RAFM Flint and Feather

25mm Indians

review by Ken Bunger

Rafm of Canada has released a range of Great Lake Indians covering the period from the late 1600's through the War of 1812, entitled "Flint & Feather". The size and sculpting style is comparable to the recent Rai Partha ranges being 25mm from toe to forehead and very well proportioned. As one has come to expect from Rafm the figures' great amount of detail are crisply molded and free of flash. The faces are particularly well done looking very much like the American Indians of the East. Most are scantily dressed or only wearing trousers, although IN-4 (kneeling firing) is in full buckskins. The figures IN2, 5, 8, and 9 are all provided with an assortment of weapons including muskets. A very nice touch is the inclusion of a quiver of arrows with the extra bow. This provides welcomed variety.

The range includes canoes, personalities and a coureurbois. the inclusion of canoes was a real inspiration and they are very nicely done. The only critique is that the trade canoe in three pieces requires some work to make it fit together. The personalities include a mounted Chief Joseph Brant in full British dress coat which figure is also useful for his son John Brant (ca. 1810), while Chief Tecumseh is in buckskins. Descriptions of their dress can be found in the mammoth Lossing's War of 1812 (Reprinted and available from New England History Press, P.O. Box 70, Somersworth, N.H. 03878-0070 if anyone's interested).

Now for some nit-picking - I'm not real thrilled with the positioning of IN-7 or IN-9 both of which have their left arms raised in -unnatural positions. Also, IN-6 is firing a musket but his right hand is inexplicably holding the musket's butt. I also wish the canoe warriors were dressed alike as one is in winter buckskin and the other almost naked.

The small shields IN-2 and IN-3 may be accurate, but I'm not sure they were all that common in battle. IN-5 has a sort of Egyptian looking shield which gives it the appearance of an Indian of an earlier era. It's the perfect opponent for the wandering Vikings settling Vinland (having been driven from Europe in our last ancient's campaign). I know the designer, Bob Murch, did a lot of research so I hope he might provide THE COURIER with an article on the Indian's dress and tactics.

I really recommend this range and hope the buyers' response will encourage RAFM to expand the range to include more southern tribes such as Creeks and Seminoles. The figures are available from RAFM Company, Inc., 19 Concession St., Cambridge, Ont., Canada NIR 2G6. A set of six warriors are $4.00, Chief and Shaman - $2.00, Chief Brant - $2.00, Chief Tecumseh - $1.25, Canoe set - $4.00, and Trade Canoe - $6.00.

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