Renegade Miniatures

Certainly making a splash on the UK wargaming scene is the range of metal 28mm figures produced by Glenn and Luke Powling in the depths of the West Country, and revelling under the title of Renegade Miniatures. You will have seen a number of colour pics within the Forum of Renegade's products and so you know how impressive they look, but an artist's brush skills can deceive the eye, so it is always interesting to look at the bare metal castings, so I was particularly please to obtain a selection of the models for review.

The first model I picked up is a French "Poilu" of the First Word War, he stands firing his rifle, The heavy greatcoat is wrapped round the sturdy chap, whose finely detailed face includes an impressive moustache. A very fine figure indeed.

The two British Tommies, the first marching with slung rifle, the second advancing with rifle ready are also very well detailed and have the same "character" in their design but somehow are not quite as impressive as the previous model. They somehow seem slightly smaller in scale. But now I am being overly picky, they are both very good models indeed. The designer of the World War 1 range is Mike Owen.

The three English Civil War models seen are superb, that is the only way to describe them. The pikeman in plumed morion at the charge is beautifully modelled with every detail carefully and clearly defined. The only problem is that some bending of the arms is needed to get the guy to hold his weapon properly. The musketeer in soft hat is raising his musket to the ready at chest height, a strange position perhaps, but if included as part of a mixed pose unit will look brilliant. The mounted trumpeter wears a plumed cabacet and holds his instrument at perhaps a slightly strained angle, but the detail is again first rate. The horse too is cleanly cast and finely proportioned, although this mount is clearly a thoroughbred and no farmyard hack.

A single American Civil War infantryman, stood at ease in kepi, was included in the pack and is a very fine figure, with the sculpted character of the face clearly defining the period. An excellent model. The two Civil War Ranges are designed by Nick Collier

For me the final figures in the pack, skirmishing Celt bowmen were the most disappointing of the selection. The poses lacked action and some imagination, and the facial detail was less defined or convincing. Even so they are better than the run of the mill models available and I know that other models in this range are excellent. The Celts are designed by Steve Saleh.

All in all an excellent range of models, with a consistently high standard of manufacture, and the always good, and occasionally masterly level of design. Renegade are sure to go from strength to strength. Visit the website at http://www.renegademiniatures.co.uk/

JOS 24/10/02

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