The following review has been sitting in our 'Age of Napoleon' box for the last few months and we felt it was time to dust it off and use it in a magazine more suited to figure reviews. We hadn't intentionally ignored it but the Book reviews were abundant and given the priority. Our apologies to Paul McPartland and we hope a new contribution is on it's way soon.

The man from Baccus has been at it again, and following the release of the French Peninsular figures come a range of Brits to give them some opposition. As with the French, the Line infantry come based four to a 20mm frontage base all facing forwards. The casting and detailing is well up to the extremely high standards set by the first releases, and if anything the poses are more natural. In terms of size they are bigger than my old Heroics and Ros figures, but not as bulky as the Adlers in my collection.

Cavalry figures come three to a base, mounted nose to tail. I notice that there are now pronounced notches engraved into the bases which has made the task of chopping the strips up prior to basing much easier than with the French. The designer is obviously a man who listens to his critics!

NBR1 British Line Infantry

The men are wearing very obvious stovepipe shakos, making them suitable for all but the latter campaigns of the wars. The muskets are now held left handed in a standard drill pose which runs vertically up the body, and the bayonets are especially well modelled. As with the French equivalents the bases of figures have been constructed using individual Models, so that there are slight variations of height and stance running throughout the castings. Firm steady and resolute Soldiers. What more could you want from British Line infantry?

The command elements come with the line infantry. These consist of an officer, two Ensigns and a drummer on one base. The commissioned officers all come with the most beautiful but impractical looking bicornes, and are detailed down to gorgets and sashes. (Remember we are talking 6mm figures here.) Charming and elegant castings.

Price: £ 1.30 for ten bases of infantry, two of which are command elements.

NBR2 LIGHT INFANTRY

I cannot review these, as there were none in the review package. Price: £ 1.30 for ten bases of infantry.

NBR3 RIFLES

No Peninsular battle is complete without the greenjackets. With the French, it was the voltiguers that caught the eye and with the Brits it's these gentlemen. There are four poses on each strip, with figures in the act of firing, porting and reloading. There is also a fourth pose which I can only describe as "posing around like the actors in the Sharpe films"! Some of the bases include an officer and a bugler, and there is a sprinkling of men wearing forage caps. I have already painted and based these, and I can tell you that they look wonderful.

Price: £ 1.30 for ten bases of infantry.

NBR4 Heavy Dragoons in Bicorne

These look solid heavy and menacing wearing their bicornes fore and aft with their straight bladed heavy cavalry swords resting gently on right shoulders ready for action. Useful for both British and KGL.

Price: £ 3.60 for fifteen bases of cavalry, three of which are command elements.

NBR5 Light Dragoons

In Tarleton Braided jackets, Tarleton helmets with scarf and big bushy crest. These are unmistakably British light cavalry of the early years. They are modelled in the familiar pose with curved sabre held over right shoulder, pommel resting on the hip, reminiscent of the standard Minifigs pose. Command elements are included with the ordinary bases. These consist of a trooper, an officer and a trumpeter.

Price: £ 3.60 for fifteen bases of cavalry, three of which are command elements.

NBR6 Hussars

I think that the Baccus designer likes hussars. They were the pick of the crop for his French range and these gentlemen are likewise of a similar standard.

Colourful, arrogant, and extraordinarily well detailed for figures so small. How do you paint pelisse braiding on these things?

Price: £ 3.60 for Fifteen bases of cavalry, three of which are command elements.

NBR7 FOOT ARTILLERY AND CREW

The cannon itself comes as a one piece casting of barrel, carriage and base, with two wheels to glue on. The distinctive British one-piece trail is well represented, although I think that I would have preferred a slightly longer barrel. The crew are all wearing shakos; one officer, one with ram rod, one carrying a portfire and one with a trailspike.

Price: £ 1.65 for four cannon, each with four crew.

NBR8 HORSE ARTILLERY AND CREW

The cannon is the same as that supplied with the Foot crew. The crew themselves are lovely individuals, all with the distinctive RHA helmet and short jacket.

There are as yet no Rockets, Scots and Lifeguards available, but I assume that they are all in hand. To come are Portuguese and Spanish. Once again, When, Oh When will Baccus do some Russians?

To sum up, these continue the excellent standards of the initial French releases and if anything are even better. It looks like the designer has finally got to grips with the period having got :away from those silly men in skirts waving sticks that have been the main thrust of the Baccus ranges to date. Now that he has finally discovered the true wargames period. I call only hope that he goes on from strength to strength.

Incidentally, at Salute I was able to see a little demonstration piece that had been knocked up for the Baccus trade stand. There in front of me was a French battalion in column reproduced at one figure to one man in all its glory and splendour. Next time you go to a convention have a look out for the Baccus stand see it for yourself - it may be one of those life-changing experiences you hear so much about.