Simtac Jacobite

15mm Napoleonic

Reviewed by Jim Arnold

Jacobite 15mm Napoleonic figures are available from SIMTAC, Inc., 20 Attawan Rd., Niantic, CT 06357. SIMTAC is now manufacturing them here in the US. Jacobite packages contain either 12 infantry, 4 artilleey,5 cavairy per pack ,for $2.50, or 6 infantry command, 3 cavairy command, or 2 personality figures for $1.50 per pack. Their line currently covers four of the five major powers (Austria is not available) as well as Baden, Bavaria, Poland, Denmark, and Wurttemburg. The coverage within each country includes the basics you would expect plus some unexpected units' such as Hanoverian Infantry under Great Britain and Russian dismounted dragoons. It is little hard to tell from their catalogue the period the figure comes from. For example, while the Russian figures are broken out by era (e.g., 1805-1812), the French and British packs not specify the period. Is a British line infantryman in stovepipe or Belgic shako? No doubt questions like this can be cleared up by writing to the company. Then there are a few anomolies such as British "Grenadier Guard Inf.". Since this designation did not come into being until after Waterloo, one wonders what the figure is.

Turning to the castings themselves, they (like virtually every other line) suffer by comparison to Battle Honour's state of-the-art casting. The detail is not as clear, the anatomy, particularly on the horses, is a little off, and there is more flash. The two sample drummers have their sticks stuck to their heads as if they have just delivered a solid wallop to their temple. On the plus side, the castings themselves are nicely resistant to breakage. Also, some of the figures, such as a French sapper in bearskin and apron, are not often provided by other manufacturers. Jacobite -features a nice selection of personality figures as well.

In their current shape, Jacobite is best used to flesh out one's existing collection by adding some variety. Hopefully, they will improve.

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