MacColla's Lifeguard WIP 4

Lifeguard all painted and ready for basing. Basing scheme shown. Working of the flags for this unit just now. Will give the Lifeguard another pair of Irish flags, most likely with yellow and white fields. I also have a couple of 'personal' flags for MacColla, which I will use on a "Pike and Shotte" Command Base. You may notice the small pieces of Foundry blister card I use to jack up the bases. Despite the fact that real folks have different heights, aesthetically I just like less big height differences in my units.

The remaining photos are some other odds and ends I have also recently completed and ready to base. I have a couple of MacColla's from Eureka. The original figure (just below) I will base in such away that he can be placed amongst his Lifeguard. 

My other MacColla (below) is a conversion based on Angus McBride's Auldearn plate in the Osprey "Highland Clansmen". Added bunnet, beard, sporran, targe (on back) and shoulder belt. He will go on a command base with the two highland ensigns carrying his personal standards.

Below are a couple of spare highland pikemen/axemen. They are destined for Monymore's Regt...

Next is some spare Perry Irish Command, a sergeant (left) and officer (right), who are ready for the third and final Irish Regiment and a Eureka Irish priest (centre) who will probably end up as a covenanting minister (although the crucifix may have to be carefully removed for that).

A Foundry officer, painted as a Royalist and who will end up on an Irish command base. Love the pipe and the flamboyant hat.

Finally, my first attempt at a couple of Warlord figures. On the left is a metal piper for the Scottish Infantry box set, and on the right a plastic musketeer with firelock. Nice figures. They are taller than Perry and Eureka, but very similar to Bicorne is size. You probably wouldn't want to mix them in the same unit but the difference is not so noticeable with paint on, so they look fine on the table with the Perry sized stuff. They paint up nice, even the plastic chap with the face only a mother could love.

WECW Basing for Covenanters at Auldearn

Here is a suggested basing plan for the Government Army at Auldearn. As with the Royalist plan, the figure count is based on the Auldearn OOB listed below at a 1:10 figure scale, adjusted for use with the Warhammer ECW rules. Pike to shot ratio is listed in the OOB - I have used 1:1 for raw levies, and 2:3 for government raised regiments.

A detachment of Buchanan's Regt was present at Auldearn (the rest of the regment remained on garrison duty in Inverness), and I have given that a pike:shot ratio of 1:1 to give a reasonable number of pike models. But this detachment could also be fielded as 20 commanded shot models with no pike.

Campbell of Lawers' Horse is too small at 30 troopers to field as a WECW unit at 1:10 figure scale. This would be only 3 models, so I have combined Lawers' Troop with Drummonds to give a single unit of 130 Troopers, or 12 models at 1:10 with 2 ranks.

However, if you prefer to field these two horse units seperately in penny-packets, as they were in reality, you could split them into two units of 5 and 8 models respectively, or even 6 and 7 models. This gives them at least some limited staying power to make a contribution to the battle using the WECW rules.

WECW Basing for Royalists at Auldearn

Here is the basing plan I am using for my Royalist Army. The figure count is based on the OOB below at a 1:10 figure scale. The pike to shot ratio is based on those listed in the OOB with some rounding up and down where necessary to give complete ranks. Unit frontage for infantry is shown at the top of the plan.


Pike blocks are coloured purple and contain pike models (P) and command models; Ensign (E), Musician (M) and Officer (O). I plan to have two colours in each pike block, more on the regimental colours later. Shot sleeves are coloured yellow, highlanders are in green and cavalry is in blue.

Inspired by some of the ECW armies showcased online (links below) I will use predominantly multi-figure bases. 40mm x 40mm bases for 4 infantry models and 50mm x 50mm bases for 2 cavalry models. As will as avoiding problems with "ranking up" models in awkward poses, such as charging pikemen, it will allow some creative diorama basing with casualties etc.

As Warhammer English Civil War requires removal of individual casualties, each unit, sleeve or pike block will have at least two models based on standard single model Warhammer bases; 20mm square for infantry, 25mm x 50mm bases for cavalry. Remaining infantry models will be on 40mm x 20mm bases containing 2 models.

I want the 4 model command stands to be located in the centre of the pike block. To do this with 4 model wide pike blocks means that the command stand must be flanked on both sides by a 2 model 40mm x 20mm base.

I am basing my first couple of units just now, using Litko Aero wooden bases, and will post pictures of how they turn out as soon as they are ready. Covenanter basing scheme to follow soon.

In the meantime, some online inspiration...

David Imries ECW Scots

Phil Olley's ECW Showcase