Not too many years ago there was only a handful of companies making 10mm ACW figures; but, now there are many. Likewise, the number o available scenery products, particularly buildings, was even smaller. For period buildings, the 10mm miniature gamer usually haunted model railroad shops looking for appropriate N gauge buildings. While the size was roughly compatible, the selections tended to be concentrated on the type of structures one would find along a railroad, rather than the hardscrapple farms of northern Georgia or the Virginia back country. But, patience and persistence has worked in our favor and more and more scenery companies, such as RANDFORMS, STARFORT MODELS, MUSKET MINIATURES and OLD NORTH STATE FIGURE COMPANY (ONS) have stepped in to fill out our 10mm civil war farms, towns and villages. And soon, there will be many more available.

While the excellent 10mm Musket buildings are, for the most part, scaled down versions of their 15mm and larger buildings, the ONS structures were designed only for the 10mm scale. However, many of their structures can easily be used for 15mm scale. For instance, many of theirs and Musket's sheds, barns, and outhouses will work fine for 15mm. And while the ONS building line was obviously designed to compliment their own very affordable 10mm figure line, they look perfect with all 10mm soldiers.

The ONS line consists of a wide range of structures from a gorgeous church with an unbelievably delicate steeple to ubiquitous sheds and barns. In general, the buildings have an almost Shenandoah look to them - prosperous folk, from the breadbasket of the Confederacy - rather than the rustic, hard edge look of eastern Tennessee or northern Georgia.

They do indeed look as if they came straight from Middleburg, which may not be surprising, as the company is located right up the road from the Cedar Creek battlefield. All structures are cast in cream colored resin with crisp details that highlights easily with a little dry brushing and black outlining. Prices range from $6.00 for a small shed with outhouse to $12 for the exquisite church and old mill. Most structures are cast in one piece, with the exceptions being the more complex structures that have extended porches, waterwheels, or steeples. Where extra parts are need, such as porch posts for overhanging roofs, these are supplied.

The Old North State Buildings are available, unpainted from Joe Burgess at: The OLD NORTH STATE FIGURE COMPANY, 104 Omni Court, Stephens City, VA, 22655. The line is also available painted and finished from Doug Kline, at BATTLEFIELD TERRAIN CONCEPTS (BTC, 4451 Ray Street, Roanoke, VA, 24019. Also BTC is the exclusive seller of the ONS line, both painted and unpainted, at the major HMGS East conventions, including HISTORICON.

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Mark Fenlon Miniatures 28mm Infantry
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