1:72 Swiss Infantry (Sword/Arquebus), 16th century

Swiss infantry of the 16th century with swords and arquebuses, 1:72 scale, Red Box

A figure set capturing infantry of the 16th century. The name states the twofold armament outright, a sword and an arquebus, so the set mixes a melee weapon and a firearm in one package. That determines how it is used in a scene.

What the set captures

Infantry of a combined type: some of the figures with a melee weapon for fighting at close quarters, some with a missile weapon, that is a muzzle-loader fired by a matchlock. In a scene that leads to a division into two bands, with the shooters at the back or on the flanks and the men with swords in the front rank. It is precisely this double role that sets the set apart from those with a long weapon only.

Painting: steel and brass on small parts

The metal elements are dominant in this subject and in 1:72 scale they are done differently from larger figures. The base is dark, black or a very dark gray; silver applied straight onto a light base looks like foil. Onto the dried dark base apply the metal with an almost dry brush, so that it clings to the edges of a blade, to the ironwork and to the barrel, while the dark stays in the recesses. Set steel and brass clearly apart from one another: a cool silver-gray tone against a warm yellowish one. When the difference is weak, they merge into one smudge from a distance. Leave the metal without a wash, or give it only a faint dark hint into the engraving; a wash across the whole metal surface flattens it and takes away precisely the reflection it is painted for.

Who the set is for

• Builders of 16th century dioramas in 1:72 scale
• Modelers who want to combine melee weapons and firearms in a scene
• Collectors of historical figure sets
• Modelers who are practicing painting metal on small parts

The figures are supplied unassembled and unpainted. Paints, glue and a base are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.