Blew Cap for me! English Civil War Clubmen

Clubmen were hastily assembled militia, banded together to defend their homes, in this case against Montrose's Highland marauders! I painted them up as part of the same commission as four of my previously posted Highlanders, from Warlord Pike and Shotte plastic infantry.

These particular clubman have been fortunate enough to gain, through one way or another, seemingly military-grade gear, unlike most of their ill-equipped comrades. Their clothes, however, are an assortment of colors - civilian work clothes re-purposed. The idea of a uniform was still emerging, even among the regular armies.

This particular model carries a matchlock musket, and all the necessary equipment to fire it, as well as a hunting sword, called a hanger on a baldric at his side. Also, a knit cap protects against the cold northern winds. While fairly simple to paint, I enjoyed researching this period, learning more about the campaigns in which these soldiers fought.

His face is almost hidden under a broad hat, but you get a good shot of the gun. While inaccurate, the matchlocks offered a measure of protection to the slow-moving pike blocks, often grouped at the flanks.

Speaking of pikes, here's a pikeman. The size (some six inches long on this model) was startling to me at first, this is a weapon I'd not like to cross! He also wears a large, round helmet, the origin, as I recall of the New Model Army's nickname 'roundheads'. I had a few models left over from this commission, mostly musketeers, which I'm painting, eventually, as New Model Army.

There was one exception to the clubmen, I painted this one in the hodden grey of the Covenenters, soldiers of the Presbyterian Kirk of Scotland. A very interesting force, who switched sides during the conflict, fighting with the Cromwell-led parliament, turning over King Charles to them, before switching sides and supporting the king's son, Charles II.

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Also, check out my Highlanders here

Blew Cap for me! Scottish Highlanders at the time of the English Civil War

So, here's my first post!

I've put a good bit of work into these in the past week or so, getting a commission done for a clan society, so I thought I'd share them.

They are all Warlord Games metals, I'll use the above for playing Osprey's En Garde. One blister worth was just about right for a 100pt warband, giving me a solid, fairly competitive force.

These are for the commission, three claymores (Alisdair MacColla and bodyguards), and a bowman to add a little ranged fire to support the heavy hitters.

These are really made to be usable from the 1600's up to Culloden, so there's a mix of weapons and clothes from that time-frame, like the longbows and claymores (the really big swords), as opposed to the later broadswords (like that above) and muskets.

I had fun on the plaids, painting some from the 'clan' tartans now used (the red-bearded claymore carrier wears ancient Donald), and others up out of my head, like the trews (trousers) on right. These were easily the hardest, but most rewarding part of the models!

 The title comes from a c. 16th century Scottish ballad of the same name, referring to the blue caps usually worn by the Scots, and on all of these miniatures.

Check out my Etsy shop for more information on how I paint these, and thanks for looking!