. And as I have 18 figures here to share, I am going to just focus on the final products. I’ll also share my regular reference section at the end here (which I do use myself by the way!). This brings my total for the project to 195 figures – 109 Aztecs, 32 Tlaxcalans, and now 54 Spanish Conquistadores (with just 35 more to go). I don’t know when I’ll finish, or who will win the contest, but it’s getting interesting to be sure. This group of 18 also counts as my third entry into Dave Stone’s Painting Challenge “PAINT WHAT YOU GOT CHALLENGE”. 

I’ll cover each of the three blisters below – click on any image for a better view. I did not do an overall group shot as – well – 18’s too many to get in one shot! I numbered these CSW1 to CSW18. I tried to do more freehand on some of the trousers and leggings, varying the colors but staying (hopefully) true to the historical aspects of the period. Maybe you have a favorite – let me know!

SB015 “Swaggering Swordsmen”

CSW1

CSW2

CSW3

CSW4

CSW5

CSW6

SB015 Group Shot

SB016 “Brutal Sword and Buckler Men”

CSW7

CSW8

CSW9

CSW10

CSW11

CSW12


SB016 GROUP SHOT

SB017 “Bold Bladesmen”

CSW13

CSW14

CSW15

CSW16

CSW17

CSW18

SB017 GROUP SHOT

Thanks for looking and I hope that you enjoyed this post – always am happy to read your feedback in the comments section.

My box of Conquistadores to date.

And now, to end, as is my habit, here is my reference section (so I might remember what the hell I have done on nearly 200 figures!):

Miscellaneous details and references for those interested in that sort of thing:

Previous posts on games, units, and other projects for my 16th Century Spanish Conquest supplement for Feudal Patrol™ – “Civilizations Collide”

  1. Conquistador Sword and Buckler Men (this post). 18 figures total in three blister packs: Wargames Foundry #SB015 “Swaggering Swordsmen”, #SB016 “Brutal Sword and Buckler Men”, and #SB017 “Bold Bladesmen”.
  2. Perro de Guerra (Conquistador War Dogs). 13 figures total: Outpost Wargames Services #CONS6 “War Dogs” (8 war dogs); Eureka #100CON13 “Dog Handler and Dogs” (1 dog handler/pikeman and 4 war dogs)
  3. Conquistador Foot Command, Crossbowmen, and a Couple of Officers. 11 figures total: Outpost Wargames Services #CONC1 “Conquistador Foot Command” (a leader, a banner bearer, a drummer, and a bugler); Eureka #100CON04 “Crossbowmen” (5 crossbowmen); and Eureka CONC1 “Conquistador Officer” and an unknown SKU officer (2 officers)
  4. Merciless Adventurers (this post) – Wargames Foundry #SB014 (6 Conquistadores with arquebuses)
  5. Audacious Arquebusiers! – Wargames Foundry #SB012 (6 Conquistadores with arquebuses)
  6. Mark’s Conquistador Contest – for my loyal blog followers!
  7. Montezuma and Chieftains – Wargames Foundry #AZ011 for Feudal Patrol – 6 Aztec figures (Montezuma, 4 Chieftains, 1 Warrior Priest)
  8. Aztec Shock Troops – Cuachic Warriors aka The Shorn Ones – 8 Aztec cuachicqueh warriors
  9. Tloxtoxl and the Priests of the Great Temple, Wargames Foundry AZ021 – 2 warrior priests, 1 priestess, 1 priest, 1 leader, and 1 signaler
  10. 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!
  11. 18 Aztec Novice Warriors for Feudal Patrol Walk into a Bar – 18 Novice Warriors
  12. Aztec Warrior Priests (painted as Tlaxcalans), Ral Partha 42-302, circa 1988 (this post) – 6 figures – 6 Tlaxcalan Warrior Priests
  13. Tlaxcalan Novices, Elite Warriors, and Command Group – 18 figures – 8 Novice Tlaxcalan Warriors, 8 Elite Tlaxcalan Warriors, 1 Tlaxcalan Captain, 1 Tlaxcalan Conch Blower
  14. Tlaxcalan Archers – 8 Veteran Tlaxcalan Archers
  15. Aztec Game for Feudal Patrol across thousands of miles – via Zoom!
  16. Aztec Snake Woman and Drummer – 1 Aztec General, 1 Aztec Drummer
  17. 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
  18. Doubling Down – Aztec Veteran Warriors – 24 Aztec Veteran Warriors
  19. Aztec Arrow Knights, Ral Partha circa 1988 – 6 Aztec Arrow Knights
  20. Aztec Eagle Warriors from Tin Soldier UK – 6 Aztec Eagle Knights
  21. Aztec Novice Warriors and a few Frinx – 12 Novice Warriors

Total figures completed to date for this project: 195 figures:  109 Aztecs, 32 Tlaxcalans, 54 Spanish Conquistadores (35 more to go in Mark’s Conquistador Contest!)

PAINTS, INKS, GLAZES, SHADES, WASHES, PIGMENTS, FLOCKING, GLUES AND MORE THAT I USED ON THESE CONQUISTADOR FIGURES:

  1. Gorilla Glue
  2. 1/8″ x 1″ Everbilt Fender Washers
  3. Poster tack
  4. Vallejo Mecha Primer “White”
  5. Vallejo “Flow Improver”
  6. Vallejo “Airbrush Thinner”
  7. Testors “Universal Acrylic Thinner”
  8. Citadel “Nuln Oil” (wash)
  9. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Gore-Grunta Fur”
  10. Vallejo Model Air “Weiss” (off-white)
  11. Citadel “Ironbreaker”
  12. Reaper MSP “Black Primer”
  13. Vallejo Mecha Color “Dark Steel”
  14. Vallejo “Satin Varnish”
  15. Vallejo “Gloss Varnish”
  16. Army Painter “Tanned Flesh”
  17. Citadel “Runefang Steel”
  18. Citadel Air “Evil Sunz Scarlet”
  19. Citadel “Nuln Oil GLOSS” (wash)
  20. Army Painter “Red Tone” (shade)
  21. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Black Templar”
  22. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Gryph-Charger Grey”
  23. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Contrast Medium”
  24. Vallejo Game Air “Black”
  25. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Flesh Tearers Red”
  26. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Akhelian Green”
  27. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Magos Purple”
  28. Citadel “XV-88”
  29. Vallejo “Thinner Medium”
  30. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Dark Angels Green”
  31. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Blood Angels Red”
  32. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Snakebite Leather”
  33. Battlefront “Sicily Yellow”
  34. Vallejo Mecha Color “Off-white”
  35. Vallejo Game Ink “Yellow”
  36. Battlefront “Dark Leather”
  37. Vallejo Model Color “Vermilion”
  38. Tamiya “Orange X-6”
  39. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Talassar Blue”
  40. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Militarum Green”
  41. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Nazdreg Yellow”
  42. Vallejo Model Air “Silver”
  43. Vallejo Model Air “Bright Brass”
  44. P3 “Blazing Ink”
  45. Vallejo Game Ink “Black Green”
  46. Battlefront “GI Green”
  47. Secret Weapon Washes “Yellow Snow” (wash)
  48. Battlefront “Chocolate Brown”
  49. Citadel “Drakenhof Nightshade” (wash)
  50. Vallejo Model Air “Light”
  51. Citadel “Agrax Earthshade” (shade)
  52. Citadel “Coelia Greenshade” (wash)
  53. Army Painter “Light Tone” (shade)
  54. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Apothecary White”
  55. Vallejo Game Color “Bronze Fleshtone”
  56. Vallejo Model Color “Sunny Skin Tone”
  57. Army Painter “Flesh Wash” (wash)
  58. Citadel “Seraphim Sepia” (wash)
  59. Citadel “Druchi Violet” (wash)
  60. Vallejo Model Air “First Light”
  61. Vallejo Model Air “Dark Brown”
  62. Secret Weapon Washes “Armor Wash” (wash)
  63. E6000 Epoxy
  64. Battlefront “Flat Earth”
  65. Elmer’s PVA Glue
  66. Army Painter “Brown Battlefields” (flocking)
  67. Vallejo “Dark Yellow Ochre” (pigment)
  68. Vallejo “Burnt Umber” (pigment)
  69. Citadel “Steel Legion Drab”
  70. Citadel “Tallarn Sand”
  71. Citadel “Karak Stone”
  72. Americana “Desert Sand”
  73. Vallejo Mecha Varnish “Matt Varnish”
  74. Army Painter “Grass Green” (flocking)

Perro de Guerra (Conquistador War Dogs)

Dogs have been used in warfare for centuries. The Conquistadores used perro de guerra (war dogs) extensively in the Americas. They proved to be dreadfully effective weapons against Aztec and Inca troops. The Aztecs had only ever seen little Chihuahuas that they used primarily used for food.

By contrast, the Spanish had huge mastiffs, molossus dogs, deer hounds, and greyhounds. Many of these dogs were absolute behemoths – up to 250 pounds and three foot high at the shoulder. They were bred for war, and often wore armor with spikes and even spiked collars, and were more than capable of disemboweling an enemy with fangs alone. Here is an excellent post on these war dogs that does a nice job of summarizing the history of their employment in battle by the Spanish – I think it’s worth a look.

