Miniart 1/16 Musketeer

[Guest]

I thought I'd have another go at this Miniart kit - I've made a couple of versions of it in the past and it can turn out OK. My last effort was to try an depict a more English looking musketeer of the ECW period and I may go that way again - it all depends on the level of finish I can get with construction.

Here are the sprues:



Not too bad this one - some in the past have been a true celebration of flash.

Here goes....

[Dave Ward]

Peter,
my attempts at the MiniArt figures have been miserable - all now landfill! ( English Knight & Legionnaire ). Very poor fit, and loads of filler needed - is the Musketeer different?
Dave

[Guest]

Nope! It's driving me mad already. You forget how bad they are. Aaaaaargh!

[Dave Ward]

You know the oft quoted definition of "insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result"? :smiling4:
Dave

[Guest]

Yeah Dave - I'm beginning to realise that. So much sanding and filling there's hardly any original plastic left.

[Guest]

The beast is built and ready for painting:



The fit of parts was pretty poor and a lot of sanding and filling was required. The two part kit arms only met at a couple of places along the joins so I abandoned them and used some chopped about spares. I had to replace some of the of the finer detail, as a lot of it was very brittle and broke away.

I have no great expectations of this one.......

[Jon Heptonstall]

As he stands he has a distinctly Spanish look about him.Any thoughts about modifying him for a more ECW look?
Jon.

[Jim R]

Hi Peter
Well done to get this far. I am sure that with your skills he will turn out great - providing he does not join Dave's attempts!!
Jim

[Guest]

Jon - He's meant to be Netherlandish, but the look applies to pretty much all of Europe at the time. I have built one of these as ECW, though that was just a case of dulling down the colours and getting rid of excess decoration. To do it properly I'd have to make the clothing a lot more loose fitting, which is beyond my skills.

Jim - He may yet join Dave's in the landfill.

[Richard48]

Certainly a challenge mate.The equipment supplied looks rather nicd.Just a shame the moulding side of things leaves much to be desired.Hope you can work something out.
Richard

[Guest]

Hi Richard. It is a challenge, and I forget every time I order what a struggle these kits are. That said, they're dirt cheap, so it doesn't matter so much if they end in the bin.

Here's the head:

[Peter Gillson]

Hi Guys

Back from. Week's holiday in the Cotswolds and I am catching up on all the builds.

Peter- am I right in thinking you had a go at one of these on the old MM forum? The painting of the head looks fine, even with the rather strange sculpting of his mouth.

Peter

[JR]

Not the unmentionable MiniArt, thought you had done away with them.
I'm putting my safety helmet on, this front row can get hairy.
John.

[Guest]

Peter - A week in the Cotswolds sounds like something I could do with - hope you had a good time. I did build one of these as an ECW subject a couple of years ago, but I thought I'd have another go and use brighter colours. As Miniart faces go, this one ain't too bad.

John - I know I always say never again, but I keep being drawn back. Must crave the challenge. The finished figures are never going to be competition standard, but just getting them finished is enough of a reward. Miniart were going to bring out a whole load of new figures in the range; more Napoleonics and some cracking looking medieval archers, but the troubles hit the Ukraine and then they seem to have dropped the idea - I hope not because of all the moaning by the likes of me!

[SteveH]

Morning Peter

Another great start with a super head, the feathers and puritan collar do make an interesting contrast.

Fashion does seem inexplicable at times even in history.

See what you mean with the filler, but it looks like a solid base for another project

Have a good day with the brighter colours

Regards

Steve H