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Figures / Fantasy - 6mm to 49mm
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Displaying Reviews: 1 - 1
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Average Reviewer Rating:
Number of Reviews:
1
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Exceptional Craftsmanship
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Reviewer
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Reviewed by Antar Howarth (info@totalmodel.com) November 30, 2004
Tom Meier has been around for what seems like ages! For many years he was a journeyman sculptor working for some of the most prestigious figure houses in the industry, including Ral Partha. It was not until recently, however, that Tom decided to launch his own company - Thunderbolt Mountain. Expectations within the community were running high - not least because Tom now had a platform which would enable him to express his talents in his own way and in his own time. Some of the first figures off the production line were a series of 30mm scale Wood Elves - which went on sale in 2003. Of these I have chosen to review a selection of archers and spearmen which account for most of the unmounted figures in the range.
In recent years I've seen a great many figures. Many manufacturers have been kind enough to send me review samples which typically arrive unannounced. It's always a thrill to see "what's in the parcel" but very rarely is the magic moment accompanied by a sharp intake of breath! That's exactly what happened when I first clapped eyes on these Wood Elves. To begin with I was surprised to see how small they were. I was accustomed to preparing images of Tom's figures for news updates on TotalModel and I was expecting something much bigger. I compared one of the archers to an old plastic Games Workshop human bowman and discovered they were of similar height. The difference is that Tom's figures are far more slender. Unfortunately, far from making the Elves appear anorexic the contrasting dimensions only serve to illustrate the rather chunky nature of some of GW's sculpting.
If you visit the Thunderbolt Mountain website you will notice there are very few painted examples of Tom's miniatures. Indeed, almost all of the promotional material I receive is black and white. When I enquired why Tom didn't parade his figures in glorious colour I was told, "because he doesn't need to"! Once you've seen the figures for real, you begin to appreciate exactly why this statement is true. These figures are beautiful. There's no other word for it. Tom has managed to capture the posture of each character perfectly. As a result, each miniature is possessed of an inner grace and elegance which sets them appart from almost every other figure in this scale I have seen. Such artistry is only possible when the sculptor has a firm understanding of the human form in all its many stages of movement.
The quality of the sculpting is quite unlike anything I've ever seen before. The elves are dressed in a variety of mail shirts, breeches and boots. Remarkably, each shirt is different. Some appear to be crafted from chain links whilst others are made from layered scales. Each figure also wears a range of accessories, including gauntlets, belts and hoods. Everywhere you look you will see intricate detail, from the curious vine patterns on the bowmen's quivers to the leaf-like adornments around the fringing of their armour. Everything is so fine and delicate.
It goes without saying that you simply can't help but admire these figures. They're an education. My only reservation is that their features are so fine you will need a truly deft hand to paint them. Anything less will ruin the detail. That said, I cannot recommend them highly enough and would urge anyone with an interest in "swords 'n' sorcery" to check out Thunderbolt Mountain today!
Positive: Undoubtedly some of the best fantasy figures on the market.
Negative: Pah!
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6
out of
7
people found this review helpful
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