This latest release of Spanish and Burgundian figures gives HINCHLIFFE one of the largest and most comprehensive lines on the market. The line now includes 50 different infantry figures, 28 cavalry figures, and an extensive range of artillery, wagons and accessories.
This line is a personal favorite of mine, and all of my Renaissance
forces are done exclusively with these figures. However, there are two
important points which a wargamer, new to the period, should be fully
aware of.
1. Scale - Though advertised as 25mm fugures, these pieces actually measure 28mm in height. This is a significant difference in size, and it is especially noticeable when comparing these figures with smaller 25mm figures such as the Ral Partha Conclotierri Line. Therefore, if you start off with these figures you should consider doing your entire army with them.
2. Paintability - These figures require a skilled and patient hand to br- ing out their true beauty and full detail. When well painted, the figures are marvelous and look great laid out on the game table. However, the novice painter may not have developed the techniques and patience necessary to do full justice to these figures. If you go with these, be prepared to spend a lot of time working on them. I once set aside an en- tire summer to put together an army of Landsknechnt, and at the end of two months, I had completed a grand total of one unit of 30 pikemen!
With these two caveats clearly stated, we can now proceed to look at the figures themselves. I received nine figures as follows: RE39 Spanish Crossbowman; RE42 Spanish Standard Bearer; RE43 Spanish Sword and Buckler Man; REC25 Spanish Knight; REC26 Spanish Mounted Arquebusier; RE44 Burgundian Pikeman with Shield; RE45 Burgundian Pikeman; RE46 Burgundian Crossbowman; RE47 Burgundian Halberdier.
The quality of casting in all cases is excellent. There is little or no flash
to be dealt with and the figures come essentially ready to prime and
paint. Pikes (piano wire) and lances are supplied separately; all other
weapons are cast onto the figures. Horses and riders come in two pieces
and assembly is simply a matter of glueing one to the other, The range
includes a wide variety of horses and the gamer is free to choose
whatever mounts he wishes for his cavalry.
The Spanish figures all have a certain aristocratic arrogance about them with their lace collars and tall morions. The standard bearer comes with his flag precast as part of the figure, and painting the head and flag may present an additional problem then that already discussed. The sword arm of the Sword and Bucklerman seems a bit too long but otherwise it is a fine figure. The remaining Spanish figures are all up the the high quality one expects from HINCHLIFFE; the detailing on the crossbow and arquebus being expecially good. The figures are definitely designed for the 16th century, being ideal for the Valois- Hapsburg Wars or even the Conquest of Mexico. Some figures, expecially the cavalry, could easily be used for the earlier phases of the Thirty Years War.
The Burgundians are dressed in late 15th century costume for the Wars of Charles The Bold, and thus they have a slightly more medieval appearance, though they could easily be used for the Italian Wars of the early 16th century up to about 1525. The Pikeman with Shield (actually a target), is about the best figure of the lot, excellent detail and posing make him a fine figure for the front ranks of a pike column. The Crossbowman's neck seems a bit elongated but otherwise the detail and posing of the figure is quite good. The ony disappointing figure of the lot is the Halberdier. Cast in what I guess would be called "standing in reserve", the figure is nicely detailed but a bit flat and stiff as Hinchliffe figures go.
Using the established Jay Hadley Rating System, the figures rate as shown in the chart below:
Suitability and compatability actually go hand in hand when discussing these figures. The only other figures on the market which are exactly the same size as these are the "one inch" Thirty Years War figures by JACK SCRUBY. These, however, are no longer listed in his catalog and are only available by special request. The figures will work as a contingent or unit in an army of LAMMING or DIXON figures which being a bit stockier than most give a larger appearance. They are definitely not compatable with MINI-FIGS or RAL PARTHA 25's, being a good head taller than these smallish figures. The best bet is really to do your entire army with these figures, luckily the range is extensive enough to make
such a task easy.
In conclusion, these figures are highly recommended to the experienced painter who wants to field an outstanding army but recommended with caution to the patient novice who would like to add a unit or two of these fine figures to give his army some class. HINCHILIFFE has been able to hold the line on quantity prices quite successfully and at ten foot of one type for $5.00, or four horse of one type for $4.00 they are probably the best buy on the market. HINCHILIFFE figures are available in some better hobby shops but the best source remains the manufacturer: Hinchcliffe Models, Inc., 4824 Memphis Street, Dallas, Texas 75207 One further point on the rating system. When rating the animation of a figure, I base the score on the following: .1 - .4 = an unrealistic or very nonagressive pose; .5 - .7 = an average pose, advancing, firing, etc.; .8 - 1.0 = an exceptionally good or useful pose.
FIGURE RATING CHART
| Figure | Anatomy | Animation | Detail | Paintability | Casting | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RE 39 Spanish Crossbowman | .9 | .7 | .9 | .7 | 1.0 | 4.2 |
| RE 42 Spanish Standard Bearer | .9 | .7 | .9 | .4 | 1.0 | 3.9 |
| RE 43 Spanish Sword and Buckler Man | .7 | .7 | .8 | .7 | 1.0 | 3.7 |
| REC 25 Spanish Knight | .9 | 1.0 | .9 | .7 | 1.0 | 4.5 |
| REC 26 Spanish Mtd. Arquebusier | .8 | .7 | .8 | .7 | 1.0 | 4.0 |
| RE 44 Burgundian Pikernan with Shield | .9 | 1.0 | .9 | .7 | 1.0 | 4.5 |
| RE 45 Burgundian Pikman | .9 | .8 | .9 | .7 | 1.0 | 4.3 |
| RE 46 Burgundian Crossbowman | .6 | .9 | .9 | .7 | 1.0 | 4.1 |
| RE 47 Burgundian Halberdier | .8 | .4 | .8 | .8 | 1.0 | 3.8 |
More Reviews
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Hincliffe 25mm Renaissance Range (figures)
Ace of Aces (WWI game)
Napoleonic Wargaming for Fun (book)
Supplying War: Logistics from Wallenstein to Patton (book)
The Battleship in the US Navy (booklet)
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