For those that may not know, Rafm Company, Inc. has a small selection of 25mm Colonial figures, sold in various blister packs at reasonable prices (even though being made of pewter!). The figures are actually 27mm with little flash, and fit perfect with Wargames Foundry & Essex 28mm Colonials. Sculpting is also close to Foundry's as well.

Some of these were released a while back under their 'Blue & Gray' range as American troops for the ACW, while others are under their 'Canadian war' range as Canadian troops. With the advent of GDW closing, during the last year they have re-released their old 'Soldiers of the Queen' line, which were made in 1988/89 for GDW's Soldier's Companion rules. These include British infantry, officers, NCO's and civilians.

I have listed various details of each blister pack, along with comments following each listing (prices may be subject to change):

Stock#	Description from the 'Blue & Gray' range)
6619	CONFEDERATE ARTILLERY CREW (4 figs) - $4.50 One pose, open-handed & ready to hold loading implements at waist height. A spur of standard implements are included. All in short coats, trousers & round hats. Perfect Boer artillerymen.
6638	NAVAL GUN CREW (4 figs, 8 poses) - $4.50 Dressed in naval shirts w/large squared-collar in back, kerchief, long pants & round rating cap. All open-handed & come w/both loading implements and weapons (rifle, knife, cutlass, pistol). Two figs in loading posture, one standing at ready & one reaching as if to fire gun. Last 2 figs are also good as NCO's of Naval ratings serving as inf. (see #6640 below). Perfect for British Naval ratings for a Naval Brigade, especially since this type of fig is hard to find!
6639	NAVAL COMMAND GROUP (4 figs, 3 poses) - $4.50 Dressed in long boat coats, pants & caps as Naval ofcs. Coats have ringed braid at ends of sleeve. Two bald-headed ofcs. w/cap in hand gestering. Two ofcs. w/spyglass tucked under arm. One ofc. w/pistol pointing at arm's length. One ofc. w/hand on hip, Perfect British Naval ofcs.
6640	ARMED SAILORS (6 figs, 1 pose) - $6.50 Dress as #6638, but all w/rifle at waist in adv. posture & with cutlass in scabbard at side. Again, perfect British Naval ratings acting as inf. Use different posed figs from #6638 as NCO's.
Stock#	Description (from 'Canadian War' range)
6721	NWMP COMMAND PACK (6 figs) - S6.50 Although meant as North West Mounted Police, are perfect British ofcs. of pre-khaki period (1879 Zulu War). One mtd. commander in braided coat w/Glengarry cap. Horse is in standing pose w/one front leg raised. Two foot ofcs. in braided undress coat and Glengarry cap, sword drawn in 1-hand & gestering w/other. One fig is a Sgt-Major adv. w/sword drawn in colour-sash & pillbox cap. One Pvt. in dress helmet (spiked Sun helmet w/metal chin strap & emblem) standing at attention (rifle shouldered).
6722	CANADIAN OFCS. MTD. L DISMTD. (6 figs) - $6.50 Also meant as North West Mounted Police, but again perfect British ofcs. of pre-khaki period (1879 Zulu War). One mtd. ofc. w/hand pointing wearing a revolver, sword & later period Sun helmet. Horse as #6721, but w/slung carbine. Two foot ofc~. in braided undress coat and Sun helmet, sword drawn in 1-hand & gestering w/other. Two foot figs in coat w/braided cuffs, pants with vertical stripe and pillbox cap with one hand on hip and other at side (perfect Quartermaster or Naval ofc.).
6723	CANADIAN NCO COMMAND (6 figs) - $5.50 (not available for review)
6724	CANADIAN MILITIA, RIFLE COMPANY ADV (6 figs) - $6.50 All adv. posture, in standard British pre-khaki dress (1879 Zulu War) w/Glengarry cap; pants have single raised stripe down each leg, but no gaiters. Could use for British transition dress in 2nd Afghan War (khaki coat ~ blue pants w/red stripe) or as c.1900 Royal Marine Lt. Inf. in boat cap.
6725	CANADIAN MILITIA, RIFLE COMPANY ASSORTED (6 figs) - $6.50 Dress as #6724, with four figs in 2 firing poses (standing 6 kneeling), and two figs adv. posture w/rifle in left hand 6 right hand reaching into rear ammo pouch.
6726	CANADIAN MILITIA, ROYAL GRENADIERS (6 figs) - $6.50 Dress as #6724, but all wear Havelocks. Three figs in standing firing pose, and three in adv. posture w/rifle in left hand 6 right hand reaching into rear ammo pouch. Are passable for Indian Mutiny since they are wearinq Havelocks.
6727	CANADIAN MILITIA, ROYAL GRENADIERS ADV (6 figs) - $6.50 As #6726, but all adv. posture w/rifle at waist.
6728	BRITISH INF, FIELD HELMET ADV (6 figs) - $6.50 All adv. posture w/rifle 6 bayonet at waist. Figures dressed in standard British pre-khaki dress (1879 Zulu War} w/Sun helmet. Can alao be used for Royal Marine Lt. Inf. of that period too.
6729	BRITISH INF, DRESS HELMET ADV (6 figs) - $6.50 All as #6728, but helmet is the spiked Sun Helmet w/metal chin strap ~ emblem. Could be used as British inf. who have not removed their fancy helmet decorations in the field yet.
