With the release of Ral Partha's Lansknechts from their new "Condottieri" range, there are at last wargame figures on the market whose sculptured quality rivals, in some cases, surpasses that of their 54mm brethren. One glance at these figures will immediately confirm the workmanship and effort which have gone into their making.
The number of releases itself is prodigious, with two separate command packs, each containing four or five different figures, and five different pikemen in "German" costume (as all the figures are; perhaps later Tom can be persuaded to sculpt some Lansknechts in the "Italian" style costume). The pikemen are posed: two with pikes ready, three with pikes leveled in the attack position. Not forogotten are the Doppelsoldners: four packs of two-handed weapon wielders (two with axes, two with ox-tongue swords) and five packs of arquebusiers (two firing, two loading, one at ready). Also included in the range are two gendarmes; one in Maximillian style armor, the other in Burgundian style armor with open sallet helmet (an excellent figure for the War of the Roses).
Aside from the prodigious range, stands the quality of the figures themselves. Each ribbon, rivet, slash and cutout pattern on the cheesecloth overcoats is clearly pronounced on each casting. The countenance of the figures, grimmacing and bewhiskered, captures the genuine character of history's brashest mercenaries. Only one figure, that of the advancing standard bearer, lags behind the other figures in this respect.
The limp flag is almost totally unpaintable except in solid colors. It would be better to use a pikeman as a substitute standard bearer.
However, among Ral Partha's other offerings another standard bearer, posed advancing, bare-headed, at the run, is probably the most dramatically sculpted figure in any wargame range. It is ideal as the flagman of the forlorn hope. Another formidable figure is the Provest General, hand resting on axe. With his cloak painted red, he is ideal as a regimental executioner. As these figures show, there can be no substitution for quality as it can only improve the overall status of our hobby.
Before, however, these figures assume the proportions of Jove, there are some points that you, the consumer, should be aware of. Primarily this: the inherent finesse of the sculpting make these very difficult figures to paint. At least as far as the desirability for mass turnout onto the gaming table is concerned.
One finds that some measure of forethought is needed in the planning of painting these figures, as the multitude of slashings, hose, frills and bows, are not easily fixed into a quick color pattern. Minor faults would be the partial covering of the faces in the two Doppelsoldner swordsmen, which obscures their character, and the level thrust position of several of the pikemen, which, though historically accurate, is a clumsy piece to use on the wargame table. The standard bearer I have already mentioned.
The companion gendarmes' horses should be seeded with some in more natural stances. (All horses, barded or otherwise, are posed rearing). However, these small quirks cannot damper the overall workmanship and, indeed, if Tom Meir can be persuaded to complete the line (gunners, reitiers, especially reitiers, non-Lansknecht style infantry) he will have earned more than a feather in his cap in our hobby.
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