Friekorps

15mm New ECW
Thirty Years War Range

review by Nick Nascati

Let me start off with WOW!, and work my way from there. This re-worked line quite simply represents the state of the art in 15mm figures. This is coming, mind you, from someone whojust spent $50.00 on an ECW army by another manufacturer, and who now wishes that at least one leg was double jointed.

Anyone who has read the old ARMCHAIR GENERAL, or more recently, read Pat Condray's excellent booklet on the Saxon Army, will be familiar with the excellent line drawings of French wargamer and figure designer, Jean Balubre. This new range from Friekorps looks as if someone found a way to turn those drawings into solid 15mm figures.

Detail, posing and casting quality are all superb. The full impedimentia of the 17th Century musketeer is clearly modelled, down to the twelve apostles containing his powder charges. Hose, boots and buckled shoes are visible, and the figures sport a variety of period headgear. Facial detail is wonderful, and skilled painters should have fun picking out van dykes and moustaches. The pikemen are in a great variety of poses, drawn from 17th Century drill books, and each piece of their armor is detailed and accurate.

At present, there are only two mounted figures in the range, a medium cavalryman in open helmet with sword, and a cuirassier with a pistol. I have not seen the cuirassier, but judging by the medium cavalryman, who is based on a woodcut of a mounted arquebusier of 1630, I suspect that they are both more suited to the Thirty Years War. The figure is quite good, though modelled at rest, and it truly transmits a sense of power. The line is advertised as Part 1, and I hope that Part 2 will fill in the gaps, with more cavalry, artillerymen and guns.

They are compatible in size to Mini-Figs and Jacobite, and marginally larger than the true 15mm Mike's Models and Laing's. The larger size and clear detail make painting fairly easy, and beginners should have little problem turning out a respectable product. Experienced painters will be able to turn out true works of art, The figures may even spark some interest in 15mm skirmish games, as the variety of poses easily lends itself to that medium. in fact, I've been thinking along the lines of a 1620's colonial frontier game, using these figures, and the 18th Century American Indians Freikorps also makes.

Overall, as I received samples of all but four of the line, I can give the figures a comprehensive rating. I give them my highest praise, and fully recommend them to anyone interested in this period.

The figures are presently available from: Modeler's Mart, 2071 Range Road, Clearwater, FL 33575

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