Two Dragons
25mm Dark Age Warriors

Miniature Products Review

by David Barnes

Review of Two Dragons Productions Warriors of the Dark Ages, available from 18, Lipscomb Street, Milnsbridge, Huddersfield, W. Yorkshire, HD3 4PF

These figures represent the better armed villagers and townsfolk and Two Dragons say this group can represent elements of the following armies: Early Saxon, Welsh, Breton, Anglo Saxon, Carolingian, Frankish, Leidang Norse, Pre-feudal Scots, Norse Irish, Anglo Danish, Western Frankish, Early Frankish, Scottish Highlander, Early Feudal French, Early Crusade and Medieval German. I think these must be on someone's army list - but I think they are generic figures anyway. This is MIXPAX12.

Twenty figures in all, all totally different. They are E6.55 at the time of writing. You pay a little more per figure but you get this tremendous mix. I will list the figures individually (all being well, as there are no letters/figures on the bases, as in olden time Minifigs or Hinchliffe or GarTison figures). On closer inspection, some of them have numbers.

DAP1 Attacking with scythe, wearing cap. The blade has been bound to the snaith rather than kept in its agricultural configuration.

DAP2 Portly peasant advancing with pitchfork. In Shropshire a pitchfork used to be known as a "pikeul," which name reveals its military affinities. Long flowing hair under his cap.

DAP3 Peasant running with sickle, wearing fur cap. Weapon raised up over his head.

DAP4 Barechested "balding" peasant, advancing with home made spear. A large knife bound to a pole. Going resolutely forward.

DAP5 Youth advancing with single-handed wood axe, wearing wooly hat. It's a large chopper. Almost resting blade uppermost on his shoulder.

DAP6 Advancing with spade on shoulder. During WWII, several British prisoners of war were decapitated by the Japanese with shovels, so don't discount it as a weapon. This shovel is wooden with a metal "shoe."

DAP7 Old man with stick, carrying hammer. A mallet really. Determined to do his bit!

DAP8 Tall thin peasant advancing with Asoles (sic). I think the writer means an Adze. It looks like it. I know someone who can split a match with his adze, kept down by his bare toes. He used to do it for money. He's a boat-builder. The blade of his is twice as long as this one.

DAP9 Female peasant advancing, short heavy seax or meat cleaver. Could be a short handled bill-hook. I've got one. I only chop sticks with it!

DAP10 Bare headed male advancing with pick at trail. It's the old fashioned crowpick, not the modern double beaked sort.

DAP11 Youth reaching back to throw stone. I love this figure. He's really swaying back, front foot lifted. Great animation.

DAP12 Stocky man. Swept back hairstyle, advancing with heavy club. A double handed shelaly.

DAP13 One armed man wearing fur trimmed hat, advancing with handbill sax. His empty sleeve is folded up and pinned to his shoulder.

DAP14 One eyed villager (with eye patch!) in waistcoat advancing with axe.

DAP15 Villager, swept back hair style, advancing with long hammer or mallet. In Shropshire, a mallet is called "a beetle." If you called someone Old Beetle Yud! (old Beetle Head), you meant he had a head of wood! "Not a lot of people know that!"

DAP16 Standing ready with heavy pointed pole or thin tree trunk, with swept back hair, wearing cloak. A solid citizen. Just the job for poking a rider from his horse.

DAP17 Reaching out. Knife at ready, bare chested and swept back hair. Wearing britches also. A throwback berserker?

DAP18 Standing holding hay rake and small sack with swept back hair. What's in the sack? Fighting ferrets? Lime? If you want a mug in the country, take your own!

DAP19 Swinging stone weight on rope with swept back hair. Could be a sling or an improvised club. You choose.

DAP20 Standing, right arm raised, holding fish gaff, knife at the ready in the other hand, curly hair and beard. Hook him with one and finish him off with the other!

As I write it has occurred to me that a kind of European "Seven Samurai" could be played with these figures - or "The Last Valley," come to that. Two Dragons also produce 20 "Townsfolk with basic weapons" - not seen but, I'm sure as good as these villagers. I will now draw some of these figures, not to scale. Two Dragons full catalogue costs £ 3.50 inc. P&P. If you're interested in a particular line, please send an SASE. Two Dragons have no % arrangement with the post office!

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