Reviewed in MILITARY MODELLING, vol.13 n°13, 2001
The latest figure kit from Le-van Quang on display at Euro Militaire 2001 was a Landsknecht, Europe 1530 (XO-06) in PiLiPiLi's Exotica 120mm Collection.
Cast in light grey polyurethane resin, in kit form, the figure is in defiant pose as would befit one of these doppelsöldner, his halberd across his shoulders. True to form, Le-van Quang informs us in his kit slip that this man would be in the front rank of the Landsknecht Fahnlein (company) and this is where the name doppelsöldner originates – a double-pay soldier. More money for a more dangerous place in the line-up!
The parts are crisply detailed and the slashes and flounces on the very elaborate mode of dress worn by the Landsknecht reproduce well. When it comes to painting stage, this is where most modellers like to 'stretch their wings' and opt for a really colourful garb. It is said that the Landsknecht, who were formed as mainly mercenary troops and armies dressed in this manner to impress their enemies. The puffed sleeves and tight hose could be richly decorated or made in different coloured materials. They were well armed too – pole arms, short and long swords, early firearms and daggers. The Holbein dagger in the PiLiPiLi kit was a design from the mid-16th century and resurrected as a fashion in Nazi Germany for mainly military dress, honour and presentation daggers. This is all mentioned in the informative kit slip.
Assembly is easy and there are no moulding gate to be removed from the kit parts. For the halberd, a wooden dowel is provided and this is a far better idea than trying to cast a long, relatively thin item in resin. The head of the weapon is cast resin.
Once assembled, this figure is a painter's dream – especially if you opt for the brightest and most dissimilar colours possible. Alternatively, how about an all-black garb? Now that would be a challenge.
K.M.J.
© reproduced with permission