'Viva, Cristo, Rey!': Carlist Requetes

The workbench reveals it's summer goodies at last: a group of Carlist Requetes for the Spanish Civil War. The Requetes were a motivated, well-equipped Traditionalist militia that fought for the Nationalist cause. The centre of their strength was the region of Navarre. They were distinctive for their dashing great red berets - bravery and faith were order of the day over camouflage!

I wanted my Requetes to look like a better equipped force than usual, so they're more uniform than my Carabineros, I sprinkled in some helmeted heads but kept some variety for the ragtag look. I read *somewhere* that early in the conflict helmets were rushed to frontline units unpainted, later being were painted in the field. I can't find the reference now, but I liked this idea - it almost gives a medieval look. For later batches, I'll probably do them a typical colour. The miniatures are all from the peerless Empress SCW range, a couple having head swaps and one or two being from a Foreign Legion pack - I needed 24 Requetes and preferred not to triple up on either of the riflemen packs. The webbing is slightly different but it isn't noticeable and adds to the ragtag look. 

I'm delighted with how this force is coming together. But gosh it's slow, partly because of summer distractions but also as they take a long time. Despite efforts to speed up my technique by minimising the use of washes, the high contrast style uses a lot of highlights as I shy away from big jumps in highlights. That, the numerous colours and patterned blanket rolls on top! 

Getting more adventurous with my patterns

I've been reading Antony Beevor's Battle for Spain: The Spanish Civil War 1936-1939. I'm only a few chapters in, but it seems exceptionally well written and very readable, so far presenting clearly and succinctly what is often a confusing conflict.