By Bob Barnetson

In February 2008, Artizan Designs released two new three-figure packages of 28mm wild-west figures. Both packs feature the Pinkerton Detectives (codes AWW025 and AWW026). These figures add to Artizan’s extensive Wild West range, which includes various gunslingers, desperadoes, buffalo soldiers, and Indians. Each package costs £4.50.

The Pinkerton figures are an interesting addition to the Artizan line. The Pinkerton National Detective Agency was a private US security and detective agency founded by Allan Pinkerton in 1850. Pinkerton was famous for foiling an assassination attempt on US President-elect Abraham Lincoln. Pinkerton agents were hired to track down outlaws Jesse James, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

Overtime, the Pinkerton Agency employed more agents than there were members of the US army. Their power generated fear and they were outlawed in Ohio. They were also used in strike-breaking activity throughout the US. Their activities are mentioned in two Sherlock Holmes stories and inspired an Elton John song.

Initial Impressions
The six figures arrived bagged in two groups inside a sturdy cardboard box and surrounded by bubble wrap. There was no breakage among these figures during transport. The figures had no significant mold-line or vent-hole flash and sat properly on the table when removed from the bag.

While the figures have a western feel to them (long coats, big moustaches, and a combination of revolvers and rifles), I was struck by their versatility. They would certainly fit in a wild-west game, but would also be at home in a Victorian sci-fi or Cthulhu game, and even a 1930s Indiana Jones adventure or gangster gang. Obviously the paint jobs would differ some, but the versatility of the figures was nice to see.

Anatomy and Posing
Sculpted by Mike Owens, the figures are approximately 30mm from sole of shoe to top of head. They fit in well with the other 28mm figures I’ve collected over the years, although they might be a touch thinner in build than Copplestone figures. I don’t think this would be particularly noticeable on the gaming table, but I’m not overly fussy about those things.

All of the figures in both packages are standing, four with legs apart and two with legs together. The different posing creates the appearance that the figures with their legs together are slighter in build (they aren’t) than the figures with legs apart. This reflects, in part, the coat tails that billow around the wide-stance figures.

All of the poses have realistic anatomy and poses. Five of the figures have weapons visible (two pistols and three rifles) while one figure has pulled back his coat like he’s readying himself to draw a pistol. None of the figures is in a firing pose, although they look ready to fight. This is fairly typical of the Artizan wild-west line, wherein a rough average of one in three figures is actively aiming a weapon.

Detail and Casting
All of the figures are wearing long coats and hats. The hats are all more akin to a bowler-style hat than the typical cowboy hat you see on wild-west figures. This sets this gang apart from other Artizan wild-west figures and contributes to the timelessness of the figures. They look a bit like gentleman, although rather means ones!

The detailing on the guns is very finely done, with the cylinders and other details on the two revolvers clearly evident. There is significant variation in the faces (facial hair, eyeglasses, etc.) and the long coats have enough rippling to be conducive to highlighting, but the figures don’t appears to be caught in a gale, like can sometimes be the case. Where inner clothes are visible, they are crisply detailed and one fellow even has a pocket watch.

There are no casting errors evident. There are the faintest of mold lines visible when you hold the figure in the light. This will likely be invisible when primed and painted, but a wash might well highlight it. The lines are easily accessible if you are inclined to file them off. The bases are small and molded on (which I prefer to slotta bases).

Comment
These figures will do very nicely as goons in a western or pulp game. They are menacing, but not overtly angry or crazed as pulp villains can sometimes be. It is nice to see figures with multiple uses being added to such a large line.

The quality of the sculpting and crispness of the casting is commendable. As a gamer, I appreciate figures that don’t require extensive preparation before painting. For those who like converting figures, the easiest thing here would be some head-swaps. The arms are either fully or partially molded to the torso so would be difficult to reposition. Similarly, the long coats make major surgery on the torso impractical.

My small collection of 28mm figures is packed away, but I think these figures would blend in well with Foundry or RAFM figures, being slightly slimmer of build. They would also likely work with Copplestone, but Copplestone (along with Bob Murch’s Pulp Figures) tend towards being beefier and more dramatic. At £1.50 each these figures are priced in line with comparable figures.

Conclusion
These are a very nice addition to Artizan’s wild-west line. They allow a gamer to develop a gang with a distinct visual look and the historical tie-in to the Pinkerton gang is nice. The casting is clean and the sculpts are good; it is hard to ask for anything more. I wonder what the still existing Pinkerton Detective Agency thinks about being immortalized in lead?

Pros:

• Well sculpted and crisply cast.
• Versatile figures.

Cons:

• None.