The arguments in favour of using 6mm figures are well rehearsed. It is possible to fight even the largest battles without hiring the Albert Hall and you don't have to cross the road to avoid your bank manager after buying an army.

There remains, however, a strong body of resistance against a scale which offers so much to the Napoleonic gamer. Perhaps the most commonly voiced complaint is that 6mm figures don't offer the same level of detail as their larger cousins. With one company that criticism is laid to rest with a vengeance.

Brighton based Adler produce a range of figures which are simply stunning. These miniature masterpieces offer a level of detail which very few can match, even in the larger scales.

Although sold as 1:300 scale figures, Adler miniatures are somewhere between 6mm and 10mm, and definitely not compatible with either Heroic and Ros or Irregular. Personally I find their size a great advantage. By being that little bit bigger you get more of a substantial feet from them - almost like "real" wargames figures - while at only 12p for a strip of four infantry they are considerably less expensive than the 10mm. figures.

The range, while not exhaustive yet, although new figures appear almost every month, is certainly extensive with all the major protagonists of the Napoleonic period well catered for - France, Russia, Austria, Poland, Britain, Bavaria, Prussia, Wurttemburg and Spain.

Within each nationality the troops available cover all the main types and most of the more unusual ones, with only a few exceptions. For example in the Austrian range you can choose Landwehr with Corsican or top hats.

There are six different French hussars with slung or worn pelisse and a choice of colpack, 1810 or 1812 shako.

The French lists, as one would expect, are the most comprehensive and you can pick either pre or post 1812 uniforms, the latter being suitable also for the confederation troops.

As I said earlier the detail on these figures really is astonishing. The grenadiers even have moustaches. In the main French lists the troops have shako cords, which can be quite tricky to paint without a very steady hand, so it may be better to take advantage of the new campaign dress figures without cords.

The figures are on the chunky side, and a little caricatured. This, however, makes it considerably easier to add highlighting and gives them very nice character. Comment has been passed on Adler that the heads appear to be too large. I do not hold this view. It is true that the French infantry shakos look large, but go along to a museum where you can see a bell topped shako - they were large.

The detail on these figures really shines with the cavalry. These come as two figure strips with each figure in a different pose. The horses are nicel~ animated with clearly detailed horse furniture.

The one problem I have found is that the bayonets and some of the plumes can be a little brittle. To avoid this problem with the infantry it is best to use the marching rather than the advancing figures.

Prices are very reasonable at Up for a four figure strip, or 14p for command and some of the more exotic troop types. Cavalry range from 14p to 22p. You can save more money if you buy their Division and Brigade packs.

There is no doubt that Adler bring you the best of both worlds. They have the advantages of standard 6mm in that you can play large games on a small space without bankrupting yourself in the process, but in addition they are just that bit bigger to give you a visually more attractive army.

Adler are available from 129 Bonchurch Road, Brighton, Sussex, BN2 3PJ

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