Review Viking bust from RP Models

[Nap]

Hi to everyone

Previously released before my last review of Curley here https://www.planetfigure.com/threads/us-cavalry-indian-scout-curley-all-scales.671670/

Announced by Hugo here : https://www.planetfigure.com/threads/viking-last-stand-in-stamford-bridge.598179/

I will just do the actual 1/12th bust but there are full figures in both 120 and 75mm , you can see RP’s pictures here of all scales in the release announcement https://www.planetfigure.com/threads/viking-last-stand-in-stamford-bridge.598179/

On the figures the bust have been scaled down accordingly and with additional pieces but being a 3D there is no difference in the quality

The release features a warrior of legend swinging the long handled “Dane axe” , said to have killed 40 plus on the bridge at Standford giving the others time to form a shield wall , he was killed by a spear thrust from under the bridge by the enemy

Details of release

Title: Standford Bridge - Viking Last Stand ( from Ancient World Series )

Reference: RP-06-B-0008

Scale: 1/12th

Material: Dark Gray Resin

No of parts: 11 plus information insert

Sculptor: 3D

Casting : In House

Box Art: N/A

Note: As with previous release this is a limited run of 150 worldwide
All stock is with RP partners only with UK stockists being SK MINIATURES and EL GRECO Miniatures
Non UK suppliers include include BERLINZINFIGURE, WENDY's and many more

References used for review

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Books that are good information and background





Packing/contents

As with all RP releases in a black box the parts in resealable bags enclosed in polystyrene chips, on top the information insert ( signed and numbered personally by Hugo ) , there is a slip over wrapper

Parts consist of Torso , 2 Arms , head , Axe , sheathed Sword and Knife , Shield , a small bag , drinking horn , eye protector

The Shield is placed at the bottom of the box without packing but safe from possible damage

Continued in next post

Nap

 

[Nap]

On now to the resin

All parts are cast in a dark gray resin , personally not too keen on it but it helps the team when sculpting and prepping the pieces

Torso

As in Curley , the largest of the pieces wearing a mail shirt over which there’s a half sleeved garment, the mail is good in definition and shaping with the outer clothing having really good textures , showing up well , the edges have studs and some good edging and at the centre stitching , not over worked , all aiding the painting

Across the chest over the left shoulder is the shield strap .....this fits spot on to the shield , the strap itself has worn edging with various cuts along edges ...some might want to thin down the strap

Across the other shoulder the sword support belt , good work on the buckles

The waist belt has a fancy buckle with the belt looped round and sitting on the clothing

There’s are cutouts to fit the sword and knife into ....no issues here

Arm fitment points are clean and accurate ....dry fit these with the hands that are on axe

On the back a good fitment that the shield sits well into

The area below the waist is well thought out , billowing out , on the underside a central hole





Arms

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Both arms are with large posts to fit to torso shoulders .....a tiny bit of filler might be considered depending on the primer
The arms have a short sleeve with textures and edging , the mail sits nicely underneath and halfway down the lower arm , the wrists have cutouts to fit the hands into ...you’ll need some filler in these areas , under the mail is a turned up sleeve ...folds and creases are in place

Head

The face itself is excellent , a ragged and bushy beard and moustache, nice nose features , liking the mouth area , the teeth being prominent and no doubt grinding together , easy to get to for painting

Pleased to say the eyes are accessible as well thanks to the eye protection being cast separate

The helmet has a large mailed neckpiece , which sits above the shoulders slightly when in position

The helmet itself has a small point at top centre with suppports at 4 points l easing down to one around the lower part , all have rivets in position , the helmet itself has battle damage

We have 2 small holes to fit the eye protection piece after you’ve finished the flesh painting

There’s a shaped post under neck to fit .....no issues there on fit




Continued in last post

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[Nap]

Onto the final pieces

Weapons

The main weapon being the much feared long handled axe , to help fit the hands have been sculpted into position ...a good idea , making fit a lot simpler

The handle has the wooden texture with wrappings at top and bottom for support when wielding this beast !

The axehead is as often seen in references, nicely shaped with cuts and damage on the sides , some might wish to thin down the edges a touch

The hands are really well done , sculpted correctly gripping the handle , at the wrists are a small bracelet and a torque

Fits made easier with the casting like this , as said before will need a touch of filler ..nothing major though

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The sword and knife are both in the scabbards , the sword has a classic Viking pommel with the straps being held in position by a support on the front edge , the scabbard is of course textured , the very end has a protecting piece

The knife , a item carried by most if not all warriors with thousands of uses has just. A small amount of handle showing the remainder being held in a textured scabbard , fit is easy to torso using the more than sufficient pieces cast on

The shield is a fully rounded all wooden version , no covering , the treatment of the wood texture is excellent on both surfaces , the edging has strengthening held in place by 4 stud and stitching

The central boss looks good both front and back

The fit is really accurate to the straps on the torso ...no filler

You have the option to go wild with either the wood effects or a actual design of your choice

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Miscellaneous items

Our warrior has a full bag that fits on the waist belt , good stitching details with a 4 diamond design on the front , again we have textures



No self respecting Viking would be without his drinking horn for his favourite tipple , again the surface is textured slightly , painting will be fun



