Building Renaissance cavalry

Recently, Wargames Atlantic released two sets of cavalry for the Renaissance period. The first is titled 'Conquistador Cavalry' and 'Renaissance Heavy Cavalry'. Both sets share parts and allow a large variety of cavalry to be created for this period. While these sets aren't perfect (why is discussed below), they can be very versatile indeed, particularly when combined with the Conquistador infantry set.  

Let's take a look at both sets. Both sets share two frames - the horse frames are the standard Atlantic set. The second frame contains saddles, scabbarded swords, shields and heads. There are also two war dogs on each frame, giving eight in total in the box. The mounted Conquistadors box also has frames with three torsos in quilted armour, and arms with swords and lances to complete the set.

The Heavy Cavalry share the horses and head accessory frames from the Conquistador cavalry set. Unique to the Heavy Cavalry set is a large frame with 3/4 plate torsos, arms and armoured horse heads. This frame has four torsos, not three - so you get one extra model. In total, the box contains sixteen rider bodies and 12 horses. The models can be armed with a sword, lance or a choice of matchlock or wheel-lock pistol. Additional parts include two sets of pistol holsters, two sets of decorative horse straps and three peytrals (horse armour plates).

This set has some issues. The pauldrons (shoulder armour) are large, which was in the Engish style. They could be trimmed down. While the right arms have plenty of options, the left arm has three, one with a wheel-lock pistol, one for attaching a shield and one holding reins. Shields weren't used by heavy cavalry in the Renaissance, so while cool, this is just fantasy. While the shield arm and pistol arm can be converted into a rein arm, you will be short. There are 'puffed sleeves' arms which can be used, but then your cavalry aren't all in 3/4 plate. I'm fine with the odd 'puffed' arm for the heavy cavalry, it adds variety.

First up for conversion were some mounted crossbows. The parts from the Conquistador infantry set fitted perfectly, so these were easy conversions. The set has two pouches for crossbow bolts per sprue, so I needed to source a spare pouch from another set.

Once I'd managed to do the crossbowmen, I needed to try and make some mounted arquebusiers. These lacked pouches for musket balls and powder flasks, so I sourced some spares from the Warlord plastic Landsknecht missile troops sprues. 

Next, I tried making up some Border Reviers. I took cloaks from the Fireforge Teutonic Knights and the Victrix Knight add-ons, adding them to the Atlantic cavalry. I think they came out rather well.

Finally, I had a play with a spare piece of horse armour from the Perry Mounted Men At Arms set. As the horses are roughly the same size, I bet I could make the amour fit. It did require a little trimming, but I made it fit snugly. Also shown are Conqustador infantry with arms from the Heavy Cavalry set, good for making leaders and standard bearers in half plate.

While not 100% perfect, these sets are very versatile and will fill out various roles in Renaissance armies. The light cavalry would make good Stradiots (perhaps with some head conversions), Border Reivers and Jinetes. The heavy cavalry will make good demi-lancers and Schwarze Reiters. I had plenty of fun converting them.