Two to five examples of each body type are used with separate heads (cast on). The detal of these figures is excellent, as is the casting. Pewter is well known as taking fine details and being strong. Figures are 35p. Horses 70p and Packs 4.20pds. DISCOUNT ARMY PACKS are suitable for WRG DBA armies systems.

c. 1066 Anglo Saxons

a. Anglo Saxon Huscarls, C(a) Danish axe Being a member "Pa Engliscan Gesipas" (The English Companions), I'm well up on Saxons and this chap is great. He has a Norman style helmet with nasal guard and the new fangled "kite" shield. The other example has a byrnie and boar spear. The cross bar designed to stop the spear penetrating too far (b).

c 1066 Dismounted C.(d) Great Fyrd. [I think the numbering system will prove too complicated for some people] Tunic, round shield, scramaseax at his left.

c. 1066 Dismounted C(c) Select Fyrd. Mail tunic, helmet with nasal, round shield. Spear held upright. Seax at his side.

c. 1066 Dismounted C(e) Skirmishers. Three examples; an archer, a slinger and a javelinman. They all have seaxes as secondary armament. The archer is loosing in a high trajectory - or could be coming down to a closer aim. The javelinrnan is launching one and holding another in his left hand. The slinger wears a little cap and is just swinging the sling overarm. These would have been the bulk of the Saxon army at Hastings.

c. 1066 Command Packs F(a) Anglo Saxon. Harold or similar earl - on a horse (not "with 'is 'awk on 'is 'and") waving his sword, in Norman style panoply, as he probably would have been. Kite shield provided. There are three dragon banners in the pack, one of the Green Man would have been nice. Then there's a mounted standard bearer and horse - a splined helmet, beard and long hair. Two dismounted earls with drawn swords. (5 Kite shields are included) Two dismounted standard bearers, one coifed and helmeted, the other with a more "standard" Saxon appearance, i.e. long hair and beard.

c. 106C Norman (c) /Bretons (d)

a) Norman dismounted knight, sword, spear. Both have kite shields supplied. The spear has a pennon and the sword sheath appears through the mail hauberk on the sword wielder. First rate animation.

b) Norman dismounted Sergeant, Sword and Spear. Mail tunics, spear is shorter than the

a) Mounted Norman Sergeants A. One has the spear upright, the other at the "jousting"position.

m) Mounted Retainers A. Wearing leather probably. One is helmetless with spear in joust position, the other has a helmet and spear upright. Both heads are slightly fumed to give animation.

k) Mounted Knights A. Mailed, helmeted and with pennoned spears. Kite shields.

n) Mounted scouts A. One bareheaded (Norman haircut). The helmeted one is using a spear (separate) overarm and a spare one in his left hand. The bareheaded ditto.

d) and f) Dismounted C. Armoured spearman, Light Infantry archers, crossbow. The spear is drawn back for the thrust. The shield arm is up protectively. The archer is bareheaded drawing a bow recognizable from the Bayeux Tapestry (crafted by professional Saxon sewers). The crossbowman's bow is separate.

c. 1066 Command Packs F(c) Norman/Breton. Contains: one mounted Lord and Horse The Lord pointing and holding a mace - well animated. The horse is trotting. Generally speaking Normans always fought on horseback if they could a) because it was a sign of good breeding, b) they were trained to fight from horse back, the knight's horses being trained to use their metal shod fore hooves. The Saxons and Vikings, on the other hand, only used horses as transport to and from battle. The Vikings stole available horses, of course, and used them in wide ranging raids - wbich is why Alfred set up his burgal hideage system of defence in depth. 2 dismounted lords, both the saline figure - mail, nasal helmet, pointing, waving maces. One mounted standard bearer and horse. Three banners or gonfanons are included. 2 dismounted standard bearers complete the set. All correctly accoutered and well animated.

Now Les Bretons:

o) Knights attacking A. One waving a sword, the other is using a spear (supplied) overarm. Kite shields supplied.

q) Breton Retainer attacking A. One bareheaded using a sword, the other helmeted using a spear overann - wearing leather and chausses. Kite shields supplied.

p) Breton Sergeants attacking A. Mailed, helmeted, one with a sword, the other using a spear (supplied) overann. Kite shields supplied. Now for those "on the Vik:" Vikings

Command Packs F. (c) Viking. One mounted jarl and pony (a very good looking beast), 2 dismounted jarls, swords in hand, one has a spectacle helmet, pointing. 1 mounted standard bearer and pony. His hand is open to take the staff of one of the 3 standards supplied - semicircular with dog tooth edges. 2 standard bearers on foot.

a) Huscarls (dismounted c). One swinging his Danish axe. Separate shields supplied. Long chainmail, spectacle helmet.

b) Huscarls Sword, long chainmail, nasal helmet. Striking.

c) Huscarls Spear upright (in reserve), splined helmet with nasal, long chainmail, curly beard & moustache.

d) Bondi, Chainmail (c) Round shields supplied, Danish axe, striking.

e) Bondi Sword/Hand Axe Striking or pointing with sword.

f) Viking Bondi Spear Very good action figure. Striking overarm.

g) Viking Bondi Archer Loosing a shaft. In an expensive spectacle helmet.

h) Viking Bondi, Leather Armor (quilted) Danish axe.

i) Bondi, Sword/Hand Axe Shield (supplied) forward. Sword raised for a round swing. Great action pose.

j) Bondi, Spear In reserve. Spear upright.

k) Bondi Archer Selecting a shaft from his quiver.

l) Skirmishers Archer Drawing or Rocking the arrow.

m) Skirmishers Slinger overarm sling.

n) Skirmishers Javelin Casting. All are helmetless. Archers have a Phyrigian cap.

o) Skirmishers Sword and p) Skirmishers Hand Axe Both have round shields supplied separately. Good animation, as with all the otheM. Drawings coming up - not to scale. Lots of good stuff here. If this is your period, you'd be silly not to take advantage of the wealth of variety. If you are thinking of starting in this period, at the moment you cannot do better than these pewter figures

N.B. Saxons did not use cavalry. They thought it cowardly to fight on horseback (too much chance to run away). They used horses as transport to the battlefield, which was often marked out with Hazel wands.