Tumbling Dice
20mm ECW and 30YW

Figure Review

by David Barnes

Cast in pewter, Available from 96, Sandfield Road, Arnold, Nottingham, NG5 6QJ

A note from Paul Sulley, the gentleman who produces these excellent ranges says: "All SP and DAP have a special offer of a command pack or field gun and crew inserted. " SP is sixty figures for £ 8.90 (at the time of writing). DAP is one hundred and twenty figures for £ 35. A flat rate UK postage charge is 50 pence - an improvement on "Games Workshop" who charge a flat rate of £ 3 even if one only needs a couple of dice. Tumbling Dice outside Europe postage charges are min ٠, maximum 㿀 - generally add 40%. I will list the figures, comment and draw some of them, not to scale.

Generally, to begin with, these figures are cast in pewter, so are strong and take good detail. The standard of casting is excellent and the proportion, modelling and animation of the figures is very good, indeed. One needs to search hard for flash, veiling, or casting lines. The cast parts of the two artillery sent are precise. The 9 lber is easy to put together. The light gun is a little more difficult as the trail comes in two sections, but his is a minor point. The figures and equipment offered are representing those circa 1642. I'll begin with the ARTY as I've just made up the guns and put heads on the crew.

Artillery D

a) Light gun 41ber Minion and crew. You get a bag of fine parts, two wheels, one barrel (or tube US) and two sections of trail, "worm," rammer, ladle, barrel of powder, portfire and trail spike. The crew consists of five headless figures (heads provided). There's an undoubted officer with sword gesturing (and you!). He gets the plumed hat head. A chap with a sash gets the other plumed head and the portfire or "serpent." Another guy gets a more sober hat and holds the "worm. " Two chaps shoving open hands also, one at waist level, the other at shoulder level. The latter would go better with the 9 lber with the rammer.

b) Nicely shaped trail to go with 30YW or ECW. Two wheels, barrel or tube and the trail plus the same crew. Excellent wood graining and iron work details.

C1642 Horses B

a) Heavy horse. Two pistol holsters at the pommel. Walking forward with arched neck looking down. Well proportioned, cleanly cast.

b ) Light horse. Another well modelled horse trotting.

c ) Dragoon horse. Covered in the dragoon's kit, walking. A hack or similar. Also well modelled.

C1642 Mounted A

a) Fully armoured cavalry. Cuirassier, sword. Flourished - tassets, gauntlets. Cuirassier, pistol, similar pose, right arm slightly more bent, well modelled horse pistol.

b ) Cavalry in 3/4 armor, with cavalry helmet - this means 3 barreled pot helmet. Just as described, one with a sword at balance and the other with a horse pistol with a dagged butt. Both called "Lobsters" on the sheet.

c ) Cavalry with back and breast plates (with cavalry helmet) - open pots. arquebusier sword, arquebusier pistol, arquebusier carbine. The two not named "carbine" have one each on a swivel clip. Well animated figures. "Carbine" has it with the butt on his thigh.

d) Dragoons in coat with felt hats. Dragoon sword, musket slung at his back. Dragoon pistol, musket slung differently at his back. Dragoon musket. All wear bandoliers and snapsacks.

e ) Light cavalry in coats and felt hats. Lt. cav sword, Lt. cav pistol, Lt. cav carbine. "Buff' coats probably. They also have satchels and at their front on the belt what looks like a dispense pouch. They also have powder horns.

C1642 Dismounted C

a) ECW Royalist. Musketeers in buff coat, felt hats, with musket rests. Pikemen in helmets, back and breastplates and tassets.

    1 . Royalist musketeer advancing, rest beneath musket.
    2. Royalist musketeer firing standing, giving fire musket on rest.
    3. Royalist musketeer loading. Ramming with his "scouring stick."
    4. Royalist musketeer priming. Musket at porte.
    9. Royalist pikeman advancing.
    10. Royalist pikeman attacking.
    11. Royalist pikeman standing.
    12. Royalist pikemen set for cavalry (charge for horse and draw your sword).

b) ECW New Model Army. Musketeers in buff coat, felt hats, with musket rests. Pikemen in helmets, back and breastplates and tassets.

    21. Musketeer advancing, no rests for the muskets.
    22. Musketeer firing standing, simpler clothing, more mobility and cheaper production.
    23. Musketeer loading.
    24. Musketeer priming.
    29. Pikeman advancing, at "Port your pike."
    30. Pikeman attacking, at "Charge your pike."
    31. Pikeman standing, at "Have a care."
    32. Pikemen set for cavalry, at "Charge for horse and draw your sword."

References

Elton's "The Compleat Body of the Art Military" as quoted in "The English Civil War - A Military Handbook," eds. John Tucker and Lewis S. Winstock, pub. Arms and Armour Press, SBN 85368 0760. If I was starting collecting an ECW army I would think hard about these. There's a good variety, they're cheaper than 25/28mm, pewter lasts better than lead alloy, they don't take up so much room, they're easier to paint than 15mm and they're excellently modelled. I recommend them to you.

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