Completed Handgonner 1480s

[Shane]

Here is my completed sculpt of a handgonner from the late 1400s. This particular type of handgonne was outdated by this time period but does appear in artwork from the 1480s, as do helmets with this particular type of side defense.

I never found an existing example of this helmet, so it is my interpretation of how the helmet might have appeared.

The sculpt is 1/7 or 1/8 in scale and made in 5 pieces for casting should someone be interested in production. I hope you enjoy it.

Shane

 

[Nap]

Hi Shane

A interesting piece , looks good ...that helmet is certainly interesting

Did a quick google found these images showing what could possibly be it

Thanks for sharing

Nap

 

[Shane]

Hey Nap,
I believe the ones you found show a helmet with visor, The roundels on the sides are probably protection for where the visor pivots. I haven't found a Google image yet, but there are depictions of helmets that have roundels on the side of the helmets without visors.

View attachment 431904

 

[Martin Antonenko]

A friend of mine found a good template for the helmet...:




Cheers

 

[nig-g]

Helmets with round side bits are very, very common in contemporary illustrations, but I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen them modelled. So it’s great to see. One small criticism is that I would like to have seen straps over the shoulders carrying all the paraphernalia that such a gunner would have carried.
It’s also very rare to see such helmets worn by reenactors, but I found one…….

 

[nig-g]

An illustration by Gerry Embleton compiled from original MS sources:

 

[Nap]

Great response and info ref the helmet type

Cheers all

Nap

 

[elanlane13]

Lovely work Shane he looks like he's been on campaign for some while.

 

[Shane]

Thanks for digging up those sources. As far as I know, no one has sculpted this helmet. That was one of the reasons I chose it. Nig-g, I thought about adding some straps for gear. But frankly, I was ready to be finished with this one. On to the painting now!

 

[Shane]

I did have one learning experience making the helmet. I wondered why the paintings almost always show the roundels as domed with a concentric outer ring. Then I realized that the dome allows the roundels to fit up against the curve of the helmet closer. And the outer ring provides clearance for the rivets on the helmet. So there, a little bit of experimental archaeology!