In addition to the horrific physical damage that they could do to opposing human beings, these war dogs caused opposing forces great psychological damage – to include inducing panic. The war dogs were new to Mesoamerica and quite deadly. In my supplement for Civilizations Collide (for games of Feudal PatrolTM ), the war dogs can both augment the attack of their owners and cause panic among their foes. Also, they can defend a fallen master against being dragged away for ritual Aztec sacrifice. To sum it up, they were viciously effective historically and can add quite an interesting element to a game.

A few years ago I remember playing one of the previous versions of the Sid Meier’s computer game Civilization – and the Spanish had Conquistadores as special units. It always struck me as interesting that the Conquistadores had war dogs with them as part of the animated unit icon in the game. When I began this project, I knew I’d have to find some 28mm war dog figures. I did find two sources for them: Outpost Wargames Services CONS6 “Wardogs” (available in the US from Badger Games) and Eureka Miniatures #100CON13 “Dog Handler and Dogs” (available in the US from Eureka US). The OWS SKU has 8 armored war dogs in two poses. The Eureka SKU has a dog handler armed with a pike and 4 different (and mostly smaller war dogs. Unlike what I wrote in my previous post, here I found the Eureka figures to be the better sculpts. But both are fine – we are talking about dogs. But BIG dogs. As far as basing, I needed to use a 1.25″ washer with some plastic card to cover the hole for four of the OWS and one of the Eureka models.

The eight OWS figures mounted for painting.
The dog handler and the four Eureka war dog figures. I don’t have a role for a dog handler in the game, but he’ll do fine being armed with a pike – and a stick (for the dogs I guess).

So then the issue was how to paint them. I looked at Osprey books, and on-line research on the different kind of dogs that were used. The picture below shows how I chose to proceed – more or less.

Clockwise from top left, a light-colored molossus dog, a darker molossus, a greyhound or deer hound, and a mean looking mastiff.

I decided to airbrush the different base coats and then go from there. The OWS ones were all armored with what appeared to be a braided cotton blanket. Half of these were made leaping forward (the leaping ones reminded me of Krypto) so there was a pillar underneath four of those models that needed obscuring. The second four OWS looked as if they were running. The Eureka ones had only spiked collars, but looked much meaner. My painting of these models took a few turns as I experimented with contrast paints, different dry brushing, and shading, as well as pigments.

The OWS war dog sculpts looked like Krypto to me.
I airbrushed different colors for the base coats of the war dogs. In the back you see the horses that I will use as casualty markers for the upcoming cavalry, but they are not part of the post here (but are part of Mark’s Conquistador Contest).

I then dry brushed the dogs’ coats. Then I ran into a new issue – how to paint eyes on a dog? I decided to use an off-white background with a ruby-red ink for the pupil – and leaving some of the off-white paint visible. I then made sure that the dogs’ faces were distinctive as the sculpts allowed me to be. I think my success was mixed, again these are dogs – but you can be the judge.

For the armor blankets (or whatever they were supposed to be called), I tried using contrast paints, then washes, and I was not happy as the dogs needed to be dirtier. What dog doesn’t roll around in the dirt and get dirty?

Therefore, I then went with a heavy use of pigments over the contrast paints and fixed the pigments with water. When I went to remove some of the excess pigments with Vallejo thinner and a cosmetic brush, some of the contrast paint started to roll up and come off – NOOOOO! After this, I just used water and a much lighter touch (though the first model I had to dirty up more to cover the damage as you’ll see below) and it worked ok. The next issue was that now after I had applied the pigments that the different colors that I had given the bands holding the armor on became pretty much brown. This meant that I needed some other way to distinguish them in games from a tabletop player distance – so I used some differently-colored flowered tufts. We older gamers need some help seeing ya know!

An OWS war dog after I finished removing some of the pigments. You can see the pillar supporting the model front here. I also added more washes after this. The dog’s face and paws have a glossy look, not because he had been drinking, but because I usually try to protect any inks or contrast paints that I used. Final varnishing is gloss then matte so any shininess is removed.
The group ready for flocking.
The models finished – you will see close ups below.

I numbered the war dogs as CWD1-8 for the OWS models and CWD9-12 for the Eureka models. The pikeman is CPM1. All of the dogs are slightly different in paint scheme – I hope. Click on any image for a bigger view:

Outpost Wargames Services CONS6 “Wardogs”

CWD1

I obscured the support posts on these with the bushy light green tufts. The flowered tufts are from Army Painter of Shadow’s Edge Miniatures. The back of this model is where I added more pigments to offset the paint loss I described.

CWD2

CWD3

 

CWD4

CWD5

CWD6

I only had one focused shot!

CWD7

CWD8

Eureka Miniatures #100CON13 “Dog Handler and Dogs”

CWD9

CWD10

CWD11

CWD12

CPM1

GROUP SHOTS

Lots of war dogs coming at you!
What’s for lunch? Or who? An unlucky Jaguar Warrior I guess…

This group counts as my second entry into Dave Stone’s Painting Challenge “PAINT WHAT YOU GOT CHALLENGE”.  For those of you interested in the progress of the “Mark’s Conquistador Contest” – and as always I do hope that you enjoyed reading this post – and please let me know your feedback in the comments section. After adding these 13, I have completed 36 figure and I now have 53 more figures to go. I am trying my best to get them done quickly and well.

Progress through 1/12/2021.

Lastly, our buddy TIM always ends his posts with a joke. I don’t always, but as a lot of you are from the UK, Australia, or other Commonwealth countries, AND as I am from NEW England, I thought I’d share the following picture from good old Worcester, MA – as it is too true.

Keep watching and hope you’ll stay with me!

And now my reference section (so I might remember what the hell I have done!):

Miscellaneous details and references for those interested in that sort of thing:

Previous posts on games, units, and other projects for my 16th Century Spanish Conquest supplement for Feudal Patrol™ – “Civilizations Collide”

  1. Perro de Guerra (Conquistador War Dogs) (this post). 13 figures total: Outpost Wargames Services #CONS6 “War Dogs” (8 war dogs); Eureka #100CON13 “Dog Handler and Dogs” (1 dog handler/pikeman and 4 war dogs)
  2. Conquistador Foot Command, Crossbowmen, and a Couple of Officers. 11 figures total: Outpost Wargames Services #CONC1 “Conquistador Foot Command” (a leader, a banner bearer, a drummer, and a bugler); Eureka #100CON04 “Crossbowmen” (5 crossbowmen); and Eureka CONC1 “Conquistador Officer” and an unknown SKU officer (2 officers)
  3. Merciless Adventurers (this post) – Wargames Foundry #SB014 (6 Conquistadores with arquebuses)
  4. Audacious Arquebusiers! – Wargames Foundry #SB012 (6 Conquistadores with arquebuses)
  5. Mark’s Conquistador Contest – for my loyal blog followers!
  6. Montezuma and Chieftains – Wargames Foundry #AZ011 for Feudal Patrol – 6 Aztec figures (Montezuma, 4 Chieftains, 1 Warrior Priest)
  7. Aztec Shock Troops – Cuachic Warriors aka The Shorn Ones – 8 Aztec cuachicqueh warriors
  8. Tloxtoxl and the Priests of the Great Temple, Wargames Foundry AZ021 – 2 warrior priests, 1 priestess, 1 priest, 1 leader, and 1 signaler
  9. 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!
  10. 18 Aztec Novice Warriors for Feudal Patrol Walk into a Bar – 18 Novice Warriors
  11. Aztec Warrior Priests (painted as Tlaxcalans), Ral Partha 42-302, circa 1988 (this post) – 6 figures – 6 Tlaxcalan Warrior Priests
  12. Tlaxcalan Novices, Elite Warriors, and Command Group – 18 figures – 8 Novice Tlaxcalan Warriors, 8 Elite Tlaxcalan Warriors, 1 Tlaxcalan Captain, 1 Tlaxcalan Conch Blower
  13. Tlaxcalan Archers – 8 Veteran Tlaxcalan Archers
  14. Aztec Game for Feudal Patrol across thousands of miles – via Zoom!
  15. Aztec Snake Woman and Drummer – 1 Aztec General, 1 Aztec Drummer
  16. 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
  17. Doubling Down – Aztec Veteran Warriors – 24 Aztec Veteran Warriors
  18. Aztec Arrow Knights, Ral Partha circa 1988 – 6 Aztec Arrow Knights
  19. Aztec Eagle Warriors from Tin Soldier UK – 6 Aztec Eagle Knights
  20. Aztec Novice Warriors and a few Frinx – 12 Novice Warriors

Total figures completed to date for this project: 177 figures:  109 Aztecs, 32 Tlaxcalans, 36 Spanish Conquistadores (53 more to go in Mark’s Conquistador Contest!)

