We have just received the first 3 releases in the new Black Hawk Templar series. The painting quality on these new figures is excellent. Crisp, clean and highly realistic. The metal used for casting the figures has really improved - very rigid and heavy, so we shouldn't see any bending of sword blades. Set #501 'The Battle' features incredible animation. The sculptor (probably one of the Andrea kit guys) has designed a complicated vignette with tons of action. Figure #502 is a 'straight up and down' pose of Hugh de Payns, 1128. Figure #506 'The Guardian' is standing, holding his sword and painted in the classic Templar fashion. I am very impressed with these new sets and Black Hawk has addressed some of their earlier difficulties. The sculpting is on par with the finest figure kits available and I'm looking forward to the rest of this series! Each of these new pieces will form the start of a new scene.