"War of the Roses Plate" Topic

Am I right in thinking that it was all white steel? I've seen surcoats here and there, but my love of ASOIAF is blending into real life and making me hope the Lancastrians did actually blend their armour red.

Was there lacquering/staining of plate armour in the War of the Roses, or was it just bright steel? I've been pictures of Tudor soldiers in black-and-gold (Baratheon…).

As I understand it, most of it was bright steel hence the term "white harness". However, I have seen at least one re-enactor wearing a magnificent harness made of "blued" steel.

Although the plate was bright steel, I believe it was oiled and treated to prevent rust so that it could also appear to be quite dark. I am not sure if blackened armour was used in the WOTR although it was quite common in the 16th/117th centuries.

All of the above notwithstanding, all my WOTR MAA are painted using gun metal dy brushed with silver to bring out the armour detail.

I agree, all my models are painted with "white harness." One thing to note, look at period manuscript illustrations and the like; I think there is evidence for at least a few suits of armor might have been "blackened" or have elements brassed. That being said, you could also see occasional painted helmets as well…

Damon.

I suspect that the armor of billmen and archers was more commonly blackened then that of knights -- they didn't have squires or servants to keep their's polished. A lot of issued armor was possibly blackened as well, since those to whom it was issued were unlikely to waste time spit-polishing it.

No colours then. Blackening poorer men might be a good way to differentiate between troop types… Cheers guys!