Short Introduction and White Wolf’s description

Spanish figure company Andrea Miniatures offers another figure from their Warlord Saga Series. It is 2009 WS-021 „White Wolf” figure representing Geralt of Rivia also known as "Gwynbleidd", White Wolf – the witcher.

Witchers were created by Andrzej Sapkowski - Polish fantasy writer. Witchers are monster-hunters who receive special training and have their bodies modified by magic and mutations at an early age to provide them with supernatural abilities so they can battle extremely dangerous monsters and survive.
Sapkowski’s novels tell a story of Geralt of Rivia, probably best living witcher, roaming the land and killing monsters for money. He is said to have resisted the "changes" during his childhood better than most, which encouraged his makers to perform even more dangerous experimental procedures on him. Because of these additional procedures, Geralt lost his pigmentation – his hair is white and his skin is pale. Book did not mention the color of his eyes but because of mutation he has vertical cat-like pupil.
Another attribute of Geralt’s image are his two swords. Every witcher carried two swords: one of steel and one of silver. Some people used to say that the steel sword is for fighting people and the silver one is against monsters but Geralt used to say that both of them are for killing monsters, just some of them happen to be human. Witchers carried their swords on their backs.
All witchers had their silver medallions – silver symbols of their profession. These medallions were sensitive to magic, vibrating and tugging on its chain when spells were being cast when something threatened medallion’s owner. Geralt as other witchers from Kaer Morhen had his medallion shaped as wolf’s head.
Witchers used many potions (elixirs) that temporarily strengthen their fighting abilities: they could give a witcher full control over his metabolism, improve eyesight or give ability to see in total darkness, fasten movements and reflexes. They were usually carried protected in boxes but witchers used to take phials with potions with themselves when preparing for fight.
Geralt used to wear practical leather trousers, black leather jacket with cuffs stud with silver hobnails and riding boots. For swordfight he wore also leather gauntlets with silver hobnails on cuffs and knuckles.

The Figure

Kit shows White Wolf stepping forward and taking his steel sword from a scabbard with his right hand. His left hand is on his hip level for balance. He wears boots, trousers as mentioned above in introduction and sleeveless jacket. Under the jacket he wears shirt or tunic with ornamented sleeves. Under the shirt a chain mail is visible between shirt’s sleeves and gauntlets and a leather caftan visible below it. Left shoulder of White Wolf is protected by spaulder attached with leather belt crossing his chest. Both swords – one in scabbard and second one wrapped in protective cloth and leather strap are hanging on witcher’s back on two leather belts also crossing the chest. Small leather pouch is attached to one of these belts on the right side.
On the left side White Wolf has a trophy hook attached to main belt. There are three potion phials attached to a belt on the right side and small money pouch and steel ring on the back. There is also a knife in a scabbard attached to the right leg.
Silver wolf head medallion on a chain hanging from a neck completes the witcher’s image.
White Wolf stands on a small base with piece of branch suggesting woodland scene.

The Kit

>Kit comes in Andrea Miniatures box with picture of painted figure on the front and several additional pictures of the same figure from different angles on the back. Although the box is not very sturdy the parts are perfectly protected by rubber foam completely filling whole box. Two smaller parts are also protected with plastic bag.
Box contains 5 parts which are:
- body including head, torso, righ arm (to the middle of forearm) and right leg
- crossed swords and right hand pulling one of them from the scabbard
- left arm
- left leg
- small base

Assembly and painting

No assembly instruction is present but with 5 pieces present it is necessary.
There is basic painting instruction present in the box but it doesn’t show this particular kit, just some basic tips. Since the box-art shows the painted figure from all angles it may be painted basing on these pictures.

Detailing and quality

Casting is high quality and there is almost no need of additional cleaning. Delicate seam line is present on main body and hand-swords part.
Fitting is very good although proper adjusting of right hand with sword to the rest of arm caused some small difficulties. Parts fit and figure’s balance is good enough to make figure (without left hand) to stand still without a glue.
All details are nicely sculpted including delicate chain mail (which have some small error, flat area on the right sleeve), medallion, belt buckles or hobnails and ornaments on sleeves.

Conclusion

Very nice 54mm kit sculpted with precision and care. It may require some careful work to bring all details out but if properly painted it may be real eye catcher.
Although witcher’s image is closer to this presented in computer game than to book description (i.e. Geralt never wore any kind of armor except for leather jacket and gauntlets) it is absolute must-have for every fan of The Witcher Saga.