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The scale and level of detail on these miniatures is excellent; every individual part of each model has been given a great treatment that is more than comparable with the detail of "heroic" scale miniatures, while retaining a realistic size. In my opinion this distances this line greatly from a number of other available lines -- in most cases, in my experience, extreme detail is only realized in parts that are slightly oversized. They are also extremely well proportioned overall and have a variety of useful poses. Kudos to the sculptor for their achievement here. I was, and remain, most impressed.
There are of course negatives, most of them happily very minor: flash, while minimal overall and easily removed, was somewhat excessive on models whose legs were not sculpted far apart -- one model in the two packs received had a scrim of flash that filled the entirety of the area between his legs.
Additionally, the lower receiver on the M-16 family models (which were, overall, more than commendable -- some of the best, in terms of size and detail, that I've seen) appeared to be approximately 1-2mm short of the upper reciever, and pushed upward ever so slightly and at an angle (a few degrees and a bare fraction of a millimeter). This is an extremely common modeling decision for the M-16 family in my experience, but jarring on close inspection given the extreme attention to detail elsewhere.
The last negative point for these models is their compatibility, and is the less-than-minor issue alluded to above. While they certainly fall within the 28mm range, they are much closer to "true" 25mm and definitely represent (if not embody) the small end of the 28mm miniatures range. I have seen very few model ranges that would work properly with them -- even Eureka's own modern 28mm ranges tower over them. As such, I feel that they have limited compatibility with almost any other 28mm range. While this may not be an issue for all gamers and their gaming groups, especially if the Kriegspiel minis appeal to all involved, it most definitely could cause problems, if only aesthetic, in tournament or open play. While I certainly respect the artistic freedom of the sculptor, this is a valid consideration for the serious wargaming end of the hobby.
In sum: I do not use the term "realistic" lightly. However, these models are, to my mind, very much so, with an astonishing mix of great detail and proportion. While they may not fit every taste and gaming group, their realistic presentation and sculpting would certainly make them a great addition where their size is not a concern. Were the sculptor to produce additional packs in this range I would happily, and immediately, acquire some for personal use.
Note that I have given these models a full score of 5/5 as my primary aim is to compare them, aesthetically, to other models on the market, and to attempt to give an idea of the overall quality of the models. Were I to grade them for general gaming use, I would give them a 4/5 (as I still believe that their quality -- and detail -- excels and is a compelling reason to purchase them), but caution that you should think long and hard before attempting to integrate them into an existing 28mm force.
Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!] |
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