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I got a couple of Mantic's Basilean Panther Lancers in the 2013 Mantic Crazy box. They are pretty bad models, but I thought I should have a go at making them look better. Because under all the odd proportion and badly fitting parts there is a nugget of useful plastic. This is the first attempt. I tried to fix the proportions of the arms (hinding one with a shield), make more reasonable saddle and make the pose more dynamic.






Any thoughts, comments or feedback?

(There is a review and parts brakedown of the models in my blog, check my sign for the link)

 jorny wrote:
I thought I should have a go at making them look better.

Good grief, is such a thing possible?

Any thoughts, comments or feedback?

Looking at your blog, I'd say most of the problems you've noticed are the ones that wrecked my head when they first showed up. (I knew those arms were a terrible harbinger before pics of the assembled models were released)

I think you're doing the right thing, and well done on that too. However, I think the forearms could be shortened just a little more. (They are pretty huge on the original models!) Also, can you slice off those thick tendons on the backs of the hands? I think it'd help the look, and maybe reduce the mass of the hands just a bit. Every little helps...

Looking at the panther parts and your conversion, I think their heads have a touch of the Mantic drakon 'viking figurehead' look about them. The jaws seem to open... perpendicularly... rather than hinging at the back. But IMO that's not as screwy-looking as the legs on the galloping panther, that you used for the conversion. They are very strangely long and a bit misshapen, actually looking more like a horse's legs with claws. (Seriously, it's like the sculptor never saw so much as a serengeti wildlife documentary) It might be a step too far, especially if you think they're fine, but do you think you can shorten them too?

Also, Photoshop Disasters bookmarked. Thank you very much.

I think you're doing the right thing, and well done on that too. However, I think the forearms could be shortened just a little more. (They are pretty huge on the original models!) Also, can you slice off those thick tendons on the backs of the hands? I think it'd help the look, and maybe reduce the mass of the hands just a bit. Every little helps...

Yeah, they could propably be shortened a bit more, and the upper arms made just a tiny, tiny bit longer. I'll try to do something about the hands on the next one.

Looking at the panther parts and your conversion, I think their heads have a touch of the Mantic drakon 'viking figurehead' look about them. The jaws seem to open... perpendicularly... rather than hinging at the back. But IMO that's not as screwy-looking as the legs on the galloping panther, that you used for the conversion. They are very strangely long and a bit misshapen, actually looking more like a horse's legs with claws. (Seriously, it's like the sculptor never saw so much as a serengeti wildlife documentary) It might be a step too far, especially if you think they're fine, but do you think you can shorten them too?

The panthers are good enough for this. Bear in mind, I am not trying to make something great out of these, just a unit that I could field without feeling shame! In a fantasy setting I can also accept that they look more like some kind cat-horse rather than a real animal.

The concept of a person riding a cat, however large, is pretty ludicrous. Cat legs are not long enough; cat backs are not constructed strong enough. That's why it ALWAYS looks strange (at best) when someone tries to model it.

 Vulcan wrote:
The concept of a person riding a cat, however large, is pretty ludicrous. Cat legs are not long enough; cat backs are not constructed strong enough. That's why it ALWAYS looks strange (at best) when someone tries to model it.

In most fantasy settings, people riding cats is the least of your problems when it comes to ludicrous concepts.

Fair enough if you want to keep those models as they are, I won't push the issue, but in response to your last post: Cats are a much more relatable real-life reference than some fantasy elements.

 jorny wrote:

 Vulcan wrote:
The concept of a person riding a cat, however large, is pretty ludicrous. Cat legs are not long enough; cat backs are not constructed strong enough. That's why it ALWAYS looks strange (at best) when someone tries to model it.

In most fantasy settings, people riding cats is the least of your problems when it comes to ludicrous concepts.

Has very little to do with reality vs. fantasy and everything to do with verisimilitude. A flying horse is just as ludicrous, but we expect to see a rider on a horse; adding wings doesn't make it too strange. And riding a dragon? Why not, we've never actually seen a dragon so who knows how that would work?

On the other hand, we see cats pretty routinely, we know what they look like and how they move... and thus the very concept of riding one looks strange to us, precisely BECAUSE it is so impractical.