EWM

Annual outing to the Reading show on Saturday. I looked in vain for Bicorne, Renegade, AB, Elite etc etc. I appreciate the economics of it all but it simply reaffirmed my view that online shopping is the way ahead. Or is it? I would not have found these figures if I had not gone.

Early War Miniatures have a comprehensive range of WW1 figures in 20mm. Here are my test figures. Not having done this scale in ages I really enjoyed doing them especially after spending a lot of time recently on 18th Century redcoats. I was told they are old sculpts but to me they are to WW1 what Britannia Miniatures are to WW2 (I hope that makes sense!). Packed in section bags you get between 8-10 figures for around £7-8. Great value. I think EWM do other periods but I didn't stop to look so check out their website. No vested interest here I should add.

I also found some Artisan figures re-branded as rules of engagement. I fancied a bit of pea dot so got a pack and here's the first. He'll be on eBay soon so pm me if you are interested.

Cumberland

The latest recruit to the slowly expanding Government army. It's only one and a half Battalions big (or small - depends on your point of view) at the moment but I wanted somebody on a horse so started at the top. Its another of the very fine 1745 range from Crann Tara miniatures.

Probably like most people my first source for Culloden was John Prebble's highly atmospheric book. It's probably fair to say that Cumberland does not get a good press and the BBC2 docudrama which followed did little to even the score as grim faced redcoats were shown bayoneting the wounded highlanders. The recent work of Stuart Reid presents a more balanced picture - the number of Jacobite prisoners is perhaps indicative of a less than thorough approach. True, the prisoners dont appear to be have been treated too well but find me an instance of prisons in the 18th century where anybody was. Jacobite mythology seems to have worked rather well. I gather that the wounded Zulu's at Rorkes Drift did not get the correct human rights treatment either but we dont hear of Butcher Chard do we?

I visited the Culloden battlefield in 2001. The new visitors centre was open but this was before film revamp. All the guides were dressed as plucky highlanders and I looked in vain for the man in a redcoat who might show us round. Presumably he was too busy sharpening his bayonet.