Repairing a Del Prado knight (1 Viewer)

[johnnybach]

Now that I realized that the helmet can be removed, I looked back at one of the images and it shows Simon de Montfort with a pennant on a lance (spears?). The pennant is red/white with a zigzag divide. I am thinking of adding in his right hand this pennant. What do you all think?

This figure is more than a repair - it is a conversion.

I have seen quite a few Toy Soldier images of Simon carrying the Lance with a pennant or even larger banner with a zig-zag device in Argent & Gules . This was the banner of the Earl of Leicester ( which Simon was), so very appropriate. Since you first showed it - I always thought that the helmet? originally held by this figure (more of a face-guard really), looked somewhat odd, and looked as if it wouldn't have fitted over the head as it was.

Incidentally - the zig-zag is still in use today - in the Arms of the Borough of Hinkley & Bosworth - on the shield of their Coat of Arms.

I do agree that a lance with a pennant would look super - but that's just my opinion. There are a few images out there online which show him holding lances with small pennants or larger banners.

And yes - it would be a conversion as well as a repair - but as we don't have categories for every eventuality - who cares where the post goes - as long as he's somewhere!

I get the idea of raising up the charges on this figure - as the Caparison ( barding) of the horse was padded and quilted - as my own wife (The Commandant), is a quilter - and I have seen how it would have been done.

Nice job so far Vic., and I would prefer the lance/pennant - though of course it's your's to choose how he will finally appear.

I won't interupt your flow - as I'm on "Gardening duties" for a while - good luck with him jb

 

[blaster]

Well, the gardener (oops), I meant the governor, has spoken.

Looks like we both like a fancy banner on this figure. I'll probably modify the figure further by placing the face helm on his head and adding a lance (simple spear) and banner to his right hand. This conversion should create a unique piece.

Digitus saltire!

 

[blaster]

So there you have it. Snip snip. I filed the top of the cut head and face flat and epoxied the helm to the head. Notice that the top of the undersized helm required considerable putty added and reshaped to conform with the head size. I also bent the cloak fold a little to make contact with the sword hilt. This was then epoxied together to strengthen the hilt. I removed the shield for now in order not to damage it.

The hand was modified to take a lance. I rather like this new pose - seems more elegant.

 

[blaster]

I painted the helm.

 

[blaster]

I selected a brass tubing for the lance. A small spear tip cut from an Airfix Bengal lancer kit was used for the tip. A tiny pin was drilled and inserted with glue into the tip and the brass tubing.
A single copper sheet was cut, rolled and glued around the tubing. Most images indicate a medium sized banner longer on the sleeve than the fly.

 

[blaster]

The banner.

 

[blaster]

I assembled the banner and the shield to the figure. Will add the reins next.

 

[blaster]

I had initially thought of making the bits as circular rings to which the reins could be attached. However, I've decided to make the bits with large circular bosses to cover the rein attachments. Hence, the reins are simply glued here and the bits will be sculpted on afterwards.

 

[blaster]

I sculpted the bits over the reins. When dry, I reshaped the reins to fall naturally. The whole was finally painted. Need to touch up the staff. A simple fulfilling project, introducing simple skills in figure conversion and modeling a flag. You end up with a unique piece.

 

[blaster]

These Del Prado figures are very heavy. As the original small base doesn't allow a secure grip, I've decided to epoxy this piece onto a wooden base for handling. Needless to say, a brass label will be added in due course.

 

[blaster]

Stuck on a brass plate and took final shots against a black bkgd.