I picked up a box of the Engineers by Accurate Inc., they are ex-Revell (I picked up the Revell edition as well for £ 1 less!). Nice figures with a few scenic bits thrown in. The accurate ones seem to show a few signs of mould ware so it must the original moulds.

The Accurate Artillery is also ex Revell (just about make it out on the sprue where its has been rubbed out on the mould) and again is a nice set. Its bonus is that there are two Limbers (4 horses each) and 2 guns + sufficient crew. A nice officer with sword aloft (twice, break through marker for sure). The down side is that only 2 barrels, 1 is a shorter howitzer. Only one set available, all in Kepis but that's no major problem as the Artillery was the one arm of the confederacy that seemed to be able to keep to regulation uniforms better than any other.

The Imex artillery seems compatible, certainly the horses and Limber are most likely by the designer. Only one limber, 3 guns though. 2 look smaller that the Accurate ones in the barrel (6 pdr maybe?) and the other barrel matches the shorter howitzer on the revell/accurate set, Carriages and Limbers almost exactly the same in both sets. There is a nice pile of balls (low ammo marker?). The set is rounded off by some gunners and Infantry figures mixed in. One of the Guns is destined to become wreckage for a game marker no doubt.

I picked up the 2 Imex wagon sets. Hannants has the Munitions wagon and Ambulance, The model shop has the other in stock. Of note, the Prairie wagon is pulled by bulls, the others by horses that again look like the Revell ones. For those who remember Rolfs Spanish Civil War Game, the horse drawn wagons the Republicans used for their supply wagons, that's them.

I picked up a book on the Field Artillery with some colour plates. The Artillery green that all wagons, limbers, cassions, and carriages were ordered to be painted in is a pale Khaki green. Not dissimilar to the green of early WW2 armies. (hint, hint!)

As well as the Italeri and Imex confederates as well. Scale wise all appear the same and could be easily mixed and matched on the same base. Though the its a tough call between the Italeri and Imex figures as to which has the better detail but Italeri do have a mounted officer, Imex has more slouch hats and blanket rolls. In all the standard is too small being no morethan a pennant.

The Italeri cavalry set is in a horrid silver plastic (like the Union infantry) and is almost exclusively mounted. Imex on the other hand has a better mix with on foot cavalry with stocked revolvers and short rifles, it alas has a lesser range of mounted figures having 11 horses and 5 rider poses (2 unique) Vs Italeri's 17 horses and 9 mounted poses (3 unique). But Imex has dismounted figures, and including 2 men forking hay (horse holder figures?) and 2 bucket men from the artillery set as well as its pistol/carbine wielding dismounted troops (2 different, 1 would make a good officer) and a couple from the infantry set to fill the gaps.

Again, the 2 ranges mix well.

Italeri's Union figures are a bit of a mix. Hardee hats of the iron brigade, Carbineers of the cavalry and zouaves with a zouave officer. only 31 of the figures are regular union, 10 zouaves, 6 hardees 3 cavalry dismounted.

The 'Hat' Zouaves is 1 sprue duplicated 4 times. On each sprue 4 Back packs are included and 4 figures have the lug on their back to locate it. 1 Figure could have attached either a drooping standard or a musket (both on the sprue) for a marching pose. 4 heads are included, 2 in boaters, 2 in small round caps all for conversions to other units. There are 12 figures on the sprue, no obvious senior officers. They are smaller than the Italeri figures so a little care is needed if they are based together. All wear silk stocking hat. A Kepi may have been more useful.

Finally 'A Call to Arms'/House of Campaign. Avoid at all cost. A whole head shorter than the Imex/esci/italeri, spindly and generally look quiet poor. The plastic is almost rubber and the detail is poor. Figures are very small, only the Confederate set has anything like a couple of good poses but that lacks officers. Nice if only a couple of quid, but at 4.50, no way.

So round up. Italeri and Imex are coming in at being recommended. Accurate are the Old Esci figures and all 3 ranges seem to mix very well. HAT are OK for the Zouaves, but just that. A Call to Arms should be handled with a barge pole.