Copplestone’s first selection of figures for his Back of Beyond range is now available, and I understand that the second group is also out. I hope that there will soon be a Return to Darkest Africa.

There are now two kinds of packs available character (four figures) at £5.50 and unit builders (ten figures) at £10. The unit builder packs do NOT contain all of one figure; there is variety in the pose, head and equipment. Figures are chosen randomly for each pack, potentially no two packs would be exactly the same. Illustrated unit builder packs are:

BU1 Bolshevik Infantry - a couple in fur hats, one firing with a total of four positions. The figure firing is 27mm to the eyes.

BU2 Chinese Infantry in Fur Caps – six different figures with earflaps up or down comes with extra swords and umbrellas. The figure firing is 25mm to the eyes while another advancing is 27mm.

BU3 Elite Bolshevik Infantry – in peaked fur caps with earflaps up or down, three positions. The figure firing is 26mm while one advancing is 27mm.

BU4 Chinese Infantry, Marching – in billed caps, comes with extra swords and umbrellas. These umbrellas are to be glued to the figure as though they were slung over the shoulder on a strap. There is also variety in the bedroll position and ammo belt. These figures are 27mm to the eyes.

BU5 Chinese Field Gun – a five piece gun with four figures, one an officer with arm up, one kneeling with shell and two with no base to be positioned next to gun. The gun goes together easy enough, however, it is undersized because the figures do not fit the seats. Actually, I think the Chinese figures as a whole are too big/tall—generally the Chinese are smaller in stature than Russians. The officer is 28mm to the eyes.

BC1 Armed Archaeologists - (from the left) The chubby fellow in fez and glasses is holding a gun and book and is 25mm; at 27mm this fellow with a magazine rifle (Enfield?) appears to be a pilot in a leather jacket; Rick O’Connell (from the Mummy movies) with two pistols, I thought his guns were automatics, is 28.5mm; and finally, the gent with a cane looks, in the face, like either Walter Granger or Henry Osborn from Roy C. Andrews expeditions into the Gobi Desert in the 20s and is 27mm.

BC2 Bolshevik Commissars – Nice variety of uniforms, the great coat is pointing up with his finger, 28.5mm; the Elite (at least he is dressed as they are) holds a Mauser, 26mm; the with a megaphone holds an automatic and is 28mm; the last officer holds a Mauser, 28mm.

BC3 Chinese Officers – the first gent is now my main warlord as he is the tallest, 28.5mm, has a great bearing/command presence and is in jodhpurs; number two is carrying a Mauser; number 3 holds an umbrella a sure sign of a warlords gopher, is in glasses, 28mm; finally, four is firing an automatic pistol.

Overall, I think that these are very well done, although I would like to see the Chinese a little less hefty and shorter. These figures should excite your interest to begin planning a campaign.