One to look out for...

Old John, who also appears as TJ in Harry Pearson's Achtung Schweinhund! and is responsible for putting back on the market a number of classic figure ranges under the banner of 20mm Nostalgic Revival, has joined the blogosphere here

The blog has only just started up, but you may like to bookmark it and keep an eye on it as it develops.

I'm hoping for lots of pictures of John's extensive collections and hopefully more news of old figures (if that makes sense)

Scruby designers

From a 1962 catalogue, here are Jack Scruby's notes on the designers of his miniature ranges.

In the last section it is interesting to see the name of John Hathaway -  the source of the "Hathaway cannons" mentioned in Charles Grant's The War Game?

John Niblett

Thanks to Harry for a copy of the Hummel House of Miniatures catalogue from the early sixties.

Hummel were an upmarket toy, models and miniatures shop in Burlingtion Arcade and concentrated on top end makes for collectors.

Among the best of these wre John Niblett's one inch figures - just check out the prices. Garrett in Collecting Model Soldiers says" these lovely little figures were the first to be made in England in such a tiny size, and they remain the finest in this particular scale.". In his World Encyclopedia of Model Soldiers Garret states that these figures were available from 1950 to 1963 .

GHQ Guardsmen - 20mm Napoleonic Range

I have recently located these pictures sent to me a while ago by George in the States. They show the front and back of the original GHQ packaging.

George was not sure whether the cavalty figure is GHQ or CinC - can anyone confirm?

GHQ Seven Years War Range Review

Thanks to DC of Unfashionably Shiny for this original review of the SYW figures.

It was publisherd in Miliatary Modelling in February 1976.

GHQ Seven Years War Range

Thanks to John Cunningham for pictures of some of this range.

I have previously posted a listing for the Naploeionic range (see here) and have seen pictures of some of the figures, but have no list for the SYW range and had not seen any of the figures before. The figures were finely detailed (as you would expect from the makers of GHQ microarmor, and had separate heads and muskets.

Austrian Command

Austrian Infantry

Highland Infantry

Prussian Musketeers

Prussian Grenadiers

Some Napoleonic Highlanders

Thanks to Tony of Prometheus in Aspic for these figures - two Minifigs 20mm, BN 9 Highlander advancing, or just possibly BN 6 Highlander on guard, and a first series Lamming BI/16, Highland infantry kneeling.

Lamming Miniatures - excellent news

I am very glad to see that Tony Barr of ERM Miniatures is the new owner of Lamming Miniatures, with plans to bring the ranges back in production over time.

TMP announcement here:
http://theminiaturespage.com/news/642544/ (you can vote for which range Tony remasters first)

and ERM website is here

http://shop.eastridingminiatures.co.uk/

Der Kriegspieler 187 Baden Infantry

I was slightly surprised by these being in shako rather than kasket, and the single breasted tunic is unlike any Baden uniform reference I have seen. I painted them as a generic German State infantry unit on campaign.

Mystery Royal Horse Guards

These fellows recently appeared on Tony's Prometheus in Aspic blog and now I'm glad to say they reside with me. Not sure what I will do with them - they may see service as ADCs. I have another version of this figure, painted white as a cuirassier. So far the general opinion seems to be these may be home made pieces.

Alberken/Minifigs 20mm Swiss Battalion

Refurbishment of a fairly recent e-bay purchase, FN8 advancing fusiliers painted as Swiss, with the addition of officer and eagle bearer from the spares box.

Scruby 25mm Napoleonics

My thanks to Bill in the US, who has responded to my earlier posts here on Scruby figures. In response to comments on the scarcity of the figures themselves in the UK and pictures of them in general on the web, Bill has sent a large number of pictures of 15mm (N Gauge), 25mm, 30mm, 40mm and 45mm ranges.

I have put the 25mm ones - all Napoleonics - into a slideshow below. At a later date I may make individual posts for the figures featured; but at least the slideshow will give an impression of these figures.

Bill's pictures of the other ranges may appear in due course over on Vintage Wargaming

Brunswick infantry: manufacturer to be confirmed

I'm not 100% sure of the maker of these figures so any confirmation would be welcome. The drummers and one of the officers are S Range, the other officer is Hinton Hunt - it is the rank and file who are a bit more mysterious. I also have some Brunswick Hussars (which I couldn't locate just now) which I remember as possibly being from the same manufacturer.

I have made other Brunswick figure posts today on the Lone S Ranger and the Hinton Hunter blogs.

Brunswick infantry: Kirk Miniatures

For comparison purposes, the Kirk Brunswick infantry figures, which have been previously posted. One of the best Kirk offerings, and a very acceptable figure.

Brunswick infantry: Douglas Miniatures

A half battalion or so of Douglas Miniatures NP6, Brunswick infantryman, led in the first picture by a Hinton Hunt officer. As they wear the Polrock (long coat) these figures are really for use before the Waterloo campaign.

Ros 25mm Napoleonics

Prompted by Tony's post on his Prometheus in Aspic blog, I have dug out my few examples of Ros 25mm Napoleonics. They looked exciting when they came out, as they were very cheap, metal, and offered normal-but-exotic things like British infantry in Stovepipes. I dithered and never bought any, but have acquired a few since.

The pictures show Prussians, a small unit of Austrian infantry, and some French foot artillery (thanks to Iain for this last picture).

Almark/Charles Stadden Fallschirmjager

Further to a previous post, her are some pictures of more of the German paratrooper figures in this range.

Der Kriegspieler 181 Hesse-Darmstadt Infantry: painted unit

Here are the Hesse Darmstadt infantry completed from a previous post, with original and David Clayton Hinton Hunt command figures. The flag is the home brewed one from Tony's Prometheus in Aspic blog, which came along just when I needed it.

Der Kriegspieler 32 French 10 pound/6" howitzer

Der Kriegspieler 54 Russian Line Infantry1812 shako on guard

Der Kriegspieler 66 Russian Line Infantry coat and fatigue hat receiving

Der Kriegspieler 81 Russian Hussars

Der Kriegspieler 87 Russian Cossacks

Der Kriegspieler cavalry came in packs of 8. Set 87 was listed as Cossacks - assorted. I only have six figures, two each of three types. I don't know if the eight in the set were a mixture of these three types, or if maybe these six figures came with a further two in another pose.

Der Kriegspieler 96 Austrian Jaeger command figures

Der Kriegspieler set 96 contained 20 pieces, of Austrian Fusilier, Grenadier and Jager figures. These are the Jager figures. The first two, officers with sword and with pistol, look to be conversions with Tyrolean hats. The hornist is very similar (possibly identical) to the Hinton Hunt one here.

Der Kriegspieler 181 Hesse-Darmstadt Infantry