25mm Redoubt
ACW and Napoleonic Guerillas

by David Barnes

Redoubt Enterprises new 25mm ACW Command and Wounded sets,
Spanish Napoleonic Guerillas, and French Line Grenadiers
49 Channel View Road, Eastbourne, E. Sussex, BN22 7LN, and
Miniature Service Center, 1525 Bridge St. #163, Yuba City, CA, 95993, USA

All the packs offered contain figures in different poses. Separate heads are available and many have separate arms and weapons. You get 6 figures a pack for £ 3.60 plus heads. Extra head are 50p a pack of six and you can specify which you wish (hats, kepis, slouch hats, bareheaded, puffball or Tennessee). These packs cover March Advance at the Double (Right Shoulder Shift and At the Trail). I have been sent 4 packs. I will list the packs, comment and draw some of the figures, not to scale, when I have stuck them together. The ACW General Command groups are really excellent, two general officers mounted and a standing aide. The wounded can decorate the tabletop or be markers for "shaken" morale state or inventive scenarios - "Defence of the Medical Post" or something like that. All these figures are well modeled and cleanly cast. I like the ACW better but the Guerillas are good too. I will list the figures, comment and draw some of them not to scale.

Command, Each pack contains I officer, I drummer, 2 standard bearers, and 2 NCO's.

ACW39 Sack coat (also available: shirt order, shell jacket, frock coat). I've given these the slouch hatted heads but one could mix all the available hatted heads across the packs especially for the Confederates. One's mind immediately goes to Pickett's charge at Gettysburg. Because of the lively animation of the figures I find it necessary to make sure they are based firing on a good solid base. Everyone is going to base their figures anyway so this poses no problem. All the figures stand unbased but object to being carried about on a tray in this state. (Sidelight on my peripatetic reviewing!)

ACW42 Right shoulder shift, shell jacket. Some have their trousers tucked into their socks. Their "frozen" action reminds me of the stop frame photos of Ed Maybridge who was trying to discover, through the camera, how animals and humans moved (1883-84 under University of Pennsylvania Academy of Art, Philadelphia). Yes, they are that good! Some are swathed in gum blankets and they all have cap pouches, water bottles, cartridge boxes and half a slung old tin cup.

ACW48 Frock coat. At the trail, separate arm, fixed bayonet. I've chosen to give these lads the kepi heads, seems to go with the frock coats. The stuck on arm and weapon is no problem and you can put them at a slightly different angle for variety. I use "UHU" solvent free all purpose adhesive (strong and clear). These lads are also covered in kit and must be scampering out of the "beaten zone." Running in full kit at the trail is no fun. I spent some time in the King's Shropshire Light Infantry so I know. Frock coats would make it worse!

ACW49 Rifle at the ready, shirt order. These have slouch hats, which goes with the shirt order, I think The rifle is different and the legs are all going licketty split. Again half have gum blanket, and all are covered in a multiplicity of kit. They really look as if they are wearing it too. Don't forget, if you are ordering these figures, specify what head/hat type you want - this is included in the price.

There is also a Limber ACX4, not seen, released at £ 3.60 at the thme of writing, to go with Redoubt's excellent artillery, already reviewed by this author.

ACW General Command

ACX15 Confedorate Command set. Two mounted officers on horses one dismounted with double breasted jackets decorated with Austrian knots ("chicken guts.). Battlefield or artillay command. A really excellent group which would look good together on a terrained base.

ACX16 Union Command set. Two mounted and one dismounted officers as ACXI5 except that they wear single breasted jackets with shoulder tabs, no knots on the sleeves. Battlefield or artillery command. Each set is £ 3.60 inc. heads (at the time of writing). Choose which pack of heads you want to go with the figures. Offlcer's kept, officer's slouch, soldier's kept, slouch, bareheaded, Tennessee, puff ball or Hardee hats. Extra heads available at 50p per pack.

ACW Wounded

ACX14 Casualty set. Three walking wounded and 2 men carrying a 1~r soction with a wounded soldier on it. The w/w consist of a chap with one arm in a sling carrying a waterbottle by it's strap; another using his musket as a crutch and the third staunching the flow of blood from a wound in his upper arm. The stretcher bearers are trotting along with their burden. The model has hollows so that it will fit on the ladder section.

Napoleonic Spanish Guerrillas

- extra to ten previously released.

SG11 Guerrilla charging with musket. Shirt, waistcoat, hat with wide brim, ammo pouch. All these figures look dangerous, some villainous, all rather scruffy!

SG12 Guerrilla charging, crouching with two pistols, in long tailed coat and broad brimmed hat. Bare feet, no hose.

SG13 Guerrilla charging, holding sword, waistcoat, hat with curly brim. He holds the sword rather like a pike.

SG14 Guerrilla standing firing musket in shirt, shoulder belt with pouch, bareheaded. A good static pose.

SG 15 Guerrilla crouching firing musket, long tailed coat, bareheaded, ragged. Taking a crack at someone on the fly. before dropping into cover perhaps.

SG16 Guerrilla kneeling firing musket, short coat, pouch, buttoned trousers, cap. A good platform for the aim. Stocking cap.

SG17 Guerrilla woman advancing shouting waving sword in long dress and apron. Not to beargued with, this one!

SG 18 Guerrilla woman advancing with knife, blouse, trousers, waist sash, hair tied at the back.Young, athletic type.

SG 19 Guerrilla woman waving banner (molded), long skirt, short sword stuck thro' sash.

SG 20 Priest in cassock waving bible and holding club. (Ancient Irish joke: "What time is it Father?" WHOP! "Ouch! " "It's just struck one, my son.") Energetic, the bible is big enough to pack a hearty wallop too.)

French Line Grenadiers

FR70 Line Grenadier advancing, shako with tall plume, level musket. Possibly acting as a Voltiguer without having to balance a tall bearskin.

FR71 Line Grenadier march attack, bearskin. A sight of a mass of these blokes advancing usually made the opposition run away! From your powerful reserve!

FR72 Line Grenadier at the ready, bearskin. "Old Trousers" in dangerous mood.

FR73 Line Grenadier officer advancing, sword on shoulder, bearskin, campaign wear. "L'Empereur recompensera lui qui s'avencera!"

Napoleonic foot figures are 60p each, at the time of writing.

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© Copyright 1998 Hal Thinglum
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