Guy
A Fixture
Figure Review
by
Franco Andreone
by
Franco Andreone
Code of Kit: 75-055
Description: Kavas Bashi, Ottoman Empire 1780 - 1820
Scale: 75mm
Sculptor: Maurizio Bruno
Box Art: Danilo Cartacci
Research & Text: Engun Kayral
Kit review Franco Andreone
This 75mm kit came in a high quality and sturdy Pegaso Models box. All the pieces are laid out and protected by two large pieces of foam and the smaller pieces of the kit are contained and protected in a small plastic bag. All the pieces are well protected in this manner and after unpacking and inspection all the pieces were undamaged.
There are 15 pieces in this kit (13 in white metal and 2 in resin) and the box art is beautifully rendered by Danilo Cartacci. Not only has he rendered the braiding in beautiful rich gold but he has also painted a lovely but subtle pattern in the textile of the figure’s trousers and shirt.
The kit comes with historical notes and a painting guide by Engun Kayral. The historical notes come in Italian, English, French and German. The historical notes read as follows:
‘Kavas’ literally means archer or armed guard in Ottoman language. In the Ottoman military terminology, the term Kavas was first used for the police officers of the Ottoman Empire and their duties were to control the shops and bazaars, maintain order in them, catch any thieves in the bazaars and take them to the courtyard. With time, their status was elevated. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the land of the Ottoman Empire in the Middle East, Europe and Africa were administrated by the Viziers who were the secondary authority after the Sultan. As all high authorities of the Empire, the Viziers and their palaces were carefully protected by special guards who were deeply devoted to their masters. They were also responsible to secure and escort official foreign visitors of the Empire. These Kavas guards were commanded by a Kavasbashi which means the Chief of the Kavas. Each kavasbashi had the authority to control and command 100 Kavas. They wore typical clothing of that region with a strong dominance of red and green colours. The red was the color of Ottoman Empire and green the color of Islam. As they were the elite soldiers representing the Sultan’s Viziers authority, their uniform were highly decorated in gold thread embroidery. The Kavas’ organization served in the Ottoman Empire until 1908.
General comments
- The casting of the kit is up to Pegaso Models usual standard - high quality
- The fit (as dry runs) of all the pieces is also very good
- This kit is fairly easy to assemble but is not for a beginner due to the intricate detail of the textile and gold braiding making this a challenging figure to paint.
- The highlights of this kit for me is the figure’s face (Maurizio has captured the ethnic features of this figure brilliantly), the casual stance/pose of the kit and the wonderfully rendered groundwork and pillar - which all come as part of the kit.
Figure (9 pieces)
In terms of the painting instructions the painter can either follow the red dominated colours used in the box art or has the following choices:
Turban of a white colour with red/green lining. The turban is wrapped over a red fez with gold or yellow tassels.
Silk or cotton shirt with long sleeves known as Mintan in purple color.
Short waist length open jacket with false sleeves with the wearers’ arms coming through the slits in front of the armpits known as Camadan. The jacket is richly decorated with gold thread in front of the jacket, on the collar and sleeves. The color of the jacket is green for the kavasbashi and red for the kavas soldiers.
Thin leather brown colored belt with brass buckle to hang the gun powder horn and brown leather bullet case with metal stud decorations.
A long thick cloth sash known as Kushak is wrapped around the waist covering the leather belt. Baggy trousers known as Shalvar in red color, tied under the knees with leggings known as Tozluk. Both of these items are of a red color with gold thread decorations in the front and sides.
White socks and leather shoes with upper pointed nose named Charik.
Rifle (2 pieces)
The figure is holding a rifle and the strap of the rifle is cast as a separate piece which needs to be attached. According to the notes the rifle is of Middle Eastern origin matchlock rifle known as Jazail or Balkan origin miquelet-lock muskets known as Dzeferdar. Both have narrow curved stocks and long barrels with extraordinary wealthy silver decorations on the barrel and pearl decorations on the stock.
Groundwork (4 pieces)
The groundwork comes in four pieces. The two pillars are in resin - basically one piece is the corner of a wall and the other is a beautifully decorated Turkish arc which slots into the wall piece. The other two pieces are in metal and comprise of groundwork as well as a small step with cast lugs which slot into precast holes in the groundwork.
Conclusion
This kit is of a very high quality as is now expected from Pegaso Models. However what I really like is the fact that Pegaso Models has produced a subject matter which is somewhat different and colourful. For the modeller, the extra groundwork and arc is a bonus and a wonderful inclusion. I am looking forward to seen the various versions of this gem which undoubtedly will appear at various shows. A highly recommended kit.
Figure Review
by
Franco Andreone
by
Franco Andreone
