Push of the Pike

No matter how much the musketmen pounded the enemy, sooner or later the battle would come to the push of the pike.

Pikemen would fight in a block formation with each rank lowering its pike to cover the rank ahead.  When two enemy blocks connected those that "pushed the pikes" the best would win the fight.

These are 25mm metal pieces cast in the 1970's from Minifig.

For God and Country

Two companies of Parliamentary musketeers, covered in dust from a long march on dry roads, stand ready to fight for their God and England.

Armed with short range matchlock muskets, these men would give covering firepower to the pikemen who were the main infantry shock force of the army.

The red dots identify these as the 2nd and third companies, the first company was the pike unit while the colonel would have the flag without dots.

These 25mm metal pieces are 1970's pieces from Minifig and Hinchcliffe. They are not up to the quality design and larger size of modern pieces, but they were a lot cheaper in those days and fun to paint.

We Fight for Parliament and Cromwell

With firelocks primed, a line of musketeers ready to give fire into the troops of King Charles in the English Civil War.

In an attempt to create a form of uniform camaraderie, the commander of this musketeer unit has provided his men with green shirts and buff vests. Most of the rest of the equipment and clothing is at the discretion of the individual soldier.

These are more of the old 25mm Minifig and Hinchcliffe, castings from the 1970's.

"Present your Firelocks!"

"At the command-ready your firelocks-present your firelocks-fire!" These words would send a wall of lead flying into the foe.

By the 17th Century the musket had developed into a key weapon on the battlefield. It was not yet the master of war that later improvements, including the bayonet, would make it into, but it was still deadly.

This detachment of musketeers was indicative of the thousands of such warriors that fought in the English Civil War.

These are more metal 25mm miniatures cast in the 1970's by Minifigs and Hinchcliffe.

For England-Heavy Cavalry Advance

English heavy cavalry advances while pikemen in the rear follow to finish the assault.

More of my old 25mm Minifigs cast in the 1970's.

Heavy Cavalry-English Civil War Style

Heavy Cavalry was the shock and Awe force of the 17th Century.

These are 25mm metal Minifigs, cast in the 1970's, they are from a simpler time and design in wargame figures (ie they do not have anything near the detail of modern figures}. I found these in a box in the garage and decided to paint them up in 2005, regardless of their lack of detail.

Puritan Cavalry on Patrol

As dusk falls, a unit of Puritan troopers searches for Royalist forces. Long months of campaigning has worn down the men and their equipment, but their faith in their God and duty sustains them.

These metal 25mm figures were cast in the 1970's. While they lack the quality of detail of modern miniatures, these were the style of figures that made up the vast armies that marched on countless table top battlefields for a generation of wargamers. My own collection of Minifigs numbers in the thousands ranging from Ancient Egyptains, to 19th Century Imperial Colonial
troops and even to the far reaches of space with their troopers of the future.