Guernsey Foundry

28mm Treasure Island Pack

Reviewed By David Barnes

Review of Guernsey Foundrys latest 28mm releases, Treasure Island Pack
Available from The Foundry Ltd., Huberts Lane, off Doyle Road, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 1RG, Channel Islands, GB

These are a small part of the forthcoming range of pirates sculpted by Will Hannah. When the whole range is ready they'll come out in 1999. These are Will's debut figures and he intends to do some new Vikings and maybe some Normans and Saxons to follow.

"Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!" These Treasure Island figures are recognizable as the characters they represent without any reference to a list - if you've read Robert Louis Stevenson's book. The dedication in that book is to Lloyd Osborne, Stevenson's stepson, who played wargames with his dad and wrote "newspaper" accounts of the games. I will list the figures from the pack I have "PIRATES - Treasure Island Models" says the label, comment upon them and draw some, not to scale.

Long John Silver Tricorne and jacket with a cumberbund round it. A large pistol hooked onto it, leaning on a crutch, pointing with his right hand - no left leg below the knee and a parrot on his shoulder. "Why aye, Jim lad!" A hawk-like face echoing the illustrations of S. Van Abbe in the Dent/Dutton edition I have of 1967 (bought at a library withdrawn sale!).

Jim Hawkins A boy with queued hair, a satchel-like bag on his left hip slung from a strap over his shoulder, holding a pistol like a musket in both hands. "One more step Mr. Hands 'said and I'll blow your brains out! Dead men don't bite you know," to quote Jim facing Israel Hands with two pistols at the cross trees.

Squire Trelaney Bag wig, jabot at his throat, long waistcoat, breeches, two horse pistols, buckled shoes. The gentleman who financed the adventure.

Ben Gunn Long hair, ragged shorts & weskit, bare feet, carrying a musketoon across his body. A powder horn on his right hip and shot bag on his left. "Times I've dreamed of cheese - toasted mostly." The poor marooned man soon to be such a help to the treasure searchers.

Dr. Livesey He stands bare headed with a cutlass in his right hand and a pistol in his left. He wears a long open waistcoat and a simple cravat at the neck. The face is high cheek boned and strong.

Capt. Smollet No hat, bag wig, cravat, braided coat with turned back buttoned cuffs. He has what appears to be an over and under pistol in his right hand and a musket, held at the point of balance, in his left.

Finally, Blind Pugh A rough stick in his left hand and waving his right in the air (the Black Spot in his palm?). His eyes are shrouded in a cloth. He wears a large coat with a cape over a belted waistcoat. One of the most frightening bad men in literature I think.

All these figures are in the Foundry "House Style" and are well proportioned and animated, and excellently cast, as we have come to expect from this firm. An interesting group for one to one or role play rules. Charles Grant has done some fun rules for pirates and I expect Foundry may produce some too for this range. I'll draw a few now, not to scale.

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© Copyright 1999 Hal Thinglum
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