Russ Dunaway of OLD GLORY, Box 20, Calumet, PA 15621 (Phone 412-423-3580; FAX 412-423-6898) was kind enough to send me several bags of 15mm French Napoleonic infantry at my request. There are various types of French infantry in Full Dress (1809) with the infantry in a variety of "marching" and "advancing" positions with mounted infantry officers, drummers, officers, standard bearers, and casualty figures. What I really like about OLD GLORY figures is the huge variety of poses one receives, not to mention the VALUE (100 infantry, 30 cavalry or 12 guns with crew for $18.50!) - we are talking 18.5 cents(!) Per figure here, Gentlemen! Can you beat that anywhere else in the hobby - we haven't even mentioned QUALITY yet! Outstanding stuff!

Within the French infantry "Full Dress" line, there are eight packs: Command, Center Company marching, Elites Marching, Center Company Advancing, Elites Advancing, Center Company Road March, and Elite Company Road March, as well as Full Dress Wounded! The second bag a really BIG one - held French Line Infantry in "Campaign Dress", my personal favorites! I really enjoy figures in campaign dress! There are six packs: command, Fusiliers and Elites in separate bags of march-attack, Fusiliers charging, Elites receiving, and Voltiguers skirmishing. Although Russ asked me to "be gentle" with my review as he had just grabbed a bunch of figures "hot off the assembly line", there was little or no flash on these little beauties! And, no broken bayonets or weapons! The bent weapons were easily bent back into the proper position without any breakage. Also included were three mounted officers/generals in one piece castings - I much prefer the one piece mounted castings as FREI KORPS 15 does with their lines! Again, a plethora of figure poses! Don't you love a wargames battalion/regiment of infantry in two ranks with the figures in a variety of poses but all of them march-attacking or advancing? Gets my blood boiling even after all these years of looking at "toys!"

I'd written to Russ because of my interest in the Peninsular War - I'm still going to do something for this fascinating period someday! I understand OLD GLORY will be doing 15mm Napoleonic British this year - that will be good! The mounted officers are just great; one is in shako with a telescope on a standing horse; another on a trotting horse with the officer's had in his right hand held high and his head turned to rear to inspire his troops; while the third is on a standing horse while he reads a map. Great stuff! I found infantry without headgear with bandages on their head; drummers with the drum on the back; infantry advancing with muskets held down low; buglers sounding the advance - highly recommended as usual with any product(s) from OLD GLORY! Many years ago, I made a phone call to Russ, who then lived in Iowa, regarding a question I had about having some 25mm Sudan Dervish designed for me. I don't recall how I obtained his name for this quest, but at that time, he told me about his plans for a figure company which was to produce high quality wargames figures at an inexpensive price. I'd say Russ has more than met his goal(s) in this regard, wouldn't you! Good work, Russ - good to hear from you again, my friend!

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© Copyright 1996 Hal Thinglum

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