The Archers

My first batch of archers.  My current plan is for a single unit of levy, so 12 figures.  Despite my initial concerns, I was really pleased with them.  They fit right in size-wise with the Crusaders figures. 

I will acknowledge that the figures look more medieval than dark age.  One reason for going with these is that they look a little cleaner than other ranges' archers.  I wanted my figures to stand out with peasant simplicity.  I also wanted them to fit better with the look of figures on the Bayeaux tapestry and not just a bunch of Viking raiders.

Besides, I'm fine with them looking more AD 1200 than AD 800.

As a side note, I had to do this batch of six because I have no more.  I ordered one pack thinking I was ordering two, or that packs had 12, or some such.  I'm honestly not sure what I was thinking.

The Figures

For a starting force I chose the Normans.  Not entirely sure why I did that.  Sure, I've got family ties to Northern France.  Maybe I just wanted to find out for myself if all the gamer whining about painting horses was justified.

So I ordered up several packs of crossbowmen and mounted knights from Crusader Miniatures, plastic cavalry bases from Wargames Factory, Perry archers from Architects of War, 2p infantry bases from Warbases,

Yes, I could have saved a good bit by going with plastic Norman knights from Conquest.  Why pay $80 (including spears) for figures you could get for $30?   Was there no budget in place?

First off, yes, there was a budget.  Was.  Second, I really like metals.  Third, my biggest previous projects had been GW armies and a Flames of War Soviet infantry force.  Paying anything less than the cost of a heavy-lift aircraft for the core of my army seemed like a steal.  Finally, I REALLY like metals.  So weighty, so solid, so little fiddly assembly required.