Zvezda Medieval Ship Thomas

[Big Jake]

I've done a pretty deep search for medieval figures and the closest I've come is this set here, but with the fighting going on in Europe, none of the places I know of has them or are willing to order these. Would any member have a set they wish to part with? I took a look at the poses and can modify several to serve as sailors/deckhands. If you happen to know of another supplier or company that has 12-13th Century Medieval folks or other similar figures, I'm willing try those as well, including metal.

 

[Big Jake]

Yes, I finally started the rigging. This assembly is the mast forestay, which seems strange because they are no "backstays" just side shrouds or side-stays. The brown rigging is from a company called Syrene Ship Model Company and is the best true to scale rigging line on the market. ULTRA smooth with no fuzzies, it is ultra crisp with high definition. It's made exactly like real lines, just in miniature. in the last photo you see the line hanging with weight, this is to take the shipping curve out of it, I'll let it hang for a day or so. Patience Grasshopper, Patience.

 

[Big Jake]

Forestay in place.

 

[pebbleworm]

Michigan Toy Soldier has a lot of obscure figures, but not that particular set. But something else might work for you.

Home of Michigan Toy Soldier Company Fine Toy Soldiers and Military Miniatures

www.michtoy.com

 

[Big Jake]

Michigan Toy Soldier has a lot of obscure figures, but not that particular set. But something else might work for you.

Home of Michigan Toy Soldier Company Fine Toy Soldiers and Military Miniatures

www.michtoy.com

Thank You, I'll check them out.

 

[Big Jake]

Received some more deck goodies in, I'll add 2 chests of the smaller size, if anyone need a few chests - I'm your man. The past two week have been a bust time at work and such. not much time at the bench. this weekend will be better. Still trying hard to find figures.

 

[Big Jake]

All dressed up and nowhere to sail. I'm waiting on the delivery of a custom-made sail and some more period correct single blocks. I added a small chest to the upper deck at the stern and placed the tent just to see how that would look, not too sure if I'm going to use that, it doesn't look quite right. The deck cargo has been dry brushed and weathered. I'm still researching what flag and banners she might have carried. They had no standards as we do today, so it may have simply been up to the owner to put his 'House' flag or just a colorful banner. The shield placement will prob be more uniform.

 

[Big Jake]

Flag and Banners, would any members have any link to read about flags and banners for the 12-13th century. This will be a coastal cargo trading vessel, and I was wanting to learn more about what I might use. Thanks

 

[Big Jake]

New sail and blocks came in today - yea! The better carved blocks, what a world of difference from the later made square blocks. I'll need to iron out the crease in the sail as well as starch it a bit.

 

[Big Jake]

Finally found some figures I can modify. these are from a Zvezda 1/72 medieval cannon kit. I also found some sacks and baskets of food stuffs I can add as well. This should complete the deck cargo. The first 2 figures in pic 1 will be working lines, the next is made to be rolling a barrel. the 4th gent may be the capt. or owner of the Kogge, I'll remove the slow match from his hand. In photo 2, the 2 men carrying a heavy object will be kept as is and the 3rd figure will be modified to be hoisting a line as well. The fruit basket and food will be placed as well.

 

[Big Jake]

Several bags of fruit - oranges, apples (possible pomegranates), beans and peas or olives. The texture on sacks is close to burlap, these printings are incredible, including the bags having bulges as if filled with fruit. Still need to touch-up the ropes on the sacks, weather, wash and shadow as well as gloss the fruit.

 

[Pepite 1/60]

Several bags of fruit - oranges, apples (possible pomegranates), beans and peas or olives. The texture on sacks is close to burlap, these printings are incredible, including the bags having bulges as if filled with fruit. Still need to touch-up the ropes on the sacks, weather, wash and shadow as well as gloss the fruit.

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No bananas?

 

[Big Jake]

No bananas?

Pepite, I actually had to google what fruits/veggies were common on the 12/13th century in Europe in the England/France/Germany region for trading, because I was unsure. It was apples, oranges, pomegranates, olives, peas/beans, etc.

As I was painting the fruit, an old song popped in my head from a movie called Sabrina with Bogart and Hepburn "We have no bananas today"...... weird how the brain works.

 

[Big Jake]

Starting to look like something.

Got the fruits and vegetables painted and put a gloss topcoat on the apples and oranges, I hope to start the stay rigging this weekend. Placed the cargo now just for pictures, it will be removed for the rigging stage. Now I'm waiting on the figures to come in to tie it all together.

 

[Big Jake]

1 of 6 that need to be rigged, to create the stays for the mast. the trick will be to have them all with 99% the same length, tricky without a jig, but I'll figure it out.

 

[Big Jake]

I got the 1/72nd. medieval figures in, just 6 but enough to give the boat a little life. They are in different poses and will work well to add just a touch. I did a goggle search and learned this about general colors.

Linen does not take color well, while wool does. Even today your linen pants will fade way quicker than your woolen coat – which meant that linen was way more likely to be used undyed than wool.

Clothing in greys, browns and muted blues were thought most suitable for the lower class. While brighter colours were seen as less humble and unsuitable for common people. That does of course not mean that commoners never wore brighter colors, but people with higher status disapproved of the practice.

So I'll play around with a few different shades

 

[Big Jake]

Rigged the first of the mast side stays on, I have weights hanging on the lanyards to stretch the rigging. I'll fix in place them toe off the end to the lower deadeye. I'll try to do one set a night, so I don't get frustrated.

 

[Big Jake]

I discovered another difference from the Fighting Cog (Tomas) vs. the trading Cog, the stern sideboards are a little different. A friend of mine in England built one for his wargaming setup and we both noticed the sideboard is curved vs right angle. It doesn't affect the model any, just a slight difference.