Hi yo! Hi yo! Hi you witchee na yo, hi yo, hi yo witchee na yo, hi yo! Hi yo witchee na yo! Eh! Hey! Yo! Wee! (clap hands twice) Contmue this Plains Indian song of welcome until you get tired. Two samples of original American natives and a horse - sorry, pony - model. Production models in 10 weeks time. Well, here's Frederick Remington's West brought to life again by the look of it.

The first model carries a stone-headed war hammer, has braided hair with eagles feathers, a breast plate and small befeathered round shield. On his left hip sits, a trifle incongruously, a six gun in a cross-draw position. He also wears a breech clout and moccasins. cf. photo of White Swan, Crow warrior (with round shield and war hammer) p 124 "Everyday Life of the N. American Indian," Manchip White, pub. Batsford, ISBN. 07134 00439. For a large breastplate representation p. 94 ibid. A Sioux chief.

The second model is firing a carbine to the left with his right hand. He has a roach and feathers. A feathered rawhide shield on his left hip and a long knife sheathed on his right with a bag on his thigh - for cartridges or "medicine." His right wrist has a double thonged quirt hanging from it. He seems to have a bearskin breech clout and moccasins.

The ponies are identical except one has a feathered Indian hackamore and the other a simple bridle lacking a throat strap. Excellent modelling and action.

Bibliography:

1. Manchip White (as above).
2. "Letters and Notes on the Manners and Customs and Conditions of North American Indians" George Catlin. Dover. 2 vols.
3. "Red Hawk's Account of Custer's Last Battle" P and D Goble. Macmillan.
4. "Lone Bull's Horse Raid" P&D Goble. Macmillan.

Drawings not to scale.

More Reviews:

Redoubt Enterprises 25mm Three Musketeers
Tumbling Dice 20mm War of the Roses
Guernsey Foundry 25mm Old West
Redoubt Enterprises 25mm Trojans

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