Donnington Miniatures
15mm Ancient Artillery

Figure Review

by David Barnes

15, Cromwell Road, Shaw, Newbury, Berkshire, England, RG14 2HP

These artillery pieces and crewmen also include Medieval examples. One thing one can be certain of with Donnington is that they make every effort to keep abreast with the latest archeological research. Allied to this is their designers' ability to model well and with intricate mouldings for machines like:

ART45 Large Trebuchet (height 65 mm). The bits just have to fit together well - and they do. The figures I can only describe as lively, with a hint of humor shown here and there - "ies being so cheerful as keeps me going! " kind of thing. I will list the samples, comment on them and finally, draw some of them, not to scale, but, in the case of the artillery machines I will give an idea of scale with a "lay figure."

Ancient Period

ART13 Pile of stones (16 pence). A nice in-scale heap to keep your engine banging away throughout a game. Maybe Donnington should produce a mason producing stones of the required size. I dimly remember an Osprey illustration showing one making gun stones.

ART14 Hellenistic officer, linen cuirass, commanding, Thracian helmet. "On my signal" kind of pose, left hand on his hip, right hand raised.

ART15 Hellenistic crewman, linen cuirass, pointing, levering stake, helmet. Sword under his left arm. NCO kind of atmosphere about him.

ART16 Hellenistic crewman, linen cuirass, holding stone ball, Pilos helmet. Bent knees, holding the ball high on his chest. You can hear him saying "Roll on my discharge!" Unconscious humor for an artilleryman.

ART17 Hellenistic crewman, tunic, shielding eyes, Pilos helmet. Could be wiping his sweating brow.

ART18 Hellenistic crewman, scale cuirass, levering with stave. Tip of stave down by his left toe, top of it over his right shoulder.

ART19 Imperial Roman Optio, mail cuirass, commanding, plumed helmet. Plumes are either side of his helmet of course. A mailed cape over his shoulders and mail tunic. Bare legs, gladius on his right hip.

ART20 Imperial Roman crewman. Segmentata cuirass, pointing, holding stave, helmet.

ART21 Imperial Roman crewman. Segmentata cuirass, levering with stave, helmet. Imperial Gallic helmet with brow peak.

ART22 Imperial Roman crewman. Segmentata cuirass, holding ball, helmet. The helmet is the Imperial Gallic type without the brow "peak." Pose gives a good impression of holding weight.

ART23 Imperial Roman crewman. Mail cuirass, shielding eyes, helmet. It looks like a modified Boetian helmet.

ART24 Imperial Roman crewman. Mail cuirass, pointing, holding darL Similar helmet to No. 23.

ART25 Late Roman officer, tunic, trousers, directing, cloak, helmet. One can see him on Hadrian's wall. "Fire!"

ART26 Late Roman crewman, tunic, trousers, levering with stave, helmet. Short sword on left hip.

ART27 Late Roman crewman. Tunic, trousers, pointing, holding dart. "Look! There! No, there!"

ART28 Late Roman crewman. Bare chested, trousers, shielding eyes, cap. "There must be some sun today!"

ART29 Late Roman crewman. Tunic, trousers, holding ball, cap. Straight sword on his left hip. "Stop goin' on about the sun an "help!"

ART30 Early medieval sergeant, quilted coat, directing, heater shield slung, helmet.

ART31 Early medieval officer, long coat, walking, heater shield slung, helmet. "Those archers on the ramparts couldn't hit a ..."

ART32 Early medieval crewman holding ball, helmet. Knees bent, ball high on chest.

ART33 Early medieval crewman, tunic with hood, holding stave.

ART34 Early medieval crewman, tunic with hood, shading eyes. Long sword on his right hip.

ART35 Late medieval officer, richly attired, pointing, holding stave. False sleeves - almost a liripipe hat as worn by modern Ph.D.'s at degree ceremonies. "Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious by" - the sudden collapse of that tower!

ART36 Late medieval gunner holding lighted taper. "-and retire immediately!"

ART37 Late medieval crewman shielding eyes. Dagger in the centre of his belt, padded upper sleeves.

ART38 Late medieval crewman holding ball. "You grunt, I'll lift it."

ART39 Late medieval crewman, mail jacket, levering with stave. Barbute helmet. Long sword on left hip.

Now the engines:

ART40 Table catapult (65p). Bag with 2 sets of "table" legs, table with catapult attached and capstan for screwing back the string catch. Fine detail.

ART41 Balister (65p). Bag containing two detailed parts. (1) torsion box and bow arms plus projectile channel. (2) podium with brace and channel nest. Simple for you to put together. Fine detail.

ART42 Not sent.

ART43 Large perrier (E2.50). A large stone thrower. Bag containing all the well cast parts, some fine cord, and a sheet of instructions for assembly, The rule is; alwUs put the parts up "dry" as a familiarization exercise, compare diagram and do any slight filing that may be necessary before getting the glue out!

ART44 Trebuchet (height 55mm) (E2.80). A counter-balance stone thrower, usually constructed on site. Bag contains all the parts, fine cord and diagram for construction. I can't wait to besiege some castle or other!

ART45 Trebuchet (height 65mm) (0.90). A massive (in 15mm scale) bag full of all the parts, cord and diagram. Excellent value for money. A great many moulds used in casting this one.

ART46 Giant trebuchet (unseen) (height 99mm) (03.50). Mal Voisin! Says the sheet - I translate "Bad to be in the neighborhood of' I had a French teacher long ago called Mlle Sansvoisin (without neighbors) - very pleasant lady she was.

Enfin! ART47 and 48 Pile of large balls, pile of giant balls at 16p each. C'est Ca!

Ah. Pardon! OGI Bombard (65p). A hooped barrel with screw breech and wedged base. Dice for exploded weapon every 4 firings? Fine detail. Drawings now:

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© Copyright 1999 Hal Thinglum
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