I rarely review a product I'm not satisfied with. I'm not saying I'm completely dissatisfied with the 28mm Freikorp Skraelings, but if you are looking for 28mm opponents for your Vinland Vikings, these figures aren't it.

I heard about this line on The Miniatures Page and immediately made an order on the LKM site, home of Freikorp, using a major credit card. I received a confirmation e-mail right away and waited for my figures to be sent from jolly olde England (Freikorp's U.S. distributors don't carry the Skraeling line). It took just over a month to receive my figures -- not an impressive turnaround time, to say the least.

While Freikorp advertises these figures as 28mm, they are more in line with the older, smaller 25mm ranges from years back. The Freikorp figures measure from 23-27mm sole to eye, with a medium "heft" (Barrett Scale). There is some flash (more than on the M.Y. Miniatures 15mm range) and some minor mold lines, but they will clean up easily. Forget about mixing these figures with the Gladiator Games 28mm range -- Gladiator are taller and have more girth.

My first bag was marked VN1 Javelinmen, but was actually VN02, Archers Firing. Another bag had the Javelinmen, though, which contained four figures, all at least slightly different. Two are standing, cast with their right arm upward, hand open, in obvious need of a weapon (a warclub and javelin grace their respective left hands). However, there were no extra weapons in this bag (more on this later). The third figure is advancing with a javelin in his right hand and a club in the left. The fourth is standing, javelin in left hand, right one holding a club. All of the figures are wearing a breechclout and a short cape (fur? flax?). The first two figures have a Mohawk hairstyle, the last two bearing shoulder-length hair with a headband.

The next bag was the firing archers. Ah, here are those missing two weapons (a javelin and a warclub)! There are four different figures in this bag, all standing with their legs apart, firing a bow. All have breechclout and are equipped with a quiver of arrows across the back and a warclub as a sidearm, (looking like the place where the Navy .44 pistol should be strapped on). Three of the figures have Mohawks, the last with the shoulder-length hair, above.

The last bag was VN03, Skirmishers. This was supposed to have four different poses, but mine had two identical (time for an e-mail to Freikorp). Anyway, the matching figures are standing with legs apart, thrusting a spear with their right hand, wearing breechclouts, Mohawks and that small fur cape. The next figure is a slightly crouching archer, dressed the same and reaching back for an arrow, with that Navy .44 pistol...er, I mean warclub. The last figure is my favorite. He is holding an arrow in his right hand and bow in the left while advancing. He has shoulder-length hair, the required breechclout, and a warclub sidearm. Facial features are reminiscent of the old Frontier Seminole figures, which I kinda like.

Okay, I'll admit, a rather negative review. Let's talk about the positives...hmm...I did like that ONE figure. Overall, they are average in detail and animation. I am not sure how long ago they were sculpted, but they are not up to the standards of today's market. While the Gladiator range may not be perfect (see Irv Horowitz's review on The Miniatures Page), they are quite a step up from the Freikorp line. If you are planning to do some gaming in Vinland (the figures without bows could be used for the Adena and Hopewell peoples), either go with the Gladiator 28mm or M.Y. Miniatures 15mm.

Each bag costs £3.00 (currently $5.47) and shipping was a very reasonable 15% of the total order (see, I can say something positive!). As you can tell, I am not pleased with the quality and the misquoted height of the figures, along with the lengthy shipping time. Your take might be different, but caveat emptor!

Contact LKM Direct, Unit 24J, Wincombe Business Park, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 9QJ. Phone/Fax: 01747 855607, e-mail: info@quickreactionforce.co.uk. Website: www.freikorp.com.