French S.E.G.O.M.

This article dates back to the time when I purchased a small collection of SEGOM figures from a used dealer about 6 months ago. The figures had actually come loose amongst others in a large collection but the dealer, with a lifetime of experience, was able to guess quite correctly that they were SEGOM figures.

Proof came soon after. A fellow collector sent me a photocopy of an article on SEGOM. Remarkably, I chanced on the same article in an old magazine in a used bookstore a couple of months later. Armed with phone numbers I called up the editor and obtained permission to reprint the article on the web site, so, with the kind permission of Nexus Special Interests, here is the 25 year old article from the September 1972 edition of Military Modelling.

FIGURE REVIEW - a look at the 'about 25 mm' range for collectors and wargamers by FRENCH S.E.G.O.M. (Unfortunately, the author's name does not appear in the article.)

IT IS UNUSUAL WHEN ONE comes upon figures that it is difficult to categorise. Figures generally fall into three main groups, the toy figure, the 20 mm. or 30 mm. wargame figure and the standard 54 mm. military miniature, plus some of the larger sizes that are now appearing.

The 25 mm. (about; they all vary slightly as, of course, do real people!) plastic figures by the French firm of S.E.G.O.M. reviewed here do not fall automatically into the wargame figure class, in my opinion, as the range of foot figures are rather too casual in their stances, and the cavalry figures too stereotyped, but that they will be seized upon by wargamers as well as collectors, diorama specialists, etc., there can be no doubt.

Wargame figures have to be considered from several standpoints - appearance, size, function, and last but not least, cost. If I were forced to place them in some category, it would be in that of the military miniature.

During the course of the past few years there has been an avalanche of new figures on to the market, particularly in the 20 mm.30 mm. wargame class. I think almost every possible taste and field of interest must have been catered for. The majority of these figures are 'much of a muchness' in their quality and price, with the exception of the occasional gems from 'Willie' and Les Higgins. However, these 25 mm. plastic figures are amongst the nicest I have seen for some time. They come in a good variety of types, predictably enough British and French, and some of the 'classic' types to be expected, French cuirassier and Chasseur a Cheval among others. Even unpainted they present quite a good appearance and with a little care in the painting job they would be very satisfactory.

It doesn't seem possible, in this type of plastic, to obtain quite the sharpness of detail that the most recent metal wargame figures have, but here and there one has advantageous points. The Chasseur with the two plumes remove one, and he is of the Imperial Guard, remove the other and he is an ordinary hussar 'compagnie d'elite'. Some figures have two right arms as well, for instance to provide two attitudes in the individual figure, like the French artilleryman who is basically moulded at attention', but has another pair of arms joined to the original pair at the elbows. In each hand the figure is holding a linstock and rammer; removing one or other of the arms gives a choice of artilleryman and equipment. I have only ever seen this particular technique adopted on the continental flat figures, and very successfully, too. As stated earlier, the figures are all in fairly restful poses.

The horses, although all somewhat alike, are superb, beautifully proportioned with most natural stances: they appear to come in four positions only, none of these bearing the more active animations, i.e. galloping, trotting, etc.

Functionally, of course, the plastic figure lends itself to a great deal of handling, although with it, one rarely gets a lance, or a sword quite straight - they tend to waver a little. Still, they rarely break completely, as not infrequently happens to the metal counterpart. To alter these, one merely dips them into water hot enough to just bend the hands and rebend and animate the consequently softened limbs.

The 38 figures supplied for review by British importers, Seagull Model (G.B.) are by no means the full range of these approximately 25 mm. Napoleonics: they have many more in this range and, of course, there are more S E.G.O.M.s in different scales and periods available in this country from Seagull. Foot figures are moulded in a cream-coloured, high impact plastic. The horses are moulded in either a white, fawn or red brown colour, but would need painting to get the best from them. Detail, making allowances for the type of plastic used, is good. There is a little flash and a few hollows on one or two of the figures, but nothing that a sharp modelling knife and a dab of modelling putty cannot put right without too much difficulty.

The only drawback that I can find with the figures deals with the size of the colours of the British Army figures which are not large enough. The size of the British infantry colours carried at the time were approximately 6 ft. square, but those held by the colour bearers in this S.E.G.O.M. series could do with being at least a third larger.

As to price, the S.E.G.O.M. figures are not inexpensive, possibly due to import charges, duty and the like, and an ordinary infantry figure retaiis at 71p, while a standing standard bearer is 15p and a cavalryman 20p. The mounted standard bearers are 25p each. Complete lists of everything available in this interesting French range can be had from the importers, Seagull Model (G.B.) Limited, P.O. Box 62, London, SE19 3ED.

In all, a very nice range of figures (if somewhat pricey for plastics) and well recommended.

(Caption for a photograph.) Above, a few of the most attractive infantry figures, including musketeers and drummer from French S.E,G 0,M. although described as 'about 25 mm', they vary in size fractionally, as, of course, do real people. making them even more attractive to the true scale enthusiast.

(Caption for a photograph.) Above, some of the mounted figures in the range, including standard bearers, lancers. dragoons. ec. The figures are moulded in white, while the horses start life in a chocolate brown plastic and many include two plumes on hats. a variety of arms to give numerous postures and ranks - you merely snip the unwanted parts away,

-End of Article-

Most interesting, unfortunately, the quality of the photos are too poor to be scanned, so here are some of the figures from my collection.


The figures are quite tall, and compared with our regular 1/72 figures, they would be about 6'4'' in real life. The scan fails to show the quality of the figures which are quite good. The plastic is definitely harder than the regular soft plastic, more like kit plastic. The 3rd figure from the right has a hand that has to be glued on. The chasseur is my only horseman, unfortunately, he did not come with a horse.

The figures are nice, but somewhat out of place in the average collection. Without a firing pose and quite defenceless, they would mostly pull guard or staff duty, with their huge stature, probably something they are more suited for anyway. If any reader has any further information they would like to share, please e-mail us.

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