ESSEX 15MM RUS

I've just had an e-mail from Essex Miniatures UK stating that they now have two packs of 15mm Rus available: HSA 14 Assorted Spearmen; HSA 15 Assorted Axemen. I checked their on line catalogue but they are not listed there yet nor can I find any trace of them on their 'news' page. I shall be going to Salute on 24th Apr so I'll try to pick up a couple of packs and let the Fanaticii have a review. Shame they didn't advertise this.

Steve Aspinall, Ashill, Somerset, UK

Mmmm...
funnily enough they are listed in the most recent printed catalogue I have. However in typical fashion I only saw these additions whilst reading the lists on my way home from the Sheffield Triples show....

Of course as I have about 600AP of Rus for DBM anyway I dont really need any more figures. Let us all know what they are like once you have seen them Steve.

Graham.

These are very nice figures. Well up to the standard of production we have come to expect from Essex. All have a conical helmet and the characteristic rectangular shield. Although this is well detailed - you can clearly make out the planks of wood and the metal boss they do not have the arrow/lightning type symbols as shown on illustration 74 in the WRG's Armies of The Dark Ages.

In the Spear pack (HSA 14) there are 5 different figures:

a. unarmoured, running, spear tucked in behind shield looking to right;b. unarmoured, advancing, thrusting spear in front at about waist hight, wearing cloak;
c. standing, wearing a mail shirt, spear held out to front, wearning cloak;
d. standing, wearing mail shirt, spear upright held in front of body;
e. standing, unarmoured, spear upright but held behind body.

In the Axemen pack (HSA 15) there are 4 diffferent figures and all are unarmoured except for their helmet:

a. running, axe tucked behind shield which is held at about a 45 deg angle;
b. advancing, axe tucked behind shield which is held vertically;
c. standing with axe drawn back ready to throw overarm, shield covering front of body, wearning cloak;
d. advancing, axe held out in front at about waist hight,wearning cloak.

If this much variety is not enough for you then there is scope for replacing axes with home made spears. The style of these figures is very much like Essex's Vikings so there is scope for combining both ranges since Rus used round shields as well as the rectangular style.

Steve Aspinall

Thank you Steve- I will purchase some of these. My own Rus a big mix of Two Dragons, Irregular, Minifigs and many others. I used lots of Slavs and Viking figures amongst them and though it is one of my least successful armies on the table I really enjoyed putting it together.

Thanks again.

Graham.

Originally posted by gsa:
These are very nice figures. Well up to the standard of production we have come to expect from Essex. All have a conical helmet and the characteristic rectangular shield. Although this is well detailed - you can clearly make out the planks of wood and the metal boss they do not have the arrow/lightning type symbols as shown on illustration 74 in the WRG's Armies of The Dark Ages.

In the Spear pack (HSA 14) there are 5 different figures:

a. unarmoured, running, spear tucked in behind shield looking to right;b. unarmoured, advancing, thrusting spear in front at about waist hight, wearing cloak;
c. standing, wearing a mail shirt, spear held out to front, wearning cloak;
d. standing, wearing mail shirt, spear upright held in front of body;
e. standing, unarmoured, spear upright but held behind body.

In the Axemen pack (HSA 15) there are 4 diffferent figures and all are unarmoured except for their helmet:

a. running, axe tucked behind shield which is held at about a 45 deg angle;
b. advancing, axe tucked behind shield which is held vertically;
c. standing with axe drawn back ready to throw overarm, shield covering front of body, wearning cloak;
d. advancing, axe held out in front at about waist hight,wearning cloak.

If this much variety is not enough for you then there is scope for replacing axes with home made spears. The style of these figures is very much like Essex's Vikings so there is scope for combining both ranges since Rus used round shields as well as the rectangular style.

Steve Aspinall