Airfix "Black Prince"

The famous shield you so often see associated with Ed is a funerary achievement or parade shield. There is some question as to whether or not one like that would have been used in tournament. A few extant shields as well as some descriptive accounts from work bills or household rolls describe a shield made of joined blanks with parchment and leather as a covering as well as gesso (used in this case as a primer more than a sculpting medium) but the surface being smooth with the badge or arms painted on. I suppose that if you wanted to do this figure again and couldn't find one with the relief on the shield with the 3 leopards and fleurs quartered you could just paint it flat.

Especially since Ed was big on the tournaments of a'outrance. (Joust of war) against French or Scottish opponents, in which the idea was to kill your opponent, not just break a lance or unhorse him as in a tournament a'plaisance. (joust of sport or peace). The smoother the surface the less chance of a sharpened lance to catch on a surface detail.

I like this time period as it is the begining of white harness as well as the high point of tournament combat, so theres lots of fantastic vignettes that can be done with tournaments or behourds.

I would really like to get started on a project that I've had in mind of doing a 14th or 15thc tournament scene. Compelete with gallery and tents, a joust lane as well as a pas d'armes field.

Mike

You can try these guys, they have offerings from several different companys
http://www.black-knight-figures.com/home

Thanks Mike, I'll try those sources as well. I really liked the Airfix model as the actual shield and armour were in raised relief, being covered with leather and gesso to give the quartered arms a sculpted appearance for painting and gilding. I think the English lions and the French fleur would be hard to sculpt in such fine detail without hours of painstaking work. Phil

Hey Phil,

Check Verlinden, Andrea and Pegaso. I think all three of them produce an Edward of Woodstock (or Edward the Black Prince) in varying scales. If not they all have figures sculpted in 14thc harness and livery. It would be easy enough to do either a conversion or paint them with his livery.

Check also United Empire Miniatures. They've been comming out with some new stuff lately and I think there are some 14thc. figs (or at least one) ...it all runs together after a while.

Glad to see others interested in medieval subject matter.

Mike