Frei Korps

15mm Seminoles

Reviewed by Ken Bunger

In the Second Seminole War, 1835 to 1842, the United States waged a war in Florida against its few thousand Indian inhabitants, collectively called the Seminoles. The earlier conflict was fought in 1817 by troops led by Andrew Jackson.

During this second war the unbelievably tough and skilled Seminoles, and their runaway black slave allies, were never really defeated. The U.S. forces finally just overwhelmed them. A number of recent releases amply supplies the wargamer with figures for the era. Frei Korps 15 has released a range of 15mm Seminoles and U.S. troops. Frontier Miniatures still produces a 25mm rangeand has released a very good booklet on the subject. The respective Mexican War ranges of these manufacturers also contain many useful figures for this conflict.

The FREI KORPS 15 range contains the following packs of figures: SMI Seminole Warriors. This fantastic pack containsten very different Seminoles and escaped slaves. Frei Korps has always done a great job of providing packs of mixed figures in all of its ranges. All but one of the Seminoles are in long "smocks" or shirts. Each of the figures is equipped with a musket, cartouche box and hatchet. The Seminoles either wear turbans or simply have long distinctive scalplocks. SM2 Seminole Command. This contains two kneeling Seminoles, two in buckskins and one black slave leader in a uniform coat with no headgear. SM3 U.S. Infantry in jacket, SM4 U.S. Infantry in shirt, SM5 U.S. Infantry Command and SM6 U.S. Artillery Crew. These U.S. troops are all wearing the 1833 issue leather collapsible forage cap (undoubtedly the ugliest headgear ever worn on this continent). The figures are loaded with accoutrements (very well sculpted) so even the figure in shirt can be painted in a short jacket. The Command pack contains two drummers, two officers and an officer in buckskins.

These figures all have the super fine detail for which Frei Korps is known. Theanatomy is uniformly excellent,and they are truel5mm in height (like their other ranges). There is virtually no flash. The one criticism is that the metal is a little brittle, but this is not a major concern.

A full list of Frei Korps 15 ranges can be obtained for$2.00 from Frei Korps 15, 25 Princetown Road, Bangor, Co. Down BT20 3TA, Northern Ireland. Tel. (0247) 883187. I'm not sure of the current prices per pack, but the owner, Cameron Robinson, takes U.S. checks. just add one dollar for bank charges. His service has always been very good. Photos are of Frei Korps 15 figures.

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