Echoing Jay Hadley's comment in his review of the Napoleonic Super Detail Range, when Mini-Figs says "Super Detail", they mean it. With prices for 25mm figures soaring higher and higher, wargamers begin to seriously consider converting to the smaller scale. However, the question arises as to how much one is willing to compromise on quality to save money.
Now that I have had a chance to see these new figures, I can say that no compromise need be made. In a word, the figures are superb. It almost seems as if the designers have found a way to shrink 54mm figures down to 15mm. I have always favored 25mm and larger figures so the fact that the fellows I game with and myself are all now building 15mm armies must mean something.
The sample figures that I received had no flash on them and the castings were of uniformly high quality. Under the blanket term "Renaissance" there are actually three different but compatible lines offered; Renaissance (Eastern and Western Europe), English Civil War and Thirty Years War. At present, 66 different sets of figures are offered and 7 sets of artillery, however, the range is actually much larger since each infantry set offers a minimum of 2 different figures. By careful mixing and matching of figures, and possibly some minor conversion, virtually any army from 1490 to 1660 could easily be produced.
There are two things that gamers must be aware of, however, related to paintability and size. Anyone who buys these particular 15mm figures expecting to paint them up in no time is in for a surprise. Certainly the smaller size does significantly reduce painting time as compared to 25's, but these figures are detailed. A rushed paint job will show up poorly so take your time, the end result is well worth the effort. The figures paint up quite nicely, using washes or more traditional techniques. The careful novice should have little trouble painting these and the experienced painter may enjoy the challenge of finely detailing these tiny masterpieces.
Size and compatibility may present another problem. The figures are definitely larger than 15mm and dwarf more exactly scaled figures like MIKE'S MODELS or PETER LAING. However, the line itself is definitely meant to be used for entire armies so the new gamer might consider carefully which manufacturer to buy from, (both JACOBITE and FREIKORPS produce larger 15's, but at present neither produte any figures for our period.)
The only major problem with the figures is an aesthetic one dealing with animation. All of the cavalry horses are walking and most of the riders are at rest. While this will do for the various heavy types, it is not as desirable for the light/irregular types such as Tartars, Cossacks, etc. Hopefully this problem will be rectified with future releases.
There are few gaps in the line but Steve Carpenter tells me that they will be keeping a file of suggestions for additional figures which will be used when the time comes to expand the line. Topping the list, I expect, will be Turkish and Eastern European artillerymen.
Since I have seen just about the entire line, I will vary slightly in rating. Rather than list each individual casting, I will rate them by type:
| TYPE | ANATOMY | ANIM. | DETAIL | PAINT. | CAST | TOT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pikemen | .8 | .4 | .8 | .8 | 1.0 | 3.8 |
| Crossbowmen | .8 | .6 | .9 | .8 | 1.0 | 4.1 |
| Musketeers | .8 | .6 | .9 | .8 | 1.0 | 4.1 |
| Arquebusiers | .8 | .6 | .9 | .8 | 1.0 | 4.1 |
| Other Foot | .8 | .4 | .9 | .8 | 1.0 | 3.9 |
| Artillerymen | .8 | .7 | .9 | .8 | 1.0 | 4.2 |
| Officers | .8 | .7 | .9 | .8 | 1.0 | 4.2 |
| Light Cavalry | .8 | .4 | .8 | .8 | 1.0 | 3.8 |
| Medium Cavalry | .8 | .5 | .9 | .8 | 1.0 | 4.0 |
| Heavy Cavalry | .8 | .5 | .9 | .8 | 1.0 | 4.0 |
| Artillery | - | - | 1.0 | .8 | 1.0 | 2.8 |
In conclusion, I can recommend these figures highly to anyone getting started in the period, especially if you game solo or with just a couple of friends, or if you just want to sample the tactics without a huge outlay of money. At 24 foot for $4.98, three of these cost as much as a single 25mm figure. Steve Carpenter is working to make the figures available in hobby shops but he still maintains a mail order business.
More Reviews
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Hincliffe Models Inc.: 25mm 7YW, Ancient Britons/Romans, 15mm Napoleonics
Mike's Models Inc.: 25mm Pike and Shot
Miniature Figurines: 15mm Renaissance and ECW
Uniforms for the Continental Army (book)
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