The debout of Shakò64: a Italian company dedicated to Italian Wars of Indipendence.
Italian Wars of Indipendence, or Risorgimento, is considered a lesser conflict and is often overviewed by wargamers and manifacturers. For this reason a new manifacturer dedicated to this period is a wonderful news! Shakò64 entered the hobby market this year. I recently received a sample from their first released range, consisting in Cacciatori Borbonici (Borbonic Hunters) a light infantry unit of the Army of the Kingdom of Two Sicilies which fought against Garibaldi's redshirts during the 1860 campaign.
In their online shop are currently aivalable: Hunters with different combination of campaign dress/frock coats and jackets with covered/uncovered shakò or kepì and Hunters Command group wearing tunic, with the same headgears options, but the manifacturer intention is to extend their range to cover both the Kingdom of Two Sicilies and Garibaldi's armies. Also aivalable the flag for some battalions of Borbonic Hunters and Carabinieri (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 8th battalion Cacciatori and 1st and 2nd Carabinieri). They're sold in packs of 4 for 9€ (2.25€ for infantry figure).
The figures are sculpted by Cosimo Auricchio, former sculptor for Ital.Model, a discontinued brand producing figures for the Italian Risorgimento. At the first look they looks very well sculpted virtually no flash and smooth mold lines, basically ready to be washed and primed! Very interesting the choice to provide separate backpacks (at least 3 different models) to add variety and help the paintjob. At a first measurement they looks 27-28mm to eyes level, so definitely a modern range (the so called "heroic 28mm"), larger than Mirliton and Foundry, and similar to Gringo40s. Comparison is needed (stay tuned!).
Very nice figures, especially since they seem to be compatible with the large Gringo40 castings. Good to see some more for this very interesting period.
RispondiEliminaI think I will have to get some!
I'd strongly advice you to get some! Pretty good quality for a often neglected period. I'll post a comparison with Gringo40s, Mirliton and Cibo's in the next weeks, stay tuned!
EliminaNice miniatures and good to know there are other manufacturers of Risorgimento miniatures. 28mm is not my scale, but I'll keep an eye on them nonetheless
RispondiEliminaIt depends on the scale of the clash you want to recreate, but anything new for such a neglected period has to be welcomed!
Elimina