Available from The Foundry, Mount Street, New Basford, Nottingham, NG7 7HX, UK

Voltaire wrote about Charles XII something to the effect that soldierly virtues in him were taken to such lengths as to seem like the vices of others. His soldiers called him "Ironhead", not to his face and not always affectionately. He was a fanatic who died a soldier's death leading his troops in a siege. It has been rumoured that he was killed by his own men. My opinion, looking at a photograph of his shattered skull, is that he was killed by some kind of rampart musket ball.

These figures were designed by Michael and Alan Perry, and so you know what a good standard to expect. I have 9 figures and a cannon to write about.

MA1 Officer with Sword: Full wig, tricorn, sword drawn, point grounded. He makes a polite motion with his left arm across his body, "The enemy are there" kind of thing. Waist sash.

MA3 Ensign: Full wig, tricorn, gorget, waist sash. He stands feet astride, clasping the staff of his flag, the butt of it at his waist. Provide your own 'fly'.

MA4 Sergeant with halberd: The halberd is a useful looking axe-bladed type, held near the blade, point down, in his right hand. He wears his own hair, shoulder length with a tricorn. A sword hangs on a waist belt at his left side. Tough looking.

MA5 Drummer: Tricorn. He marches forward playing a big drum slung under his left arm. He wears a sword.

MA14 Swedish Grenadier.: Musket secured at the shoulder. The Swedes kept their grenadier companies with their regiments, and so you may have these elites on the right of your regiments. His mitre has a soft front and a long hanging bag at the rear. His bayonet scabbard hangs at the left front of his belt and a big straight sword hangs well behind it. the mitre has a decorated front and the face, moustached, is rather noble.

MA22 Infantry Priming Musket: Informally tricorned, he concentrates on the lock of his musket, held across the body, the point of balance in his left hand. he could be filling the lock pan.

MA42 Pikeman in Korpus: The Swedes, and their main enemies the Russians, kept the pike much longer and in greater numbers than their continental contemporaries. The Korpus is a hat with a tuft on the top, a peak, in this case flattened to the forehead, and flaps which could be pulled down over the ears and tied in front of the chin. The British forage cap or "side hat" was a version, only quite flimsy (vide Dads Army progs on TV, Brits). He has a furry snapback over a sword on his left side. He has coat turnbacks.

MA45 Infantryman Advancing: Tricorn, hair tied back - a very Swedish looking face, ordinary and at the same time strong. He holds his musket across his body and moves resolutely forward. "Grå på" = "Fall on", or to modern Brits "Get stuck in !"

MA46 Infantryman Advancing in Korpus: The sides of his Korpus are tied up behind the raised peak. he is shouting and holds his bayonet and musket higher across his chest than the previous figure. Looking at this it is easy to see why so few Swedes beat so many Russians - to begin with.

Now a Swales Gun:

SSG35 European 6 lber (was £3.00) : This elegant gun is beautifully made and comes in appropriate buts, two cleated wheels, axle (a small nail). the trail and the long decorated barrel. The whole thing assembled looks rather serpentine - beautiful and deadly. Swales guns are the best you can equip your gunners with.

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