Pegaso Kit # 75-022
Sculptor- Andrea Jula

Here is my review for Pegaso's 75mm Renaissance Knight. When this figure was first announced, I knew that I was going to own it one day. Well, that day finally came around at Atlanta. Man am I glad it got this figure. Please bear with me here. Yes, I know this figure has been raked over the coals on some sites. Yes, I know that this figure has been damned for not being historically 100% correct. But, I also remember when Andrea Miniatures released their 70mm version of Robert the Bruce. How many of you remember that one? There was no pF back then so all these people enjoyed tearing it apart and talking about how inaccurate it was. Know what? I painted it anyway and enjoyed myself while I was at it. I liked everything about that figure. Just like this one. You can tell me all about the historical inaccuracies of this figure, I can’t argue that. I really know very little about the armor of the period. Then again, I wasn’t alive in the 1400’s. But, in my opinion, you can count the number of figures that look better than this one on one hand, IF you can find that many. Take any pre-conceived notions out of your head and just look at the figure. This figure my friends, is art. Art scaled down to 75mm.

What you get are 13 finely cast metal parts with little to know clean up. A quick note about the casting of this figure. Whoever it was that planned this figure out for the casting process deserves a pat on the back. To say this would be a daunting task would be an understatement. The level of detail Andrea Jula sculpted into this figure will blow you away when seen in the flesh. There is literally detail EVERYWHERE! Then you want to talk about making a mold? :lol: You have to be kidding me. I’d hand it right back to Andrea Jula and say I don’t want to ruin it. Well, thankfully, someone at Pegaso undertook this task and succeeded. Very little mold shift and when there were mold lines to clean, they were located in areas where it wouldn’t affect the detail that Andrea Jula sculpted into this figure.



Once again, rather than show you detailed pictures of it all, I cleaned, pinned and primed the whole figure. What little gaps you see, are due more to my blue sticky tack glue rather than any deformity in the figure. One thing that struck me more than any other about this figure is you have to CAREFULLY plan out the painting process for this figure. There simply isn’t much room for error. Leave as many parts separate as you can and pin them all instead of attaching major subassemblies together. Here is the figure temporarily assembled.









Study the pictures carefully. Look at the level of detail. It shouldn’t take too long to discover just how graceful this figure is. Like I said. You will be hard pressed to find a more attractive figure. There are painting options aplenty out there for you to use. There were some threads, started awhile back, that discussed this very thing. In closing, I’d ask all of you to remember that this is a hobby. Yes, there’s room for all those who prefer historical accuracy but there’s just as much room for those, like me, who like a beautifully sculpted figure and will take the less accurate figure as long as it looks like this one.

Enjoy,
Jim Patrick

Jim, Thanks for the review, man are you cranking these out. There really are no words to describe the sculpting...okay EXCEPTIONAL.~Gary

Thanks Jim for the excellent review. I have to agree with you that when its just a plain beautiful figure..........the accuracy takes a back seat when the art sense comes into play.

Jim,
Excellent review.
In regards to the accuracy or inaccuracy of the armor, the Italians had a flair for the fantastic. Parade, or tournament or even for elaborate costume productions, they could pimp with the best. Drawings associated with Michaelangelo, Da Vinci, Durer, etc show some pretty elaborate "costume armors".

Aesthetic principles play a large part in identifying roman soldeirs with the costume least frequently shown in the chief sources of knowledge of their appearance. That being the architectural sculpture and friezes such as Trajan's column etc. Rather than depict the common soldier and his equipment, the lorica segmentata, they chose to depict that more associated with gentry or officers. The musculata, closely assoicating it with the human body. At the time in Italy and in Germany, the artist of this time period, Durer, Poggini, Pesellino, Da Vinci, first visualized and sketched the human naked form and then added as little armor possible to enhance that human form. These sketches all show naked soldiers fighting, etc. It is not till later that they are sculpted or painted that they don this fantasy armor. These heroic depictions were very much in vogue of the time , rperesentative of the Renaissance love for the human form, and were recreated in elaborate parades and in some instances alegorical or classicly themed tournaments. While this figure is clearly not wearing battlefield functional armor, it is still a good depiction of a soldier in dress that best represents the ideology of soldeiry and the classical depiction of Mars that came with the neo classicism of the Renaissance.







I'm still trying to find it, but I know that somewhere I have a photo of the original painting that this figure was modeled after.

Regards,
Mike

Mike, I would LOVE to see that painting. Thanks for your input. Anything to make me a little more informed on the subject is MOST appreciated.

Thanks,
Jim Patrick

Hi all!

Jim,excellent review man!When I first saw this figure on Pegaso's website,I thought it was not actually a Historical miniature.It looks more like a micrography out of a painting or a statue.It really is beautiful and clean,very detailed and smooth!What i don't like is that this sword cannot fit in this scabard.

Yes,it's not for sure if it's historically correct,but many figures aren't!I would happily paint LaTorre's Saxon,even if it's partly fantazy.

I wouldn't give this Renaissance Knight colors!I'd painted it as a marble statue in the middle of a fountain,and expose it along with another figure!



Bravo again!
-Kostas.

Jim,

First thing is i totally agree with your explanation of this figure.
I have this in my grey army but i don't put him out. I saw this figure two times at our show and it is wonderfull.
So bring the best out if it, i know you can but keep us closely informed.

Marc

once again, excellent review on excellent figure...congrats and thanks

Hey Jim,

Thanks for the outstanding review. I look forward to seeing you work your magic on it!

Until next time my brother.

Take care,
Bob Waltman

Yep Jim.. totally agree w/ you. I am working on this figure as part of a 70-75mm display.. couldn't care a less about the accuracy of the armour..it captures the period for me and the level of detail is superb. This figure is a must have!!