And now for something completely different. . . STEAMPUNK!

A company hailing from a commune in the north-western suburbs of Paris has in little over a year taken the miniatures' world by storm by offering a product line that is not only unequaled in creativity and imagination, but in its production standards and quality. I am talking about Smart Max.

Smart Max offers two lines of resin 1/35th scale figures: Smog 1888 and Mauser Earth (website currently unavailable). Smog 1888 is classic Steampunk: a Victorian alternate reality with a healthy splash of sci-fi à la Jules Verne, et al. in what is the "new" Industrial Revolution--or the "old" one pursued to its unnatural extremes with all the unimaginable unnatural consequences. Mauser Earth is an alternate reality that features the "Forever War": the outcome of "the war to end all wars" is still very much in question as it has been going on for a quarter-century!

The figures are beautifully designed and sculpted, and exquisitely cast in polyvinyl resin. Yes. . . I know. . . not my favorite medium, but one eminently suitable for the task at hand--especially as the thickness of parts can be less than 1mm in many instances! Engineering and design is reminiscent of the best the Japanese masters have to offer: whereas we would sculpt/model a greatcoated figure in one piece, Smart Max provides a hollow greatcoat, a separate cape, a full set of legs!

Regarding scale. Smart Max is a pack-leader in what I can only describe as a new "micro" trend. Until recently, we have seen the scale pendulum of military miniatures ever swinging in the direction of "bigger is better", where the figures are obviously much larger than the professed scale. Smart Max and the likes of Nocturna, et al. are now releasing pieces that are true to scale, if not slightly smaller. Hence, the new scale standard is not 54mm (or 60mm in real measure), but a true 1/35th scale or 50mm.

This is perhaps seen as a compromise scale (note: hardly that, being the mainstay of military modelling since time immemorial!) that will attract the mainstream miniaturist, while still appealing to the wargaming collector, for it is in the latter that these new ventures have their roots. And if I may digress briefly, where the future of our hobby, IMHO, for whatever reasons, lies. Whatever you might think of him or his work, Raúl García Latorre and Enigma have been among the first to "cross-over". While I do not believe many more of the creators will follow--few have his talent in the smaller scales, undoubtedly many of the patrons will follow--if only because of display-ability and cost.

Cost. I remember when 25-30mm were about a buck or so per figure. Of course, I also remember when 54's were under $3.00! One of the major deterrents to a greater following for these new "micros" is cost. This is a case where you are getting less--volume-wise--for more. But what is quality and contextual imagination worth these days? Perhaps the worm has finally turned and artistry is being duly rewarded. . . And they are still cheaper than many of their larger counterparts!

The only other downside to these pieces is physical: how many people have the skills to do them justice? And how many of us old timers can still see well enough to even consider tackling them?? Perhaps they are righting the ship, and steering the hobby back on course. Unfortunately, while not quite ready to be marooned, "iacta alea est". However, until I am faced with the inevitable, I plan to enjoy these to the utmost, and I will be sharing my first venture into 3-d'al Steampunk with you shortly.

Until then. . .