Foundry

25mm Darkest Africa (figures)

Reviewed By David Barnes

Review of Foundry latest releases from their Darkest Africa ranges in 25mm. Available from The Foundry Ltd., Huberts Lane, off Doyle Road, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 IRG, Channel Islands, GB

I will list these "state of the art" figures, comment upon them and draw some of them, not to scale.

DA38 African Tribal Witch Doctors. Seven little flesh creeping weirdoes here. Rather like a competition parodying the song from "Annie Get Your Gun!" - "Anyway you can look, I can look stranger. Sooner or later I'm weirder than you!"

My favourite is the guy mimicking the clan totem of the baboon. He wears a skin with the tail and a mask and mane and goes along on all fours. The next is an old gent with a skull on a stick and what looks like a thigh bone, pointing with it in his right hand. Wrinkled face, bald, tiny straggly beard, loin cloth.

Another crouches with a snake (fangless probably) wreathing round his right forearm. His hand clasps it at the back of the neck. His mask has kudu-like homs, big "eyes" and buck teeth. Another with a different horned mask is waving his fly whisk, his arms spread wide. On his left hip is a gourd and on his right hip small "medicine" objects. He has heavy anklets on both legs. Another has a mane over his mask which is oval. It has an oblong on the forehead, a cross forming the eyes and noes and a truncated tube forming the mouth filled with buck teeth. He crouches over a pot gesturing with a "magic" stick with his right hand.

Next a moon-like oval mask and mane with a fringe below over his chest. Round his straw kilt waist he has various gourds and a large feather. In his right hand he holds a curved pronged magic stick and on the palm of his left hand, raised up, as skull. Either an ancestor or a predecessor. He has calf gaiters of bobbles and cowstails(?) that cover his feet.

Last, a lady. She has short curly hair and wears a very small apron in front and behind. In her left hand upright is a kind of witches besom with very short bristles. She is blowing something from the palm of her right hand (ground up iguana dust?). She has large round earrings and an anklet on her right ankle. The original "Agony Aunt?"

DA58 African Tribal Warriors in Hideous Masks. The heading on the sheet uses the possessive apostrophe in the wrong place. e.g. "Warrior's " instead of the correct plural's "Warriors." The bane of my life when I taught English. My rule "If in doubt leave it out."

Tremendous differencing in the masks. The pack contains five spearmen - spears (and other weapons) provided separately. Two archers and an axeman. The six without bows also have shields. A pack of Masai shields was provided, also one of mixed shields. The bowmen have quivers with lugs cast onto their bases, to be cut off and affixed to their leather cords around their backs. A hole for the lug is provided. Both have loincloths, as do all the other warriors, of different kinds. The masks on the spearmen are all different. One has a mane and false beard, another has a Masai ruff of feathers round his mask. Another has kudu horns and a hairy frill. Two have long ovoid masks with false hair down over their shoulders. The axeman has an oval mask with long nose, "pop eyes" and tooth filled "mouth." The bowmen have simpler but just as impressive masks. I don't think the designers thought these masks up themselves. All have definitive features. A pack to scatter amongst other "regular" packs of spear and bowmen as evident leaders.

More excellent figures from this fantastic generator of eras and excitement - with a little help from your imaginations of course.

To begin with the Darkest Africa latest releases. Ifs interesting how some groups of figures, as well made as any, have an extra something that makes ttieni more interesting than other groups. Of course one can put it down to personal taste or enthusiasm for a particular era. I have never been particularly interested in Darkest Africa. South Africa and the Boer war I studied about 20 years ago. However this group of Foundry figures seems to have the "je ne suis quoi" and I find myself creating scenarios just looking at them "in the metal!" I will list them, comment and draw some, not to scale, as usual. Eight packs altogether:

DA14 European Ladies (#1) Seven figures here. The first is evidently intended as the partner of the "Lord of the Jungle," who appeared some time ago. A "Jane" for "Tarzan" in other words! This lady wears a fur bikini, has long flowing hair, and carries a large machete in her right hand, Next a lady in a boater, a dress with leg o' mutton sleeves. A hefty book in her right hand, could be a bible, and her left hand raised and pointing. "Repent!" or something. Next, a figure I think of as "The Governess" already. Feather wrapped hat, plain jabot. Fitted jacket and long dress. Prince nez and a "vinegar drinking" expression. Next another lady in glasses in a solar topee with a bandolier of ammo, a large holstered pistol, cross draw fashion on her right hip, and a Martini Henry rifle held across her chest. The "falling block" lever can be clearly seen under the breech of the weapon. "Big Bertha." Next a lady in Edwardian dress, a bustle and bow behind, with a basque top buttoned all down the front. Her round hat has a feather round the front and a big bow at the side. She holds a folded parasol, ferrule down, in her right hand. She could be painted up as the Governor's lady. Next another topeed lady with a tight fitting jacket and long skirt - with a double barrel, hammered shotgun! Advancing. Lastly another leg o' mutton sleeved bloused lady with a tie and long dress pointing a Smith and Wesson .45 or similar pistol. Looks like an illustration of "Stringaree Stories" from "The Strand Magazine," 1905.

