Reviews - May 2010

Reviews - May 2010 This month reviews include 28mm Wild West from Artizan Designs, 28mm Fallschirmjager from Warlord Games/Bolt Action Miniatures and 28mm Indian Mutiny from Mutineer Miniatures.

28mm Wild West by Artizan Designs The Artizan Designs 28mm Wild West range now consists of an impressive 49 packs. Mike Owen sculpts the figures and his skill shows throughout. The figures average 27mm sole of foot to eye and are very clean castings throughout. They are full of Mike’s understated characterization, with some real gems in the range. The range is split into parts: there is the Character/Wild West section with 21 packs, three packs of Apaches, ten packs of US Cavalry, four of Buffalo Soldiers, four of Plains War Infantry and four of Volunteers and three of Mexicans for the Alamo. The character packs have characters from history and fiction and it can be fun to pick them out. Besides these legendary chaps are Mexican Bandits, Cowhands, Bank Robbers, Pinkerton Men, Texas Rangers and a Pony Express rider. These packs contain some of the best sculpts in the range and are great to paint.

There are three packs of Apache warriors wearing a mixture of traditional and Western dress and they are very evocative of period photos. Their opponents are well covered in the US Cavalry, both mounted and dismounted, US Plains War Infantry (including a Gatling gun) and Buffalo Soldiers Cavalry, (only available dismounted at the moment.) I particularly like the Infantry a very under represented element of the Plains/Apache Wars. The range is rounded off by packs for the Alamo, with Volunteers and Mexican soldiery; the Volunteers are also suitable for early Frontiersmen as well and include all the famous characters. All in all some great figures, whether you want to field an army, collect them or just pick up a couple of character packs for a LOTW Posse. Highly Recommended. ~ Andy Sykes.

28mm Fallschirmjager WWII German Airborne by Warlord Games/Bolt Action Miniatures The latest release in the Warlord/Bolt Action Boxed sets is a set of Second World War German airborne, Fallschirmjager. In the ever more familiar Warlord packaging are 22 figures from the Bolt Action range. This pack is designed as a starter for a larger force or as a pick up and go set, a range of separately available blister packs supports it.

The figures average 26mm sole of foot to eye and they are finely detailed and well researched, as you would expect from this manufacturer. The castings are clean and there is minimal mould residue. The pack contents are a Command element, consisting of an Officer with an MP40, NCO with MP40, a radio operator, medic and two riflemen with KAR98k. An eleven-man squad containing two NCOs, two, MG42 LMG two man teams and five riflemen with KAR98k. There is also an 80mm mortar with three crew and two men with FG42. This weapon mix obviously makes the set most suitable for the late war period. This is supported by the figures’ dress, which is a mixture of jump smocks, Luftwaffe tunics and ground smocks and with headgear being a Para helmet or side cap. This makes for a realistic and interesting campaign look. My only gripe is two figure poses were repeated once and one twice, making the squad a little unvaried, otherwise some nice poses and a good evocative look. Overall, a good way to jump into 28mm WWII. ~ Andy Sykes.

28mm Indian Mutiny by Mutineer Miniatures Mutineer Miniatures have released a further ten blister packs in their rapidly expanding Indian Mutiny range. We have three releases for the Mutineers, five for the British and two Artillery pieces. Each of the figure packs contains four figures and the Artillery packs contain a single gun. The figures average at 28mm sole of foot to eye and the castings are clean and detailed. Mike Owen sculpts the Mutineer packs and EIC04 and 05. The other packs are by Robi Baker; there is a difference in style, but the figures are for different units.

The Mutineer packs are MUT02 Sepoys in Dhoti, MUT03 Sepoys in Mixed Dress and MUT04 Mutineer Command. MUT02 and MUT03 each contains four distinctly different advancing figures and should please those who like variety in their units, however there is still enough unity in pose to give a unit look. MUT04 contains four figures, there is an excellent large bearded Bakt Khan, resplendent in his finery, another large, colourful, chap wearing an opened sepoy jacket and waving a sword, another more military type also waving a sword and an almost regulation Sepoy drummer (I understand this pack went down well at the Triples).

The British packs are EIC04 British Command 1, EIC05 British Command 2, EIC07 Ghurkhas, EIC08 Ghurkha Command and ART03 Bengal Horse Artillery. EIC04 has an advancing Officer, with separate right arm wielding a revolver. A standing Ensign with a wire standard pole, a walking/standing drummer and a magnificent Colour Sergeant stood at attention with baton under his arm. All are in covered cap with Havelock and frock coats, apart from the Officer who wears a shell jacket. EIC05 contains, a bearded standing/walking Officer in air pipe helmet with open shell jacket, a standing sergeant who can be used as if he is gesturing or as a standard bearer with the supplied wire pole, a drummer and a bugler, the last three being in puggri covered cap and frockcoat. EIC07 has four Ghurkhas; two are standing ready, one is firing and the other charges forward wielding his kukri and carrying his musket in his left arm, which is separate. EIC08 Here we have a very nice bearded officer pointing, standard-bearer with wire pole, a bugler and a drummer. ART03 is an Artillery crew, all dressed in peaked cap with Havelock and shell jackets. The first lights the fuse, one stands with the rammer and one with the trail pole, the fourth with a shell.

The Artillery packs are ART01 6pdr Horse Gun and ART02 12pdr Howitzer. ART01 has a ten-part 6pdr Gun: carriage, barrel, wheels, two seat backs, two arm rests, two foot rests and a handle; instructions are included. A very pleasing piece results and also included is a rammer, a sponge and a powder barrel. ART02 the 12pdr consists of four parts; carriage, wheels and barrel, also included is the rammer, sponge and barrel. Again this builds up nicely. Overall a great release and at this rate this should soon become the 28mm Indian Mutiny range on the market. Brian Sweeney, headman at Mutineer, plans to finish this range and move quickly on to another (at present top-secret project.).   Highly recommended. ~ Andy Sykes.