I was given the Sharpe kit and was so impressed I decided to get the others. I am now having doubts about the series.
I have two financial doubts. The first of these is the cost. I understand the 28mm figures are for a skirmish game that has yet to be released. Even if the French don’t come with 54mm versions it will be expensive to field all Sharpe’s Chosen Men if they are all sold this way; and as these are specifically for 1809 exorbitant if the game progresses to the time of Waterloo. I’ll give my second financial doubt at the end.
I started having doubts about the 54mm figures when I saw a painted Harper online - something didn’t look right with the jacket buttons. Now I have the sprue I realise that the buttons had been badly painted making them look larger and fewer than they actually are – however this being said Harper is only sculpted with 10 rows of buttons rather than the actual 12 rows on his costume. This is not the only fault with his jacket. The coat tails have pleats running down from the back buttons that have not been sculpted, yet they appear on the 28mm figure so were known about. On the other figures, Harris had lost buttons in action and has a number of belts running across his body. I think he also was only sculpted with 10 rows in stead of 12 but any omissions are not so noticeable. Sharpe as an officer should have 22 rows of buttons according to the Regs of the time but only has 16 rows on the film costume, however he is only sculpted with12. Sharpe’s 28mm figure also has 12 rows of buttons so it should have been technically possible to give the larger scale Harper the correct 12 rows. My only other beef is about the swords; Harris’s is around 4” too short and should finish below his knee, not above it, and Sharpe’s is also around 2” short. The rest of the work on these figures is very good, although the Infantry rifles don’t have their sword bars.
Very happy with all three 28mm figures which are better than most within the acceptable limitations of this smaller scale. I prefer that they are just a bit bulkier than the Perry’s plastic 95th and Victrix figures.
My second financial doubt is due to the above errors/omissions. 54mm is the recognised scale for model soldiers and although these figures are very well sculpted they are not perfect - but they should and could have been. I therefore doubt I will continue with the series but might get the odd favourite character depending on what is issued in the future.
