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Post by rahway on Jun 4, 2019 1:14:22 GMT
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Post by rahway on Jul 19, 2019 0:26:22 GMT
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Post by zuludon on Jul 19, 2019 17:51:33 GMT
Thanks for the intel! I just ordered some of the mounted Rangers. I figure I can use them for Texas War of Independence and maybe even War of 1812 as well as fighting Comanche.
Nick Stern
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Post by Mike Blake on Aug 29, 2019 13:37:29 GMT
FWIW, my review from Toy Soldier International and some photos.
Replicants Texas Rangers c1830s-40s
"Ride like a Mexican, trail like an Indian, shoot like a Tennessean, and fight like the devil."
New sets from Replicants are always a delight, and usually a surprise. Given their aim is to fill the gaps left by the big boys, this is hardly surprising I suppose. The company has been going for a number of years now, and a ‘tradition’ has developed that they issue a new set once a year to coincide with the Plastic Warrior Show (of which more later). This year is no exception, and sees the arrival of three sets of figures, all of early Texas Rangers. This iconic law and order force is so famous that it needs no explanation from me, but what is unusual here is they the guys at Replicants have gone for the early years rather than the more usual 1880s, when the reputation of the Rangers reached a peak. Which is exactly what one expects from Replicants - “Expect the unexpected!” In 1835, a council of Texas representatives created a "Corps of Rangers" to protect the frontier from hostile Indians. For the first time their pay was officially set at $1.25 a day and they were to elect their own officers. They were required to furnish their own arms, mounts, and equipment.
Plagued by frequent raids by the Comanche, Tonkawa and Karankawa Indians the early Hispanic settlements in Texas at San Antonio de Béxar and Laredo had raised companies of volunteers which were disbanded when no longer needed; some served for days and others for many months.
These companies were called by many names: ranging companies, mounted gunmen, mounted volunteers, minutemen, spies, scouts and mounted rifle companies. These early Texas Ranger had multicultural roots; Anglos, Hispanics and American Indians served in all ranks from private to captain. Early Rangers shot Spanish pistols, Tennessee and Kentucky rifles, carried Bowie knifes and rode swift Mexican ponies. This is exactly how the Replicants figures are armed and mounted. When settlers rebelled against the Mexican government in 1836 Texas Rangers played an important but little known role in the conflict. They covered the retreat of civilians from the Mexican army in the famous "Runaway Scrape," harassed columns of Mexican troops and provided valuable intelligence to the Texas Army. The only men to ride in response to Colonel William B Travis' last minute plea to defend the Alamo were Rangers. One of the Replicants three sets is of four dismounted Rangers, the other two are of two mounted figures each. All the figures are in a buff khaki colour plastic which matches the buckskins often worn nicely, whist the horses are in dark brown plastic.
There is just one pose of horse, moving along at a gait which works whatever the pose of the rider. One set has a rider in an unusual pose, and probably unique for a plastic figure, which is going to be a ‘Marmite’ figure I suspect. He is swinging the barrel of his escopeta in a wide arc over his left shoulder to bring it crashing down on his opponent – if it connects it will brain his enemy. His partner is less drastically but very practically posed with single shot pistol in his right hand and a shoulderarm across his pommel.
In the other mounted set, one figure is firing his shoulderarm to his left, whilst the other is cocking his piece, which is held across his pommel at waist level.
The four foot figures are; one standing firing his rifle, one standing repriming his rifle, one holding a wicked looking blunderbuss at waist level; and one kneeling armed with a pistol in each hand.
The figures are all wearing an assortment of clothing which looks very much ‘of the period'; from fringed buckskins to short Mexican jackets, top hats to breed leggings. The cottage-industry nature of Replicants production means there is some moulding flash to be carefully removed with a sharp craft knife, but the plastic cuts easily and cleanly.
My favourite is the fellow re-priming as he takes a step forward – he has a presence about him, although I must say that I do like the Marmite guy too – amazing sense of action in a little plastic figure. All in all, another very nice set from Replicants, and proving the opponents for the previous release of Comanche Indians, which I reviewed in Issue 80
Contact Replicants, http://www.replastic.com; for sales it is Weston Toy Soldiers, www.plastic soldiers.co.uk, who kindly supplied the samples.
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Post by rahway on Oct 1, 2019 1:24:11 GMT
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Post by oldsilly on Oct 2, 2019 8:33:41 GMT
What is also interesting about the horses is the fact that the saddles are "over moulded" along the lines of Timpo and later Britains figures of long long ago. Is there such a thing as a resurrected innovation?
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Post by Mike Blake on Oct 5, 2019 12:22:28 GMT
Just got them for review. Outstanding - such imagination! They really look great tucked in behind their dead mounts.
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