PAINTS, INKS, GLAZES, SHADES, WASHES, PIGMENTS, FLOCKING, GLUES AND MORE THAT I USED ON THESE CONQUISTADOR FIGURES:

  1. Gorilla Glue
  2. 1/8″ x 1″ Everbilt Fender Washers
  3. 1/8″ x 1.25″ Everbilt Fender Washers
  4. Poster tack
  5. Vallejo Mecha Primer “White”
  6. Vallejo “Flow Improver”
  7. Vallejo “Airbrush Thinner”
  8. Testors “Universal Acrylic Thinner”
  9. Citadel “Nuln Oil” (wash)
  10. Vallejo Game Air “Wolf Grey”
  11. Vallejo Game Air “Black”
  12. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Cygor Brown”
  13. Vallejo Model Air “Weiss” (off-white)
  14. Citadel Air “Balor Brown”
  15. Vallejo Model Air “First Light”
  16. Vallejo Mecha Color “Off White”
  17. Vallejo Model Air “First Light”
  18. Vallejo Model Air “Dark Brown”
  19. Vallejo Model Air “Panzer Dark Grey”
  20. Vallejo Model Color “Neutral Grey”
  21. Americana “Buttermilk”
  22. Citadel “Runefang Steel”
  23. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Volupus Pink”
  24. Secret Weapon Washes “Ruby” (ink)
  25. Army Painter “Strong Tone” (shade)
  26. Reaper MSP “Grey Liner”
  27. Army Painter “Light Tone” (shade)
  28. Army Painter “Mid Brown” (shade)
  29. Army Painter “Tanned Flesh”
  30. Battlefront “Sicily Yellow”
  31. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Blood Angels Red”
  32. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Aggaros Dunes”
  33. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Flesh Tearers Red”
  34. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Dark Angels Green”
  35. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Ultramarines Blue”
  36. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Talassar Blue”
  37. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Gore-Grunta Fur”
  38. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Black Templar”
  39. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Militarum Green”
  40. Citadel “Agrax Earthshade” (shade)
  41. Vallejo Game Air “Bronze Fleshtone”
  42. Vallejo Model Color “Sunny Skin Tone”
  43. Army Painter “Flesh Wash” (wash)
  44. Citadel “Ironbreaker”
  45. Vallejo Model Color “Brown Rose”
  46. Secret Weapon Washes “Armor Wash” (wash)
  47. Battlefront “Flat Earth”
  48. Elmer’s PVA Glue
  49. Vallejo “Gloss Varnish”
  50. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Snakebite Leather”
  51. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Wyldwood”
  52. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Contrast Medium”
  53. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Apothecary White”
  54. Army Painter “Brown Battlefields” (flocking)
  55. Vallejo “Dark Yellow Ochre” (pigment)
  56. Vallejo “Burnt Umber” (pigment)
  57. Citadel “Steel Legion Drab”
  58. Citadel “Tallarn Sand”
  59. Citadel “Karak Stone”
  60. Americana “Desert Sand”
  61. Vallejo Mecha Varnish “Matt Varnish”
  62. Army Painter “Grass Green” (flocking)
  63. Army Painter “Meadow Flowers” (flocking)
  64. Shadow’s Edge Miniatures grass and flowered tufts (various)

Conquistador Foot Command, Crossbowmen, and a Couple of Officers

At the end of 2020 I had 11 Conquistador figures nearly – but not completely – done. I had written a few blog posts earlier this week, and I wanted to wait a bit to share a blog post on these eleven that I finished earlier this week. I know that there is interest from several of you in the “Mark’s Conquistador Contest” – so here is an update on my progress and some pics of the completed figures so you can see how you’re doing.

This post concerns three groups of 28mm metal figures: one from Outpost Wargames Services (#CONC1 “Conquistador Foot Command”; and two from Eureka Miniatures (#100CON04 “Crossbowmen” and two single officer figures – 100CON06 and an unnumbered one). I got the OWS ones from Badger Games and the Eureka ones from Eureka in Australia – but since I have learned that there is a Eureka US distributor.

Conquistador Foot Command

The first group of figures that I finished included a four-figure group called “Conquistador Foot Command”. I am unaware of the sculptor. I am including these as the first of (hopefully) several more entries in Dave Stone’s Painting Challenge “PAINT WHAT YOU GOT CHALLENGE”. The group included a leader, a bannerman, a drummer, and a bugler. The bannerman (CFC2 below) will count as my first official figure of 2021 for Ann’s “First of the Year Painting Challenge”. I did like the sculpts though they are a bit “bulky” compared to my previous Wargames Foundry Copplestone figures, and were fun to paint. From top to bottom, are some WIP shots.

These are numbered for me as CFC1 to CFC4. Here are the completed figures below (click on any image for a bigger view):

CFC1

CFC2

Again, this is my first figure of 2021. The banner here is a representation of the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary that Hernan Cortes used during the Spanish Conquest. I printed it off on my computer printer ad affixed it to an old RAFM halberd that I modified. Here are some WIP shots of that process:

CFC3

CFC4

Group Shot

I will probably use this group as an ensemble, or possibly some of them. I will enjoy seeing them on the tabletop.

Crossbowmen

These five came from Eureka and took the long trip from Australia. I wanted a number of crossbowmen to complement the arquebusiers I had already done. The figures are much slimmer than I would have preferred, and no where as detailed anatomically on the faces and on the legs, which made painting them a bit less fun (and effective). You can see some of my issues below but I think that I did the best I could with what I had to work with here. But they are less expensive, and Eureka was nice enough to throw an extra figure in the mix that you’ll see under the officers. Here is a WIP series of shots from top to bottom:

These will be fine for the tabletop, but I’m less than fully happy with them. I numbered them CXB1 to CXB5.

CXB1

CXB2

CXB3

Not happy with the legs…

CXB4

This figure and CXB5 are the same – I tried to give each a different color scheme. These faces were not well-sculpted.

CXB5

Conquistador Officers

I ordered one officer figure from Eureka, and as I wrote before they did throw in another figure for free – and that one was my favorite of the Eureka stuff. I gave each some facial hair. I numbered these COF1 and COF2, and will use them as leaders in Feudal PatrolTM.

Here are a series of some WIP shots from earlier to later:

And now the finished figures:

COF1

COF2

My favorite Eureka figure.

And lastly, a group shot of all of these figures:

I hope that you enjoyed reading this post – and please let me know your feedback in the comments section. I now have 66 more figures to go – and I have already a good start on the remaining ones. Keep watching!

And now my reference section:

Miscellaneous details and references for those interested in that sort of thing:

Previous posts on games, units, and other projects for my 16th Century Spanish Conquest supplement for Feudal Patrol™ – “Civilizations Collide”

  1. Conquistador Foot Command, Crossbowmen, and a Couple of Officers (this post). 11 figures total: Outpost Wargames Services #CONC1 “Conquistador Foot Command” (a leader, a banner bearer, a drummer, and a bugler); Eureka #100CON04 “Crossbowmen” (5 crossbowmen); and Eureka CONC1 “Conquistador Officer” and an unknown SKU officer (2 officers)
  2. Merciless Adventurers (this post) – Wargames Foundry #SB014 (6 Conquistadores with arquebuses)
  3. Audacious Arquebusiers! – Wargames Foundry #SB012 (6 Conquistadores with arquebuses)
  4. Mark’s Conquistador Contest – for my loyal blog followers!
  5. Montezuma and Chieftains – Wargames Foundry #AZ011 for Feudal Patrol – 6 Aztec figures (Montezuma, 4 Chieftains, 1 Warrior Priest)
  6. Aztec Shock Troops – Cuachic Warriors aka The Shorn Ones – 8 Aztec cuachicqueh warriors
  7. Tloxtoxl and the Priests of the Great Temple, Wargames Foundry AZ021 – 2 warrior priests, 1 priestess, 1 priest, 1 leader, and 1 signaler
  8. 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!
  9. 18 Aztec Novice Warriors for Feudal Patrol Walk into a Bar – 18 Novice Warriors
  10. Aztec Warrior Priests (painted as Tlaxcalans), Ral Partha 42-302, circa 1988 (this post) – 6 figures – 6 Tlaxcalan Warrior Priests
  11. Tlaxcalan Novices, Elite Warriors, and Command Group – 18 figures – 8 Novice Tlaxcalan Warriors, 8 Elite Tlaxcalan Warriors, 1 Tlaxcalan Captain, 1 Tlaxcalan Conch Blower
  12. Tlaxcalan Archers – 8 Veteran Tlaxcalan Archers
  13. Aztec Game for Feudal Patrol across thousands of miles – via Zoom!
  14. Aztec Snake Woman and Drummer – 1 Aztec General, 1 Aztec Drummer
  15. 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
  16. Doubling Down – Aztec Veteran Warriors – 24 Aztec Veteran Warriors
  17. Aztec Arrow Knights, Ral Partha circa 1988 – 6 Aztec Arrow Knights
  18. Aztec Eagle Warriors from Tin Soldier UK – 6 Aztec Eagle Knights
  19. Aztec Novice Warriors and a few Frinx – 12 Novice Warriors

Total figures completed to date for this project: 164 figures:  109 Aztecs, 32 Tlaxcalans, 23 Spanish Conquistadores (66 more to go in Mark’s Conquistador Contest!)

