Painting Azincourt English Army for Wargames

Quick answer

Paint your Azincourt English Army by first assembling and priming the miniatures, then layering acrylic paints to bring out the heraldry and battlefield grit of Henry V's army.

Painting steps

1. Clean and assemble: Remove mold lines with a hobby knife and file. Assemble knights and longbowmen as needed. Check that all parts fit before gluing. Common mistake: Skipping mold lines leads to visible seams after painting. Take time to clean each figure.
2. Prime the miniatures: Apply a light coat of gray or black spray primer. This helps acrylic paint adhere and reveals any missed mold lines. Checkpoint: Ensure primer is fully dry before painting to avoid tacky surfaces.
3. Base coat the armor and cloth: Use a mid-tone silver for armor and a muted red or blue for the surcoats. Keep colors historical but not overly bright. Common mistake: Using pure white for cloth; it looks unnatural. Mix in a touch of gray or brown.
4. Paint the longbowmen first: Batch paint the archers with simple schemes: brown tunics, natural linen for hoods, and dark wood for bows. This builds the army's core quickly. Checkpoint: Longbowmen should look uniform but not identical. Vary skin tones slightly for realism.
5. Detail the knights: Paint heraldic symbols on shields and surcoats, such as the cross of St. George. Use a fine brush and steady hand. Common mistake: Overcomplicating heraldry. Stick to simple patterns to keep the look consistent across the unit.
6. Apply washes and basing: Use a dark brown wash over armor and leather to add depth. Base the figures with textured sand or static grass to match a muddy battlefield. Checkpoint: Let washes dry completely before basing to avoid smudging.

Product details

• Azincourt English Army: The set includes approximately 1,500 knights and 7,000 longbowmen as part of the historical battle. This large number of miniatures means you'll want efficient batch painting techniques to complete the army in a reasonable time.