S.9 (12-13th C Scot Spear)

Feudal Castings

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The Feudal Castings line of 15mm miniatures are carved by Steve Shaw of Scotland.   15mm ranges include Picts, Feudal/Medieval Scots, Islemen/Galloglaich, Anglo-Saxons, Medieval Irish, Medieval Welsh, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, Medieval Knights, War of the Roses, 16th Century Japanese, Merotic Kush, Ethiopian Axumites, Australian Koori and various personality figures.  Feudal Castings also offers 25mm Scots.In 2004, Feudal Castings was sold to LKM Direct, which is considering consolidating the FC ranges into its FreiKorps15s brand. 

Here are Fanatici reviews:

Chris Brantley on Feudal Castings Picts

I have an Essex Caledonian/Pict army pack waiting paint as an opponent for my Early Imperial Romans. The Essex figures are well carved, but strike me as Caledonians better suited for the early (i.e. 75 AD) period. I wanted to add some figures so that the army would complement my collection of Dark Ages armies and took a chance on Feudal Castings. My initial impressions are very positive. Here is what I purchased:

P1 (Pict Spear) -- Eight figures in four poses. Three are standing with hooded cloak and small shield (squarish, but in an hour glass shape) with rested spear. Three are standing (no cloak) with round shields and rested spear. Two are advancing with spear at 45 degrees and round shield slung over their backs. One of the two is slightly broader in the chest with a more pronounced bend of the knees.

P4 (Pict Javelinmen) (8 figures, 2 poses, half with shield).  Eight figures in two poses (shown here front and back). Four have spear raised parallel to shoulder prepared to cast, but no shields. Figures have cloaks and no shields. Four have spear raised in overhand thrusting position over square shields. No cloaks.

P7 (Pict Command) -- Five figures in four poses. Pict chieftain is mounted (man and mount in single casting) with square shield and upraised sword. He is accompanied by four footmen. The first is standing with a spear at rest in his right hand, head back blowing a horn. Another is standing with long spear at rest and square shield. Two are swordsmen with raised swords and square shields. The swordsmen are wrapped in a kilt-like plaide.

The figures are well carved with minimal flash (only at release points on the base bottoms) and in good detailed poses. They are the same heighth as the Essex Picts (approx. 17mm from top of base to top of head) but are a bit heavier in girth. The overall impression of the poses from these three packs is that they are waiting for the order to attack. All figures have long flowing hair and beards. They look exactly what I think Dark Ages Picts ought to look like; there is no mistaking them for other generic Dark Age foot.

Also in the Feudal Castings Pict range, but not reviewed, are: P. 2 Crossbowmen; P.3 Archers; P. 5 Light cavalry, javelin and shield; P. 6 Medium/Heavy cavalry, javelin and shield; P. 8 Naked fanatics, sword and shield; P. 9 Casualties. (pack of 6 figures); P.10 Pict/Irish two horse chariot with two crew.

Chris Brantley on Feudal Castings Scots

For my Dark Age Picts, I am mixing in four figures (2 poses) from Feudal Castings Dark Age Scots range. They are Scots Spear (S.1) and are advancing with a long spear and round shields. The variation in figures is primarily in the shield; one is small and targe like, the other larger. Figures have no armor or helms and have long, wild hair and beards. The other four Scots Spear figures in the packet are similarly posed, but have helmets and cloaks. They will be added to my Saxon army where they should fit in perfectly with my Two Dragons, Essex and Feudal Castings after I shorten the spears.

More recently, I picked up a packet of Feudal Castings Highland Archers (S.14). These are intended for the later Scots Common period, but are suitable for the earlier Dark Ages era as well. The packet comes with eight figures in four poses. There are two bowmen standing with full beard, cloaks and uncovered heads. They are posed standing, facing forward, holding the bow unstrung in their left hands. Three bowman are posed with arrows knocked and leaning slightly backward to aim on a high trajectory. They have long hair and beards, uncovered heads, a simple tunic and belt pouch. The quiver of arrows hangs jauntily at an angle rather than straight down, adding to the animation of the figure. There are two more bowmen with a similar pose but with simple bowl-like helmets and sheath knives on their belts. The final figure has just let fly and is watching the outcome of his shot. He has a cloak and a simple conical helmet. All figures measure in at 16mm and should mix well with Essex and most other ranges.

Chris Johnson on Feudal Castings Scots

I bought several bags of DA/Feudal Scots--all in all, very nice, expecially considering the price; the animation is a bit wooden (in particular the command pack--oof!), but the detail is very good. Recommended.

Russell Thompson on FC 16th Century Japanese

Sam 1 Advancing Samurai with yari in armor. Yari held in both hands at a 45-degree, no variation in pose. No flashing on the body of this fig, only minor amount on yari of some of the figs in the bag. 17mm from feet to eyes.

Sam 2 Ashigaru, advancing with yari in armor. Yari held in both hands at a 45-degree, no variation of pose in bag. Very minor amount of flashing on some of the yari. The "cooking pot" helm jingasa is cast a little to small for my liking. But looking at the Osprey books, they look in scale. All details are sharp and clean. 17mm.

Sam 3 Mounted Samurai with yari in armor. The catalog, an old one, noted this fig had a separate molded weapon arm. None of the figs in the pack I bought had separate arms. All of them were cast on. This fig looks a little smaller than the foot in the line. The detail on this fig's armor/clothes is not as sharp as the high level of the others in the line. There is no variation of pose in bag. Very little flashing on horse, but none on the Samurai.

Sam 4 Ashigaru with musket in armor. Half the figs are holding the musket "at ready"; the others have it at the shoulder "firing". All details are sharp and clean no flashing on any of these figs. 16mm.

Comments: This small, but growing line are the best 16the century Samurai figs I've seen. The poses are a bit "stiff", when compared to the contorted poses of Two Dragon, but the detail is outstanding. Not reviewed was "Sam5-Warlords". I'll pick them up when I order my reinforcements. Roger Dospil is known for his friendly, fast mail order service at Division After Division.

So will they mix with Two Dragon Samurai? The cav - yes, just fine. The foot Samurai - yes if you don't mind some Samurai being taller than the Taoist Yoga poses of the Two Dragon brand. The Ashigaru - yes, when next to an upright figure. When the feudal is next to one of those strange crouching Two Dragon poses it will look a bit off. This is because of Two Dragon's variable size, 16mm down to 13mm.

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Last Updated:13 July 2004

Comments, suggested additions, and/or critiques welcome.
Direct them to Chris Brantley at brant@erols.com.