PAINTS, INKS, GLAZES, SHADES, WASHES, PIGMENTS, FLOCKING, GLUES AND MORE THAT I USED ON THESE CONQUISTADOR FIGURES:

  1. Gorilla Glue
  2. 1/8″ x 1″ Everbilt Fender Washers
  3. Poster tack
  4. Vallejo Mecha Primer “White”
  5. Vallejo “Surface Primer – White Primer”
  6. Vallejo “Flow Improver”
  7. Vallejo “Airbrush Thinner”
  8. Testors “Universal Acrylic Thinner”
  9. Citadel “Nuln Oil” (wash)
  10. Vallejo Model Air “Weiss” (off-white)
  11. Vallejo Mecha Color “Off White”
  12. Vallejo Game Air “Black”
  13. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Cygor Brown”
  14. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Gore-Grunta Fur”
  15. Army Painter “Tanned Flesh”
  16. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Black Templar”
  17. Citadel “Runefang Steel”
  18. Battlefront “Dark Leather”
  19. Battlefront “Gunship Green”
  20. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Magos Purple”
  21. Citadel “Evil Sunz Scarlet”
  22. Citadel “Ironbreaker”
  23. Battlefront “Worn Canvas”
  24. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Militarum Green”
  25. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Iyanden Yellow”
  26. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Snakebite Leather”
  27. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Wyldwood”
  28. Vallejo Mecha Color “Dark Steel”
  29. Citadel “Nuln Oil GLOSS” (wash)
  30. Secret Weapon Washes “Yellow Snow” (wash)
  31. Vallejo Game Ink “Yellow” (ink)
  32. Vallejo Game Ink “Blue” (ink)
  33. Vallejo Mecha Color “Electric Blue”
  34. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Contrast Medium”
  35. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Gryph-Charger Grey”
  36. Vallejo Game Ink “Red” (ink)
  37. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Nazdreg Yellow”
  38. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Creed Camo”
  39. Army Painter “Purple Tone” (wash)
  40. Army Painter “Red Tone” (wash)
  41. Citadel “Drakenhof Nightshade” (wash)
  42. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Blood Angels Red”
  43. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Apothecary White”
  44. Reaper MSP “Black Primer”
  45. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Flesh Tearers Red”
  46. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Aggaros Dunes”
  47. Vallejo Model Air “Light”
  48. Secret Weapon Washes “Armor Wash” (wash)
  49. Citadel “Coelia Greenshade” (wash)
  50. Vallejo Model Air “Duck Egg Green”
  51. Vallejo “Satin Varnish”
  52. Vallejo “Gloss Varnish”
  53. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Volupus Pink”
  54. Citadel “Seraphim Sepia” (wash)
  55. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Dark Angels Green”
  56. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Talassar Blue”
  57. Vallejo Game Air “Bronze Fleshtone”
  58. Vallejo Model Color “Sunny Skin Tone”
  59. Army Painter “Flesh Wash” (wash)
  60. Vallejo Model Color “Vermilion”
  61. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Akhelian Green”
  62. Vallejo Model Air “Gun Metal”
  63. Citadel “Lamenters Yellow” (glaze)
  64. Citadel “Agrax Earthshade” (shade)
  65. Vallejo Model Air “Bright Brass”
  66. Battlefront “Chocolate Brown”
  67. Battlefront “Flat Earth”
  68. Elmer’s PVA Glue
  69. Army Painter “Brown Battlefields” (flocking)
  70. Vallejo “Dark Yellow Ochre” (pigment)
  71. Vallejo “Burnt Umber” (pigment)
  72. Citadel “Steel Legion Drab”
  73. Citadel “Tallarn Sand”
  74. Citadel “Karak Stone”
  75. Americana “Desert Sand”
  76. Vallejo Mecha Varnish “Matt Varnish”
  77. Army Painter “Grass Green” (flocking)

Merciless Adventurers

I have finished my second group of Conquistadores for Feudal PatrolTM. These are a group of six 28mm arquebusiers from Wargames Foundry  called “Merciless Adventurers” and they indeed represent the title well.

They are, like my last group, beautiful sculpts by Mark Copplestone, and I got them from Badger Games. I will use them in Feudal PatrolTM games using the supplement I wrote for the Spanish Conquest called Civilizations Collide.

For those of you who are in – or interested in jumping in and trying to win some free miniatures – you can still by joining “Mark’s Conquistador Contest” . Click on the contest link for the rules and to see the prizes described on that blog post – but you must enter by midnight EST (US East Coast time) on January 2nd, 2021.  You do this by posting a comment that “you are in” on the contest blog post in the comments section on that blog post (not this one – but I always appreciate feedback on this post as well). There are other simple rules to make it fair for all – but there’s no risk on your part – except that you must become a follower (email or WordPress) of my blog to be eligible to win. And that is free too!

This project brings me up to 12 figures completed out of the 89 – and maybe I night get one more unit done before New Years! Stay tuned…

Here are a few WIP – trying to do more painting and less photos but here are what I have:

  • Mounted for painting
  • Primed and washed 12/19
  • Early work 12/19
  • Base coats done 12/22
  • Figures painted by 12/24
  • Basic flocking and varnish by 12/25
CAB9 here all done by 12/25 (except adding static grass), which you’ll see below.

I designated these arquebus-armed Conquistadores as CAB7 to CAB12. I did change my color choices as I went along, and used a number of glazes, washes, and even contrast paints as base paints and/or glazes. Check them out below, and click on any of the images for a larger view!

CAB7

I tried to paint some darker stripes on the hose and trousers here. I love the facial expressions on this group.

CAB8

I went with lighter blue and red (vermilion) color scheme on the stripes here – and I do like it. This guy has a great glare under that hat.

CAB9

I went with black and red (vermilion) color scheme on the stripes here – and I think it complemented his intense face.

CAB10

I went a bit simpler on the lower body here so as to let the shoulder pads stick out more. This guy also has a great glare under that hat.

CAB11

I wanted this figure’s leather armor to be a but lighter – and I achieved this a bit unusually. I base coated the armor with Vallejo Model Air “Light”, and then glazed with the Citadel contrast paint “Plague Bearer Flesh”, followed by a highlight with “Light”. I think it came out the way I wanted – and not too greenish – it should be all right for the tabletop. He has a shield, but that will only help if he is in melee, which as an arquebusier, I’m sure he’d rather avoid.

CAB12

I also experimented a bit with this one. I saw some images of conquistadores with some yellowish and red colors on their lower bodies. I made the choices you see below. I like the color contrast with the blue blouse – but feel free to let me know your thoughts in the comments section on how I painted him or any of the others.

GROUP SHOT

Thanks for looking – only 77 more figures to go – remember to enter the contest if you have not yet done so – and let me know what you think of these good bad or otherwise. 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”

  1. Merciless Adventurers (this post) – Wargames Foundry #SB014 (6 Conquistadores with arquebuses)
  2. Audacious Arquebusiers! – Wargames Foundry #SB012 (6 Conquistadores with arquebuses)
  3. Mark’s Conquistador Contest – for my loyal blog followers!
  4. Montezuma and Chieftains – Wargames Foundry #AZ011 for Feudal Patrol – 6 Aztec figures (Montezuma, 4 Chieftains, 1 Warrior Priest)
  5. Aztec Shock Troops – Cuachic Warriors aka The Shorn Ones – 8 Aztec cuachicqueh warriors
  6. Tloxtoxl and the Priests of the Great Temple, Wargames Foundry AZ021 – 2 warrior priests, 1 priestess, 1 priest, 1 leader, and 1 signaler
  7. 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!
  8. 18 Aztec Novice Warriors for Feudal Patrol Walk into a Bar – 18 Novice Warriors
  9. Aztec Warrior Priests (painted as Tlaxcalans), Ral Partha 42-302, circa 1988 (this post) – 6 figures – 6 Tlaxcalan Warrior Priests
  10. Tlaxcalan Novices, Elite Warriors, and Command Group – 18 figures – 8 Novice Tlaxcalan Warriors, 8 Elite Tlaxcalan Warriors, 1 Tlaxcalan Captain, 1 Tlaxcalan Conch Blower
  11. Tlaxcalan Archers – 8 Veteran Tlaxcalan Archers
  12. Aztec Game for Feudal Patrol across thousands of miles – via Zoom!
  13. Aztec Snake Woman and Drummer – 1 Aztec General, 1 Aztec Drummer
  14. 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
  15. Doubling Down – Aztec Veteran Warriors – 24 Aztec Veteran Warriors
  16. Aztec Arrow Knights, Ral Partha circa 1988 – 6 Aztec Arrow Knights
  17. Aztec Eagle Warriors from Tin Soldier UK – 6 Aztec Eagle Knights
  18. Aztec Novice Warriors and a few Frinx – 12 Novice Warriors

Total figures completed to date for this project: 153 figures:  109 Aztecs, 32 Tlaxcalans, 12 Spanish Conquistadores

PAINTS, INKS, GLAZES, SHADES, WASHES, PIGMENTS, FLOCKING, GLUES AND MORE THAT I USED ON THESE CONQUISTADOR FIGURES:

