Lancashire Games


15mm Marlburians
Review by Steve Crofts

Introduction


Well I must say the guys at Lancashire Games have been busy, four new 15mm ranges in this period alone!

British, French, Dutch and Austrian.


The British and French have 13 packs each in their ranges, the Dutch 9 and the Austrians, (the focus of this review and part 2 which covers the cavalry), have 11.

The Austrian range part 1

Infantry and artillery


First Thoughts



Opening the packets revealed some very nicely sculptured miniatures, each with plenty of movement and animation, and detail to an excellent standard.

The only thing I noticed and this is not a fault, and that was, the buttons on the figures uniforms are inset rather than the usual protruding type. This as I said is no real problem and can be gotten around by changing your painting technique slightly when it comes to them.

The bayonets are the other item that caught my eye and for me looked a little thick for the musket, but that said, this could be a benefit rather than a downside, as a thicker bayonet will not break off as easy as a thinner one during use.

Further more this should by no means detract you from purchasing these figures as the high standards of detail on the figures more than compensates and, once painted you hardly notice!

Flash

There was a little flash on the models but this was easily removed.

A couple of the figures did have varying degrees of mould lines, but again these were removed easily apart from the inner parts of the tri-corn hats which did cause a little difficulty but perseverance and care does prevail!

The bases of the figures are of a decent size, and just need the usual “levelling” to flatten the bottoms so a good fixing surface is available and the figures stand upright properly, ( This I must point out, is necessary on at least 95% of all manufacturers figures so don’t think this is a condemning!, even if a figures base does seem to be flat I ALWAYS clean up the bottom of the base as it give a good key and provides a vacuum for the super glue or fixing agent when basing).

Painting

Once the primer is on the figures the detail really shines through and the enthusiasm just builds up for that first coat of paint! 

The figures themselves are very easy to paint and any technique can be used to paint them. The only change I made to my technique was when I came to paint the buttons, as these are recessed rather than proud. 

This small adjustment was no hindrance, although I do prefer buttons to be of the proud type rather than recessed, but that is my own preference and should not detract you in any way from the figures.

I found no difficulties in painting the miniatures and their wasn’t any awkward spots to paint, not that I can remember anyway!, to make me dislike the painting of the miniatures in any way.

Conclusion

Well worth the trouble to paint!

Excellent figures that have there own unique and distinctive characteristics and caricature in general.

The only thing I would have liked and this would have been a benefit to all, and that would have been an artillery piece to go with the gunners, I could have then reviewed the gun and it would have shown off the gunners better.

All in all a very nice set of figures and if the photo’s of the finished figures aren’t enough to whet your appetite then I suggest collaring the lads at Lancashire games at a show and asking them to show these in the raw, I’m sure they will be more than happy to oblige!

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