Falcon Miniatures

15mm ACW Figures

By Brian Scherzer

Falcon Miniatures (P.O. Box 444, Medford, MA02155) carries a moderate sized list of 15mm American Civil War castings that, according to their brochure, includes four different command packs, fourteen separate infantry packs, seven mounted cavalry packs, two dismounted cavalry packs, an artillery crew pack, a limber set pack (3 limbers), and two different artillery gun packs (Napoleons and Parrott Rifles). All infantry and artillerist packs contain 24 castings at a price of $6 each, while cavalry packs have 8 horses and riders at $5, and guns come 4tothe pack ata cost of $6. For those who like ready-made brigades, Falcon also carries Union and Confederate brigade packs (80 infantry with command, 3 guns, limbers, and crews) for $25, and Union or Confederate cavalry brigades (40 mounted with command, 40 dismounted) at $30 per pack.

The reviewer was sent a total of four infantry and two mounted cavalry castings for examination. There was minimal flashing to clean and the metal used seems to be quite durable and able to be shaped to some degree without breaking. In relating size, these castings are somewhat bulkier, though not much taller, than either Stone Mountain, Minifigs, or Freikorps figures. More along the line of Essex Miniatures in stature, the Falcon castings are not heavily endowed with "wrinkles" in their clothing, but have sufficient detail and separation of same for a good paint job.

Essentially, the infantry come either in kepi or soft hat in poses of advancing, charging, firing, or on guard. in addition, there are infantry in kepi with overcoats advancing or attacking, zouaves in turban attacking, and zouaves in kepi advancing. Proportions on the castings are fairly good, although on some the heads are slightly oversized. The horses were nicely done, and their riders impressed me a bit more than the infantry figures did.

My overall impression of the line is that it is limited if one wishes to have many different castings in the same unit. However, I would have no problem incorporating some of the castings in units that contain figures from other lines (Jim Parcella of Falcon tells me that the line is still expanding and is about 75% complete - ED.) -

Reviewing Stand

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