Steve Barber Models

NAVAL LANDING PARTY

FIRST THOUGHTS

The figures are exactly 28 mm from toe to top of head.

I received these figures and spent hours just staring at them. The uniforms had so many things to look at and I am sure that the sculptor of these figures has spent hours getting them just right.

The miniatures have detail after detail and plenty of cut which as a painter is vital to achieving a good looking miniature without endless hours of slog trying to get them looking good.

Not all the figures had flash and those that did, had flash mainly on the bottom of the figs and this was easily removed. Mould lines were very slight and again not all the figs had them. The most awkward ones to remove were on the round hats down the front and between the rim and the hat base.

The officer was supplied with two loose hands one holding a pistol and the other equipped with a cutlass, these were easily attached with super glue gel. The fit was perfect it looked as if they were not separate parts at all.

Overall I think that you would be hard pressed to better the quality of these miniatures on first impression alone. 



PAINTING

As usual a grey undercoat was applied to the miniatures and all the details that were on the bare lead certainly stood out after this stage.

In fact after priming there was so much more to see on the figures that another couple of hours got wasted before I even dipped my brushes into paint.

Firstly I applied a base coat flesh to the hands and faces of all the minis, I like to do this as it starts to bring the miniature to life. Then applied the final three stages to the exposed skin areas and painted in the eyes.

At this stage I must admit I was slavering to get on having three unique faces staring back at me “Teeth and all”. Which I must say surprised me and shows just how much detail and effort has gone into the sculpting of these figures.

My next stage was the trousers again four stages to achieve the final look except the figure in the striped pants that needed two additional coats.

Then onto the jackets, shirts, etc; again all requiring four stages to achieve the final appearance.

Finally it was time for all the finishing touches to be added and whilst normally I would be happy to reach this stage on a miniature, I felt a touch of sadness. These have been some of the best figures I have seen and painted in a very long time.



SUMMING UP

Well what more can I say, that has not been said.

Just rush out and buy a set it will be one of the best purchases you can make in my opinion they are worth every penny you have to pay for them.

I’m going to purchase the figures from the set I did not get to review just for the enjoyment of painting this standard of miniature.

I am also looking forward to the release of the promised French naval figures.

REVIEWED BY
ANDY SAUNDERS

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