Collecting a Wargames Army 107

Now it's time to turn my attention to the Royalist army! Sticking with the Cropredy Bridge theme, I intend to start with the units that saw most of the action in the battle. The Royalist army was strung out along the road when Waller attacked and many units in the van took no part in the battle.

My foot will depict Colonel Sir Bernard Astley's Tertio, starting with his own regiment of foot above! In addition, the brigade will contain Lord Hopton's Regiment in red coats, Sir Allen Apsley's Regiment in red coats with white facings, and Sharrington Talbot's Regiment in Yellow Coats. Colonel Sir Francis Cooke's Regiment was also present but seems to have been a good deal smaller than the other regiments. In fact, if I wanted to model any of these regiments in proper proportion to those of Waller's army, all of these regiments would only be 10-12 models. Having abandoned an earlier plan to vary the depth of bases to represent different size units, I decided to make them the standard size, and drop poor Cooke's regiment!

In addition to these units, I intend to add elements of Colonel Thomas Blagg's Tertio so I can model the King's Lifeguard of Foot and maybe Pennyman's regiment (the largest of the current Royalist army).

Turning my attention to the horse, I will have two brigades: The Earl of Cleveland's Brigade of six regiments and the Earl of Northampton's Brigade of four regiments. Like the foot, Royalist horse regiments were smaller than their enemy's, so each regiment will be represented by a single squadron of two stands, but each regiment will also have it's own standard (most of which I'll have to create because there seems to be little record of the devices).

I am also going to model Lt Colonel Thomas Hooper's Dragoons who initially held Cropredy Bridge. They will also be represented by a two stand regiment, although their actual numbers would be less. Of course, they will be modeled on foot as well as horseback!

Add a few personalities and a cannon or two and I'll have about as many troops as my 4'x6' table will hold! That won't be the end of the collection though! I have in mind to do a small Scots brigade (maybe three or four regiments of foot and two squadrons or horse), a regiment or two of mercenary foot, and a mob of clubmen - all of which could be pressed into service on either side!