A company that has come out of nowhere in the last few years to become one of the most respected producers of miniatures in this country is Ral Partha. I've just been sent some further example of just why they're so popular. They have a series called "1200 A:D." representing the armies of feudal Europe, the Mongols, and Sung China of that era. A really excellent figure in this line is #1107, Viking Swordsman (see photo). He is just a bit tall for 25mm but the detail, animation and realism of this figure are outstanding. And #1153, French Man at Arms with spear is also an excellent figure. He wears a conical helmet, chainmail over most of his body, including his head (except his face, of course) and hands, boots, and a surcoat. He carries a spear about 33mm long, with a pennant wrapped about the upper half of it, across his body as he advances. He is wearing long sword in a scabbard.

Also from this line is #1129, English Man at Arms. He is quite large for 25mm scale - about 27mm to the top of his head, not counting the helmet, and his knees are bent. If he were at attention he'd be more like 28 or 29mm! He is swinging a one-handled battleaxe (cast separately) and holding up a heraldric-type shield (part of the main casting.) This is also a well- detailed and animated figure. The wood grain on the back of the shield is a nice detail. He wears a smooth, more bullet-shaped helmet with chainmail over the neck, a short-tailed, short-sleeved chainmail coat covered by an even shorter, sleeveless surcoat, tights and boots.

A Sung Chinese light infantryman is #1217. He's about 26mm tall, with knees bent (advancing) , and stocky. He wears what I assume is a helmet, but might be a hat, with a hemispherical center and wide circular, almost flat, brim and a drooping plume or horse tail attached to the top center. He's wearing a knee-length coat covered by a shorter surcoat, (the shoulders are very puffed up, perhaps from armor plates under his coat) trousers and shoes. On his right hip, suspended by a belt over his left shoulder, is some round, domed object, which either is a very large canteen or a very small shield. Suspended from his waist is a scabbard holding a straight sword of medium length. He carries across his body, like a pole-vaulter's pole, a 49mm-long spear. This is a separate piece, consisting of a strip of heavy piano wire for the shaft fastened to a soft metal casting for the point and the pennant wrapped around the upper half. This is a very interesting casting, and unique subject. The piano-wire spear is an excellent idea, since it stays nice and straight.

All of the figures, especially the first three, are also well suited for use in tantasy armies. They sell for 40¢ each, and are also available from the Toy Soldier.

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