ENGLISH LONGBOWMAN, 1415. (Alexandros Models)

[chippy]

Great figure , CRAP long bow . How could anyone get the English Long Bow SO WRONG (although it should be called the Welsh Long Bow as this is where it first originated ). The long bow was one straight piece of Yew made with the heartwood at the back and the softwood at the front and when it was strung it had a slow graceful curve not a triple bend like an Asian composite bow . The arrows where 3 feet long and English archers used TWO fingers to pull back the bowstring . The English where so hated by the french that they cut these two fingers off any captured archers , so called that's where we get the V sign from, from the archers showing two fingers to the French before a battle . I would suggest more research on this kit .
chippy

 

[garyhiggins]

For anyone interested in Medieval Archery I recommend two great books, longbow by Robert Hardy, and the Great War Bow by Matthew Strickland.

 

[Gaudin]

Great figure , CRAP long bow . How could anyone get the English Long Bow SO WRONG...{}.. I would suggest more research on this kit .
chippy

Before you go ahead making statements like that may be its worth spending some time and reading on this subject a bit more.
This is technically not a long bow, but a warbow (subtle difference, I know), but with a draw weight above 100lb. Therefore I DARE you to draw it with 2 fingers behind your ear. Repeatedly. Or even once. This will not happen (or at least with most people). Hense 3 fingers grip is used for heavy bows.

The stave for a self yew bow ( as there was no lamination at the time) - can be quite warped and sometimes assymetrical and may have knots as well. On this figure I agree- there is a little too much curve for my liking and shouldn't be as prominent at this draw length - but slight recurvity is not impossible, just doesnt look like "classic picture". I got one long bow with slight recurve - yew will do what it wants to do in the end- but there is some objection to them in long bow competitions.

Here is an interesting image to consider - shows slight recurve on the longbows at full draw.

And coming back to old V sign romantic story - there is no evidence that it was used before late 1800 (earliest ever documented 1901). Some would say that longbow story has been invented as late as 20th century. There is no documented evidence that french ever cut longbowmen's fingers too, just executed them.

In summary, there are a couple of minor issues with this figure that are easily fixed ( a little bodkin on the arrow rather than hunting arrowhead and place it over the bow) . The curve of a bow hopefully can be adjusted (if its resin). with hot water and more tension on the string. If its metal - then its a trifle.

What I see as a challenge - will be gluing 3 triangles of cigarette paper to arrow shafts to make realistic fletchings

Great kit. Definitly on my list.

 

[Martin64]

Hi Dimitri!
Being not an expert on bows I just want to point out that the interesting historical painting you provided shows beside the curve of the bows a very unnatural pose of the archers while firing their weapons and that the archers use TWO fingers drawing their bows!
What bothers me about this nice figure is the pose which does not give the impression that this guy puts much effort in drawing the bow.
Cheers, Martin

 

[Gaudin]

very unnatural pose of the archers while firing their weapons and that the archers use TWO fingers drawing

Well spotted, that was the quiz point hehe. What do them bloody artists know

Posture seems ok to me, I notice the base puts him on a slope, so seems appropriate. I would have put his right elbow a bit higher, but thats just a small thing.

 

[John Bowery]

Great painting and scene.
Thanks for the history lesson and info.
Cheers
John

 

[Sergey Popovichenko]

Gorgeous figure! And the form of a bow, I think, is not a problem. Soft metal can be fashioned, as your heart desires. And you can carve a real bow made ​​of bamboo.

 

[OldTaff]

The guy in the photo drawing his bow is a long-time friend of mine, Mark Stretton, who still holds the Guiness World Record for drawing the heaviest Bow[ 200lbs].
I saw the figure this weekend at Euro... Gaudin, I'd save your money, it's an expensive item...but each to their own. The bow,apart from everything else, is too thin in section IMHO. Note that the medieval artist has painted the sapwood on the belly of the bow ,and heartwood on the back[facing outward]. It should be reversed.

Cheers, Alan