  1. Gorilla Glue
  2. 1/8″ x 1″ Everbilt Fender Washers
  3. Poster tack
  4. Vallejo “Surface Primer – White Primer”
  5. Vallejo “Flow Improver”
  6. Vallejo “Airbrush Thinner”
  7. Testors “Universal Acrylic Thinner”
  8. Citadel “Nuln Oil” (wash)
  9. Vallejo Game Air “Black”
  10. Citadel “Runefang Steel”
  11. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Cygor Brown”
  12. Army Painter “Tanned Flesh”
  13. Citadel “Ironbreaker”
  14. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Aggaros Dunes”
  15. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Black Templar”
  16. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Snakebite Leather”
  17. Vallejo Model Color “Vermilion”
  18. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Skeleton Horde”
  19. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Gulliman Flesh”
  20. Vallejo Model Air “Weiss” (off-white)
  21. Vallejo Model Air “Gun Metal”
  22. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Space Wolves Grey”
  23. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Gore-Grunta Fur”
  24. Vallejo Model Air “Bright Brass”
  25. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Militarum Green”
  26. Deka Lack “Dunkel Blau”
  27. Citadel “Mechanicus Grey”
  28. P3 “Cygnar Blue Highlight”
  29. Battlefront “Chocolate Brown”
  30. Citadel “Drakenhof Nightshade” (wash)
  31. Vallejo Model Air “Light”
  32. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Akhelian Green”
  33. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Creed Camo”
  34. Vallejo Game Air “Bronze Fleshtone”
  35. Vallejo Mecha Color “Electric Blue”
  36. Citadel “Nuln Oil GLOSS” (wash)
  37. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Volupus Pink”
  38. Secret Weapon Washes “Yellow Snow” (wash)
  39. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Plaguebearer Flesh”
  40. Army Painter “Red Tone”
  41. Citadel “Lamenters Yellow” (glaze)
  42. Citadel “Agrax Earthshade” (shade)
  43. Citadel “Coelia Greenshade” (wash)
  44. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Contrast Medium”
  45. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Apothecary White”
  46. Vallejo Game Color “Bronze Fleshtone”
  47. Vallejo Model Color “Sunny Skin Tone”
  48. Army Painter “Flesh Wash” (wash)
  49. Citadel “Seraphim Sepia” (wash)
  50. Battlefront “Flat Earth”
  51. Vallejo “Gloss Varnish”
  52. Elmer’s PVA Glue
  53. Army Painter “Brown Battlefields” (flocking)
  54. Vallejo “Dark Yellow Ochre” (pigment)
  55. Vallejo “Burnt Umber” (pigment)
  56. Citadel “Steel Legion Drab”
  57. Citadel “Tallarn Sand”
  58. Citadel “Karak Stone”
  59. Americana “Desert Sand”
  60. Vallejo Mecha Varnish “Matt Varnish”
  61. Army Painter “Grass Green” (flocking)

Audacious Arquebusiers!

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

Definitely “Audacious Arquebusiers”

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”

  1. Audacious Arquebusiers! (this post) – Wargames Foundry #SB012 (6 Conquistadores with arquebuses)
  2. Mark’s Conquistador Contest – for my loyal blog followers!
  3. Montezuma and Chieftains – Wargames Foundry #AZ011 for Feudal Patrol – 6 Aztec figures (Montezuma, 4 Chieftains, 1 Warrior Priest)
  4. Aztec Shock Troops – Cuachic Warriors aka The Shorn Ones – 8 Aztec cuachicqueh warriors
  5. Tloxtoxl and the Priests of the Great Temple, Wargames Foundry AZ021 – 2 warrior priests, 1 priestess, 1 priest, 1 leader, and 1 signaler
  6. 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!
  7. 18 Aztec Novice Warriors for Feudal Patrol Walk into a Bar – 18 Novice Warriors
  8. Aztec Warrior Priests (painted as Tlaxcalans), Ral Partha 42-302, circa 1988 (this post) – 6 figures – 6 Tlaxcalan Warrior Priests
  9. Tlaxcalan Novices, Elite Warriors, and Command Group – 18 figures – 8 Novice Tlaxcalan Warriors, 8 Elite Tlaxcalan Warriors, 1 Tlaxcalan Captain, 1 Tlaxcalan Conch Blower
  10. Tlaxcalan Archers – 8 Veteran Tlaxcalan Archers
  11. Aztec Game for Feudal Patrol across thousands of miles – via Zoom!
  12. Aztec Snake Woman and Drummer – 1 Aztec General, 1 Aztec Drummer
  13. 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
  14. Doubling Down – Aztec Veteran Warriors – 24 Aztec Veteran Warriors
  15. Aztec Arrow Knights, Ral Partha circa 1988 – 6 Aztec Arrow Knights
  16. Aztec Eagle Warriors from Tin Soldier UK – 6 Aztec Eagle Knights
  17. 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:

  1. Gorilla Glue
  2. 1/8″ x 1″ Everbilt Fender Washers
  3. Poster tack
  4. Vallejo “Surface Primer – White Primer”
  5. Vallejo “Flow Improver”
  6. Vallejo “Airbrush Thinner”
  7. Testors “Universal Acrylic Thinner”
  8. Citadel “Nuln Oil” (wash)
  9. Army Painter “Tanned Flesh”
  10. Citadel “Runefang Steel”
  11. Citadel “Ironbreaker”
  12. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Snakebite Leather”
  13. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Skeleton Horde”
  14. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Cygor Brown”
  15. Vallejo Mecha Color “Dark Steel”
  16. Vallejo Model Color “Vermilion”
  17. Vallejo Model Air “Weiss” (off-white)
  18. Citadel “Nuln Oil GLOSS” (wash)
  19. Vallejo Model Air “Bright Brass”
  20. Vallejo Game Air “Black”
  21. Vallejo Model Air “Armour Brown”
  22. Vallejo Game Color “Bronze Fleshtone”
  23. Vallejo Model Color “Sunny Skin Tone”
  24. Army Painter “Flesh Wash” (wash)
  25. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Dark Angels Green”
  26. Army Painter “Red Tone”
  27. Citadel “Coelia Greenshade” (wash)
  28. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Black Templar”
  29. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Gore-Grunta Fur”
  30. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Gulliman Flesh”
  31. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Magos Purple”
  32. Secret Weapon Washes “Armor Wash” (wash)
  33. Citadel “Agrax Earthshade” (shade)
  34. Army Painter “Purple Tone”
  35. Battlefront “Flat Earth”
  36. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Apothecary White”
  37. Vallejo “Gloss Varnish”
  38. Elmer’s PVA Glue
  39. Army Painter “Brown Battlefields” (flocking)
  40. Vallejo “Dark Yellow Ochre” (pigment)
  41. Vallejo “Burnt Umber” (pigment)
  42. Citadel “Steel Legion Drab”
  43. Citadel “Tallarn Sand”
  44. Citadel “Karak Stone”
  45. Americana “Desert Sand”
  46. Vallejo Mecha Varnish “Matt Varnish”
  47. Army Painter “Grass Green” (flocking)

Mark’s Conquistador Contest – for my loyal blog followers!

Welcome to Mark’s Conquistador Contest – a FREE chance for you to join me on my next part of my journey to field troops for my 16th Century Spanish Conquest game supplement for Feudal Patrol™ – “Civilizations Collide” – AND to have a chance to win – yes WIN – some free miniatures! Read on!

I have participated in a few painting challenges from others over the years – and those are great fun. But I am currently so desirous of seeing my Conquistadores painted up and ready for gaming that I will not stop until they are done and game-ready to my standards (such as those are). So I won’t be joining any challenges (unless they dovetail with me finishing my Conquistadores). However, I thought of another way to get you involved on this project other than just reading this blog. What about having my readers compete and guess the date that I’ll actually finish the Conquistadores? And what about offering actual prizes just to make it interesting? That’s exactly the genesis of Mark’s Conquistador Contest.

I have filed, washed, and partially based the force. I have not yet primed anything, and expect to start that on December 15th. I decided that I wanted to get all my filing of mold lines and washing (yes I wash all my figures before painting no matter what they are made of) done, do a massive priming session, and paint away. How long will this take – YOU get to guess.

My goal is to have some fun, and reward my followers and share some stuff that I enjoy. Secondly, it’s to get more followers and to grow the community. Thirdly, it’s to have fun (yes that’s fun twice). I do not currently monetize my blog, and I’m not looking to anytime soon by the way. Here are the rules:

Rules of Mark’s Conquistador Contest:

To enter and to win:

  1. You must be an email or WordPress follower of my blog.
  2. You must pick a date (day, month, and year) that I will finish the Conquistador miniatures shown here in this post.  Finishing means, to me, that I am ready for the figures to be shown on my blog and used in a game.  That is my call!
  3. You must let me know that you want in on the contest by midnight EST (US East Coast time) on January 2nd, 2021.  You do this by posting a comment that “you are in” here on this blog post in the comments section with the date information requested above in (2).
  4. Only one entry allowed per follower except as described in (5) below.
  5. If you get another person to follow my blog, you can earn another entry!  For each new follower that credits you as a referrer, you can get another entry.  All that person needs to do is comment on this post as in (3) above stating that he or she is “in” and who the referrer is.  The referrer can then reply to that comment with an additional entry date.
  6. Winners will be whoever is closest to the date I announce as the “completion date”.  That can be earlier or later – for example picking a date that is one day before is as good as if it’s one day after.  As there are multiple prizes, 1st place gets first choice, then 2nd, then third.   If two people pick the same date, ties will be broken by who submitted the date first.  I reserve the right to add more prizes! 
  7. I also reserve the right to be the final judge on the contest – somebody’s gotta do that. When I finish, I will announce the winners.

