The first thing that struck me when the postman handed me the parcel was how heavy it was.
After getting into it, the next thing that struck me was how similar the brown shipper was to those of CooModel/Pop Toys, with the black inked sketch of the figure on it.
But why would the CooModel/Pop Toys/CM Toys stable need another couple of names (HHModel/Haoyutoys) to cover figures that don't require licensing? Unless the HH/HY teams are connected in other ways.
First impressions are very favourable. The detail in the metalwork is very crisp, and the research went deeper than I'd expected.
The back of the Montefortino helmet hadn't been fully shown in the promo images, but they actually sculpted the rising line of ridges on the neck gaurd, as on these examples:
The greaves are also designed better than on the likes of the old ACI figures, as they're shaped to grip the legs, since the real things were flexible and sprung onto the legs. There aren't any straps to secure them on the figure though, they just grip due to the shape.
They also have 'hammered' detailing, which the helmet and body armour also have to a lesser extent.
The sword, meant to be a wasp-waisted gladius hispaniensis, has a shiny iron blade of real metal, and is a particularly tight fit for the scabbard (which happens to be plastic, likely to reduce the weight being suspended on the leather straps).
The sword is a little short, and corresponds more to the much later Mainz Gladius.
The belt is fastened at the back by a thread laced through four corresponding holes on each side. Out of the box it's a bit too tight to push down onto the hips, so will need to be untied. I also want to raise the tunic over the top of the belt to shorten it, as in the drawing that inspired the figure.
The tunic itself has a fair bit of weathering on the skirt part.
Thankfully the shield is made of light plastic, unlike some of Kaustic Plastik's which were sometimes too heavy to hold. It's a bit too short versus the source image and details, as appeared early on, but about right in width.
The spear is very close to the quoted 2.5m length. It's made of a rigid plastic, with moulded butt spike and separate metal head. The head doesn't plug on straight though. Pushed all the way down it'll bend off to one side. The head seems true on the outside, so it must be the hole inside that isn't. I was thinking of gluing it into place, but white tack might be better as it's permanently adjustable.
Apart from the bracers, the only odd choice HH/HY made was sculpting socks inside the boots. While it
does get cold in Italy and North Africa, especially at night, the socks (as worn by Romans in colder climates) aren't selling the
idea of the North African setting for this Oscan/Samnite warrior.
Prior to the figure's arrival I went through my spares and picked a selection of fully sculpted feet to use on the figure. The pair I had that turned out to be the closest skin tone match were from a World Box AT012, which are pretty good as they have painted veins.