That purveyor of strange episodes of Americans at War has followed our own "leader of men" into the Islands of the Caribbean Seas and in a stunning departure from the footsteps of "Mr. Hillary Rodham", has re-entered old ground, already well covered. and offered new vistas which were not originally articulated by the opposition party! CARUSO FOR PRESIDENTE!!! O.K., so l got a little carried away. Well the new releases from POTN in El Paso are really nice stuff

FIRST:The first batch of Haitians (for the 1920's era), kneeling firing, standing firing, and advancing poses, as well as a leader with pistol and machete wearing a straw hat (from the Villista Officer pose). The figures are dressed in the loose shirt and pants of the area, most have bandoliers, and rope belts. Many are barefoot. There are men in straw hats, men in felt hats, and some are bareheaded. All are cleanly cast with no outstanding mold lines or flash and have bases of 5/8" x 3/4" size rectangular in shape. They are all true 25mm. figures, but with the U.S. Troops available in the POTN line, there should be no trouble finding opponents. And also, many of the Villista line should work in with these fellows.

SECOND: Ten new Apaches on foot and five new mounted ones, and three new horses for these fierce warriors. The dismounts fellows are in battle ready attire, most have bare legs and a couple are wearing loincloth and headband (one has loincloth and "Sugarloaf' hat, wide flat brim and high round crown). Most of the figures have a rifle or carbine, but a couple have open hands (many of these are re-workings of existing Apaches, but they are not just slightly redone, though). All are active poses (even a prone fellow designed to fit on uneven ground! ). One is firing downward, as if on a high rock outcrop or a plateau or butte.

All are excellent, and I give them a Warpaint score of 8.75 overall. My personal favorites are the fellow in loincloth and "Sugarloaf" hat with a Springfield Carbine, firing from the hip, and the fellow in loincloth and headcloth, open handed. The mounted fellows are mounted versions of some of the fellows newly released on foot, including the fellow in the "Sugarloaf" hat, with his carbine across the saddlebow. All are cast without the saddle (blanket). The poses are good. and will grace anyone's collection. The three new horses are blanketed and two are at a fast trot, and the third is pulling up in preparation for a quick turn (a 9.0 on the Warpaint scale). GOOD STUFF!

A quick note to all of you good folks who are jest aching to build up yer town, but ain't got a banker with as open and free a pocket, as he needs on that front pew on Sunday mornin'. Ertl 9yew, that Ertl) makes three "playsets" which begin to appear each year in mid-October at K-Mart, Wal-Mart, and Farm & Fleet (and maybe at Toys 'R' US). Watch for the WESTERN TOWN (containing a Hotel/saloon, a sheriff's office, a livery stable, and a long bunkhouse, along with an outhouse, a windmill, much fence and a gate with O.K. Corral sign, desks, chairs, tables, a bar, and 2 saddle horses, 6 mustangs, and 8 Longhorns), the FARM (a house, a barn, and numerous other accessories and animals - but you can give the pick-up truck to your kids/no gunrack), and the RANCH (with a Ponderosa style ranchhouse, a barn, etc.). These take paint very well and they will stain well also (I have done both). The roofs are removable and many buildings have a floor, which serves as walkway in front too. The interiors are cast with kerosene lamps, paneling and mirrors where appropriate (like behind the bar). The animals are in 25mm. scale as are all the buildings. All this for around a $30.00 price tag last year (I got one after Christmas for $21.00, but the selection is limited and the stores stocked a limited amount of sets). A word too the wise, so I used many words for our type. Go get em fellas! Well, Good Gunslingin' and Warpaint Dreams to everyone.