Plastic Soldier Review - A Call To Arms Union Infantry 1861

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A Call To Arms

Set 55

Union Infantry 1861

All figures are supplied unpainted (Numbers of each pose in brackets)

Stats

Date Released	Unknown
Contents	52 figures
Poses	12 poses
Material	Plastic (Medium Consistency)
Colours	Light Blue

Average Height

21 mm (= 1.51 m)

Review

This set is a re-release of downsized Marksmen and Herald figures, and is in the same 'OO' scale as the Confederate Infantry, making these figures rather small compared to others. For the first time A Call To Arms have provided a set with a full 12 poses, and have included both a bugler, a casualty and two officers. As far as they go the poses are not too shabby, but the main faults with this set lie elsewhere.

Unfortunately the detail is, well, mostly absent without leave. Of course this is a very old set, and times have changed, but when put up against any of the competition (with the possible exception of the Airfix set), these guys look decidedly second-rate. Most things are where they should be, but the sculpting is not clear and in places it all seems to degenerate into something of a mess. The heads and caps seem to be a particular problem, with some apparently having suffered badly during the campaign and being almost unrecognisable.

Some of the figures have full kit, some only the minimum, and all wear the kepi except the officer, who is in the classic pose of urging his men on. The inclusion of a marching figure will please the wargamers, while the officer figures and the casualty provide interest for the diorama builders. Though all the figures are quite small, the soldier crouching down is even more so, such that he looks like a child even compared to his comrades in this set. While some quite young boys did manage to get involved in the War, we felt this figure was not a wise choice.

The American Civil War has been a very popular subject for modellers and wargamers over the years, and this set faces a lot of competition. Frankly, this is a battle it can't win, and it should be discharged and retired.

Ratings

Historical Accuracy	9
Pose Quality	7
Pose Number	8
Sculpting	4
Mould	6