6730	METIS ON FOOT (6 figs) - $6.50 Only 3 figs are really useful, and then as Boers. Other 3 figs are only useful for American Indian Wars as scouts, trappers, etc.
6731	RIEL, DUMONT, POUNDMAKER (4 figs) - $5.50 Basically civilians; one being a perfect preacher type, and another an excellent mtd Boer commander w/horse, provided you scrap off coat fringe. Only fig not useable (unless your into American Indian Wars) is Indian.
6732	COLT GATLING GUN W/CREW (1 gun 6 1 crew fig) - $4.50 Gun ls nicely sculpted in 6 peices (barrel, carriage, 2 wheels, hand crank & vertical ammo clip). There is a seat on rear of carriage for gunner. Gunner comes w/3 seperate head variants (bearded w/U.S. Kepi, Sun Helmet & Canadian-style pillbox cap). Gunner is a little stiff in pose, but uniform fits British pre- khaki period (1879 Zulu War). Although ammo clip on gun is wrong for British Army, this can be left off. Gun is perfect for U.S. Army, but while head varient w/kepi is good, another head from a U S. inf. fig w/'Smokey-the-Bear' peaked hat would be better.
6733	OFFICERS & NCO'S (10 figs) - $10.00 Dress as #6734 (rifles also as #3734). Two Sgts adv. w/bayonet on rifle in 1-hand & motioning w/other, w/raised rank chevrons sculpted on figs. Five foot ofcs: 2 in Sun helmet & Sam Browne belt w/arm extended shootinq revolver, 1 in Sun helmet & standard belt w/revolver in 1-hand motioning w/other, 1 in Glengarry cap & standard belt adv. "/revolver in hand, and 1 dismounted cavalry ofcs. in Sun helmet & En Garde posture w/sword drawn & w/free hand behind back. One Naval ofc. dressed in long boat coat w/ringed braid at ends of sleeve, pants & cape w/spyglass tucked under arm. One mtd. ofc. w/hand raised wearing a revolver, sword & later period Sun helmet. Horse as #6721, but w/slung carbine.
6734	BRITISH INFANTRY ASSORTED (10 figs) - $10.00 All in standard pre-khaki period uniform (1879 Zulu War) w/Sun helmet & bayonets on rifles. Six poses: 1 adv., 2 standing & firing, 2 kneeling & firing, 2 reloading, 2 Cpls. defending; 1 Colour-Sgt. at ready. All NCO's have raised rank chevrons sculpted on fig. Only real critizism is since these figs were made for GDW's Space 1889 game, all are armed as British at that time w/bolt- action rifles w/magazine clips (Lee-Me/fords), but in uniforms of the Zulu War (i.e. gaiters instead of puttees), aa the author liked that style of dress better. They were the first British figs using bolt-action rifles at the time (Wargames Foundry now have a range too). Rather then try to carve out the clips, paint bolt-action & clip dark gun metal to downplay look, and they will work as pre-khaki period w/Martini Henrys. For 1885 or later khaki-clad British, rifles are perfect, but gaiters are wrong, so I suggest painting them khaki to match rest of uniform and figs will do.
6735	CIVILIANS (10 figs) - $10.00 There are a variety of figs, all in classic Victorian dress. One female w/hair in bun, long dress and pistol in 2-hands. Two females in short jacket, dress, flat hat, purse 6 hand gestering. Two preachers in suit 6 Sun helmet w/cross raised in 1-hand 6 the "good book" in other hand. One professor/inventor type in suit, deerstalker cap, w/device in 1-hand gestering & pistol in other hand. Two gentlemen in dress suit 6 vest w/top hat, cane and monicle. Two bouncer/strong-arm types wearing vest, pants, flat cap, w/shirtsleeves rolled up in boxing stance w/fists ready.

At GenCon '96 I managed to talk with Rafm, which stated that plans are still underway for releasing Pathan tribesmen figures for the North- West Frontier to compliment those mentioned here. Although no release date was given. In addition, if these sold well, there was a possiblity that other natives would be released as well.

Besides the aforementioned figure packs, if you are looking for more civilian types in Victorian style dress, then I suggest that you also check out Rafm's 'Call of Cuthulu' range. These contain many useful civilian figs, such as a man w/handlebar mustache in vest, pants and cap smoking a pipe w/dbl barrelled shotgun cradled under arm, a man w/handlebar mustache in hunting outfit, boots, cap and pump shotgun ready at waist, plus other types, even nuns.

If you want good 28mm scale figures, even though the selection is limited at present, please contact Rafm at:

Rafm Company, Inc.
20 Parkhill Road E.
Cambridge, Ontario
Canada N1R 1P2

Whether ordering more figures or not (although most gamers would easily add a few more figs to their collection), drop Rafm a letter and state that "you heard that there were plans to release a range of Pathan tribesmen figures for tho North-West Frontier", and to urge them to do so!

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