In the January issue, Don mentioned some new figures in 45mm from Jack Scruby, The Soldier Factory, P.O.Box 1658, Cambria, California, 93428, U.S.A. Well, Jack sent us some preview sets of these figures (to encourage us to get on with our Napoleonic Skirmish Rules, no doubt), I have painted mine up, though not used them yet, and so a more detailed review of these unique figures might not be out of place. First, details of what the range consists of so far. The figures are based on the novel, "Death to the French" by C.S. Forrester (which will provide a host of ideas for games), namely Lance Corporal Dodd of the 95th Rifles, and Carabinier Sergeant La Duc of the French Light Infantry. Dodds patrol consists of figures as follows, the reference number being given first; 45-10, Lance Cpl. Dodd, leading (stood, legs apart, rifle in his right hand, left hand raised with a clenched fist); 45-11, Rifleman, standing firing; 45-12, Rifleman charging (running, rifle raised in right hand, left arm against body); 45-13, Rifleman, loading (rifle in left hand, reaching into cartridge box with right); 45-14, Rifleman, kneeling, firing; 45-15, Rifleman, standing on guard. All the men (excuse me if I lapse into Skirmish jargon and use men for figures, but it is how I think, and these really are characters) are wearing normal 95th Rifles stove-pipe shakos with tufts and cords, short tailed jacket, overalls, gaiters and boots. The equipment is rolled blanket on top of knapsack on the back, with haversack on the left hip, cartridge box on the right. One important item which is missing is the long sword bayonet, necessary to ,-ive the short Baker rifle reach to match a musket and bayonet in a melee, but this can be -added easily enough, as I shall explain later. The Frenchmen consist of nine figures, as follows. 45-1 to 45-4 are Carabiniers in bearskins; 45-5 to 45-9 are Voltigeurs or Chasseurs in plumed shakos. 45-1 Sgt. La Duc himself, leading (pose as for Cpl. Dodd, but the head turned to the right, i.e. looking back); 45-2 standing, firing; 45-3 kneeling firing; 45-4 standing on guard; 45-5 standing, firing; 45-6 kneeling firing; 45-7 fighting with cold steel(!); 45-6 standing on guard; 45-9 leading (can be a Corporal, Jack says, and the pose is as for 45-1 but looking forward). All the men are wearing full equipment, i.e. rolled blanket on top of knapsack, haversack, cartridge box, and a bayonet and hanger. These are a separate piece which is stuck in place (a large spigot and hole on the figure make this easy). This idea means that the detail of the bayonet and hanger are excellent of course. The uniform is the short-tailed, lapelled coat, with tight breeches and tasselled boots. The rifles all have bayonets fixed. Well, having got those basic details out of the way, what do I think of them? In a word, excellent! "tie poses are lively as they come, despite the constraints imposed by the casting process, but with a little imagination and a pair of snipe-nosed pliers they can be made even better. I won't run through what I did with mine, because I don't want everyone else's figures looking like mine, but by bending the angle of a head to make the man look up, down, left or right, or raising an arm, quite simple little touches can make each figure different from anyone elses. Jack has designed these figures in 45mm, which may seem a rather odd size. In fact it is a good one, because it means the cost is kept to a reasonable one (85 cents each, or the French set of nine figures $6.75; the British set of six men 04-50, and don't forget extra for surface or airmail) whereas 54mm would have meant too high a price. On the other hand the figures are more easily thought of as individuals than, say, 30mm because they are so much bigger, and this also allows more detail. It also makes them much easier to convert or animate, and paint! One problem which may have occurred to wargamers considering purchasing some of these figures, is terrain. In fact this is no problem, because 54mm scale buildings, etc., are really nearer 45mm, so the figures fit admirably. Whilst there is no dearth of sources for uniform information for painting up these fine little men, Napoleonic being the most popular period of all, it did occur to me that wargamers who normally play in other periods but who would like to try Skirmish games in this scale might welcome some ideas for painting up these figures. Dealing with the British figures first, they can of course be painted as the 95th Rifles, as Jack has designed them, or as the other Rifle regiment, the 60th. If the shako cords are carefully trimmed off, the figures can be used as British Light Infantry. In searching for something different, I settled on the King's German Legion, who fought with their British comrades in the Peninsular. The KGL Rifle Regiment wore the same uniform as the 95th (with perhaps brass instead of silver metal buttons, buckles, etc., - anyone know for sure?), whilst KGL Light Infantry can be made as for the British Light Infantry. Reference to one of the many books on the period will reveal various other possibilities, e.g. Loyal Lusitanian Legion, Portugese Cacadores (who must surely have worn overalls somewhere, sometime?). If the figures are to be Riflemen, sword bayonets must be added from scrap (metal staples, straightened and shaped are good for this, or the bayonets can be cut from plastic figures). The French offer just as much scope, but all rather more on the same basic colouring of Light Infantry. Rene North's "Soldiers of the Peninsular War" (Almarks) gives plenty of details. The Voltigeur figures can be painted as Chasseurs also but only the bayonet was carried, and if-the tassel to the boots is filed off, as Voltigeurs of the Line, or as Line Battalion Companies (but again only the bayonet). They can also be painted up as one of the Swiss TZeeiments, of course. On the subject of Rules, Ian (Colwill) has knocked out the first draft, and it is with me for some test games and comments. We are trying a new approach to overcome the timescale problem, which should resolve the difficulties we otherwise foresaw with trying to fight Napoleonic Skirmishes. But more of this another time. Meanwhile, dare I say it, we would be glad of any comments on your Skirmish games played, in particular Napoleonic ones. However, the next Skirmish Line will not even mention Napoleonic in passing, by way of a change! Back to Table of Contents -- Wargamer's Newsletter #146 To Wargamer's Newsletter List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1974 by Donald Featherstone. 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