Mike's Models 15mm

(many periods)

by Rod Burr

Mike's Models also continues to expand its very wide selections and ranges and we have received early Creeks, Saxons from the Dark Ages, Teutonic Knights, Renaissance Turks, Spanish Pikemen, English Civil War, and Japanese "Shogun" samuri types.

Frankly, these wargaming figures are not for everybody. These smallish 15mm figures have chosen paintable detail and animation over anatomy by a wide margin, and the result approaches caricature in a number of cases. Given that, these are definite Iy figures which will not please everyone and which one ought to purchase initially in the widest variety of small numbers and then made an intelligent decision about investing in the line. The great strength of this line lies in the impressive selection and variety of available figures which are attempting to be as comprehensive as possible.

The Renaissance Turks are a case in point. The Janissary firing his musket has a well done cap with plume and coat with folds and creases and delineated boots. An apparent Bashi-Bazook (or something close- I'm not a Renaissance specialist) clad only in detailed Turban and loincloth charging has the anatomy of a bear without hair but not that of a human being. The relatively smallish cavalry are cast in spearate horse and rider, with one chap covered in rather nicely detailed feathers and fur, and another fully equipped as a Turkish medium cavalryman with lance and pennon.

This is a very difficult group to quantify on any rating system because of the design compromise mentioned above. But that's where the work is in this column. As to the infantry. (.4) anatomy, (.7) animation, (.6) detail. (.8) paintability and ( 7) casting. The cavalry are ( 4) anatomy, (.6) animation, ( 6) detail, (.8) paintability and (.7) casting The infantry total 3.2 of a possible s o, while the cavalry are a 31.

I suggest that the 'bottom line' on Mike's Models comes down squarely to your taste as an individual wargamer. If your taste runs to colorful, unusual units of obscure periods, or a novice getting his first unit on the table top, and you are unconcerned with anatomy or relative size of the figure, then consider Mike's Models You can probably find just about anything in this manufacturer's selection.

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