Regular visitors will know that one of this year’s projects has been a 15mm Norman army using the excellent Museum Miniatures CAD designed Z range of figures.

The Normans, under the To The Strongest rules that I use have access to a Papal banner: the banner awarded to William the Conqueror (or First or Bastard, dependent on which camp you’re in) which looked a little like the image to the right.

I’m going to source one of those but, meanwhile, I also want to use the Normans as Early Crusaders, so needed a standard for them too. The choices, according to the lists are the Holy Lance of Antioch and The True Cross, so when Khurasan released the pack, below, I was straight onto the ‘net to order:

MILLENNIUM 15mm European mounted bishops (Odo of Bayeux, Adhémar of Monteil or other fighting bishop, and bishop bearing the True Cross or similar relic) (x2)

I’m not quite as good at painting as Khurasan’s house painter, but here’s my attempt:

I’ll leave aside the question of historical accuracy, but these are really nice figures that paint up very easily indeed. As they are part of Khurasan’s “heroic” range of Millennium figures (first millennium, that is) they are quite chunky and size very well with Museum’s Normans. Highly recommended.

Next up has got to be the Pilgrims set and, even better, the pack below:

MILLENNIUM 15mm Crusader "noncombatants" -- monk with crucifix, "washerwoman" with frying pan, and child with rock (x3), meant as mix-ins for Crusader foot, especially Pilgrims