La Meridianna Miniatures - Super Release

[Guy]

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LaMeridianna Miniatures Super Release / Review....A new concept in New Releases starts today with the release of La Meridianna's Newest Release of their 54mm Iroquois and Canoe.

....See next Posting for a complete review of this new release</div>[/doHTML]

 

[Guy]

This is a new concept we are trying with the new release of La Meridianna's Iroquois & Canoe. Fabrizio Conti sent me the figure prior to the box art being painted so I could have a figure review ready to be shown with the new release of the figure. Let us know if you like this concept or not!

Iroquois & Canoe
54mm white metal
sculpted by Eduard Perez Delgado
Painted by Andrea Tessarini
18 parts

This figure is sculpted and cast in 18 white metal parts with unbelievable care shown to detail. The body is cast in 4 main pieces with many accessories to be chosen to personalize your figure

The main body trunk with arms and left leg to attach and very little if any filling needed. Excellent fit of all parts.

Here you see the rifle placed into its final position.

The canoe comes in 4 parts and fits together perfectly

The fourth part being the bow brace that the indian's foot rests upon.

** Continued in next posting**

 

[Guy]

The dog is cast into 3 pieces, 2 body halves and the tail.

The accessories, feathers, axe, knife, hairpiece come cast and are packaged in a seperate bag for shipping.

References to use for the figure would be the following:

The Art of Robert Griffing

Osprey Men At Arms "Tribes of the Iroquois Confederacy":

Osprey Men at Arms Series, "American Woodland Indians":

Conclusion

I found this to be an exceptional kit and all seam lines and flash lines were at a minimum and were cleaned off within minutes. A real "Must Have" for any Woodland Indian buff.

Thanks Fabrizio for sending me the kit in advance.

Guy

 

[Guayo]

I like this idea, for those of us, who can not see the figure and touch it, this is the best thing, plus the reading recommendations, looking forward to the next release of La Meridiana.

Saludos

Eduardo Tellez

 

[captnenglish]

I can't vouch for the authenticity of the figure, I'll probably buy one, I love the subject and the canoe and "water" are very unique. On a scale of 1 to 10, without actually seeing the kit in person, it looks like a 9.

 

[AJLaFleche]

I really like a lot of this, especially the ear rings on his right side and the interesting pose. I'm not sure it's a wise one for a canoe (unless grounded), though! I also like the inclusion of the dog in the scene, that's a neat touch. The fringed buckskin looks out of place. I have the references listed and others and don't recall anything like this on eastern people. It says Northern Plains more to me. (Doesn't mean it's not possible, but...)

 

[garyjd]

A nice figure but I'm not so sure about the "fringed" shirt with what looks like quillwork/beadword. That part looks more like "historical fantasy" than a believable garment. The rifle might be a little iffy also. Comments aside it looks like a clean kit that will paint up nicely.~Gary

 

[nagashino]

Hello Guy

This one looks nice. Not having much knowledge of the intricacies of the woodland indian dress, I happily defer to Gary and Al on whether it is accurate or not. Yes, I agree that the rifle is a bit strange but that could be dealt with. What I would say is that the whole thing appeals to me as a painter, and the canoe idea is quite novel.

I have La Meridiana's Seneca scout, which again I like, notwithstanding his accuracy or lack of. The kit has excellent detail and a nice arrogant pose. Yes, I think I would be happy to add his Iroquois cousin to my grey tribe

Nice idea on the Super Release. It certainly provides us with enough info to assess the product some before we decide to buy.

Regards

Phil

 

[Bruno]

Hi Guy,

the figurine is nice sculpted and the Idea with the Canoe is very good.

Unfortunately the sculptor doesn't reaad the books, given as reference.

I do not understand why people take so much care in sculpting a figurine and they do not make the basic research.
Alle three books you mention are excellent. I cooperat with Michael G. Johnson since years and he is one of the leading experts on Woodland and Plains Indians.

So why the sculptor don't use this reverence?

I agree with Gary, the fringed buckskin shirt is pure fantasy also the way the beadwork ore quill decoration is made.
It is a pitty that a so goog idea finaly ends in the fantasy part of the hobby.

Sorry, that again had had to criticies indians figurines. I would love to see companies who make correct ones.

Best regards

Bruno

 

[Guy]

After reading the comments I went back and found buckskin references in all three books I cited. Not exactly the shirt depicted by the sculpter, but never less , buckskin shirts worn by the Eastern Indians.

Page 22, American Woodland Indians, shows a lithograph painted by Dennis Dighton (1792-1827) and shows buckskin shirts cut in the European style with fringe on the arms and bottoms.

The Art of Robert Griffing, page 120, shows Tecumsah wearing a buckskin shirt.


