This unit has a bit of a fantasy feel to it as many are from various Citadel ranges, such as 'Heroes of the Empire'. The one with the bearskin is from the Michael Moorcock boxed set, and the knight at the back in blue and yellow chequers is from the Adventurer Starter set. His neighbour with the blue shield is a plastic figure from the 'Warlock of Firetop Mountain' game, based on the Fighting Fantasy book.

They are fairly quick to paint because of the quantity of metal, which can be simply drybrushed and inkwashed. An inkwash is particularly important for the gold and bronze, a chestnut brown gives a rich patina and helps it look less plastic..

One of the few things that I know about heraldic patterns are that white and yellow were called metals and considered to be in a different group to other colours. In any pattern a metal should not border another metal, and a colour should not border another colour, in order to get maximum contrast.

These Normans have shields cut from plastic card, and the bosses were small blobs of green putty. The patterns painted on them were based on some very rudimentary research in a book whose title I can't remember, but was probably something along the lines of 'The Schoolboy's Guide to the Normans'.

The shield on the far right isn't very Norman, but I felt it just suited him.

A variety of men-at arms, again all Citadel. As you can see I have a penchant for stripey trousers. To give them a grim, earthy feel, I use lots of different shades of brown, contrasted with one or two really bright colours. I particularly like the padded jackets, which make a refreshing change from chainmail.

There is the potential for a rich variety of shields, particularly if you are doing fantasy knights, and there is no need for historical accuracy. The first figure carries a moulded plastic shield from Games Workshop's old Warhammer Regiments set with a primitive design to reflect his wild appearance. The third shield is a moulded plastic shield from Marauder. The monster is a cockatrice, which medieval scholars believed would hatch from a cockerel's egg. What they lacked in scientific knowledge they evidently made up for in imagination.

With the overwhelming proportion of metal, you need a few details to add some interest. Surcoats, boots, helmet crests, scabbards etc. look good with some intricate and/or brightly coloured patterns.