WIP - More Swiss Pike

Old Glory Swiss

My current project is adding to the block of Reisläufer that I have already painted up by Artizan: http://camisado1500s.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/point-dargent-point-de-suisse.html . I like the Artizan figures as they are in quite simple clothing and will work for Swiss Mercenaries from around 1500 through to the 1510s. Initially I thought they were for a slightly later period but having gone back and looked at lots of contemporary illustrations I think they would be fine for 1500 to the 1510s. From the 1510s on the Swiss seem to look more like Landsknechts although keeping a few distinct features. I am currently painting up some Old Glory Swiss Pikemen and Command to go with the figures I have painted so far as well as converting some Foundry Landsknechts to form a front rank. I am aware that the Foundry conversions will be for slightly later Swiss, from around 1510 on but I think when they are all put together they will form a distinct Swiss block and be subtly different from my Landsknechts.

One of the things that was meant to differentiate the Swiss from the Landsknechts was their obsession with ostrich feathers. The Landsknechts were said to call them 'federhansen' or 'feather johnnies' because of this. To reflect this one of the first things I have done with the figures is added extra plumes of feathers. Below are some TAG Italian figures I have added Perry Miniatures Swiss heads to and some old glory command I have added extra feathers to. The Old Glory figures I have painted so far have also had a few extra plumes added as well as quite a few swaps with the Perry Swiss heads.

As testament to the Reisläufer predilection for plumes of feathers Urs graf drew a picture in 1523 in mockery of it. I have included this below. I have also included some other images that show from the early Italian wars through to the 1520s they had a love of this plumage. 

Assault Group Italians Converted into a Reisläufer Drummer and Captain

Old Glory Swiss Command with added plumes

Urs Graf - Reisläufer 1523

'Cronaca della Napoli Aragonese' c.1498 Showing Swiss troops entering Naples

Niklaus Manuel - Confederate under Arch

 For the front rank of my pike block I am using the old Wargames Foundry Landsknechts that were sculpted by the Perry Twins. I have added long swords rather than the distinctively Landsknecht "Katzbagler" to differentiate them and have also swapped some of the heads with the Perry plastic Wars of Roses heads or Swiss heads.

Minor conversions of Foundry Landsknechts into Reisläufer

 Minor conversions of Foundry Landsknechts into Reisläufer

Some of the Artizan figures have large sideburns, I am assuming they have taken the inspiration from this below picture of a Reisläufer in 1529. To reflect this I have added some sideburns to one of the Foundry figures below with greenstuff! I have also used greenstuff to fill in the Imperial Saltires or 'X' symbol so beloved by the Landsknechts in Imperial Service and removed the Katzbagler Sword hilts to replace them with plastic sword hilts. Again you may notice some more head swaps. I will paint the white Swiss cross on some of the figures and not go quite as overboard on the colour schemes as I have done with my Landsknechts. 

Niklaus Manuel - Reisläufer 1529

Conversions of Foundry Landsknechts into Reisläufer

Conversions of Foundry Landsknechts into Reisläufer

Below is another illustration by Urs Graf depicting a recrtuitment in 1521. You will notice how the Landsknecht with his exaggerated Zweihander and Katzbagler at the end of the table on the left is shown in contrast to the Reisläufer next to him with his Schweizerdolch or dagger behind his back. If they were always so distinct is of course a matter of conjecture but it was obviously felt that there were subtle differences and I am keen for this pike block to show that. 
The final 2 pictures are of the Old Glory figures I have painted so far. I took out the figures with hoods as I felt they were too medieval looking, luckily there were only 3 in the pack of 30.  From the command pack I feel alot of the figures just don't look right so have only used about half, some of which have been converted. Overall though I think the Old Glory Swiss I am using are perfect for the early Italian wars campaigns in Naples and the Swabian War.  When combined with the Artizan figures and Foundry conversions I will be happy to use them into the 1520s though and I hope the block will have a disctinctly Swiss feel. Through the use of the Perry Turbaned Swiss heads, removal of all the Landsknecht katzbaglers,  addition of white crosses and extra plumage I am hoping they will have the right look to clearly define them as Reisläufer.

The Recruitment - Urs Graf 1521

Old Glory Swiss painted so far

Old Glory Swiss