"Italian Wars in 28mm what figures?" Topic

Hello everyone. I'm finishing up some Cossacks and Poles then the Italian Wars in 28mm will probably be my next project. I have seen Steel Fist and they look great but what others are there and what figures go with each other.

The majority of mine are Old Glory for cost purposes. I also have Foundry, TAG and a few Eureka. All go together fairly well in a mass type of game.

What Rich said, plus the Perry miniatures.

The Eureka mounted Gendarmes are superb!

Wish someone would make some of those figs on foot, with cut down lances for storming castle breaches. I suspect you can adapt some Perry, foot "knights" to foot gendarmes, and use them for that.

From the bit I've read, gunnes were quite effective at reducing castle walls to rubble during this period, making sieges a bit more effective and shorter than during the previous century, where they could turn into very long affairs.

I really like the Steel Fist knights. And The Assault Group range has been expanding steadily.

re. Terrain. You know that the Ian Weekley Renaissance Walls are still in production? Apparently, at least. I stumbled on them a week or so ago.

I like the Steel Fist minis, but just can't afford them.

Depends on the time you are interested in. "Italian wars" is usually the 1494 to 1530 era, some include the later conflict, especially Ceresole 1544. The core phase is usually Ravenna 1512 to Pavia 1525. So my recommendations go for these:

Foundry (get as many as you can – alas just one armoured horse)
Warlord Games METAL Landsknechts (former ProGloria)
Steel Fist (splendid minis all, but the pose of the Landsknechts is unsuited for rank & file)
Eureka Gensdarmes (a bit on the small side, but awesome)
Artizan (a bit on the large side, but they do have the only Swiss for that era – works good with Redoubt)
TAG (see below)
Perry Italians (not all, but many are usefull)
OLD GW Empire infantry (on the large side with large weapons, but some gems are available)
Old Glory Landsknechte (scrap the cylinder-hats, though. These only came up around 1550 – and all of their pikes are at the usefull but ahistorical 45°)

Earlier
TAG has a really good line of Spaniards, Italians and Landsknechts, but most of these work better for the early phase, 1494 to 1512. They also have a 1544 range for French and Tudor.

And then there is, of course the Warlord Games plastic
They do have some potential, but need some work to make them historical. Not enough Landsknecht heads, some ahistorical armour (eg. wedged armour), short pikes with the wrong heads, crossbows! (do not use these anywhere except for some light cavalry or militia), slightly large weaponry. Use them when you want massed in cheap or have time on your hands. They do mix well with the Perry infantry and can make good conversions. For later Italian, French or Spanish infantry these may be your best option.

If you tell us which exact era (early, mid, late) and which army (Spanish, Italian(s), French, Swiss, German, Imperial) you want, I could be more specific.

What Puster said.

My Italian Wars collection includes Mirliton, old Grenadier, Old Glory, Foundry, Perry, Warlord Games, TAG, Artizan, Eureka, a bit of Steel fist, old GW.

I am painting some Perry WotR MAA and Courers at the moment, basing some Artizan lansknechts, and will be starting on some old GW conversions next.

That makes me sound productive. I am not. This has been going on for 40 years……………

If I had to pick a section in time for this period it might be 1520's on ward.

Have a look at the Skull & Crown range and the Kickstarter they are running right now for an alternative take on this subject.There is a post up elsewhere on this site but look quickly, it may not survive the new advertising rules for long.
TMP link

Here is the KS link
TMP link

@Irishmarine:

Steelfist has a FB post with comparisons:

link

Thanks John.

I like this Light Cavalry in 28mm….

Amicalement
Armand

Are these Steel Fist miniatures that Tango linked too?

Yep

I know that's an old-ish thread, but I am presently re-starting on Italian Wars and I would like to ask what Puster meant with his comment:

"Steel Fist (splendid minis all, but the pose of the Landsknechts is unsuited for rank & file)"

@Puster: would you care to explain, please?

Thank you so much, and all the best,
Peter

If you want to create a full pikeblock you need lots of men just holding their pikes up, or stand with pikes (if the block is standing).

If its in combat you need a couple (ideally the armoured folks) with level pikes. An advancing block would have the first ranks in 30-50 deg. Or levelling the pikes.
Steel Fist has all of these, four of each. They make spectacular characters, imho, and with their seperate heads you can give them a great variety, so there certainly is a way of creating units of 96 (or 192) with these minis.

Personally for levelled pikes and standind I prefer the Foundry sets of eight different minis in the same pose, and spread in Steel Fist for leaders and characters, where they really shine.

So this is just my personal view. Please feel advised to get yourself these excellent minis and use them for whatever looks good to you.

@ Puster

I have just started the Italian Wars and am looking first at the French army of around 1520, I have built a Swiss block with Foundry and a few Perry metals for French Service. I am now looking for French pikes, can you recommend a range. Or any suitable figures for the 1520-25 period?

Mirliton of Italy has an interesting range, but may be closer to Foundry size.