Shawn Messick

Andrew Cairns hand models and casts these pieces in resin and they really appeal to me. AC Models is based in New Zealand.

This set depicts the Yorkists at the Battle of Towton, during the Wars of the Roses. Yorkist forces decisively defeated Lancastrian supporters of Henry VI, securing the English throne for Edward IV. Fought for ten hours between an estimated 50,000 soldiers from both sides in a snowstorm on Palm Sunday, it was "probably the largest and bloodiest battle on English soil". The Wars of the Roses period was one of the principle inspirations for the alliances and betrayals of The Game of Thrones Series.

Painting was all by brush with acrylic paint/and inks.

Some interesting research.

The banner required an end-to-end join with the brass rod pole. I expected this to fail so I glued a plastic tube and puttied over the join. Strong join solved. The banner has what could be gold and silver elements and I went back and forth with metallic vs non metallic approaches. Until I found a great reference source that firmly noted that these were not metallic but white and yellow on the banner.

Clothing dyes in 1461.

in the 15c brilliant red dye from the cochineal beetle had not yet been discovered by Europeans (South America). Poor folks used plant dyes like madder roots. A vermillion color was extractable from cinnebar for centuries, I highly toxic process, hence this vibrant red was limited to the wealthy. Similarly for Blue, Indigo plant dye was known but limited trade made the cost very high. Blue from ground lapis Lazuli stones similarly were expensive and restricted. Woad blue dye was available, and if a large enough quantity was used, one could get a deep blue, at a cost in labor. Impact on this painting. Vibrant blues and reds would be limited to royalty. The banner will be the most vibrant colors in the scene. Clothing items of the armsmen and archers would necessarily be of lesser quality and dull colors and more worn. The challenge has been differentiating the blues and reds to mark these class differences and slight differences by clothing item and wearer.

The base has great cast grass tufts. But this was a snow storm so I attempted to show a light covering of snow, propped up by bent vegetation. The base was primed in a tan earth then dry brushed with a range of greens to represent spring grass. Smearing some AK Snow paste for some body, then dusting it with snow binder and microballoons. My sanding tray had some leftover soils/grass and these nicely mixed in to give dirty snow effects. This approach also nicely gave me the well trodden ridges, and depressions.

I really enjoyed this kit by Andy Cairns. digging into the research, painting in the the dynamic poses/expressions in the castings. I have heard these kits are not for everyone. I find magic in them. cheers!

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