200mm Legionary and Auxillary

[MCPWilk]

Although the classic appearance is of a legionary in articulated plate armour ('lorica segmentata'), in praactice mail appears to have been widely worn, especially as it was in abundant supply following the civil war between Mark Anthony and Octavian Caesar (Augustus). In practice there appears to be little difference between Legionaries and Auxillaries except that the latter seem to have been used as 'cannon fodder' whilst the former were kept in reserve.

The Legionary is equiped with an Imperial Gallic type A helmet, a curved shield with curved sides and a weighted javelin. The Auxillary has a Coolus type F helmet, an oval shield and a spear.

The figure will be available from Victory Miniatures in the near future with helmet and shield options.

View attachment 343973View attachment 343973

Happy modelling,

Mike

 

[JasonB]

Conversion/mod of the Verlinden Legionary, yes? I've several of those in the stash myself and recognize the parts. Nice chain mail, care to share how was it done?

 

[MCPWilk]

The mail comes from a Dragon Timeline figure and apart from chain mail purses is the best available. The helmets, weapons, shields, belt plates, straps, buckles etc. were all scratchbuilt. The face is the last sculpted by the late Pete Morton. The only parts of the Verlinden legionary not altered are the caligae (sandals).

Mike

 

[user 5827]

What is this, and who painted?

 

[peedee]

Nice Mike
Big thumbs up from me.

 

[MCPWilk]

Thank you all,

Mike

 

[megroot]

Nice paintwork, but not much shading and highlighting.

Marc

 

[MCPWilk]

I've kept the shading to a minimum because it is easy to overdo it with large figures where natural light tends to shade and highlight more than in the smaller scales.

Mike

 

[Grod]

Nice job Mike. Those shields look great.
Gordon

 

[MCPWilk]

Thank you for your kind comments.

Mike

 

[NeilW]

First off, I think the model is great and good to see the more common mail.

But, reading the comments, this seems to be a mash-up of other no longer available kits/parts (Verlinden, Pete Morton, Dragon Timeline) plus some scratchbuild (later edit)... fine for home use as per my Airfix based Naps to the left but it states that it will be available to purchase via Victory Minatures.

A bit of research suggest that these brands are now defunct (and it seems Verlinden destroyed the moulds), but regardless, I'm just asking how this squares with the piracy issue as I assume that somebody, somewhere, will own copyright on the designs?

 

[Redcap]

First off, I think the model is great and good to see the more common mail.

But, reading the comments, this seems to be a mash-up of other no longer available kits/parts (Verlinden, Pete Morton, Dragon Timeline) plus some scratchbuild and will be available to purchase via Victory Minatures.

A bit of research suggest that these brands are now defunct (and it seems Verlinden destroyed the moulds), but regardless, I'm just asking how this squares with the piracy issue as I assume that somebody, somewhere, will own copyright on the designs?

I thought the exact same and indeed, as did a mate of mine with whom I discussed this same thing yesterday. Be interesting to see any reply /representation to your submission.

Gary

 

[MCPWilk]

I would agree entirely w.r.t. protecting against piracy. If the figures above were a direct copy of the Verlinden legionary, or the 1/6 scale Timeline medieval knight, I would agree.

However the donor figure used as a mannikin is from a company that no longer exists and is not a copy. All the detail, namely the armour, belt etc. was removed and the only parts used in their original format, and not altered in any way, are the sandals. These can easily be replaced with the boots that I modelled for the centurion if this is an issue. I don't see how using a few scraps of 'chain mail' from another OOP figure can be regarded as piracy, any more than the chain mail I used from a lady's purse for my knight (https://www.planetfigure.com/threads/200-mm-medieval-knight.116811/#post-937242). I did an amount of work for Pete Morton, and also part paid for a figure which he failed to complete and when he died some, but by no means all, of the masters came back to me. The question arises as to what constitutes copyright infringement and what doesn't. If I use a commercial mannekin for a figure is this infringement? It certainly is if I produce and market an identical copy, but not if I use it as the basis of a figure.

As regards the Airfix Napoleonics; the Imperial Guard Grenadier is obviously very similar to the original. The other four figures are not. I personally would have a problem with the Grenadier being marketted and sold, but would suggest that the other figures are dissimilar enough for this not to be an issue.

This figure is not yet available commercially.

 

[NeilW]

Hi Mike,

Please don't take my honest question as either a criticism or accusation: I was merely asking a 'devil's advocate' question.

Your explanation makes sense and you raise the vital point of 'what makes copyright infringement and what doesn't'. Perhaps here we can make comparison with the world of pop-music (rap, hip-hop etc) where similar issues exist (ie. using part(s) of others' copyright work(s) to create a new work) and, as yet remain unresolved. However, the US courts say that “... even a small amount of the original, if it is qualitatively significant, may be sufficient to be an infringement.” (Horgan v Macmillan, US 1986; cit Menell 2015 p26*). For example, US's De La Tour were stung for $1.7m after using just 2 seconds-worth of a 1960s Turtles track, although much seems to depend on whether the copyright owner wish to pursue a claim. Manell calls for a dilution of such a draconian interpretation.

Using commercial mannequins (and horses, accoutrements etc) all depends on the terms of the sale, so, if supplied with a commercial use licence that's fine, if not it's a grey area. Whilst Andrea's, El Greco's and Pegaso's sites don't specify their terms of sale, Hornet notes that their heads, hands etc sometimes appear "...regrettably, on commercial figurines produced by some less scrupulous rivals!" (I do recall a site where you could buy mannequins, horses etc for private or commercial use at a higher price: I can't recall where).


BTW: bad call on my old Naps (built late 1970s). The Lancer is ex Coldstream Guards, the Chasseur and Dragoon ex Lifeguards but the Grenadier is scratch-built** other than his face and hands (can't remember which kit: I later had the courage and skill to model hands and faces... all a damn sight better than Airfix's). All were done as personal 'model-bashing/conversions' and were/are not intended for sale.

* https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2576929

** plastic wood (before I'd heard of Das or Milliput) on a carved wooden armature with various bits of card, plastic, solder etc