After producing several sets suitable for use in the army of Alexander the Great, this was the first set of Persians HaT produced for the same period.

While other manufacturers might produce a box entitled 'Persian Infantry', HaT have always tended to produce more specialised sets which between them cover the subject in considerable depth. This set portrays the Persian light troops, and includes archers, spearmen and slingers. In a welcome departure from their previous policy, this set contains 10 poses rather than the usual eight, and all the poses are lively and useful. Of particular interest is the man apparently about to throw a very curious weapon (far right figure on bottom scan above). In fact this is a very clever idea to gain two poses from one figure. With this figure you can either cut off the axehead at the bottom of the pole to make a spearman, or remove all of the pole from just above the hand to make a man about to wield an axe. Brilliant! It's innovations like that that endears customers to particular manufacturers, and typical of the fresh ideas HaT brings to its products.

As ever, accuracy is spot on, with excellent detail and faultless sculpting. Flash is almost non-existent, and you get a very generous 60 figures in a box. The only criticism we could make relates to the slinger about to throw his stone. He carries a shield, and no effort appears to have been made to model the straps etc. that would allow the man to hold it - it simply sticks to his arm with no visible support. OK, we know that's pretty petty, but with sets as good as this it's difficult to find any fault at all.

Another splendid set of a colourful subject that has become extremely popular.