Richard Houston does colonial gamers (including Space 1889 fans) a great service with his range of 25mm weapons for colonials. The Richard Houston Collection, PO Box 14522, Oklahoma City, OK 73113.

Generally speaking, these figures and other colonial period items Houston manufactures are the least expensive on the market, now don't get me wrong I didn't say cheap because they are certainly not that. While high priced figure sculpters have brought the hobby to an amazing artistic quality of figures, these by Houston are by no stretch of the imagination of the opposite end of the spectrum. These figures could easily command twice their price, I'm glad they don't as you can buy more of them at this price. These are similar in scale to 25mm Minifigs or Ral Partha measuring 24mm from the bottom of the foot to the eyeball.

Richard sent along a nice selection (18 bags) of his available (at least 75 bags) naval type items several of which will be incorporated into my next steamer (sidewheeler) gunboat. As usual I have scanned these in for your viewing pleasure (please note that my printer is not as good as newer models and some small details might be lost).

The details on the guns are not overdone or overly large, but raised enough to look realistic when painted. You will need to glue the guns together prior to painting and where necessary they come with instructions for assembly. The machineguns are so great, I don't know of any manufacturer that makes a hand pulled machinegun carriage yet you see them in contemporary drawings. I can only think of two manufacturers that make machineguns of one style each, from Richard you get at least 13 different models WOW!!! Where else can you get 8 different bags of naval crews for shipboard action or for gun crews.

I know there are a few manufactures that produce guns for the colonial era but they can't compare with the range, quality and price of Houston's--HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!

CL-1 Maxim Machinegun 1895 on a round base, $1.00.
CL-4 12pdr R.B.L. fieldgun 1890, $3.00. Comes with instructions for gluing. A very nice fieldgun.
CL-75 Maxim machinegun on small two wheel infantry carriage, hand pulled, 1 for $2.00.
CL-84 Colt Browning 1895 machinegun on tripod, $1.00.
CL-95 Egyptian Artillery crew 4 for $2.00. Their uniforms could be used for anything between 1882 and 1898. Two have open hands for gun equipment.
CL-97 British Seamen in sennet hat, 1879, 5 for $2.00. They have open hands for any shipboard operations.
CL-98 British seamen in seaman's cap, 1879, 6 for $2.50. With open hands that can be used for gun crew to deck chores.
CW-16 Heavy Alien cannon on swivel cone mount, class Vh. 1 for $2.50. This is made specifically for Space 1889.
CW-25 5 British seamen w/1 Officer, same as CL-98, $2.50. They have open hands that can be used for most anything.
WC-13 12-pdr rapid fire naval gun on mount w/flat shield 1 each, $2.50. Comes with instructions. This gem will be attached to the bow of my soon to be built sidewheeler.
WC-19 Alien light gun on naval carriage, class Md. 1 for $2.50. Also made for Space 1889 if you have any lighter than air vessels this is the gun for you. Besides the two listed here Houston has five other guns for Space 1889, these are great.
WC-20 1 pdr PomPom on two wheeled carriage, 1 for $3.00.
WC-21 Naval deck hatches, set of 6,$3.00.
WC-22 Naval Bulkhead doors, set of 6, 1/2" / 1", $3.00.
WC-23 2 Naval steps (ladders) about 2" long, $2.00.
WC-60 Boat davits for small boats 2 1/2" tall, set of 2, $2.00.
WC-31 Naval crew mixed, 8 figures, $4.00. In seamen's cap, with open hands for any naval ocassion.
WC-35 Naval crew in the water, 4 different figures, $1.50. With my sailing capabilities these figures will definitely be necessary to keep around.

Other Reviews

Richard Houston Collection 25mm Colonials (figures)
Guernsey Foundry 25mm "Darkest Africa" range (figures)
Armies of the 16th Century (book)

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