Guy

 

[garyjd]

Originally posted by Guy@May 10 2006, 02:12 PM
After reading the comments I went back and found buckskin references in all three books I cited. Not exactly the shirt depicted by the sculpter, but never less , buckskin shirts worn by the Eastern Indians.

Page 22, American Woodland Indians, shows a lithograph painted by Dennis Dighton (1792-1827) and shows buckskin shirts cut in the European style with fringe on the arms and bottoms.

The Art of Robert Griffing, page 120, shows Tecumsah wearing a buckskin shirt.


Guy

Guy, I'm familiar with the painting, but if this figure is part of their F&I war line then your putting a garment shown in a 1790's painting on a 1750's period subject. I'm not saying that just by this example alone such a thing was not possible. However, if you list the references that were used, it would be nice to find the information used to create the figure.~Gary

I guess what appeals to the individual is the most important thing.

 

[Angaliel]

Hi guys,

this kit comes from this painted canvas :


I think it's not easy to sculpt a 3D figure from a 2D paint.
The sculptor did a good job.

And the paint is amazing. Especially the canoe and clothes.
I do less like the face paint.

JP

 

[Bruno]

Hi Guy,

I just had a look on the draft on page 22 of Michaels book "Woodland Indians". Of course there are fringes, but very very short, perhapes 5 cm. This was made to make the seam look more nice. I would not regard this as fringes in the classical sense. Compared with this draft, the fringes are much to longe.

I would propose if someone want to paint the figurine to cut the fringes to a minimum and scrap away the beadworks. This is not a big work.

I would also remove the feather from the gun. This is Plains Style.

As a friend who is cooperationg with the Delaware tribe told me, the dresses of Woodland tribes who move to the south, like the Delaware, changes their dresses more towards "Plains Style" but this was later.

Best regards

Bruno

 

[Bruno]

Hi JP,

thank you for the painting. I don't have the feeling that the artist of this painting had a real acknowledgement on Woodland Indians.

Best regards

Bruno

 

[AJLaFleche]

Originally posted by Guy@May 10 2006, 02:12 PM
The Art of Robert Griffing, page 120, shows Tecumsah wearing a buckskin shirt.

Guy

The image you reference shows Tecumseh in a hunting frock,

, a most often cloth coat used by the British during the F&I period and the Americans during the Revolution.
The lithograph shows a much longer (knee length) shirt with much less prominent fringing.

 

[Bruno]

Hi Al,

thank you for the interesting photo. Who is this guy on the photo? Is it you?

Best regards from Bavaria

Bruno

 

[GARD9]

I like this kit. I would buy it.
So far I have only heard that it is a "54mm Iroquois and Canoe".
The "Iroquois" part narrows it down geographically to North America, north of the Tennessee river (maybe) and east of the Mississippi river. I would guess from the longarm that it is in the 18th century (maybe early 19th). It could happen.
It looks believable.
I think it is pretty cool.
G9

 

[AJLaFleche]

Originally posted by Bruno@May 10 2006, 04:07 PM
Hi Al,

thank you for the interesting photo. Who is this guy on the photo? Is it you?

Best regards from Bavaria

Bruno

Not I, Bruno. I did a google search for "hunting frock" and this was the first good picture from an on-line suttler. There were close ups of the fabric as well. I've seen several reenactors in these coats at French and Indian and Revolution events.

 

[AJLaFleche]

Originally posted by GARD9@May 10 2006, 04:24 PM
The "Iroquois" part narrows it down geographically to North America, north of the Tennessee river (maybe) and east of the Mississippi river.

If you consider Iroquois in the broadest sense, based on the language, you would encompass New York State, Eastern Pennsylvania, part of Ontario bordering Lakes Ontario, Erie and Huron and Quebec along the St. Laurence River. The 5-6 nations of the Iroquois Confederacy were more centalized in New York State west of the Hudson Valley.
You may be thinking Algonkian which extended more in the area you describe.

 

[Calvin]

Guy, I like this kind of review. If I can advice something, I think it could be of some interest to put also some shot of the box, just to have an idea. Believe it or not, I do not have the kit, nor I seen it, so I'm a bit curious about.

Dont know if Eduard will look at this thread, but in my opinion his sculpting work is really impressive. I consider Tessarini one of the best painters out there and the shots of the casted piece posted by Guy are very good, but for me there is nothing better than seeing at the original master. Just hope Fabrizio will not blame me...

This is the original canoe, first released as a stand alone accessory and next used for the kit

and this is the master

Sincerely, I do not understand how that guy could sculpt those details and so fine with a so hard and strong putty like the one he uses. I think it's just a matter of talent.