Redoubt

25mm ACW Skirmisher (figures)

Reviewed By David Barnes

Redoubt Enterprises 25mm ACW Skirmisher with Texas Star hatted heads (Confederates) 49 Channel View Road, Eastbourne, E. Sussex, BN22 7LN, and Miniature Service Center, 1525 Bridge St. #163, Yuba City, CA, 95993, USA

These troops can be used as pickets, scouts, skirmishers, prisoner escorts, or interspersed with a firing and loading line to give your units that individual and lively look. I will list the packs I've been sent, comment, and draw some figures, not to scale. Not to beat around the bush, I'll say that these are the most natural wargames figures I have ever seen. They are the usual crisply cast, well animated and modelled figures we expect, but these have "something else." It's as if the designer has stepped up a gear. For other eras, maybe the "Toy Soldier" look is good. Seven Years War perhaps. But this war was the old "armed rabble" all over again and these figures suit that very well.

Skirmisher/Scouts advancing, rifles held casually

ACW74 Shell jackets. I have fitted these guys with the kepi displaying the Lone Start State insignia. Don't forget with these figures you can specify which inclusive head type you require with your pack(s) of figures. 3 of this pack have separate arms provided, one with a musket in its hand for you to stick on at the angle you think best. One figure has a head with a "frill" beard and is ambling along with his weapon at the short trail (separate arm). The next cradles his rifle musket trigger uppermost in his left arm and is pointing (separate arm). The next has his weapon resting on his swathed gum blanket, across his shoulder and behind his head. Next a chap walking forward with the weapon in the left hand, butt on the left hip, muzzle forward. His right hand is resting on the front of his swathed gum blanket. The next fellow has his weapon held across the body at waist height. He is advancing cautiously. I've made him look to his left. Finally a figure with his weapon under his right arm in a "gamekeeper" pose. His left hand (separate arm) is down, palm open, slightly advanced before his body - signalling "Quite, take care."

Skirmishers advancing crouched or bent double under fire

ACW78 Shell jackets. These guys are ducking and diving and getting out of the "beaten zone" p.d.q. These also sport a Lone Start State kepi (yours can wear whatever you choose from the wide assortment available). All the six figures are posed differently and energetically; one seems to be sashaying left like a rugby football player seeing a gap to go for.

ACW80 Frock coats. These are fitted with slouch hatted heads with the star. These are also getting a move on whilst making themselves a difficult target. Again the animation is excellent, as is the proportion. The figures might have been taken from the famous diorama painting of the Atlanta Cyclorama - battle for Atlanta GA (cf. Bruce Catton's "Picture History of the Civil War," American Heritage/Bonanza Books, 1982, ISBN 0. 517. 385562). Drawings now, not to scale.

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© Copyright 1999 Hal Thinglum
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