Poitiers 1356 - The diorama

Two weeks since my last post - and all because of I was busy to create the diorama with the guys and had no time for posts

Last weekend it was on display at the "Inspiration Modellbau" in Mainz.

Before I start showing the first photos here a Link to Wikipedia which describes the battle very well. In our diorama we show the attack of the first French "battle" (means line). The reason we decided for it was very simply - not having much casualties to show lying around when the third line started.

This time we decided to have a plate, just showing the line of defence without getting too deep in both directions. So the size of the plate was just 2,50 meters deep while 6,60 meters wide.

This is the action we show on the diorama - The beginning of the first French attack.

In the center we have the hedge behind which the English took position. The French attacked up on a slope with cavalry supporting the infantry attack on the flank.

We have the English archers arranged on the flanks too while the hedges are hold by their Men-at-arms.  On the English left flank was marshy ground which prevented the French cavalry to come to close combats with the English archers. The English faned out to take the French cavalry in the flank (easier to shoot a horse from the flank than from the armoured front).
On the English right flank the French cavalry tried a frontal attack.

In the center we have the French Men-at-arms charging through two holes in the hedge. The English allowed some Frenchmen to come through to take them in a half-circle, creating a killing zone.
Killing zone suggest it was a one-sided affair, but I can assure you it was not. Here we have a battle other than Crecy or Agincourt which was a one-sided battle in favour of the English. Poitiers was much more equal.

Some book-Tips for you if you want to get deeper into the subject:

 Victory at Poitiers
The black princes expedition
Osprey - The armies of Crecy and Poitiers
Osprey - Poitiers 1356

And now comming to the first photos, but just as teasers:-)

Here from the flank with Schmitty and Rainer holding our "backround-tapestry"

A few over the complete diorama to imagine the size. This time we had the problem that there was not enough light in our part of the tent.

Just a shot from above

How the real photos look

And a close-up of the hand-to-hand fight in one of the gaps.

A close up of some knights. Of course from the one that Massimo sculpted for us:-)

Much more photos from every part of the battlefield will come soon. I hope you won't get bored...

How I spent my day:-)

This morning the weather was fine and I have just one week left until we put the Poitiers-Diorama on show in Mainz.

So today I painted 20 knights from Massimo and decided Poitiers is finished - at least with painting figures.

I found an old Matchbox-Kit Panzerkampfwagen III and my son with his 8 years started building it why I searched for new figures to paint.

Three days ago came the parcel from Andy with new samples from Hagen. I have to arrange the figures and put them in the shop. My favourites are of course my own British infantry for India. Just 2-3 sets left and I have completed the range (I think).

So here are the figures in the three sets I want to have them for sale, command, firing line and advancing.

After making the shop-photos I simply started painting them.

Out in the open...

The first done, but need brushing

I tried one as Maryland militia. They are not only useful for British, but for Americans, Spanish in British uniforms and my next thought was to try some Argentines 1807.

As it became darker I stopped for today. You see in front of the British two Newline design Han-Chinese. Maybe a glimpse at what diorama will come in the future 3-4 years:-)

Wellington in India is my very first range. The first figures I asked a sculptor to make for me were the Sepoys because I wanted to have these figures after reading Sharpe and a lot of books. In the meantime it is my most succesful range. You find it here

Pieters range for Spain 1808

Maybe you remember that Pieter organised a birthday-gift for me (Bavarian dragoons) in April this year?

Now it is my turn, Pieter became a father the 2nd time:-)

He will need more money for two children so I thought I take over some figures which he would surely ask me to make in the figure (I already have 2-3 sets of Spaniards in the pipeline from him):-)

What is missing in his lists are Catalonian light infantrymen. So here they are - and very soon in the shop too.

Did you know that Romana's division fought the Swedish in 1807? They participated in an fight at the siege of Stralsund, loosing several men. Swedes fighting Spaniards, something unusual:-)
My source is an article in the old "Ristre" magazine from Spain. Sadly out of print for a long time.

Out of "Print" are also the NapoleoN 1/72 figures. The only other manufactor who made this catalonians in the past (beside one figure from Scruby which is still available in the US).

Painted Württembergers from Leonid

As I see from the number of visitors the Württembergers are the most popular subject at the moment.

So I thought photos of painted samples would be interesting too:-)

Yesteday I got my samples of the cavalry to put them in the shop.

Modellbautage Fürstenfeldbruck

In march this year I visited the local modellshow - the Modellbautage Fürstenfeldbruck.

Beside some great Lego-dioramas, Star wars reenactors and some Bundeswehr Oldtimer-Trucks there were a lot of stands who had models and display or sold 2nd hand sets.

Here are some photos of the vehicles, dioramas etc. which impressed me most. Of course all in 

1/72:-)

Bundeswehr in Afghanistan

My favourite. Translation: "This happens when a modeller is bored":-)

 WW1 Pigeons. I remember having seen such a wagon in the past from IT-miniatures. Has anybody an idea which manufactor this is?

And here a range of vehicles from the Vietnam-war with description. As I am thinking over a diorama of this war I thought the tanks etc. very welcome. It is years since I build a vehicle...

Indi at his best:-)

Württemberg army 1812 from Leonid

And here the next figures from Leonid which we will bring into the shop.

Württemberg Infantry

 

Jägers

And finally a mix of cavalry

to see the size

I hope you like them as I do. These figures are a must for a collector in my eyes. And I am happy that Leonid joined our group:-)