Pegaso 200mm Templar Confanonier - REVIEW and PROJECT

The recent near-parity of the Euro with the US$ forced me to reassess the relative affordability of currently available pieces . . . and the end result was the purchase of the subject figure, as well as a second bust of the "St. Lazarus Knight". As a brief aside, the bust in question is a slightly modified truncation of the subject figure.

I've always liked this figure. It is far from "perfect", but it puts the historically-minded miniaturist squarely in the ballpark, and provides a solid foundation for historical enhancement--if one is so inclined. AFAIC, it is the ideal base figure for a Hospitaller (brother-knight or sergeant) during the second half of the 12th c. (Hattin, fall of Jerusalem, etc.). Having said that, it can be built straight OOB as it is into a very respectable representation of a senior sergeant of the Order--hence the unarmoured arms and legs, and the short hauberk. [nb: without indulging in too much pedantry, the "Standard Bearer" was anything but. Firstly, he was one of five "senior" sergeants; secondly, he was essentially the "Master of the Squires". The honour of bearing the Beauséant in battle belonged to the Seneschal, the Master's surrogate.]

The kit, the second in Pegaso's "Artistic Statues" series, was released in Aug. 2013. It is com- prised of 28 pieces, masterfully sculpted by Viktor Konnov: 18 resin (incl. 2-pc. groundwork)-- cast by YS Miniatures; 9 white-metal--cast by Pegaso; and 1 wooden dowel for the lance haft. The white metal castings are perfection(!); the resin. . . not so much. On a scale of 1-10, I would give it a 6.5 +/-. My main "problem" is that the castings are rough in the areas of the joins, with noticeable mold shifts and trapped air along the edges nearest the pouring sprues. This means extensive clean-up and repeated dry-fitting until you are satisfied. There will be some filling no matter what you do: the goal is to minimize the putty-work to a swipe here, a swipe there.

THE PROJECT
As tempting as it might be to go back across the Rubicon into the realm of Clio (if only to paint it correctly!), alas, it is not to be. This figure will be the base figure for a subject dear to my heart, and one I have wanted to do for a long time: a Swan Knight of Dol Amroth at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, 15 March (T.A.) 3019.

Enhancements currently under consideration:

• resculpt helmet
• rework the mantle (omitted hood unit)
• shorten the sleeves of the cappa
• sculpt vambraces
• resculpt footwear
• sculpt mail chausses and schynbalds/greaves
• resculpt/re-detail/enhance the belt and scabbard
• re-haft the lance
• sculpt a new standard 

This ought to be a fun one. . . stay tuned!

“When the cost of a hobby exceeds the fun and doesn't attract new people, the game is over.” -
Oscar Koveleski, August 2003