This is the start of a Medieval army for Art de la Guerre. Rather than go something nice and generic that’s brightly coloured and could do any of a dozen lists I’ve gone for something different. I’m painting a Knights Hospitaller army in black: which is none of those things. However, it’s a project I really want to do and I’ve got a deadline of early May. Which means it’s going to have to move a bit quicker than I usually manage.

I’m using Legio Heroica‘s crusader line of miniatures for the figures. Best of all for this project is that they have a number of specific military order miniatures with the overcoats so I can go nuts with the black.

The first unit I’m painting is 3 Elite brother knights. These are Legio’s Mounted Knight Hospitallers – Cappa Clausa (CRU09). I was pretty impressed with these figures, the only drawback is the horses are a bit thin to hold the riders. They come with attached saddles and blankets and when I test fit the figures I found a big gap between the horse and rider miniature. I fixed this with some greenstuff, but it was tough getting them back together at the end (I painted the horse and rider separately, which worked very well).

• Skin:
• Base: Flat Flesh (VMC 70.955)
• Wash: Sepia Shade (VGC 73.200) & Red Shade (VGC 73.206) — 1:1
• Robe:
• Base: Eclipse Grey (SC-16)
• Wash: Black Wash (VGC 73.201) — Diluted 1:1, two coats)
• Highlight: Base
• Cross:
• Undercoat: Sky Grey (VM 70.989)
• Base: White (VGC 70.951)
• Straps:
• Base: German Camouflage Pale Brown (VMC 70.825)
• Wash: Sepia Shade (VGC 73.200)
• Scabbard:
• Base: Walnut (SC-29)
• Base – Tip: Brass (VMC 70.801)
• Wash: Sepia Shade (VGC 73.200)
• Chain mail & Helmet:
• Base: Oily Steel (VMC 70.895)
• Wash: Black Wash (VGC 73.201)
• Stirrups & Sword Guard:
• Base: Gunmetal Grey (VMC 70.863) & Black Wash (VGC 73.201) — 1:1
• Wash: Black Wash (VGC 73.201)
• Lance:
• Base – Shaft: Walnut (SC-29)
• Wash – Shaft: Inktense Wood (SC-80) — Diluted 1:1
• Base – Tip: Gunmetal Grey (VMC 70.863) & Black Wash (VGC 73.201) — 1:1
• Sword Hilt: Saddle Brown (VMC 70.940)
• Saddle:
• Base: Gobi Brown (SC-12)
• Wash – Shaft: Inktense Chestnut (SC-81) — Diluted 1:1
• Saddle Blanket:
• Base: Flat Brown (VMC 70.984)
• Wash – Shaft: Inktense Chestnut (SC-81) — Diluted 1:1

• Bay:
• Shadow: Black Leather (SC-32) — Airbrushed
• Mid-tone: Brown Leather (SC-31) — Airbrushed
• Highlight: Orange Leather (SC-28) — Airbrushed
• Wash: Inktense Chestnut (SC-81) — Diluted 1:1
• Chestnut:
• Shadow: Walnut (SC-29) — Airbrushed
• Mid-tone: Brown Sand (VMC 70.876) — Airbrushed
• Highlight: Light Brown (VMA 71.027) — Airbrushed
• Wash: Black Wash (VGC 73.201) — Diluted 1:1
• Grey:
• Shadow: Graphite (SC-03) — Airbrushed
• Mid-tone: Medium Sea Grey (VMC 70.870) — Airbrushed
• Highlight: Nacar (SC-02) — Airbrushed
• Wash: Black Wash (VGC 73.201) — Diluted 1:1
• Eyes: German Camouflage Black Brown (VMC 70.822)
• Reins & Straps: Sandal Wood (SC-26)
• Fasteners & Bridle: Oily Steel (VMC 70.895)