Available from 3, Apollo Street, Heslington Road, York, Y01 5AP, England

Here's something brand new, but harking back to the days of HG Wells and his famous "Little Wars." You can now emulate the great man - well he was certainly a Great Writer and Historian, by playing with these new offerings by "Irregular." Unless you are a millionaire, it's no good pining for Britains soldiers - the toy variety. I saw an elephant drawn artillery team on sale in the Royal Armouries, Leeds, shop for the best part of £ 1,000! I kid you not!

"Irregular" will sell you a whole toy army for £ 45. They're called "Battlepacks" and include: 48 infantry, 8 cavalry, 2 guns and crew, 2 MGs and crew with Commanders. "Earlier than MG" armies get other figures swapped in, I presume. The range is vast: Ancients, Marlburians, SYW/AWI, Napoleonic, ACW, Franco/Austrian, Austro/Prussian, Franco/Prussian, most colonials, Indian mutiny, Russo/Turkish, Balkan Wars, WWI, or WW2! The prices, at the time of writing - unpainted: inf 65p (WW2 are 75p), cav £ 1.30, guns £ 2.40.

What will galvanize the interest of many of our readers is that the designers of the figures are Ian Kay and Andy Partridge. My old "Jollico" figures tower over these guys. As I only have 16 of them, there is no contest anyway. "Irregular" are about the same size as Win. Britains, 'B' figures, which were smaller and cheaper than the regular size, which with plumes, helmet spikes and what have you topped 60mm+. These 42mm Irregulars are relatively cheap and smoother in style than most wargames figures (some of which can be more like "hedgehogs" with undercut equipment and other features). They are simpler and look great in gloss enamels or acrylics with a gloss varnish. One does not need great numbers of these figures to have a good simple game. Indeed the size of the figures precludes too many. Fun and simplicity is the name of the game.

42mm Germanics (Franco Prussian to early WW1)

LWRB1 Infantry advancing. Simple figure in a good pose. Rifle and bayonet, good modeling.

LWRB4 Infantry standard bearer. A similar uniformed figure with a convincing cast flag. My sample needs mounting to make him stable. You'll put a base on anyway, so no problem.

42mm WW2 These are more detailed and cost 10p each more.

SWRU2 Russian infantry advancing firing SMG. A really stylish figure - I don't think this period fits the Toy Wars concept myself. I remember WW2, no fun at all.

LWGE3 German infantry advancing with rifle. An excellent model and pose. Much more detail than the earlier era figures. A skirmish game could be played with these. A part of Stalingrad perhaps?

ACW New figures unlisted (at the time of writing)

One Union and one Confederate infantryman. More detailed than the other "toys" and therefore more expensive. The Union man is represented in a kepi and the Confederate in a slouch hat; altho' both can obviously be painted up to represent either. They both are advancing with open hands. Well modeled rifle muskets are supplied. Con: has his trousers tucked into his socks.

42mm 7YW Infantryman

Separate musket for open hands. Prussian style tricorne and long queue down his back ("pig tail"). Turn backs, sword at his left side, cartridge box at his right. High gaiters. Very cleanly cast - just right for an H.G. Wells "Little Wars" battle or "Big Wars" rules by Stuart Asquith and Jack Alexander, Jessica Productions, 1993 (186, Torbay Rd., Harrow, Middlesex, HA2 9QL). I'm sure "Irregular" will be thinking about rules of their own. "Little Wars," first printed in 1913 by Frank Palmer, has been reprinted in various formats, several times, so reprints are relatively easy to get hold of.

20mm Spanish Civil War - International Brigade

None of these figures are obviously British Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, etc., unless one knows a lot about SCW uniform and no letters/numbers appear on the stands so you'll have to bear with me if I get the list number on the wrong figure (searches for SCW references!) discovered.

"La Uetima Canada" by Bob Cordery, Partizan Press (available from) 816-818, London Rd, Leigh on Sea, Essex, SS9 3NH. 2nd ed, 1993

NCSW89 British Brigade LMG man. Firing resting bipod on what looks very much like the old tin "box soldier" with the squarish metal handles at either end. Peaked cap, breeches with tall gaiters or maybe high lace up boots. A blouson jacket, cazadora?

NCSW87 British Brigade Rifleman firing. Standing, ordinary trousers, but with a pasa montana "ski" cap. Good aiming pose

NCSW88 British Brigade SMG man. Kneeling with similar trousers to 89, "ski" cap, firing from the shoulder.

The next 3 figures are wearing "granadero" trousers (flared like riding breeches at the thigh and tight at the calf). One wears a big floppy beret - could be a Carlist Requette; the only uniform at first with these was a big floppy red beret. Another wears a peaked cap, is firing a submachine gun, from the shoulder, granaderos with gaiters and a long tunic. The last of the three holds a rifle at his hip - Northern Ireland style. Granaderos and gaiters. Rolled greatcoat slung round left shoulder - smallish beret pulled to the rear - like some rankles in the British Army (well they used to when I was in HQ FARMERS). "At ease" or in reserve pose.

Finally in these figures another berated figure. Slung greatcoat, rifle at right shoulder shift (looks very like a '14-18 Lee Enfield). Ordinary trousers tucked into his socks.

15mm Austrians

These Austrians remind me of the illustrations in Jaroslave Hasik's "The Good Soldier Svejk" (the only loyal Czech in the Austrian Army of 1914). The illustrations are by Josef Lada. Penguin books. I will list them, comment and draw some, not to scale.

NC114 Austrian infantry advancing. Rifle and bayonet across the body. Hide pack with rolled greatcoat. The field cap is typical of the Austro Hungarian empire forces.

NC 115 Austrian infantry advancing at trail. This is the short trail. Moustache and beard. Well detailed, lively figure.

NC116 Austrian infantry standing, firing. Good aiming pose.

NC117 Austrian infantry officer. Greatcoat with large fur collar. Sword drawn point grounded.

NC118 Austrian infantry bugler. Wen detailed except for the bugle which looks a bit like a tolled newspaper - otherwise excellent pose.

NC122 Austrian Hussar cavalry. Large fur collar. One piece casting with horse, full of life. Sabre drawn down by his right boot. Rippling cloak. Excellent

More Barnes Reviews:

Quartermaster's Store Age of Napoleon Magazine Helion Books
Irregular Miniatures 42mm 7YW, Colonial; 20mm SCW; 15mm WWI Austrians
Foundry 28mm 16th C. Renaissance
Dixon 25mm Wild West