Dixons Miniatures

Trevor Dixon is one of the veteran figure manufacturers with a Worldwide reputation. He was amongst the first to produce models covering the Samurai, and he swiftly carved himself a specialist niche. Time moves on though and the Dixons range, though still founded on an excellent and encompassing range of Japanese warriors now includes an eclectic mixture of periods and scales.

New to the catalogue is a selection of Viking warriors in 28mm. As all Dark Age models have their enthusiastic historical and fantasy buyers they should prove popular, but what makes these different is that the range includes some amusing and clever vignettes, that are bound to be attractive to both the figure collector and the wargamer.

The first of these is a group of inebriated looters, described as VKV 1 – Raiding party with goose. While one character in a simple conical helmet and voluminous breeches swigs deeply from a water (ha ha!) bottle two of his pals stagger along, arm in arm. One is heavily laden with a full mail coat, slung axe, shield and wearing helmet with nasal bar are outstretched, perhaps in appeal for the water (ha ha) bottle, or letting rip with a viking karaoke song. The other, an unarmoured bondi archer bears a huge flapping goose in his left hand. In all a wonderful group that would grace a command base, or skirmish game.

The second vignette VKV 2, Woman and three children, although again the title does not really do the group justice. A tall thin viking woman stands holding a spindle thick with a skein of wool is accompanied by her small daughter who is busy grooming herself (like a proper little madam) while her two brothers are busy smacking blazes out of each other with sticks, using trenchers as shields and wooden bowls as helmets. Again a well thought out and executed group that would credit a camp or village scene.

Supplementing the vignettes are a selection of warriors, the two received for review being spearsmen, the first crouching low , unarmoured in a simple helmet. The second wearing quilted armour standing preparing to thrust overarm. In both cases the shields and spear are cast separately, but fit easily into position. Very nice models with deeply engraved detail that will hold paint very well and allow for effective dry brushing.

Also received for review three new additions to the Late Samurai (16Cth and 17Cth) range. As with all Dixon’s samurai these guys seem quite squat and chunky, but as anyone who has studied armour of the period can testify that is exactly the effect these protective pieces produced. Where applicable the models can be fitted with a sashimono (flag borne on the back), which are sold separately.

In all an excellent group of models and a welcome addition to the tabletop recruiter’s barracks.  

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