So as for prizes, they will be metal miniatures – mostly old and vintage lead – and in original packaging. Great stuff I love but may not be able to paint soon – and which deserve a home. And I will pay to ship them to the winners (including the US, UK, Australia – as long as I don’t need to hit the lottery for shipping)! So here are the current three prizes (and I may add more):

Three vintage Ral Partha Aztec Blisters (25mm)
Three Minifig blisters for the English Civil War (15mm)
Two Vintage Ral Partha blisters from their colonials collection (25mm)

Again, depending on participation and interest – I may add more. Hell, even if you win and don’t have a plan for them, these could be used as trade, or you could just tell me to reward the next player as victory is enough for you?

Your next questions should be – “what exactly is Mark trying to paint?” and “how fast is he?”. For the second question, just check out my pages that show my previous projects. For example, 2020 is here, and 2019 is here, but I list all my projects from 2016 onward under the “Miniatures and Projects” dropdown. This menu lets me track all I have done – and how, and can give you an idea. There is a bit more I have to do here than just painting – there is some assembly too. Here are the Conquistador subjects of my quest and this contest below:

Wargames Foundry SB012 “Audacious Arquebusiers” – 6 figures
Wargames Foundry SB014 “Merciless Adventurers” – 6 figures – all with arquebuses.
Eureka Miniatures 100CON04 “Crossbowmen” – 5 figures. Crossbows are separate and shown below.
Eureka Miniatures 100CON06 “Officer” and an unknown bonus officer that they gave me – 2 figures
Outpost Wargames Services CONC1 “Conquistador Foot Command” – 4 figures. There is a bannerman with no banner that I will make a standard for, and a few shields you’ll see below.
Outpost Wargames Services CONS06 “Wardogs” – 8 figures. This is the first group of war hounds I have.
Eureka Miniatures 100CON13 “Dog Handler and Dogs” – 8 figures. This is the second group of war hounds I have. I’m going to make the handler a pikeman as in my game the dogs can be added to any figure for points – I have no need for a handler alone.
Wargames Foundry SB015 “Swaggering Swordsmen” – 6 figures – all with shields shown separately.
Wargames Foundry SB016 “Brutal Sword and Buckler Men” – 6 figures – all with shields shown separately.
Wargames Foundry SB017 “Bold Bladesmen” – 6 figures – all with shields shown separately.
Outpost Wargames Services CON001 “Sword and Buckler Men” – 8 figures. There are at least 6 shields I’ll do here – maybe 8 – not sure yet as two of the figures have two-handed broadswords.
Outpost Wargames Services CON5 “Conquistador Cavalry in light armour 1” – 8 figures (4 riders and 4 horses). There are also shields. I made two armed with lancers and two with swords. Note my rigging for painting riders – and yes those are screws with washers on old paint bottles.
Outpost Wargames Services CON6 “Conquistador Cavalry in full armour” – 8 figures (4 riders and 4 horses). There are also shields. I made two armed with lancers and two with swords. Note my rigging for painting riders – and yes those are screws on bottles again.
Eureka Miniatures 100ANMo5 “Moving Horses” – 8 figures. Obviously not moving, but de-based and mounted to be used as hacked up and downed horses that could be used as cover or block movement.
All the previously alluded-to shields for the cavalry and infantry, as well as crossbows, a banner pole, and a pike.
Outpost Wargames Services CONA1 “Falconet and Crew” – 3 figures (2 crew and 1 falconet (small cannon)). I’ll paint parts here before assembling the falconet.

If you’re counting (and that helps) that’s 89 figures – if you count each cavalry as two figures (horse and rider). I used a lot of poster tack and bottles as you see all of them collected here with some of my painting guide resources.

I hope that you enter and wish you the best of luck! Referrers always welcome – just need to follow the rules and importantly be one of my blog followers. Hell, I need the luck too – this is a lot of lead!

Stay tuned for updates as I finish pieces of this project – and I really hope that you find this fun. I’ll leave a synopsis as usual like below. 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”

  1. Mark’s Conquistador Contest – for my loyal blog followers! (this post)
  2. Montezuma and Chieftains – Wargames Foundry #AZ011 for Feudal Patrol – 6 Aztec figures (Montezuma, 4 Chieftains, 1 Warrior Priest)
  3. Aztec Shock Troops – Cuachic Warriors aka The Shorn Ones – 8 Aztec cuachicqueh warriors
  4. Tloxtoxl and the Priests of the Great Temple, Wargames Foundry AZ021 – 2 warrior priests, 1 priestess, 1 priest, 1 leader, and 1 signaler
  5. 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!
  6. 18 Aztec Novice Warriors for Feudal Patrol Walk into a Bar – 18 Novice Warriors
  7. Aztec Warrior Priests (painted as Tlaxcalans), Ral Partha 42-302, circa 1988 (this post) – 6 figures – 6 Tlaxcalan Warrior Priests
  8. Tlaxcalan Novices, Elite Warriors, and Command Group – 18 figures – 8 Novice Tlaxcalan Warriors, 8 Elite Tlaxcalan Warriors, 1 Tlaxcalan Captain, 1 Tlaxcalan Conch Blower
  9. Tlaxcalan Archers – 8 Veteran Tlaxcalan Archers
  10. Aztec Game for Feudal Patrol across thousands of miles – via Zoom!
  11. Aztec Snake Woman and Drummer – 1 Aztec General, 1 Aztec Drummer
  12. 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
  13. Doubling Down – Aztec Veteran Warriors – 24 Aztec Veteran Warriors
  14. Aztec Arrow Knights, Ral Partha circa 1988 – 6 Aztec Arrow Knights
  15. Aztec Eagle Warriors from Tin Soldier UK – 6 Aztec Eagle Knights
  16. Aztec Novice Warriors and a few Frinx – 12 Novice Warriors

Total figures completed to date for this project: 141 figures:  109 Aztecs, 32 Tlaxcalans, 0 Spanish Conquistadores

Aztec Shock Troops – Cuachic Warriors aka The Shorn Ones

The super elite troops of the Aztec Empire were the cuachicqueh (kwa-cheek-kweh). These were their imperial shock troops, and held prestigious social status. To be able to join their ranks, a warrior would have had to have captured 6 or more enemy warriors, as well as demonstrated other acts of bravery.

A cuachic (kwa-cheek – the singular is cuachic, the plural is cuachicqueh – yes still more tough-to-pronounce Aztec words!) was a member of the ultimate Aztec warrior caste. They all had passed on the opportunity of becoming captains or officers in order to remain hardened elite front-line warriors. Their appearance was striking. They wore a distinctly yellow tlahuiztli (tu-lah-huz-ly) suit, had shaved heads with mohawks, and often had fierce yellow, red, and blue war facial paint. The Shorn Ones sported unique and colorful back banners to intimidate any foes. They were called “The Shorn Ones” due to their mostly-shaven haircuts. Cuachicqueh swore to never retreat in battle – and if any did – they would agreed to dispatched by their own comrades for this dishonor.

I was really looking forward to adding cuachicqueh to my Aztec forces for games of Feudal Patrol™, using my supplement, Civilizations Collide. I have discussed the game on previous posts, as well as my supplement.

As a reminder Feudal Patrol™ – Buck Surdu’s rules and the decks of cards for “Skirmish Miniature Gaming in the Ancient, Medieval, and Fantasy Periods” is now available commercially. In the US, it can be bought from On Military Matters website here.  It is also being sold in the US by Noble Knight Games website here. In the UK, it is being sold by Sally 4th on their website here. My supplement for the period is a free download on Sally 4th’s website here or the Feudal Patrol™ website here. Cuachicqueh can have a big impact in the game if used properly.

In my game, the cuachicqueh have special abilities – in addition to being total bad-asses on the battlefield. They can operate in smaller units. They can also act as berserkers. Tactically, their greatest advantage is that they can – through the use of obscene gestures and insults – provoke an enemy to charge them – even if that charge causes the targeted enemy to abandon a good and protected defensive position to its detriment. This ability has a good historical basis.

To understand this, imagine you’re a good Tlaxcalan bowman, safely ensconced behind a nice wall. Yet the cuachicqueh in front of you have just insulted and offended you and your people so gravely – that you rush out to ostensibly try to attack the miscreants. Your hasty assault only to serves the cuachicqueh – who now, as the Aztecs best, engage you in vicious melee – minus the protection you just abandoned. It’s not for nothing that cuachicqueh were the toughest of the Aztecs.

I bought some of these Aztecs in AZ06 “Cuachic Warriors – Body Suit and Back Banners” (from Badger Games here). The SKU came with eight 28mm metal figures complete with weapons, shields, and back banners. The figures were cast by Outpost Wargames Services in the UK. The figures were in really great shape and needed little cleanup. Initially I was a bit apprehensive about assembling and painting them due to the proximity of the back banners to the figures’ heads. I tried to use green stuff to achieve some degree of separation on the first two figures but abandoned that approach as I did not think that it added enough benefit structurally. I also worried that it would detract from the models’ aesthetics. In the end, good old Gorilla Glue worked just fine on the remaining ones and I just worked around the banners and heads intersections while painting. I decided to mount the back banners and the weapons before priming, and do the shields separately.

