Strelets-R Pickett's Charge 1

     Strelets-R has moved into the US Civil War in a big way having recently released nine different boxes of figures in the "semi-hard" plastic that is becoming the standard in 1/72 (20mm) scale.

     Here we see the Pickett's Charge 1 set. The front box art is a nicely evocative drawing of the beginning of the Confederate advance and provides decent ideas for uniform colors and is suggestive of what is contained in the box. The back of the box is far more helpful as it clearly presents the contents with photographs of the miniatures contained within. The boxes are flimsy but, as the figures inside are flexible, there is no real risk of damage.

      Again Strelets-R has chosen to confine the type of figures presented to one theme, this is an idea that I am fully supportive of and is rarely seen in this scale. The troops are all depicted with shouldered arms (which is correct) and in the active poses  of men that know they are going to be crossing bullet swept ground and would like to move as quickly as they can. None are running but the sculptor has positioned each figure with a long stride and slightly out of step with the others. Looking at them you get the feeling that they are in a hurry.

       This kit was kindly provided for review by Michigan Toy Soldier Shop and is available to purchase either in their store or through their website

the back of the box

nice picture of the contents

 

the box and the miniatures

one Command sprue and three of the troopers

 

Command sprue side A

General giant-pipe and the stalwart flag bearer that appear in other CSA packs are here 

as well as two nicely done NCO and one well-sculpted but entirely useless Muscovite

 

the rear of the same, these figures are cleanly cast and deeply sculpted, 

they should be a pleasure to paint

 

even this guy, he reminds me of the anti-Santa seen in horror movies

 

trooper sprue side A

 

everybody seems to be in a hurry except this old-timer 

who exudes the easy confidence of a grizzled veteran

 

trooper sprue side B 

you will notice at the top center (just above the casting nipple) another Muscovite

there are one of these guys on each sprue which means that you are stuck with four of these figures in this box

 

these sculpts capture the extreme "beardiness" of the Confederate army

 

the young fellow on the right seems to be nervous, clutching his rifle and leaning forward in the manner described by chroniclers from ancient times to the present day, the tendency for men advancing toward fire to lean toward it as if marching into a rainstorm

          Another well executed set from Strelets-R. One real gripe is the inclusion of four useless figures in this box, the odd single figure that we find in other packs is a simple annoyance, in this box fully 9% of the figures are from another continent and two centuries out of time. That said this is still a very good value and these figures will look impressive painted and ranked up in a display or on a game table.