Cossac Dancer

[Martin Antonenko]

Thx Nap.

I have to wait with the base until the second figure ist completed...

Cheers

 

[Martin Antonenko]

74. Day, February 4, 2015

So - now we come to the last part, namely the saber that our dancing Cossack swings.

Markus has the kit included a saber blade made of white metal ...:



As I said elsewhere, wearing a Cossack saber type "Karabela". Originally developed by the Ottomans the "Karabela" was optimized at the time in Poland-Lithuania.

Here is the original Ottoman version ...:



And here the Polish-Lithuanian version...:



There are many pictures of Cossacks who were wearing "Karabela" -Säbel, a very popular weapon!



The name "Karabela" means in Turkish "Black Death".

"Karabela" -sabers had sometimes beautiful finely crafted blades with and "blood groove" (which the blade is made ultimately more stable) ...



...but however - for less wealthy men - even for the simplest version with smooth blade...:



I work with very rare white metal (Resin just puts me better) - but in this case it is an advantage!

For I have thought to myself: "Better than metal can not represent metal!"

So it's my turn made me to grind the small sword blade using sandpaper grits in getting softer smooth and polish ...:





Painted...



...were only the guard (in "brass") and the (later no longer visible) handle ....:





So much for today.

 

[Martin Antonenko]

75. Day, February 5, 2015

Today fastened his sword with two-component adhesive at the fist - and then it is done, and I can have a look at my first "oiled" figure ...:

















Tomorrow I will tell you, how it goes on ...

 

[Martin Antonenko]

76. Day, February 6, 2015

Actually, I would have started today with the base - but this time it is different.

Sometime during the painting process, I have decided that my dancing Cossack will not stand alone on a pedestal, but to get society.

It will be a Little Vignette!

Then I had to and fro to consider what other figure could be made, perhaps a woman or another dancer in a different pose ...?

When I searched my records, I came across this old engraving from the 17th century, on which a (Cossack-)dancer with a (Cossack-)musician can be seen ...:


Also in this picture a musician/dancer are to see together ...:



So I decided: It is still a musician to come!

But in both images shown above, the musician plays a Balalaika - and that was to me a little too bold!

Another - exotic possible - instrument was needed!

After searching in my files I came across photos of a as a Zaporozhian Cossack equipped street musician in Kiev - and I was immediately very impressed by the character of the musicians head ...:







The musician plays an instrument that is virtually unknown in the West, a "Bandura", so to speak, the Ukrainian "national Instrument"...:


The "Bandura" is a very old instrument, it existed in the 17th century, although, but somewhat more simple ...:





My dancing cossack will get a musician at his side, who will be based at the street musician from Kiev - of course back in the 17th century!

And Markus ("Scorpio Models") will sculpt him for me.

I will start on Monday with a few small parts and weapons in the vignette should also be incorporated later - and a few details I still want to build myself.

So I'm going to pass the time until the musician is ready.

In order not to have to open a new thread, I'll continue the at this point here. So it's still a bit more ...

 

[Nap]

Martin,

That dancer looks great did you enjoy using the oils ..we all certainly did enjoy the SBS

As for the companion figure ..great stuff really looking forward to seeing this instrument ..I bet you will put strings on it!

Thanks for sharing everything

Nap

 

[Martin Antonenko]

Thanks Nap, I think, it will have some strings - or I will make it by wires...

Cheers

 

[Gaudin]

If you placing the action in 17th century, then you need to look for Kobza or Torban.

They look similar, but are completely different instruments with different methods of playing to Bandura, which is a very late thing, way past 18th century, at least. The evolution of Kobza into bandura went with adding additional strings ( pidstrunki) and that didnt happen in 17th century.

Your 17th century drawing shows Kobza or Kosak Lute, this is typical of Mamai style paintings, especially early ones --15 -16th century.
Torban is more similar to European Lutes and is quite a beautiful instrument, favoured by kosak starshyna ( top ranks). There are pictures of Hetman Mazepa's own Torban on the net should you be interested (sadly destroyed during WW2, but reconstructed later).

Ostap Kindarchyk ( bandurist of your inspiration) has nothing historical about him apart from may be moustache and oseledets. He is a basker and generally uses national theme rather than history. None of his attire and instrument is appropriate for 17th century

Trust me on this, I have done some extensive reading on Kosak musical instruments of the era for a project of mine. I can give you some links if you have time.

PS as a curiosity, check out Bandura version of Game of Thrones sound track on youtube, awesome

 

[Nap]

Hi Gaudin,

Amazing details on the instruments .....this is what PF is all about ....sharing information and constructive comments

It will make Martins next figure even more interesting IMO

Thanks for sharing

Nap

 

[Martin Antonenko]

Thanks Gaudin - we will change into a Kobza...:









I think, ist even easier to sculpt...


Cheers

 

[Gaudin]

Definitly easier to sculpt and appropriate for the scenario of the vignette.

 

[Martin Antonenko]

However, Markus says that Kobza is due to the protruding at right angles to the handle-end difficulter to cast ...

Cheers

 

[Gaudin]

Here is nice straight torban in Muzeum Narodowy in Krakow

Most of them will have this quirky add on that places another 5-6 strings, but is also a late feature, earlier ones were much simpler, so I think you are safe to discard that. Also earlier ones would have fewer strings, so its also a win for a modeller.

 

[Martin Antonenko]

Thx Gaudin - we'll take the Kobza...

Cheers

 

[Joe55]

Excellent work Martin! And the show goes on, cool!

Joe

 

[Martin Antonenko]

77 Day, February 7, 2015

Hurrah! Markus had started to sculpt the cossack musician - and defined the pose...:







WOW! The pose is exately the one, in wanted...

Concerning the face the journey will go into this direction...:

 

[Ferris]

Great developments going on here Martin!

Impressive work by Markus!

Cheers,
Adrian

 

[Martin Antonenko]

Thx, Adrian - I will tell him...!

Cheers

 

[Martin Antonenko]

78. Day, February 9, 2015

Markus has sent some new pictures - the pants of the musicians is ready!

Again a wonderful drapery ...:











I was also busy today:

The kit of the dancing Cossacks Markus has attached a beautiful scabbard, of course, is also based on a historical model ...:



Our dancer have the scabbard located in order to move better - the scabbard is later lying on the floor in front of him.

Since I'm not using the saber hangers made of white metal that comes with the kit, I have to tinker the leather stuff today.

I have made gold paper and the thin wire of a slaughtered 1: made 100 ship's rail today ...:



The primer with "Army Painter Grey" is made quickly - but the dark primer shows me where I need to rework ...:



Et voila ...:

 

[theBaron]

Oooh, bin i a Depp! Ich habe Dein Projekt bisher ganz verpaβt, Martin! Das alle hole ich jetzt nach, das hast Du schon wieder eine tolle Arbeit gemacht, mir gefällt die SBS. Habe auch dieses Thema gebookmarkt, damit mir nix weiteres entgeht!

Gruss aus Bethlehem!
Brad

 

[theBaron]

Erstaunlich, halt. Einfach erstaunlich!