Available from 61 Melrose Road, Sheffield, S3 9DN, UK

I have received a different range, The Spanish Succession, a couple of years ago, and very good they were - still are, if you are interested in that era. This new range is the culmination of long research, consultation with the "English Civil War Society" and other authorities on dress and equipment so it is just about the most accurate range for the period in ANY scale. [Don't forget Caliver Books if you are into this period]

Pikemen are modelled at "Order" and musketeers at "Shoulder". These figures go very well with Pete Berry's Forlorn Hope rules or DBR. Also provided are camps, palisades, earthworks - this chap can tell his mamelon from his ravelin too!

The Scots are represented. Camaraharshe? (How are you?). Ha e briach anjou! (Isn't it a nice day) [phonetic spelling]. The Lowlanders wear breeches, no kilts or plaids. Highlander are hairy, rough and ready but, "do not bristle with edged weapons". A nice change not to see a claidhaem mohr (claymore) every other man.

Command strips are packed with the "rank and file" e.g. ECW1 contains eight strips of pikemen and two of command. ECW 6 has seven strips of horse and two of command.

Pete Berry says he makes these figures etc. in what he laughingly calls his "spare time" i.e. he has a "proper job" and these ranges are his hobby - a wargamer producing stuff for wargamers. He can do telephone orders but you'll get an Answerphone if you ring in "office hours"! Credit card orders are accepted. He has no U.S. distributor. Too much hassle. You can write to him about existing and planned ranges but please inc. a s.a.e. Catalogues are free but postage isn't, so include a stamp or 3 x IRCs with request for catalogues. Please note BACCUS 6mm is now the company name NOT BACCUS BUILDINGS. Righyarthen!

English Civil War

ECW1 Pikemen armoured. A tough looking lot. Can I see tassets?

ECW2 Pikemen unarmoured. Remarkable detail.

ECW3 Musketeers. Apostles. Monmouth and stocking caps.

ECW4 Dismounted dragoons, horses (2 figures per base). Not just half a musketeer strip. Horse tack detail is good.

ECW5 Clubmen. One could have a musket, the other three have various sticks and spears. Clothes are all different.

Two different command strips. Officer and standard bearer (provide own fly - BACCUS BANNERS? - and don't rip 'em off on a colour copier, it's mean!) flanked two drummers with good long drums of the period. One officer bears a leading staff or espontoon.

ECW6 Horse [contains 15 regular strips with two command] ( £ 3.60). Wearing a three bar pot, shouldered sword.

ECW7 Cuirassiers. Closed helmet ( £ 3.60, 15 strips). ¾ armour. Good detail.

ECW8 Dragoons. Musket held upright. Knitted caps - paint 'em what you like. ( £ 3.60, 15 strips).

Command. Horse a fishtail guidon , cuirassiers a banner and dragooners a banner. Paint on the metal - too small for paper/cloth replicas really.

Artillery

ECW9 Light guns and crew. A robinette? [Cast in one piece].

ECW10 Field guns and crew. A good medium gun with separately cast wheels. The crew figures are a "spare number", a sponge/rammer man and a lever man. The "spare" man could be a master gunner too.

ECW11 Siege guns and crew ( £ 1.65 a.t.o.w.). A good big gun, trail and barrel cast together. The wheels are cast separately for you to glue on. Good idea and looks good too.

Scots now

ECW21 Lowland Pikeman. Bonnet and trews, sword sheathed at their sides.

ECW22 Lowland Musketeers. Bonnets and trews. Apostles. Sturdy skellums.

ECW23 Lowland Dismounted Dragoons/Horses ( £ 1.65). Muskets, bonnets, trews. On the right horse, the foreleg is not casting.

ECW24 Highlanders. Soar Alba! Plaid, phille mhor. Muskets appear twice, first man on the right has a bow, third man a broadsword and targe - on which one can see the pattern of the studs! Apostles on the musketoons.

Command Standard and officer flanked by two drums, all in bonnets.

ECW25 Scots horse - with Doune pistols upright, on tough looking garrons. (15 strip. £ 3.60)

ECW26 Scots lancers Bonnet and lance.

ECW27 Scots dragoons. Muskets upright.

ECW32 Scots frames and crew. (4 bases per pack). A single barrel and an "organ gun" (i.e. multi barrels) in these examples. Crew have the usual gun implements.

Now "BACCUS BANNERS" (£ 1.00 per sheet)

These are to take the "Aaaaargh!" out of painting little flags. Unless you are a miniature engineer painting little flags can be a real chore. These, 24 full colour flags to each sheet, are for English Foot, Essex Foot, '42-'44, Oxford Foot '42-'45 and Covenanter Foot.

In the rear of the flag sheet is an explanation sheet of whose were the banners. I would say these are excellent and will give just that bit of finish to your units. Also available are Spanish Succession - French, Bavarian, Hanoverian and Hessian and Imperialist Foot banners. Napoleonic - British Line Infantry, French Line Infantry 1804-13, and Portuguese Line Infantry. Also American Civil War, Union National Flags and Confederate Battle Flags.

I shall now, with the aid of specs and magnifying glass (binoculars) try to draw some of the figures for you - needless to say - not to scale. [Shame!]

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