Review:
by Rob Mosca
Next from Minifig are several 25 mm. additions to their Napoleonic range, including the first of the eagerly awaited Scandinavian Armies of Denmark and Sweden. The two Danish figures are a line infantryman and a jager advancing. Both are well sculpted, clearly defining the particular nuances of the Danish uniforms such as the short cut of the tunic. The jager is wearing the unusual six-sided czapka, with turban, huge ball tuft and long hanging cords. The figure also carries a rifle and, being so unique looking, will no doubt see much action on the wargame tables. The Swedish Grenadier, as are the two fine "flank companies" Swiss figures, are sculpted in the "march attack" position with musket shouldered upright. These are also highly detailed figures, wearing the kusket (a vaguely rounded top hat) with the short brim of the "Indelta" regiments' grenadiers and the bearskin chenille (fur crest) surmounting the top. Included in the same range are five new cavalry figure releases. A Lithuanian tartar, from one of the more exotic regiments of Napoleon's empire, comes resplendent in oriental costume with turban. The other four figures represent a line chasseur in cape and overcoat, a dragoon in forage cap, a lancer with covered helmet and a cuirassier in heavy overalls. All are nicely detailed figures in the "at rest" position and should lend an "animated" effect when mixed in with wargame regiments of their more "showy" troop types. Favorites are the dragoon in fatigue cap with slung muskatoon (a real forager), and the cuirassier, with plume and horse-hair crest wrapped in oil-cloth, wearing a pair of heavy overalls. These "on campaign" figures allow a variety in painting as dress regulations would be quite relaxed and troopers would outfit themselves with whatever was locally available. Definitely recommended. ErrataAccording to Dan Schorr the review of the Minifig Swedes and Danes in Vol 1, No. 1 were in error as described below: A. SDN 2 which is advertised as a grenadier, is in fact a guardsman The uniforms of the two are very different. In addition the figure is in the 1807-1812 coat. 8. SDN 6 is supposed to represent a Swedish line infantryman in the 1810 uniform. The coat, however, does not have turnbacks as the 1810 uniform did indeed have. C. SDN 10 is in the 1810 uniform. D. SDN C1 which is advertised as a Light Dragoon is in fact a figure of the Smalands Rgt., pre-1810. After 1810 the Rgt. wore a tolpak! busby for headgear E. SDNC 9 is a figure of the Vastgota Dragoon Rgt., pre-1810. After that Year the Rgt. was transformed into an infantry regiment. More Reviews
Minifig 25mm Napoleonic: Denmark and Sweden Dragon Tooth 25mm Fantasy Ral Partha 25mm Ancients Back to Table of Contents -- Courier Vol. 1 #1 To Courier List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1979 by The Courier Publishing Company. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com |