The deceased count (part I)

Something I've struggled with since the beginning of the White Lady project is how to transport the remains of Heinrich, Count of Schädelheim. If you remember the initial post in October 2023, there was an illustration from the Würzburg chronicle, by Lorenz Fries, depicting the old custom of bringing the heart of the deceased Würzburg bishops to the monastery of Ebrach in a glass vessel, in a cart lined with black cloth and pulled by four horses.

My initial plan was to convert an Empire war wagon, by adding a lower deck where the deceased count would be installed. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a coffin small enough to fit into that space. And running out of time, I have rather focused my efforts on the preparation of the rank & file troops for the OWAC.

My second move was to use the unreleased Marauder two-wheel cariole, transporting a casket or a jar with the heart of the count. This idea is not totally given up, but I stilll need to find the human or animal model pulling it.

I have also considered converting the EA16 Carroccio released by Perry Miniatures, based on an illustration depicting the funeral of King Richard II, in Richard Davey's book "A history of mourning" (1890). 

 

Below, the original version of Jean Froissart (14th century).

The plan was to merge the carroccio with a Heroquest sarcophagus. A lot of cutting, filing and modelling involved...  Cough cough... In the end, I turned to the black coach model that I had initially bought for extra bits. On reflection, I realized that it could do the job with a few adjustments including a waxen effigy laying on the coffin... and of course living horses :)

The coach itself has received very few modifications, essentially removing or hiding all the vampire themed decorations. The upper part of the coachman comes from the Marauder Miniatures MM62 monk, the horses and the driver are Perry miniatures, from the WR29 wagon horse team, and finally, the effigy of the deceased count is the Citadel F5 paladin Cyril d'Estiff.

 

Not entirely convinced by the proportions of the monk. I'll see if I can fix it before starting the painting job.  

The guards of the White Lady (part I)

First trio of guards, all equipped with sword and shield. 

 

The armour pieces are painted using the usual colours: basecoat of VMC Dark Sea Blue and Mahogany Brown, then Formula P3 Greatcoat Grey, then VMC Light Grey, Sky Blue and white. 

I have processed the weapons differently: first a mix of VMC Neutral Grey and Field Blue, highlighted with Light Grey, Sky Blue and white, and darkened with GW Gryph-Charger Grey then very thinned black.

For the shields, I have used the royal token of Louise de Lorraine as a starting point:

After a few trials, I have switched the two feathers, and replaced the laurel wreath by the intertwined first letters of Heinrich and Adelarde de Montfort that can be seen in the room of Louise de Lorraine in the chateau de Chenonceau (the original Greek capital letter Lambda or Λ for Louise seemed to far from the Old World and the Ancient/Latin language).

I wish I was more regular in painting the feathers... anyway. 3 knights done.