Review: Ax Faction Victorian Darling Kraken Hunter

As those of you who read my Blog regularly (shame on those of you who don't) you'll know I picked up this delectable miniature figure, of a slightly less than refined Victorian Steampunk strumpet / vixen at the recent UK Games Expo 2012, held here in my native Birmingham. Paul's stand was actually one of the few highlights for me at the show. I'm always on the look out for exciting new miniature companies who are devoted to producing nothing but great miniatures to paint, and wandering by the Ax Faction stall I spied two extremely well sculpted miniatures. I don't know how well Paul did that weekend, but I was alarmed his stand wasn't swamped when I saw the quality of his wares. What was wrong with you all? True there were only two miniatures on display, the attire challenged Gilded Saint Dragon Hunter and the Victorian Darling Kraken Hunter, whom I ultimately plumped for of the two. Call me old fashioned but I prefer my sex symbols to actually leave some things to the imagination! On getting home I instantly went into research mode, who were Ax Faction and what were they up to? Well on their website I found a nice bit of fluff / back story justification for the production of these miniatures. It's all to do with some family journal / book or other, the Nilrem family and some secret Government agency called ASLAP, it's not too long and it's actually quite nice that a company would actually bother to produce any sort of justification for their miniatures. Any way time to get on with the review.

Product Description

The version of the product I got was actually provided supplied in a zip lock bag, as opposed to a box or the normal blister pack you'd get with their standard releases I'm reliably informed, and a piece of card stapled to the front. This was because the Victorian Darling Kraken Hunter was actually released at the UK Games Expo and Paul had only got his supplies of the miniature a day or two before the show... so we'll let him off on that one as the packaging for the Gilded Saint was more than adequate to ensure the miniatures they provide will arrive intact and unscathed at their intended destination. Moving on to the components themselves the miniature is cast out of a resin, much the same as you'd expect to find from other small boutique producers such as Kingdom Death, Studio McVey and BaneLegions, yes I know, that's some illustrious company to be putting Ax Faction amongst, but hey, if the cap fits! The miniature has your standard 32mm round lip plastic base, the sort you'll find supplied with your HoMachine or Mofaux miniatures. There is a base insert that sits on top of the plastic base, and provides a nice scene and context for the miniature, there are two mechanical kraken tentacles that attach to the base and provide further animation to it. The next major component is the main body of the Victorian Darling herself, followed by the trailing bustle that attaches to the back of the main body, and hides her modesty, not to mention her perfectly formed peach like buttocks! More on that later. There are five further components including a top hat, complete with steampunk goggles, a pistol in a holster, her two arms wrapped around a rather large looking harpoon, and a teeny tiny lantern that literally hooks onto the end of the aforementioned harpoon. All these components are extremely delicate and I'd advise extreme caution when removing them from their spru's, and when cleaning them. All in all their are eleven components. Here have a look for yourself.

The components you get with the Victorian Darling Kraken Hunter.

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