As a resource, I used the many books that I had with some nice plates showing the dress of the Shorn Ones. Clearly, they dressed similarly – and their shields were similar (but not identical). Trying to get the yellow tlahuiztli suits correctly colored was a challenge. Painting anything yellow, especially a dullish yellow, is always a painting challenge. I hope these will look good on the table. The back banners took some methodical planning and measuring (as you’ll see below) for painting as the stripes needed to look symmetrical.

I took some group WIP shots below (with comments) that will show this group’s progress, and then I will share some eye candy of the finished figures. I’ll conclude with a summary of where the overall project is so far, plus links to the previous posts (in case you just joined me here), and the paints I used if that sort of thing is interesting to you (if not that’s why it’s why it’s at the end!).

Here you see the primed figures with the back banner marking lines set. The back banners’ proximity to the figures’ heads is clear here.
I washed the figures with Citadel “Nuln Oil” to help with overall creation of depth, and then began the early flesh tones as shown here. I knew war paint would come later, but I find painting the faces first as if there would be no war paint helps make war paint look better, especially around the eyes.
I darkened the flesh and used Vallejo Model Air “Weiss” (off-white) on the sandals, loincloths, and straps to overcome the Nuln Oil.
My start on the yellow tlahuiztli suits. This would take much highlighting and shading. I found Citadel “Nuln Oil GLOSS” very helpful against the yellow inks (yes that’s plural – inks!) and contrast paints.
I then moved on to shading their heads to simulate close-shaved heads (they’re the Shorn Ones not the Bald Ones). I also added war paints to most of the faces.
At this point, I moved on to the back banners. I wanted these to pop, so I used “Weiss” again under a number of inks. Here you see the off-white between the earlier-painted lines on the back banners.
The back banners with the colors added. Some of these back banners resemble flags of the US or even the LGBT Pride Flag, but these were actually the colors used by the Shorn Ones in the 16th century according to my research. I varied the colors of the “feather balls” immediately above the back banners in accordance with the Osprey resource books. Also, historically the 9-dotted field on the back banners had either a bluish or light brownish background, so I adopted this as well. Hopefully this will help with tabletop identification as well as the back banners, the poses, and the war paints.
At this point in painting this group, I began to worry that sealing inked areas on these with an airbrush application of Vallejo “Mecha Varnish Matte Varnish” could possibly activate the multiple dried inks and ruin the models. Yeah, that was a bit scary! So I decided to seal the faces and back banners with Vallejo “Gloss Varnish” as that would seal those surfaces and also allow them to stay a bit brighter. I don’t think I needed to worry, but in any case this approach (IMO) worked well. You can let me know if you agree or not. Then I flocked the figures and moved onto the shields.
Here I just started painting the shields – and I have not gotten to the feather frets. I use poster tack over gloss-varnished surfaces to try to paint both sides safely. First do one side, let dry, then the other.
After a few iterations of painting and lining, the shields were done and I also varnished them with the Vallejo “Gloss Varnish” for the same reasons as I did the faces and the back banner. At quick glance, most cuachicqueh shields look similar, but these are all different. Just look closely!
Here the shields are mounted with a “sandwich” of 2 drops of Gorilla Glue surrounding a dab of E6000 epoxy in the middle of the shields. This combination yields a quick hold with the Gorilla Glue while the E6000 cures over 24 hours and provides a stronger and slightly more flexible bond. You also see that I have added pigments to the flocking on the bases. These are ready for base dry brushing followed by an application of the matte varnish. Lastly, I add static grass.
The eight models are shown here completed and “frolicking” on the various images and pages that I used as painting guides.

The eight are numbered for my cataloging system as ACC1 to ACC8. Now, let’s move to:

Eye Candy

Click on any of the images for a larger view!

ACC1

ACC1 – armed with a macuahuitl (obsidian-edged club/broadsword) and a non-fretted shield. He has war paint, and his back banner has the bluish background with red and yellow stripes. The back banner feather ball here is reddish.

ACC2

ACC2 – armed with a tepoztopilli (obsidian-edged thrusting spear) and a fretted shield. He has no war paint, and his back banner has the brownish background with blue, yellow, green and red stripes. The back banner feather ball here is light blue.

ACC3

ACC3 – armed with a macuahuitl and a fretted shield. He has war paint, and his back banner has the bluish background with red and white stripes. The back banner feather ball here is reddish.

ACC4

ACC4 – armed with a tepoztopilli (obsidian-edged thrusting spear) and a fretted shield. He has war paint, and his back banner has the brownish background with blue, yellow, green and red stripes. The back banner feather ball here is slightly orange in color.

ACC5

ACC5 – armed with a macuahuitl and a fretted shield. He has no war paint, and his back banner has the brownish background with blue, yellow, green and red stripes. The back banner feather ball here is dark blue.

ACC6

ACC6 – armed with a macuahuitl and a non-fretted shield. He has war paint, and his back banner has the bluish background with white and red stripes. The back banner feather ball here is orange.

ACC7

ACC7 – armed with a macuahuitl and a fretted shield. He has war paint, and his back banner has the bluish background with white and red stripes. The back banner feather ball here is dark blue.

ACC8

ACC8 – armed with a macuahuitl and a fretted shield. He has war paint, and his back banner has the bluish background with yellow and red stripes. The back banner feather ball here is reddish.

Group Shots

I hope that you enjoyed looking at this post and these figures. This is my penultimate (love that word) Aztec post – the last will be one with Montezuma, some Aztec captains and some warrior priests. Six more Aztecs, and then it’s on to the Spanish Conquistadores!

I’d love to know if you have a favorite – and any thoughts or questions and suggestions that you may have on the work here are always appreciated.

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”

  1. Aztec Shock Troops – Cuachic Warriors aka The Shorn Ones (this post) – 8 Aztec cuachicqueh warriors
  2. Tloxtoxl and the Priests of the Great Temple, Wargames Foundry AZ021 – 2 warrior priests, 1 priestess, 1 priest, 1 leader, and 1 signaler
  3. 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!
  4. 18 Aztec Novice Warriors for Feudal Patrol Walk into a Bar – 18 Novice Warriors
  5. Aztec Warrior Priests (painted as Tlaxcalans), Ral Partha 42-302, circa 1988 (this post) – 6 figures – 6 Tlaxcalan Warrior Priests
  6. Tlaxcalan Novices, Elite Warriors, and Command Group – 18 figures – 8 Novice Tlaxcalan Warriors, 8 Elite Tlaxcalan Warriors, 1 Tlaxcalan Captain, 1 Tlaxcalan Conch Blower
  7. Tlaxcalan Archers – 8 Veteran Tlaxcalan Archers
  8. Aztec Game for Feudal Patrol across thousands of miles – via Zoom!
  9. Aztec Snake Woman and Drummer – 1 Aztec General, 1 Aztec Drummer
  10. 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
  11. Doubling Down – Aztec Veteran Warriors – 24 Aztec Veteran Warriors
  12. Aztec Arrow Knights, Ral Partha circa 1988 – 6 Aztec Arrow Knights
  13. Aztec Eagle Warriors from Tin Soldier UK – 6 Aztec Eagle Knights
  14. Aztec Novice Warriors and a few Frinx – 12 Novice Warriors

Total figures to date for this project: 135 figures:  103 Aztecs, 32 Tlaxcalans

PAINTS, INKS, GLAZES, SHADES, WASHES, PIGMENTS, FLOCKING, GLUES AND MORE THAT I USED ON THESE AZTEC FIGURES:

  1. Gorilla Glue
  2. 1/8″ x 1″ Everbilt Fender Washers
  3. Poster tack
  4. Vallejo “Surface Primer – White Primer”
  5. Vallejo “Flow Improver”
  6. Vallejo “Airbrush Thinner”
  7. Testors “Universal Acrylic Thinner”
  8. Reaper MSP “Black Primer”
  9. Citadel “Nuln Oil” (shade)
  10. Army Painter “Tanned Flesh”
  11. Vallejo Model Air “Weiss” (off-white)
  12. Vallejo Game Air “Black”
  13. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Gore-Grunta Fur”
  14. Vallejo Game Color “Bronze Fleshtone”
  15. Vallejo Model Color “Sunny Skin Tone”
  16. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Volupus Pink”
  17. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Darkoath Flesh”
  18. Citadel Air “Evil Sunz Scarlet”
  19. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Contrast Medium”
  20. Army Painter “Flesh Wash” (wash)
  21. Secret Weapon Washes “Yellow Snow” (ink/wash)
  22. Vallejo Game Air “Moon Yellow”
  23. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Iyanden Yellow”
  24. Secret Weapon Washes “Sunshine” (ink/wash)
  25. Citadel “Nuln Oil GLOSS” (wash)
  26. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Basilicanum Grey”
  27. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Snakebite Leather”
  28. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Apothecary White”
  29. Battlefront “Wool Brown”
  30. Vallejo Game Ink “Yellow”
  31. Vallejo Game Ink “Blue”
  32. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Blood Angels Red”
  33. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Talassar Blue”
  34. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Ultramarines Blue”
  35. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Fyreslayer Flesh”
  36. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Gryph-Hound Orange”
  37. Citadel “Troll Slayer Orange”
  38. Vallejo Game Ink “Green”
  39. Vallejo Game Air “Dead White”
  40. Vallejo Model Color “Glossy Black”
  41. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Warp Lightning”
  42. Citadel Air “Balor Brown”
  43. E6000 Epoxy
  44. Battlefront “Chocolate Brown”
  45. Americana “Kelly Green”
  46. Citadel “Seraphim Sepia” (shade)
  47. Vallejo “Gloss Varnish”
  48. Citadel “Agrax Earthshade” (shade)
  49. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Wyldwood”
  50. Elmer’s PVA Glue
  51. Army Painter “Brown Battlefields” (flocking)
  52. Vallejo “Dark Yellow Ochre” (pigment)
  53. Vallejo “Burnt Umber” (pigment)
  54. Citadel “Steel Legion Drab”
  55. Citadel “Tallarn Sand”
  56. Citadel “Karak Stone”
  57. Americana “Desert Sand”
  58. Vallejo Mecha Varnish “Matt Varnish”
  59. Army Painter “Grass Green” (flocking)

