Review of Donnington Miniatures 15mm Maccabean Jews and Jewish Revolt
and initial samples of the Mongols ranges available from
15, Cromwell Road, Shaw, Newbury, Berkshire, England, RG14 2HP

I am always happy to review Donnington Ancients because I know nothing weird and wonderful will be presented, just figures made as true to up to date research can make them. I'll begin with the Jews.

Cavalry

JC1 General waving sword. On HH6. Going at a round gallop, his cloak billowing realistically behind him. Bearded, he wears Romanish armour and helmet, probably the pick of some overrun garrison. Full of life pose.

JC2 Older men, scale cuirass, greaves, lance, helmet, shield. Elite and very few of these, by all accounts - which is why the Romans were able to besiege the Jewish fighters so often.

JC3 Younger men. Tunic, javelins thrusting. Excellent face modeling on this tiny figure. Lively action too.

JC4 Younger men. Tunic, javelins. Two javelins held upright - on HH7. Horse fringed saddlecloth. The riders fit well on all the horses.

Infantry

JF1 Officer, mail tunic, greaves, sword drawn, oval shield. Plumed helmet - Romanesque.

JF2 Foot of Phalanx, tunic, thrusting long spear, javelin, oval shield. Spear of almost pike-like proportions. Javelin to deal with Romans who get in under the longer weapon. forward.

JF3 Foot of phalanx, tunic, long spear, javelin and oval shield. The spear is not as long as JF2's. JF4 Standard bearer, army standard. Wearing tunic and cloak. Standard like a long labrum without the cross wreath.

JF5 Standard bearer, unit standard. The unit standard is a smaller labrum type, and the standard bearer wears a fringed cloak.

JF6 Trumpeter. Fringed cloak, shield, winding his straight trumpet.

JF7 Javelinman, tunic, throwing javelin, round shield. Fringed cloak, long hair.

JF8 Archer, loading, bearded. Reaching for a shaft from the quiver on his right hip.

JF9 Archer, firing, bearded.

JF10 Slinger loading. Sling poised over his head before whipping it into a shot.

JF 11 Slinger firing, stones in a bag.

JF 12 Slinger firing, stones in cloak.

JF13 Archer, loading, clean shaven, like JF8 and 9.

JF14 Archer, firing, clean shaven, like JF8 and 9.

Quite an excellent group of figures, plenty of variety and accuracy.

Next the Mongols. In this release 8 cavalry, 3 horses* and 3 infantry. *Oops! One is a camel and a Bactrian at that!

Cavalry

MOC1 Khan/General, lamellar coat, waving mace, bow, plumed helmet. A really commanding figure. I put him on MOH3, fully armoured horse, boning. This remiods me of Uigur horses, including the crest on the head and rays round the eye holes of the chamfron.

MOC2 General Officer, lamellar coat, waving sword, bow, plumed helmet. Good detailed figure. Bow is in a bow case.

MOC3 Standard Bearer with choice of standards. 1) Army standard - 9 horse tails in a triangle, 2) Army standard - 9 horse tails on a single pole, 3) Unit standard - 1 horse tail on a single pole. Mail jacket, felt hat. Quiver on right side, bow case and sabre on left.

MOC4 Kettle drummer, mail jacket, felt hat - sits on a camel. Look at "The Mongols," Osprey 105 cover for both the General and the maccara drummer.

MOC5 Guard/Touman, lamellar body over long coat, lance, bow, helmet, round shield. Touman (or Toman to quote Marco Polo) is the commander of a thousand men. The commander of a hundred is a "Tuc."

MOC6 Archer. coat, firing bow forward, telt hat. Slightly to the lefl actually, about l l O'clock. Quiver bowcase. sabre. Moci Archer. coat, loading bow, felt hat. He's nocking the arrow, in British terms.

MOC8 Officer, coat, waving sword, bow, helmet. A tuc maybe? Very nice splined helmet.

MOH5 Camel (suitable for drummer and standard bearer) A Bactrian two humped camel, woolly to bear the cold winds belting across Mongolia - or China - or Russia, - Poland, or anywhere else these little fiends decided to attack.

MOF1 Dismounted guard/touman. Lance, bow, plumed helmet, round shield, advancing. Could be used on one of Village Greens' boats trying to invade Japan. Dice for KamiKaze (divine wind) typhoon wrecking your chances!

MOF2 Dismounted guard/archer waving sword, bow, helmet, round shidd.

MOF3 Dismounted guard/archer coat, firing bow, felt bat. Excellent figures both.

Bibliographv

1 "The Mongols" S.R. Turnbull. Osprey No. 105, 1980
2 "Genghis Khan, the Emperor of All Men," Harold Lamb. Cedric Chivers, 1968
3. "The Travels of Marco Polo the Venetian," Intro by John Masefield. Dent Dutton, 1907
4. "The Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome," Phil Barker. WRG, 4th Ed., 1993 (for Jewish forces) Well worth your "hard earned." A lively lot and well worth a look. You may find yourself seriously hooked.

Larger Illustration (77K)

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