Triumph Knight (1 Viewer)

[blaster]

This was a more unknown maker. The figure represents a later jousting knight of the Maximilian period.

 

[blaster]

This kit is not for beginners. There is a lack of clear instructions on where things go. I had to review and check on how these mounted knights looked like during tournaments of the 15- 17th century.


these pics show that there is a mantle structure which is placed in front of the horse.
There are two foliage threads hanging down in front of the horse's face.
The wreath was placed around the horse tail and this created an unnatural gap on the back of the horse. This gap was filled in with putty.



The knight had a wreath on his helm. A shield was glued to the left arm. Before the right arm was added, a lance holder was glued to underneath the right arm on the armour. This was used to hold the lance steady and horizontal during the joust. The right arm had to be drilled out and fixed with a wire insert for strength and some flexibility.


When the knight was adjusted to sit properly on the horse, the right arm had to be adjusted to allow for this, hence the addition of a wire insert.

 

[blaster]

I noticed that the right side of the mantle was improperly cast with the top section missing. This was carefully sculpted in with putty. Finally, the reins were added to the horse and adjusted to allow the knight to sit properly on the horse.

 

[blaster]

Finally, I sprayed a grey undercoat on the horse to highlight any defects and to start the painting. For the knight, I'll just paint enamels on the non-metallic parts.

 

[theBaron]

What's the size or scale of this figure, Victor? From your photos, it looks like it's a larger-sized kit figure, but I can't be sure.

Prost!
Brad

 

[blaster]

Hi Brad,

The scale on this is 1/30. This was a very ltd edition series of knights produced in Italy by Luca Stefano Christini. I recognise the same name as he is actively involved producing books on European uniforms.

Rgds Victor

 

[blaster]

Part of the fun for these types of specialist kits is to delve further into the context.

The instructions to assemble this kit were rudimentary and I had to resort to the internet and some books on tournament to understand how the parts go together. There were several German books on medieval tournaments, and I understand that this kit was based specifically on a type of Germanic joust under Emperor Maximillian. There were essentially two types of jousts:- Joust of War and Joust of Peace. The armour worn here was specific to the Joust of Peace. The knight wears large knee armour and the lance was supported by a lance rest (arret) during the tournament.

The painting instructions suggested a red caparison but after a lot of searching, I came across several illustrations which showed essentially the same knight drawn on a caparisoned horse but in different colours. The horse had a caparison, the front of which was a straw padded mantle (peytral) which covered the breast of the horse and the front legs of the knight. The horse's eyes were covered to prevent distraction. The knight wore an apron which was the same design as the rest of the caparison.

 

[blaster]

Here is the picture ref which I will be using:

 

[blaster]

Looking at the details, there are three differences between the illustration and my figure. In the illustration the tail and helmet decorations are feathers and there is a wrap around streamer on the lance, whereas the figure has leafy wreaths and no wrap around. Clearly, the kit instructions are based on the wrong figure. Here are another two illustrations for which the green caparisoned knight best fits the figure. I'll use this instead.

 

[blaster]

Having decided that the yellow caparison was too similar to my Del Prado Knight Giudoriccio da Fogliano conversion, I opted for the green caparison.

This is the basic undercoat for the horse. The flaws will be removed before painting with oil paints.

 

[blaster]

Finally got around to applying oils on the horse panoply. One really has time to do things when confined, eh?

 

[Mirof]

Maximilian Triumph Knight
in PDF here
https://dl.wdl.org/8913/service/8913.pdf

Best

 

[Mirof]

Please note : there was never any turnament, joust, parade, defile, show, procession or .... nothing
Just an order placed by the Emperor to a wood engraver to make wood printing plates called Triumph of Maximilian
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triumphal_Procession

This was Hollywood long before Hollywood existed, it was more "Spirit of the Time " than any accuracy; we are already in the XVIeen century
This is what they realy wore at that time
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/357051076705704621/?d=t&mt=signup

So what you are realy doing, is reproducing in 3D accurately a 2D representation, very nice work with authentic sources .

 

[blaster]

Hi Mirof and all,

Thanks for the bkgd info.

I've just relocated this figure after a long spell. I notice that the mantling length isn't balanced when seen from the front and will adjust this.

Rgds Victor

 

[blaster]

Sculpting the mantling.

 

[blaster]

Found time to finalise the shape of the mantling.

 

[blaster]

After numerous rounds of puttying and sanding, I finally painted a suitable green for the barding.

 

[blaster]

Starting to paint this again.

 

[Grey Heron]

I'm going to look forward to your brushwork on this horse's barding Victor.

Cheers,
Grey

 

[blaster]

Here’s a simple glossy black paint wash over the metal cast knight.