Feudal Castings

15mm WWI Scots, WWII Japanese,
1859 Piedmontese

Reviewed By David Barnes

Feudal Castings new releases, 15mm figures, WWI Scots, WW2 Japanese mortar group and Piedmontese heavy and light horse from the Italian Wars of Independence
Available from 15, Quarry Park, Kirriemuir, Angus, Scotland, DD8 4DR

I'm always pleased to review Feudal Castings because of the clarity of castings and details. I will list the figures, comment and then draw some of them, not to scale.

GW30 WWI Highland infantry command, steel helmets (3 officers, 3 pipers). These "ladies from Hades" have the cut back tunic common to all Highland regiments and wear the kilt covered with a "trench cover" with its own pocket center front in lieu of a sporran. The officers have a pistol in the right hand raised in the air. The left hand is raised higher signalling or swatting the Hielan' Midge. It is probably a rumor that Highland Command suggested releasing clouds of midges to reply to the German gas attacks. The Highland midge is about 2mm long and has a Rottweiler's bite! The Pipers are playing fit to bust. One of the best secret weapons the Scots ever had.

J8 Imperial Japanese Army, WW2. Helmeted. Infantry kneeling with knee mortar/rifle (3 with mortar, 3 with rifles, bayonet fixed). The knee mortar was so called because it came up to the knee. In September 1950, Major Kenneth Muir VC and Major Gordon Ingrain used what UK called the 2 inch mortar to defend Hill 282 in Korea against wave after wave of Chinese infantry. They were Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. However, I set fire to a wood in Norfolk practicing with one when I was in the King's Shropshire Light Infantry. Well, some people are better at aiming with a white line painted down the barrel than I am. The mortar man has his rifle slung. Excellent detail. I have a skirmish set of Japanese: rifles, MGs and now mortars to fight in the Philippines. I use WW2 Tommies to represent Marines, US. The helmet was the same in the early war.

1859 Piedmontese

IT7 Light horse, with carbine. Carbine upright in the right hand. Cape rolled round the body. Sword on left hip. Bearded, in shako.

IT8 Light horse command. 1 officer, 1 trumpeter, 1 standard bearer. The officer is waving his sword. Bugler is winding his bugle and you'll need to put a guidon on the standard bearer's staff.

IT10 Heavy horse with lance. 4 troopers, 4 horses. I love the huge classical helmets these chaps wear! Great big brass combs on the top. Carbine, rolled cape, sword on left hip and long lances. A heavy unit to finally punch holes in the opposition.

IT9 Heavy horse command. I officer, 1 trumpeter, 1 standard bearer. All doing their thing in superb detail. I have a Piedmontese army so I'm more than pleased to see these great figures. The Italian Wars of Independence were very interesting and full of battles, hairbreadth escapes and patriotic armed civilians whipping the pants off a regular army - the Austrians. Great figures. Get some samples and see for yourself. Now for some drawings, not to scale.

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© Copyright 1999 Hal Thinglum
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