I recently received my first miniature from Kingsford Miniatures, from Burnaby, British Columbia. The figure I purchased was the Woodland Indian Archer, Kingsford's first foray into the Woodland Indian genre. In their mention of this figure on eBay, they state it is in the heroic 28mm scale. I want to let the potential buyer know up front that this figure measures 31mm from sole to eye, and has a fairly heft girth about him: Let's call him 31H on the Barrett Scale (think of that governor in California). This brave is definitely buff!

Now, I have never seen the Redoubt French and Indian War range in the flesh (or whatever metal it's being cast in), but from descriptions I've read, I surmise that the Kingsford figure will blend in very nicely with that line. The height of the Kingsford figure matches very favorably with the excellent Conquest Miniatures line, although the heft is a bit much to use on the same stand. I have a collection of Old Glory's 28mm Mad Anthony's Legion of the United States, and the Kingsford brave is noticeably taller than the Legion infantry. It also stands nearly a head taller than the well researched Parkfield Miniatures Legion figures.

The pose is standing, legs apart, firing his bow, right hand drawn along side of his face. The hairstyle is interesting: A cleanly shaven head, a round roach of hair on the crown, and loose flowing hair draping over the neck. A feather attached to the center of the roach completes the hairstyle. Mr. Archer is bare-chested, with adorning straps around his biceps. He has a quiver of arrows across his back, a warclub stuck in his belt, leather-fringed leggings, and a breechclout. A pair of moccasins cover his feet. This Indian is stripped down for fighting!

The figure is cleanly cast with no mold lines and very minimal flash. The detail on the weapons and clothing are excellent. The facial detail is fairly minimal, but certainly enough to take a good wash. Keep in mind that the muscles on this Indian are huge (the left hand is almost as big as the Indian's head). However, painted and used with other single-mounted figures I would suspect this will not be as noticeable. The figure is cast with no base, but with a tab instead, which to me is the only major negative. Kingsford does provide a round slotted plastic base with the figure, but most historical gamers seem to like their figures with small cast on bases to attach to metal washers or other types of stands. The tab does not look like it will snip off very easily.

Overall, an excellent start for Kingsford. A couple of minor nit-picks, but a good figure to add some variety to your existing Woodland Indian collection. Order one (or 10) today!

Kingsford Miniatures, Suite 338, 6540 Hastings St., Burnaby, British Columbia V5B 4Z5. Website: www.kingsfordminiatures.com.

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