I have been silent for too long. I must deeply apologize to my old comrades. The latest big news may be old to you more fortunates in the East, but the new ESCI releases have hit this area, big. Before I discovered the joys of 20s I was an enthusiastic collector and converter of Airfix figures. I am delighted, therefore, to have a new supply of Plastics figures' upon whom I can commit surgery. ESCI has two new cavalry kits out for the Napoleonic wars. They are Polish Lancers and Scots Grays. They are both quite good kits yielding 12 cavalrymen for the price of around $2.50. The figures themselves are quite good..if a little thin and most are such accomplished horsemen that they don't hold on to any visible reins. The horses however, are simply outstanding. They are quite the best I have ever seen in 20mm scale. I have been amusing myself with doing conversions on these figures and what follows is just a brief list on some things which may be done with some old Airfix and Atlantic heads. First the lancers, as they may be painted to be Dutch lancers of the guard, Lancer D'Berg, Vistula Lancers, Austrian, and Russian lancers and most of later 19th Century types. With new heads they can be Lancers of the Line, Prussian Cossack types and Spanish Lancers La Mancha. The Greys will serve as is for a dazzling variety of horsemen since their Bearskins show a large peak and are thoughtfully covered In an oilskin so as to resemble a shako. Thus French Chassurs, Prussian Dragoons, and British Light Dragoons are waiting...just with a different paint scheme. With Airfix Cuirassier heads/they become other British heavy cavalry with sausage roll of white glue produces not only Household Cavalry, but Austrian Dragoons as well. A fatigue cap from Prussian Landwehr make Prussian and later Russian Cavalry too. A Kepi or old slouch and a bit of trimming to tails and cartouche and a new line of Civil War Cavalry is born. All in all, two great kits. Tell me what you have done with them . Until next month when I defend OTR from the "Jackel of Ostlandt," bugler, sound the charge! Back to PW Review April 1985 Table of Contents Back to PW Review List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1985 Wally Simon This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com