DA15 European Ladies (#2) Seven figures and the bits to make two camp stools (two of the figures are seated so it wasn't that clever of me to work out what the strange bits of casting were intended to be! First a very proper lady in a plumed hat and dress with a bustle seated with a book under her right arm. Next another seated lady in a solar topee, leg o' mutton sleeved short jacket and long skirt, hands folded on her knees. Next a tough looking woman walking with a stout staff in her right hand. A water bottle slung on her left hip. A fitted jacket and voluminous long skirt with a low bustle. Her cap has a neck curtain suspended from the rear part of the top rather than the bottom of the head band. Next a lady in kepi and havelock with a short sleeved tunic getting a cartridge from her small "dispense" pouch on her right hip. She holds a percussion cap musket at the point of balance in her left hand. She wears baggy trousers and high boots. Fast! Next a young lady in a 2 tiered flounced bustled dress and basque parasol closed, on her right shoulder, and plumed hat on the back of her head. She looks inclined to use the parasol as a club! Next a young lady in a wide brimmed sun hat, long dress and apron standing astride with a double barreled shot gun. From her stance and set of her shoulders she has fired one of these from the hip before. Next a lady in a military topee with veil swathed round it. Pointing a revolver in a very "marksperson-like" way, i.e. she supports her grip at the wrist with her left hand. Fitted jacket, long dress, ammo pouch on her right hip. "Here I am, Lieutenant Fanshawe Smythe! The woman you scorned!" or whatever.

DA22 British Askaris Eight tough looking Askaris all with different faces, and two with swathed gum blankets or something like. Their pose is "at the ready" or "on guard" with a long bayonetted musket. Two have knapsacks. All have long bayonet scabbards on their left hips. They have kneelength breeches and bare calves and feet. A European adventurer figure from another pack would provide a good officer for them.

DA92 African Cattle They're all bulls. They have separate heads with a big socket to stick onto the necks. They are zebus, often used in American rodeos for bull riding. 4 of them with two different walking actions. Great for moving carts, guns, or just getting in the way or stampeding over your favorite unit. (Game Master's Dirty Tricks, volume 1)

DA206 Masai with lion's mane headdress A support pack with shields, short Masai swords and stabbing spears also. Seven figures, all different. Two have cows tail garters, two cows tail anklets. Two have lion's mane capes also. One wears an apron. All have a waist belt over a "sash" and the short sword is carried on the right in a quick draw position a la Roman Legionaries. Two have criss crossed manhood beads, the others a single string. Two have amulets at their right knee. All have hands to take the shield and spear. All are naked except the apronned one. (Will Foundry be doing lions for a hunt game? Write your own rules and send'em on in!) Make yourself a pride of lions with "Milliput" or similar material.

DA221 British Officers and Adventurers Seven figures, one seated with separate campstool "kit." The latter figure has a topee, shirt and flannels and a pistol poised in his right hand. "Sit down Carruthers. There's a black mamba coiled at your left elbow!" Next chap "at the ready" with a Martini Henry. He wears shirt sleeves and putteed breeches. On his head a "wide awake" hat. Next a bareheaded boundah with an Earl Haig mustache. Large pistol in his right hand. Holster and ammo pouch on his right hip. Leather front clip gaiters below the knee. "Come out of that cupboard you rottahs!"

Next a fellow in a topee with his arms folded. Shirt sleeves and flannels with his arms tightly folded across his chest. "That witch doctor fellah said I wouldn't be able to unfold my arms! What rubbish! Er -HELP!!"

Next a puttees and breeches officer with a riding crop/quirt in his hand. Pistol holster on his right hip, topee on his head. Shirt sleeve order. Next uniformed officer with sword upright. "Ready! Present! F-BOOM!" Last, uniformed officer, sheathed sword, holstered pistol, pith helmet, arms folded behind his back in "at ease" position. (Parade Rest in US) Sam Browne belt, puttees. He looks slightly right. A still figure with an "alive" tenseness about him.

DA223 Askaris with tasselled fezzes Eight solid citizens with bayonetted rifled muskets and aggressive different faces. One has puttees. All are bare footed. Two have stung tent sections or gum blankets. They'll go well with the Askari without tassels previously released.

DA225 Sikh Infantry Sikhs served all over the world for the Raj. They were some of the first into Peking in the Boxer war and famously served in the '14 -'18 war. These wear the turban and are beardec of course - as part of their religion. They wear the Slade style webbing. Their bayonetted Martini Henri rifles are held "on guard." Eight sepoys (you could paint one up as a naik) with different faces. A varied and interesting group of figures with a multitude of possible uses in campaigns, scenarios, vignettes, role play or dioramas. Checking these out for your own ideas is best.

More Barnes Reviews

Back to MWAN #101 Table of Contents
Back to MWAN List of Issues
Back to MagWeb Magazine List
© Copyright 1999 Hal Thinglum
This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web.
Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com