1:72 Stradioti. 16th century. Set 1

Stradioti, 16th century, set 1, figures 1:72 (Red Box)

Historical mounted figures in 1:72 scale from the maker Red Box. The Stradioti were light cavalry active in the Mediterranean area in the 16th century. The set is designated as the first of a pair; the second carries Set 2 in its name and is sold separately. Supplied unassembled and unpainted.

What the set depicts

Mounted figures have a different function in a scene from foot ones: they carry the movement. While infantry holds a line, cavalry sets the direction in which the viewer's eye is led across a diorama. That is exactly why riders prove themselves at the edge of a composition or in the second plane, where they open the space up.

Assembly: the joints of rider and horse

The most sensitive place in a mounted set is the seat of the rider in the saddle. Check dry how the figure sits; with castings at this scale there tends to be a gap between the thighs and the horse's back. Do not close it with pressure, as the joint would loosen once dry; fill it with a small amount of modeling putty or two-part compound and smooth the shape at once with a damp tool while the compound is soft. Glue the hands and the reins only at the end, when the rider's position is final. Remove the excess putty before painting, as you will no longer find it under the paint.

Who the set is for

• Builders of 16th century dioramas who need movement in a scene
• Players of historical tabletop games with mounted units
• Modelers with experience of filling small joints
• Collectors of figure lines on Mediterranean subjects

The figures are supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, putty, paints and bases are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.