Review: QRF Modern US infantry (OLD RANGE!)

EDIT Important Note: Geoff from QRF contacted me about an hour ago to inform me that the miniatures I have reviewed here are from their recently retired range (appearantly Scale Creep was still cleaning out their back inventory) and that these figures and packs have been replaced with new ones. I will be trying to get some of the new figures soon and will review them as well.

Original Post:
So, I've shown you some recently painted examples of QRF's (recently replaced) US infantry from their 15mm Modern line but just how are the sculpts and where do they fit into the 'modern' timeline (given that the US military has gone through at least three major combinations of combat utilities and load bearing gear in the period often refered to as the 'modern' era)?

First, the quality and detail of the miniature and the sculpt. The minis from QRF are generally very well cast with few significant seams and generally minimal flash, much better than I've seen from even GW's vaunted metals. The detail varies depending on which part of the miniature you are concerned with; Helmets, webbing and packs are well detailed for the scale even going so far as to have a sculpted on helmet band, similarly the uniform is well sculpted with well executed folds and creases. Weapons hold something of a middle ground, they are well proportioned to the figure and are reasonably detailed overall but as you get to the figure's hands there is a noticeable loss of detail and verisimilitude. Hands and faces are noticeably poorly sculpted, although definitely an improvement of the quasimodo-esq visiges of their "Deep Space Marines" their lack of certain prominent features has led me to paint many of them as if they were wearing kaffias or hoods to help hide their lack of a discernible lower face, hands are rather varied from sculpt to sculpt from a well rendered gloved hand to something that is either a bizarre mitten or a flipper. At table distance though these flaws are not noticeable and only detract from the miniature under close inspection, at table distances and even somewhat closer they look just like they are expected to and are generally identifiable as what they are (riflemen are distinguishable from automatic riflemen and grenadiers). While probably not recommended for someone that expects a Michelangelo masterwork a wargamer looking for a solid entry in this era won't be disappointed.

One note on materials: As I noted above, there isn't much in the way of flash of major mold lines but there is always some little bit that needs to be removed or some excess material in a crevice to facilitate molding and casting and the metal QRF uses is probably the easiest metal I've worked with in about 17 years of scale modeling and miniature wargaming. However, this may well be a related to the warning label on the QRF packaging cautioning me that the product contains lead. So, just be careful how you breathe and clean up your work area if you have kids around; the rest of the time just enjoy the easy workability and smooth cutting you will have when working on these.

Now, where do they fit in time and space? While it likely isn't noticeable at distance it is appearant that they are wearing Load Bearing Vests (hard to tell if it's IIFS or MOLLE) instead of the older ALICE LC series of webbing so they might not be appropriate for invading Grenada but would fit right in with the initial invasion of Iraq and the earlier conventional force's operations in Afghanistan. Weapons are M4/M16 series rifles with the traditional carry handle on top, M249 SAWs and M203s) Some of the figures (primarily the "Leader" pack) are noticeably wearing PASGT style body armor (with the prominent shoulder pads no less) but that detail is difficult to pick out unless they are painted to emphasize it. In fact, some of the sculpts appear remarkably similar in appearance to the soldiers on the cover of the original Ambush Alley! cover. So, if you need some troops for your 2003 drive to Baghdad or to drive out the Afghani Taliban, these might be what you need.