This set, the first in the Eskimo series from Nikolai, introduces us to the range by portraying a family with an igloo.

The first figure is of a man holding a spear and with a bow on his back. The standing woman has a baby on her back, and is carrying a bird, presumably destined for the pot, while her right arm hangs to hold the hand of the child. Another woman is seated on a fur and holding a baby. Some of the figures have separate components like the spear, the bird and both babies, which allows poses that would otherwise suffer terribly from blind spots on the mould. We have chosen to show the second baby separate from the seated woman to allow a better view, though she is meant to be holding it.

All the figures are done in black resin, and all look pretty good, though it is only after they are painted or at least primed that the detail can really be seen. None come with a base except for the seated woman, so we have mounted them on bases ourselves so that they free-stand, and also to facilitate painting.

The igloo is of the classic domed shape with a short entrance way. It stands about the height of a man at its centre, and is supplied cast in pure white resin. It is solid except for the entrance passage. Such structures are only temporary dwellings, and would only be typical for the Inuits of Canada, where they were made of ice and snow. Clearly it is not a family home, but it is undeniably a very recognisable icon of these people, and it has been nicely realised with the surface engraved into blocks.

What little flash there is can be much more easily brushed off than if they were plastic, and detail is deep and clear. As an exercise in sculpting they are excellent with good proportions and realistic stances. The need to assemble some quite small pieces means they take more effort than most to make ready, but as usual the resulting models are charming.