I originally posted this figure review to the 'moccasins' elist on 8/27/2002. It's still reasonably current, and may be of interest to this board. Strictly speaking, 'Skraelings' are opponents for Vikings, which is not an 18th century topic. But these figures are first-contact Woodland Indian warriors, and are potentially very useful to 17h and 18th century wargamers.
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My parcel from Gladiator Games arrived today, all the way from dear old Blighty. Mighty fast service, since I only ordered four days ago. And accurate; twenty packs for forty pounds, exactly what I ordered. I threatened to review the GG 25mm Skraelings and someone encouraged me, so now you're in for it.
The GG Skraelings line comprises 4 packs with 3 figures per pack, all different, at least the heads all differ, though one armature seems to be the basis for six poses. The packs sell for 1.90 pounds. They are:
SKR1 Chiefs
SKR2 Warriors with spears
SKR3 Warriors with warclubs
SKR4 Warriors with bows
Weapons are seperate except for the bows, and the figures in SKR1, 2 and 3 are molded with open hands. SKR2 includes a sprue of 3 spears with huge flaked stone heads. SKR3 includes a sprue of 3 warclubs, all different from the usual; one is a stone ball-headed club, one has a stone head in a rawhide bag, and one is a paddle-shaped wooden (?) club of a style I've never seen before. SKR1 includes both the spear and warclub sprues.
The Skraelings represent First Nations people of the eastern Canadian coast at the time of Viking contact. GG says the sculptor modelled them on Micmacs and Beothuks. I can't judge the accuracy of the costuming, but there's not much of it. All figures are barefoot, all wear hide breechclouts. That's it for the warriors, except for some arm and ankle bracelets, and a pendant or two. In the chiefs pack SKR1, all 3 figures wear hide mitasses and one wears a fur cloak with the fur side in.
"He slew the noble Mud-jo-kivins,
Of his skin he made him mittens.
Made them with the fur side outside.
Made them with the skin side inside.
He, to put the thin side inside,
Put the thin side skin side inside…"
The Skraelings wear many different hairstyles; several variants of the roach; scalplocks short and long, limp and stiff; long hair bound and free, and even one fellow in a sort of pompadour. A few wear feathers. I think these figures would do for first-contact natives in many parts of eastern North America in the 16th and 17th centuries.
These are big figures. They're about 2mm taller than Old Glory and robust, being sculpted with comic book muscles and generous heads. (Only one actual pumpkin head among them in SKR3, the rest are passable.) Facial features are clearly defined. They'll mix well with OG or other big 28mm figs. They're a full head taller than RAFM or Minifigs.
They have a bit of flash and mold lines. Not bad really, but more than I'd expect from brand new molds. Better get these before the molds wear.
Poses are natural, somewhat restrained compared to OGs, mostly advancing and brandishing a weapon. The archers are shooting.
The anatomy of these figures is a weak point. Their torsos are a bit long and their arms a bit short. The combination is unfortunate. Especially 6 of the warrior poses, which seem all to have been sculpted from a single armature with a raised right arm suffer from this, because that raised right arm is distinctly stubby. A shame that the sculptor let this pass; it seriously mars what would otherwise be an excellent line. I think I'll paint mine up in spite of this flaw, but I'm always going to see it.
Overall, because of the anatomy problem, I can only give the three warrior packs, SKR2, 3 and 4, a C+. C is for the anatomy, + is for the hairstyles, weapons and (limited) costume. SKR1, the chiefs pack, gets a B+, because these figures' arms are better than the warriors', and this pack includes both weapons sprues.
If you want a set of first-contact Eastern Woodland warriors and you like a big 28mm figure, these could be for you. But if you're a stickler I recommend you pass on them, because that stubby right arm is going to gripe you.
Gladiator Games has no US distributor, but accepts US credit card orders through their website:
gladiatorgames.co.uk
