by David Barnes
Review of Feudal Castings new 15mm releases for the WWI Range Available from 15, Quarry Park, Kirriemuir, Angus, Scotland, DD8 4DR First are WWI offerings in the usual meticulous detail, well proportioned and animated. All packs are ɥ 1.20 at the time of writing, i.e. 8 infantry, 6 command or 4 cavalry (unless stated otherwise in the lists) plus P&P of course. Minimum £ 1. I will list the figures, comment on them and draw some of them, not to scale. My grandfather had two volumes, half bound in leather, of a history of the early years of WWI - all uhlans scouting, mounted French lancers and armored cars hurling, guns spitting from every conceivable orifice - before the awful trench warfare began. My grandfather was in the Royal Army Medical Corps until 1919 and was at Paschendale. He never spoke of it at all, except to tell me RAMC stood for "Run Away, Mother's Coming." GW13 Highlander, steel helmet, fighting order, one hand raised. He's not saying "Cia mar athar?" that's for sure (a greeting in Gaelic, kindly meant). GW14 Highlander, steel helmet, fighting order, advancing. One of my sources, British of course, says the Germans called these lads "The ladies from Hades." He looks "Whar dar meddle wi' me?" I would certainly avoid getting in front of him. GW15 Highlander, steel helmet, fighting order, firing. A mixture of these GW13 to 15 would look great in your table version of Flanders fields. GW16 Lewis gunner advancing, No.2 advancing (pack of 6 figures). That equals 3 Lewis guns teams. Margery Allingham's character, Magersfontein Lugg was supposed to have gone "over the top" firing one of these from the hip - only braw laddies need apply. Great details. No.2 is carrying the round "drum" magazine. It held 29 rounds I think. GW17 British Infantry officers, SD cap. In WWI, German snipers were told to "shoot the British with the thin legs." this was because, early on, all officers wore riding britches. This one has his service pistol raised, barrel in the air. Left hand also raised. Holster on his belt at left front. Small haversack. GW18 British infantry, SD cap, full kit. One hand raised. waterbottle on right hip. Ammo pouches in 5's either side of belt buckle, bayonet scabbard under small pack. Large valise on his back, straps crossed. Rifle and bayonet held at the point of balance in his left hand. Great detail. GW19 British infantry, SD cap, full kit, firing. Right leg braced back, weight forward over the left foot. A good aiming pose. GW21 German infantry officers, picklehaube, full kit. Two representatives of the pack, both with lugers poised. One calling on the troops, left hand raised. The other stands, left hand on his holster at his left front. Both have lovely big boots (see film "All quiet on the Western Front"). Large pack with great-coat round it. GW22 German infantry, full kit, one hand raised. Rifle at the point of balance, vertical. GW23 German infantry, full kit, advancing. Determined look about this chap, coming on with bayoneted rifle. GW24 German infantry, full kit, firing. Good aiming pose. All the above Germans wear the picklehaube with cloth cover.
More Barnes' Reviews
War of 1812 Wargamer's Guide (booklet) Wargames Foundry 25mm Napoleonic Redoubt Enterprises 25mm American Civil War Guernsey Foundry 25mm US Cavalry and Custer Dixon 25mm American Civil War and Wild West Wargames Foundry 25mm American Civil War Battlegroup 25mm WWII Feudal Castings 15mm WWI Feudal Castings 15mm Sikh Cavalry Back to MWAN #92 Table of Contents Back to MWAN List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 1998 Hal Thinglum This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com |