Tloxtoxl and the Priests of the Great Temple, Wargames Foundry AZ021

In the Civilizations Collide supplement (described on my last post) that I wrote for Feudal Patrol™, priests and shamans can be bought for points and deployed along with units. In the game, a warrior priest can both boost the fighting morale of your own troops as well as erode the morale of your defeated non-Spanish enemies. Plus, they can fight as heroes as well.

For my Aztec forces, I needed to paint up some more warrior priests. I already had one figure that I have painted from Wargames Foundry Heroes of Tenochtitlan (seen here). I also have six warrior priests for the Tlaxcalans (seen here), so this disparity needed to be fixed.

Originally to meet this figure deficit I purchased the Wargames Foundry blister pack AZ021 “Tloxtoxl and the Priests of the Great Temple” from Badger Games as I believed that this would get me six Warrior Priests. There is nothing historic about the name, but it sounds very Aztec! However, the pack was a bit different than I had expected. As you will see, two are definitely good as warrior priests, two are priests/priestesses who probably hung around the temple, and two are a command pair. No worries, as I can use all of these one way or another. The figures are metal, 28mm in size, and sculpted by Josef Ochmann. This group was in very good shape and was easy to prep for painting.

I did not take very many shots this go around – but my painting approach was similar to my previous posts which are catalogued below if you are new to this project. So without further ado…

Eye Candy

First, the two warrior priests – I think these will be fine on the tabletop battlefield, though underarmed a bit:

AWP2 – this figure is armed only with an obsidian dagger, and no shield or armor.

AWP3 – this figure reminded me of IRO’s stuff! He is armed only with an obsidian dagger, and no shield or armor, but is slick with blood after a captive live sacrifice. The dark war paint on his face and body and the skull on his hip were painted according to an Osprey image I had. I tried not to overdo the blood, but I think he would be pretty bloody.

The next group includes a priestess and a priest that do not look overly worthy of battle, but I can always put them in if needed or use them in some other way. Besides, they could be an objective possibly. I thought I’d paint them anyways – and give them flowers on their bases.

AP1 – this Priestess is admiring some turquoise jewelry or some such thing. I would have her armed with only an obsidian dagger, and of course no shield or armor. I tried to give the dress a pattern, but this was not squarely in my wheelhouse. Maybe that’s why I gave her a tuft of flowers as compensation?

AP2 – this Priest was not my favorite, though I did like experimenting with his headdress and his garb patterns. He is also armed with only an obsidian dagger, and of course no shield or armor. He also was missing some fingers. Maybe that’s why I also gave him flowers!

The next two really are a command group pair, and I will use them together as a higher commander of a warband or better.

AZC1 – this leader is dressed as an Eagle Warrior. I painted 6 Eagle Warriors early in the project that you can see here. I really liked this figure. I will treat his weapon as a tepoztopilli, and give him credit for his shield, some cotton armor and his helmet. He of course will need his assistant with the conch shell and drum to send battle signals out.

AZC2 – the leader’s signaler with a conch shell as a horn and a drum. I really liked this figure, though getting the shell right was a conundrum. I am only giving him a hand axe and but he gets cotton armor but no shield. So, he’s a bit vulnerable.

Here’s a group shot:

Thanks for looking – and please let me know your thoughts and feedback in the comments section. Do have a favorite? I do hope you enjoyed this!

I am almost through my Aztecs – and I am excited to have the highest warrior group – cuachicqueh shock troops (the “Shorn Ones”) – next in the painting queue.

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”

  1. Tloxtoxl and the Priests of the Great Temple, Wargames Foundry AZ021 (this post) – 2 warrior priests, 1 priestess, 1 priest, 1 leader, and 1 signaler
  2. 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!
  3. 18 Aztec Novice Warriors for Feudal Patrol Walk into a Bar – 18 Novice Warriors
  4. Aztec Warrior Priests (painted as Tlaxcalans), Ral Partha 42-302, circa 1988 (this post) – 6 figures – 6 Tlaxcalan Warrior Priests
  5. Tlaxcalan Novices, Elite Warriors, and Command Group – 18 figures – 8 Novice Tlaxcalan Warriors, 8 Elite Tlaxcalan Warriors, 1 Tlaxcalan Captain, 1 Tlaxcalan Conch Blower
  6. Tlaxcalan Archers – 8 Veteran Tlaxcalan Archers
  7. Aztec Game for Feudal Patrol across thousands of miles – via Zoom!
  8. Aztec Snake Woman and Drummer – 1 Aztec General, 1 Aztec Drummer
  9. 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
  10. Doubling Down – Aztec Veteran Warriors – 24 Aztec Veteran Warriors
  11. Aztec Arrow Knights, Ral Partha circa 1988 – 6 Aztec Arrow Knights
  12. Aztec Eagle Warriors from Tin Soldier UK – 6 Aztec Eagle Knights
  13. Aztec Novice Warriors and a few Frinx – 12 Novice Warriors

Total figures to date for this project: 127 figures:  95 Aztecs, 32 Tlaxcalans

PAINTS, INKS, GLAZES, SHADES, WASHES, PIGMENTS, FLOCKING, GLUES AND MORE THAT I USED ON THESE AZTEC FIGURES:

  1. Gorilla Glue
  2. 1/8″ x 1″ Everbilt Fender Washers
  3. Poster tack
  4. Vallejo “Surface Primer – White Primer”
  5. Vallejo “Flow Improver”
  6. Vallejo “Airbrush Thinner”
  7. Testors “Universal Acrylic Thinner”
  8. Citadel “Nuln Oil” (shade)
  9. Vallejo Model Air “Weiss” (off-white)
  10. Vallejo Game Air “Black”
  11. Army Painter “Tanned Flesh”
  12. Vallejo Game Color “Bronze Fleshtone”
  13. Vallejo Model Color “Sunny Skin Tone”
  14. Army Painter “Flesh Wash” (wash)
  15. Citadel “Agrax Earthshade” (shade)
  16. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Darkoath Flesh”
  17. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Basilicanum Grey”
  18. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Black Templar”
  19. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Blood Angels Red”
  20. Citadel Air “Balor Brown”
  21. Citadel Air “Evil Sunz Scarlet”
  22. Battlefront “Chocolate Brown”
  23. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Warp Lightning”
  24. Citadel “Auric Armor Gold”
  25. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Contrast Medium”
  26. Citadel “Nuln Oil GLOSS” (wash)
  27. Vallejo Model Color “Glossy Black”
  28. Vallejo Game Ink “Black Green”
  29. Vallejo Game Ink “Red”
  30. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Flesh Tearers Red”
  31. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Citadel “Contrast Paint – Volupus Pink”
  32. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Terradon Turquoise”
  33. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Apothecary White”
  34. Citadel “Bloodletter” (glaze)
  35. Citadel “Blood For The Blood God”
  36. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Aggaros Dunes”
  37. Citadel “Seraphim Sepia” (shade)
  38. Vallejo Mecha Color “Grey Green”
  39. Vallejo Game Air “Dead White”
  40. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Cygor Brown”
  41. Vallejo Mecha Color “Turquoise”
  42. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Gryph-Hound Orange”
  43. Secret Weapon Washes “Fallout” (ink)
  44. Battlefront “Sicily Yellow”
  45. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Wyldwood”
  46. Citadel “Contrast Paint – Leviadon Blue”
  47. Vallejo Model Color “Gloss White”
  48. Vallejo Model Air “Silver”
  49. Citadel “Drakenhof Nightshade” (wash)
  50. Elmer’s PVA Glue
  51. Army Painter “Brown Battlefields” (flocking)
  52. Vallejo “Dark Yellow Ochre” (pigment)
  53. Vallejo “Burnt Umber” (pigment)
  54. Citadel “Steel Legion Drab”
  55. Citadel “Tallarn Sand”
  56. Citadel “Karak Stone”
  57. Americana “Desert Sand”
  58. Vallejo Mecha Varnish “Matt Varnish”
  59. Army Painter “Grass Green” (flocking)
  60. Shadows Edge Miniatures Tufts (blue and pink)

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