Painting Carolingian Franks Unarmoured Cavalry
By Victrix Limited 28mm miniatures | Published: 2026-10-26
Category: How-to Guides
Learn how to paint Victrix 28mm Carolingian Franks unarmoured cavalry for Dark Ages wargaming, with step-by-step techniques for horses and riders.
Quick answer
Start by priming your Victrix Carolingian Franks unarmoured cavalry in a light grey, then paint the horses in varied earthy tones and the riders in simple, contrasting colours to keep them tabletop-ready with minimal fuss.
Why unarmoured cavalry need a different approach
Unarmoured cavalry rely on clothing, shields, and horse tack to carry the visual weight. With no metal armour to anchor the palette, you need deliberate colour separation between horse and rider so the model reads clearly at arm's length.
The Victrix plastic set represents Carolingian Franks of the 9th–10th centuries, so you can keep the palette historically muted: wool tones, leather browns, and faded shield colours. Save bright accents for shield devices and small details.
Trade-offs: speed versus detail
If you are building a large warband for games like Pillage, batch painting is the way forward. Limit each horse to one main colour plus a dark mane and tail, and use washes to define muscle without layering.
For display or command models, you can add freehand shield patterns and highlight individual muscles. The trade-off is time, so decide before you start how many models you actually need on the table.
Step-by-step painting process
- Prime and prepare: Wash the sprues in warm soapy water, rinse, and let dry. Prime the assembled models with a light grey spray to keep colours bright and provide a neutral base for both horse and rider. Check that all mould lines are scraped before priming; they are far harder to remove afterwards.
- Paint the horses in batches: Pick two or three earthy horse colours (bay, chestnut, grey) and apply them to the horse bodies. Paint the mane and tail in a darker shade of the same colour or black for contrast. Use a brown wash over the whole horse to shade muscles and define the tack. Vary the horse colours across the unit so the cavalry looks like a real mounted force, not a clone squad.
- Paint the riders' clothing and skin: Use muted wool tones like grey, green, or undyed linen for tunics and cloaks. Paint exposed skin with a basic flesh tone, then apply a thin wash. Keep clothing colours distinct from the horse colours to avoid blending. If a rider's tunic is similar to his horse, swap one of them for a contrasting shade before painting further.
- Detail the shields and transfers: Paint the shield faces in a solid colour, then add simple geometric designs or use the included transfers/decals. Seal the transfers with a coat of matte varnish to protect them during gaming. Apply transfers only after the shield paint is fully dry, and use a soft brush to press out air bubbles.
- Base and finish: Texture the bases with sand or static grass, paint the base rim in a neutral brown, and apply a final matte varnish to the whole model to protect the paint job. Keep the base colours consistent across your whole Dark Ages army for a cohesive tabletop look.
Product facts
- Carolingian Franks Unarmoured Cavalry: This forthcoming plastic set from Victrix Limited depicts unarmoured Carolingian Franks cavalry from the Viking Age, ideal for Dark Age wargaming. The unarmoured sculpts let you focus on painting fabric and horseflesh, making them a great canvas for the techniques in this guide.
Carolingian Franks Unarmoured Cavalry - Carolingian Franks Unarmoured Cavalry: Includes transfer/decals options and is suitable for Pillage and other Dark Age scenarios. Use the transfers for quick, crisp shield designs, and you can field the same models in multiple Dark Age games without extra painting.
