Go Figure Felix world of miniature figure modelling : October 2026

Hi Everyone,

In remembrance and to honour the talented figure sculptor Sergey Zlobov who recently passed away, I am reviewing one of his sculpted figure kits the SEIL Polish Winged Hussar (1672-83). A 54 mm mounted figure kit cast in white metal and photo etched parts.

Detail of the release

Title: Polish Winged Hussar (1672-83)

Manufacturer: SEIL Models

Scale: 54 mm

Sculptor: Sergy Alobov

Material: 32 white metal parts, 4 photo etched parts, one photo etched name plaque with 2 metal nails and 1 piece of lead foil for flag and horse equipments.

Order from: My grey army

The Seil Polish Winged Hussar 54 mm kit comes in a sturdy, rectangular black cardboard box with a colour sleeve. Inside, the parts are securely protected between two pieces of thick black foam, ensuring that the finely detailed parts remain safe during transport.

This superbly sculpted mounted figure depicts a Polish Winged Hussar perhaps during the Polish-Ottoman War or the Battle of Vienna. The hussar wears a cuirass with a leopard pelt draped over his shoulders, while two magnificent feathered wings, mounted on wooden frames, are attached to the rear plate of his armour. His head is protected by a kapalin helmet fitted with a faceplate.

The figure is equipped with his szabla sabre and a koncerz sword carried at the saddle. In his left hand, he firmly grasps a kopia lance, capturing the imposing presence and dynamic character of these legendary Polish cavalrymen. The kit’s impressive sculpting and historical details make it an excellent project for collectors and figure painters alike.

Here are the parts.

Parts View

Head View with Helmet

Upper and Lower Body, Left and Right arms View

Wings and Leopard Pelt View

Horse, Saddle Blanket and Saddle View

Kopia Lance and White Metal Parts View

Photo Etched Parts, lead foil and Base view

Assembly and Painting Guide View

Final thoughts:

Following the sad news of Sergy Alobov's who recently passed away, I look back at his remarkable work as the sculptor of this figure kit. Reviewing it feels like more than a simple assessment of a model. It is also an opportunity to recognize the skill, imagination, and dedication behind the work. This kit stands as a reminder of the sculptor’s ability to transform from a two dimensional painting by Angus McBride, features in Osprey Men-at-Arms series into something with character, movement, and presence.

A superbly sculpted mounted figure kit. The sculpting itself is rich in detail without appearing overworked. The anatomy is convincing, and the transitions between major forms are handled with confidence. From a modelling perspective, the kit is rewarding. The casting parts fit together well overall, though—as with many sculpted figure kits—some preparation is required. There are a few mould lines need to be cleaned. The lead foil that comes with the kit is a bit small for the flag template. The photo etched name plaque is an excellent choice for a clean, sharp, and museum-quality finish that really elevates the final presentation.

The anatomy is thoughtfully handled, and the proportions give the figure a pleasing realism while still allowing room for artistic interpretation. Sergey was also widely regarded as one of the finest sculptors of equestrian figures. The horse for this kit was sculpted with exceptional dynamism and realism, while rider and mount were united in a way that captured both the spirit and drama of the subject.

This is a figure kit worth building for its quality, but also worth cherishing for its spirit. It stands as a fitting tribute to a sculptor whose understanding of form and character continues to speak through the work he left behind.

My Rating Summary:

Polish Winged Hussar Uniform, Armour, and the Wings

Unlike Western European knights who wore full plate, the Winged Hussars favoured half-armour (cuirass) to balance maximum protection with high mobility.

The Wings (Skrzydła): The hussars' defining trademark consisted of one or two curved wooden frames attached either to the back plate of their armour or directly to the horse's saddle-mounted frames to instill fear. These frames were meticulously rowed with eagle, raptor, or ostrich feathers. When the cavalry charged at high speeds, the visual magnitude made the unit look massive and angelic, terrorizing opposing infantry while the wind rustling through the feathers panicked enemy horses.

The Body Armour: A polished steel breastplate with brass and backplate (cuirass) half armour covering torso, accompanied by articulated pauldrons (shoulder guards), a gorget to protect the neck, and forearm bracers (karwasze).

The Helmet: They commonly wore a szyszak (a lobster-tailed pot helmet) featuring segmented steel plates with nasal guard, cheekpieces, fan-shaped decorative metal wings attached directly to the sides of helmet skull or a face plate and a layered steel neck protector to safeguard against slashing strikes.

Animal Pelts & Garments: Hussars wore vibrant, expensive oriental-style clothing beneath their armour, such as a long under-tunic (żupan) and an overcoat (kontusz). Striking animal furs, such as leopard, tiger, lion, wolf, or bear skins, were draped over the left shoulder and fastened across the chest. These skins were signs of high status, reflecting the rider's immense wealth.

Polearms and Primary Long Weapons

The Kopia Lance: The primary weapon of Poland's Winged Hussars, The Kopia Lance was much different than the traditional European War Lance. Designed to be long, to allow for "distance contact" with an enemy, these Lances ranged from 15 to 25-feet in some cases. Made from Fir wood, The Kopia was constructed of two halves of hollow wood (sealed by glues). An opening on the shafts top, allowed for the Spearhead (made of iron), to be fitted. The most common feature of The Kopia was that they were brightly colored by paint. The hollow design was a practicality. The construction allowed for the weapon to break off, thus preventing a Hussar from getting snared himself. This design also allowed for maximum damage upon impact.

Spearheads were of varying designs and most often double edged. On average, a spearhead could range from 8 to 12-inches. Another innovation was a protective hand coveting get known as a "Galka" a distinctive, large wooden ball-shaped hand guard. Located some 3/4 in distance from the end of the shaft, it both protected the users hand and served as a "counter balance". Attached just below the spearhead steel tip was a giant, flowing fabric pennon (often red and white), which added to the terrifying visual spectacle and helped confuse enemy infantry as the cavalry bore down on them.

Szabla and Koncerz: Polish Winged Hussars typically carried two swords at a time. A specialized curved sabre Szabla was carried on the left side for close-quarters melee and a long thrusting weapon koncerz (up to 1.5 meters (4.9 ft) in length) which carried underneath his left thigh or pałasz (a type of broadsword) under his right thigh kept ready on the saddle as a backup after their primary lance (kopia) shattered. They also carried one or two wheellock (later flintlock) pistols in the saddle holsters.

The Anatomy of a Polish Szabla Sabre