To finish off the helmet there’s a separate eye protection , the front is patterned , with 2 tiny studs to fit correctly to the helmet on the back



Final words

A good subject , plenty of textures and pieces to paint , build is easy thanks to well thought out casting , I would like to see the straps thinner but that could be a casting issue for RP ...there’s always careful filing if you wish .Nice to see a central hole on the underside for fitting a post for basing

Overall a nice action packed release , will look good painted up

Thank to you all from RP for the support and assistance everyone here on PF gives Hugo

I RECOMMEND this with pleasure with a 4/5

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**Just a reminder RP releases are cast in limited numbers so get this while you can**

For more details on RP releases contact via

[email protected]

Facebook: www.facebook.com/RPmodels

E mail: [email protected]

or you can contact Hugo via this site using PM

Thanks from me for looking in .....Enjoy whatever you paint

Nap

 

[Hugo Pereira]

Hello BIG GUY

Thank you so much for the review... We will try continue working harder to improve and develop better models...

Big hug
Hugo

 

[MCPWilk]

A great looking half figure. Personally I prefer legs to a pedestal in larger scales.

Mike

 

[Billy Dickinson]

Good review. Super looking bust. I like that expressive face with the ‘nose’. Shame to cover it up with the eye guard….
Thanks Nap…
Billy

 

[rcfanuk]

Another great release from RP, thanks for the review
Steve

 

[Rob Shaw]

Excellent review Steve. I've recently done a few native American busts but not to any decent standard. Still, they say practice makes perfect.

 

[Larsen E. Whipsnade]

Thanks, Kev. You sold me.
Rick

 

[mazayas011]

Hi, I think it's a very good piece, especially the published comment, thank you.

 

[Helm]

Good review. Super looking bust. I like that expressive face with the ‘nose’. Shame to cover it up with the eye guard….
Thanks Nap…
Billy

I have this and I think I am going to leave it off and add nasal bar instead. It's a lovely sculpt.
Steve

 

[VerSacrum]

At first I didn't want to say anything because nobody likes pedants and I don't need my own models to be 100% accurate all the time, but considering this thread is titled "review" when it should be "advert", and RP have "Authenticity Guarantee" written on their box I have to say my piece.

It's at best a questionable representation of a Scandinavian warrior. RP models took an authentic model by Oleg Pogosyan, without credit, and thoughtlessly applied their gimmicky textures on it, defacing it in the process.

North Germanic peoples of the Early Middle Ages wore colourful, from the 9th Century on also richly embroidered linens and wool, not drab leather jackets. That leather texture wasn't part of the original 3D sculpt and it looks bad.

Even worse is the shield. The purpose of a shield is to catch and deflect blows, which is why the front needs to be as smooth as possible. For that purpose it was covered with a layer of hide, which was perfectly reflected in the original sculpt.

With surface structures as deep as this the shield would be a defensive liability.
The TV-show pictures of a "shieldwall" in the original post by Nap have no historic merit, by the way.

I'm sorry if my critique offends anyone, but in a time where TV is full of insufferable slop like "Vikings" I think modellers should know better and scrutinise these pieces harder. A talented modeller may be able to restore Oleg Pogosyan's original artistic vision here. But why bother, when you can buy something more well thought out from someone like, say, FeR?

And I think it should be a matter of common courtesy to credit original sculptors.

 

[Hugo Pereira]

Hello Mr. Ver Sacrum

Thank you so much for your comment. Nevertheless, I have to pronounce about it. The model belong to RPmodels, and It was bought to Mr. Oleg to help him in the war, because Ive my own team and I never buy model... I use what we produce... I think the expression you used a little bad "without credit", because the model belong to RPmodels... My apologies, but I cant left pass your expression. Sometimes we need help people when needs. About your comments I cant agree with you and this is my opinion but like you said, maybe there are other brands than can satisfy you... This model is SOLD OUT, and there arent models available... And this left me happy...

Thank you so much fr believe in RPmodels.

With best regards
Hugo Pereira

 

[VerSacrum]

Yes, I know you obviously have the rights to it and didn't commit any copyright infringement. I'm not saying you are obligated to credit him, I'm saying it's the right thing to do and it's common practice.

I'm also well aware that the business model is working out well for you considering the amount of fanboys in this forum and elsewhere - that doesn't mean I can't post my historical analysis. But thanks for the information that this model is sold out. Not interested in it in the slightest, but nice to know I suppose.

 

[Hugo Pereira]

Hello Mr. VerSacrum

Thank you so much for you answer. You can write what you want and you like. Its hobby... People can share opinions, do critics, tips and so one. We are FREE, if we respect each other... There any stress... In my opinion of course...

Thank you so much for believe in RPmodels.

Regards
Hugo Pereira

 

[VerSacrum]

I don't mean any personal disrespect at all and despite the textures being present there as well I bought one of your knights three times in all scales available.

But a WW2 or Napoleonic soldier who wore completely anachronistic equipment would never fly, so why does this?

It's frustrating that pop culture has warped the image of that period in history so much that hist-fantasy models such as this are purchased without questioning, get positive reviews by people who evidently only have surface knowledge of the niche and if you dare to present a critique you're written off as a rivet counter.

 

[Hugo Pereira]

Hello Mr. VerSacrum

Thank you so much for your comment.

With best regards
Hugo Pereira