Lamming

25mm Ancients

by Jim Womer

While most of us on this side of the Atlantic commonly think of the English scene as being dominated by "Minifigs" and Hinchliffe in terms of figures being produced, it is important to note that there do exist a variety of smaller designer-manufacturers, of very variable life expectancy and widely differing in quality. For those inclined to risk their hobby dollars to the stormy North Atlantic and its far shores, this review focuses on Lamming Miniatures' 25MM Ancients line. During Volume III, we will also take a look at their Renaissance figures.

Submitted for review were two different styles of Republican Roman Infantry, a versatile light cavalry type, two different types of Mongol cavalry, and a very utilitarian camel.

Unquestionably, the most singular feature of the Lamming line is the fact that heads, shields, weapons and equipment are cast separately from the basic figure and Your choice is supplied with the figure; as an added bonus, you can purchase aditional items separately.

Moreover, there is a considerable range of heads available -- for example, about twelve Greek types including armored, unarmored, and various mercenary or auxiliary types; the listing of shields and weapons alone cover more than a page in the catalogue. The implications of this line for the ancients wargamer are considerable, and represents the opportunity to create an army of a wide variety of types with a degree of individual animation at a minimum of conversion hassles.

This type of a line does have an important compromise, which could be very discouraging to the novice. The fact that the figures must be assembled and some care must be used in that assembly means that it will take longer to put larger forces on the tabletop. For the ancients gamer who already had his forces, units of Lamming Figures could be a sound investment, particularly if this gamer is inclined toward some creative modeling.

The most impressive figure submitted was the standing camel; the riders included were armed either with bow or lance least separately) and three different Arab style heads. For those less interested in camelry, the same casting can be equipped as a beast of burden with equipment pack and separate bundles of javelins with bowcase. The two Republican Roman infantrymen tnot described in the listing submitted by the manufacturer) had differing styles of body armor and headress, but similiar weaponry.

Although I felt that the torso and head were soundly proportioned, the arms and legs were on the robust side, which tends to make me conclude that this is to facilitate assembly and surviving wargame usage. The light cavalry figure was supplied with sufficient parts to be completed as either a Republican Roman of a Gallic noble type.

The Mongol cavalry riders were a horse archer and a javelin throwing type with an appropriately fierce head. I should emphasize that each of the figures submitted had very good detail, particularly in the mail armor, and that the castings themselves were very clean and crisp with virtually no flash -- it was even difficult to locate the mol separation lines. Although well equipped, the horses were a minor disappointment being a wargaming breed with relatively heavy legs an being somewhat smaller than their "Minifig" cousins.

Quantifying these impressions numericallYy anatomy is (.7), Animation is (.7), Detail (.8) Paintability (.8), and Casting (.9), for a total of 3.9 of a possible 5.0.

My overall impression of Lamming Miniatures is favorable with several important qualifications. First, the infantry is somewht heavy in arm and leg and the hones appear somewhat undenized and stocky, however, these characteristics should enable the figure to survive rough handling on the table top and in transit. Second, the units impress me as being very well suited for WRG Ancients style units, particularly for the collector -- gamer who is inclined to do some modeling of his units and who is prepared to invest some time in the individual unit; conversely, a novice trying to put his fint ancients army on the tabletop may be facing very long lead time if trying to assemble some 200 or so figures.

In the Ancient period, Lamming lists Egyptians, Assyrians, Greeks, Britons, Gauls, Imperial Romans, Parthians, Sassanid Penians, Byzantines, as well as Vikings' Normans and Medieval types. Keeping in mind individual taste and the qualified nature of this endorsement, I would suggest that you write to the manufacturer first and sample the line before investing next month's rent or mortgage money.

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