reviewed by Rod Burr
![]() |
The mounted and foot archers received for review are all well done, especially the horse archers. The set of these includes both one and two piece castings of horse and rider. The two piece poses will avoid the two dimensional appearance that units of strictly one piece cavalry castings frequently show. Roughly contemporary with the Lithuanians, is the new line of Early Poles and Slavs. The figures from this range reviewed include foot archers that would mix easily with the Lithuanian figures of the same type and a Slavic wooden idol with two bearers. The idol is nicely detailed and should be fun to paint. Potential opponents (or allies) for the Lithuanians and other "infidels" are several new sets of crusader figures including personality sets for " 'GEODFREY' leader of the first crusade", and "'COUER de LION' Richard, King of England". The three sets sent for review were " 'GOD'S WILL' 12 mounted knights", " 'CHRIST'S SPEAR' 24 spearmen" and " 'THE WICKED ARBALEST' 24 crossbowmen". All of these figures are equipped appropriately for the period of the Third and Fourth Crusades. The firing crossbowmen pose, of the two included, suffers from having the crossbow positioned vertically, presumably for ease of casting. While the bow can be twisted horizonally, this leaves a twist in the stock. The mounted knights are nicely done and include 6 different horse poses! All of the sets include multiple poses of figures. Besides this, there are different shield patterns inscribed or molded on individual figures with the same pose.
Also received were samples of the redone mounted Normans and of many of the figures from the previously released medieval Scottish period. The Normans are now up to the standards of the rest of the company's releases, and the later Scots include a delightful variety of figures, including the two now infamous infantry, one presenting a single digit salute to the enemy and the second "mooning" them. Two additional sets useful for many nationalities are " 'THE REAVERS' 12 mounted western infantry" and " 'THE SAVAGE SCOTTIE' 4 DOGS". The set of mounted infantry includes 6 different poses of rider and 2 different horses. The riders and horses are all well equipped and loaded down as if returning from a successful campaign (or well provisioned at the outset of one). The Scottie set includes two large and two small dogs. One of the latter is shown ripping out the throat of an opponent in order to quell any rumours about the lovableness of the Scotties. All of The Thistle and Rose figures are slightly larger than true 15mm, and mix well with Essex and Minifigs 15s for size. The figures did show some flash and, for some of the figures cast to hold separate wire spears and lances, the hands did not appear to be fully cast. the lead alloy used appears to be very pliable, so the figures can be easily repositioned. The Thistle and Rose figures are available from 3079 Bridgeton Court, Woodbridge, Virginia 22192. The normal price is $7.20 for 24 foot or 12 mounted figures. Reviewing Stand
Wargames Foundry 25mm Crimean War Figures Garrison 25mm Napoleonics Figures Battle Honors 15mm Republican Romans Figures Ral Partha 25mm Aztecs Figures A to Z Ancient Rules Shenandoah ACW Miniatures Campaign System Slingshot Ancients and El Dorado (Magazines) Buildings for the Military Modeller Book Space 1887: Soldiers Companion GDW Rules Supplement Wargamers Newsletter Rules Command Caliper Plastic Modeller's Handbook Osprey Men At Arms Booklets Over There WWI Rules Trench WWI Rules Handbook of the Italian Army WWII: 1940-43 Military Modelling Guide to Military Vehicles Correction: Errant Photograph Back to Table of Contents -- Courier Vol. IX No. 1 Back to Courier List of Issues Back to Master Magazine List © Copyright 1989 by The Courier Publishing Company. This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com |