S.A.S., CT, (Counter Terrorist) Team
Reviewed By: Steve Crofts
First Thoughts
As regular readers will know I Reviewed some of Brookes Miniatures a while back, well I was privileged to get a preview set of there latest models which are about to be added to the Catalogue. At the end of my review I praised the set highly and told Brookes Miniatures I would expect this standard of mini every time, well all I can say is that I was not disappointed!
I was expecting a bag of bits, well not as many but there were plenty of extras to come with the minis, which I hasten to point out you too will get if you decide to buy them.
There were no separate heads to choose from, (more on this later in the Questions bit), but there were various items of kit loose, which gives you the buyer the choice to give whichever mini whichever kit you decide, (Cool eh!).
The kit, well like I said there is quite a bit, but it includes ammo pouches, Sledge Hammer, Flash grenades, Shot guns, SMG’s, Back packs even a crowbar!
All the items are nicely detailed and sculpted, and add character and individuality to the minis.
The Minis themselves are in typical CT kit, Body Armour, Respirators, hoods the works, (Typical of the Iranian Embassy siege, (God I’m showing my age now!!!)). Detail and cut on the minis is to the usual High standard from Brookes miniatures, and Like I said earlier, I have seen some of the miniatures before and was not disappointed, details like the filter unit on the Respirators is very well depicted, another point I like is the padded look of the body armour which has been nicely captured on the models.
As can be seen from the photographs there are four different poses for the minis in this set, and I won’t waffle too much about this except to say they are very lifelike and if you need more info take a look at the pics, they will give you all the info you need regarding the poses!
Weaponry is very nicely detailed shot guns having fold away stocks, the flash grenades even having the rings on the pins, some nice touches that will for most go unnoticed until you get down to painting.
Flash
Well surprise, surprise, not a lot actually, I found a little on the ammo pouches that needed tidying slightly and the very odd bit here and there but nothing that required anything major, I sort of expected it on the smaller stuff because it is so small, but overall the casting quality of even theses small items are indeed very good to say the least.
Mould lines, I couldn’t see any.
Painting
This set was a challenge, by this I mean how do you get a really dark blue to stay really dark blue but give it highlights, without making the Dark blue seem unrealistic, there was the challenge, same with the black, well I think I achieved my goal on that one, and what with all this challenge I really did have fun painting them.
Question time
I took the liberty of firing a few questions at Glen the Proprietor about these minis and about future releases, here they are…..
1. the CT team is very well detailed, I especially like the bits of kit that are separate, is there a particular reason you do this?
The reason for separate kit is unlike most army units the SAS can personalise their kit to suit themselves. some like just one utility pouch and some like more, also due to the task some men may have more.
2. In the last pack of S.A.S, I reviewed the minis had separate heads,
although the CT all wear respirators did you not consider the separate heads for these minis obviously wearing respirators, as this would along with the separate kit have provided even more variety in head poses to give even more variation to the figures?
I have done a 2nd head wearing the new ballistic helmet, but due to the gas tight seal needed I decided to stay with cast heads this time.
3.Having the four minis in this section of your expanding range, do you intend to produce any more minis for this section?
yes later I would like to do a IRA team and maybe some civvies.
4. Who is it that Designs and Sculpts the minis?
I work out all the designs and kit . the sculptor is Sean from Newline designs.
5. A big question now! What can we expect to see next from you, and roughly how long will we have to wait?
I’m now working on a new Genfoce range, just a plain soviet type uniform and waist and cross belts, then in the pack a mix of pack rolls and utility pouches etc. also a new helmet type. All the figures will be ok for the Bosnian conflict, and should be ready within 2 weeks.
6. Are they already greens that are finished or are they still, "Still on the drawing board", so to speak?
No greens but now thinking about some more Brits with sniper rifle, minimi and 40mm under slung for the SA80.
Sounds Excellent! Thanks for answering the questions Glen, very much appreciated.
Final Thoughts
This S.A.S. CT Team is a great set and although there are only four minis in the set you can alter the look of each of the minis considerably by the addition of extra kit..
If you need a team then I would certainly have no hesitation in recommending this very nicely portrayed set.
Check out the website at….
http://www.brooksminiatures.co.uk
You will certainly not be disappointed.
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