A couple of months ago I received an email from this company announcing their new line of U.S. "Banana War" figures. I immediately replied, asking for a few samples as I have an interest in this period. After several weeks of waiting, I received a package from Homegrown that had a few figures of this line enclosed. Unfortunately a list of what figures I received was not included, and as Homegrown sells their figures in packages and not as individual figures, I can only guess at what figures I actually have.
Homegrown is the second company that I am aware of that makes figures for this period, the other being Monday Knight Productions (I wrote a review of these figures that appeared in a recent issue of MWAN). However, these two figure lines are not compatible. The Monday Knight figures are true 25mm, with medium heft, while the Homegrown range are large 25mm, now more currently referred to as 28mm, and the figures are quite hefty.
The first figure for review is an American officer/NCO, and this figure has a unique pose, one I have never seen before in any figure. The officer is on his knees, torso slightly turned to the left, pointing his .45 automatic forward in his right hand. He looks as if he is shooting through the underbrush at an unseen Sandinista or Caco. The officer is sporting a Montana hat, and has a pistol holster and canteen on his belt as his only equipment.
The second figure is another Marine officer/NCO, standing to the left and pointing his .45 auto forward. Again he has a Montana hat for his headgear, his shirtsleeves are rolled up, and he has a bandana around his neck to wipe the sweat off his brow in the heat of the jungle. He also has a pistol holster, but instead of a canteen has a bag slung over his right shoulder that might be for maps or a pair of binoculars.
The next two figures are Central American rebels. The first rebel is a Machetero, and this is a nicely animated figure. Brandishing a machete in hand, he also has a carbine strapped across his back. His attire consists of a slouch hat, bent up at the front, a cloak over his shirt, and a pair of baggy trousers, so baggy they cover his feet.
The next figure had me perplexed for a few minutes, and then I realized the object he has in his hands, (which looks like a butter chum) is actually a dynamite bomb! I would hate to be the one assigned to hurl this at the unsuspecting Yanquis! A round hat, front brim turned upward, crowns his head. Wearing loose fitting civilian clothing, he also has a bandana around his neck.
The four figures above are fairly well cast, with very little flash and small mold lines in some places. They are similar to Old Glory in the way they look, not quite as nice, but they should paint up very well. The biggest problem I have are the weapons. The .45 autos look like large L's, and without much detail. I also received a separate Lewis gun, which does look like a Lewis gun, and a separate BAR, which vaguely resembles this weapon. The BAR is a really plain looking casting.
Now I have saved the best for last: the pack mules! Yes, the mules have stolen the show. I received two different mule castings, and these are very well done. Perhaps not as good as the Dixon French Foreign Legion mules I have, but very close. They are different sized, and have slightly different loads, but what I really like about them is that they both look like they are resisting being pulled through the brush. Their ears are bent backwards, and they indeed are acting as stubborn as a mule.
The Homegrown line currently consists of the following packs:
25mm US Marine Fire Teams
25MAR01 4 man USMC Lewis Gun Team (2)/Montana hats
25MAR02 3 Pack Train Mules; 1 down horse to be used as cover by USMC Lewis Gun Team & BAR man/Montana hats
25MAR03 4 man USMC Fire Team: 3 prone BAR Riflemen, 1 NCO, 1 gunnery sgt/Montana hats
25MAR04 5 Marine Defenders (Marine on knees lobbing grenade x 2, Marine marksman on knees firing carbine x 2, Officer x 1)
25MAR05 5 Marine "guerilla fighters" (Prone Marine firing carbine x 2, Marine crouching w/Thompson x 1, prone Marine firing Lewis Gun in unconventional manner x 1, Officer on knees firing 45 x 1)
25MAR06 5 Marine "prone Firepower" (Prone firing Thompson sub-mg x 2, Prone firing carbine x 2, Prone firing BARx 1)
25MAR07 Mtd Marine (twisting in his saddle to fire pistol behind him) x 2
25mm Central American Rebels
25REBO15 Cacos or Sandanistas (Officer x 1, Dynamite Bomber x 2, Sandanista Machetero x 2
25REB02 5 Cacos or Sandanistas (Officer x 1, Sandanista Adv w/rolling block Remington rifle x 2, Sandanista standing firing rolling block Remington rifle x 2
25REB03 Ox Team w/Cart & local driver x 2 25REB04 5 Cacos & Sandanistas w/rifles & shotguns
25REB05 5 Cacos & Sandanistas (Officer firing pistol x 1, Rebels cocking hammers on shotgun x 2, adv w machete x 1, drawing machete x 1)
25BWS01 Variety pack of Marines, Sandanista, or pack, mules
Prices range from $4.95 to $19.95 depending on the pack. You can contact Homegrown Miniatures by writing 914 Curlew Rd #357, Dunedin, FL 34698, or by visiting their website at http://www.angelfire.com/biz6/homegrownfigs/index.htm. You can order their figures on their website as well.
I would have to recommend these figures over the Monday Knight Productions line based on their variety and animation, and they really should take a coat of paint rather well. They also have a line of buildings available.
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© Copyright 2003 Hal Thinglum
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