The Old Metal Detector

One to look out for...

2011-10-19T09:08:00.000+01:00

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

2011-09-17T19:08:00.000+01:00

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

2011-09-06T14:32:00.000+01:00

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

2011-07-21T06:51:00.004+01:00

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

2011-07-21T06:42:00.004+01:00

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

2011-07-16T21:37:00.005+01:00

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

2011-06-30T18:16:00.003+01:00

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

2011-04-25T16:36:00.004+01:00

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

2011-02-24T19:30:00.003Z

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

2011-01-01T14:19:00.003Z

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

2011-01-01T14:11:00.004Z

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

2010-11-13T00:43:00.006Z

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

2010-11-11T21:33:00.003Z

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

2010-11-11T21:29:00.002Z

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

2010-11-11T21:25:00.002Z

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

2010-09-25T23:20:00.006+01:00

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

2010-09-20T17:57:00.003+01:00

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

2010-09-20T17:51:00.003+01:00

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

2010-08-26T14:11:00.001+01:00

Der Kriegspieler 54 Russian Line Infantry1812 shako on guard

2010-08-26T14:10:00.001+01:00

Der Kriegspieler 66 Russian Line Infantry coat and fatigue hat receiving

2010-08-26T14:08:00.002+01:00

Der Kriegspieler 81 Russian Hussars

2010-08-26T14:05:00.003+01:00

Der Kriegspieler 87 Russian Cossacks

2010-08-26T14:01:00.002+01:00

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

2010-08-26T13:50:00.002+01:00

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

2010-08-26T13:49:00.003+01:00

Der Kriegspieler 183 Brunswick Line Infantry

2010-08-26T13:45:00.002+01:00

Der Kriegspieler 197 Serbian Freikorps assaulting

2010-08-26T13:38:00.003+01:00

I've finally painted up these figures which were featured in a previous post. One of the infantrymen has decidedly weak ankles and is lot long for this world. The officer is a David Clayton casting - Hungarian Musketeer officer. The uniform is taken for Knotel though there are some differences to the DK figure. I had no reference for the officer's uniform so it is a bit of a guess. The jackets look very much like Portuguese Cacadore ones to me.

Der Kriegspieler 245 Portuguese Cacadore firing

2010-08-26T13:36:00.001+01:00

Napoleonic Units: Garrison French Light Cavalry

2010-08-25T12:12:00.003+01:00

I've had these figures for a long time and finally have got round to painting them, as a break from working through all my unpainted S Range Napoleonic cavalry. These are the old Garrison figures, here painted as the Baden Hussars and the 10e Chasseurs a Cheval.

They are really nice figures and I'm pleased to have finally done them.

Napoleonic Units: Les Higgins French Foot Dragoons

2010-07-10T19:41:00.002+01:00

My remaining odds and ends of Les Higgins French foot dragoons, painted in Spanish campaign dress, as inspired by a couple of Knotel plates. Interestingly the prodding forward pose is on a significantly less heroic scale than the other figures.

Lamming Napoleonic dismounted Hussars

2010-07-10T19:35:00.003+01:00

These lovely figures were a mystery for a while but I am sure they are the Lamming dismounted hussar. There seem to be two variants, with shako and with busby. The officer is an S Range staff figure.

Napoleonic Units: Lamming British Hussars (early series)

2010-07-10T19:33:00.001+01:00

Napoleonic Units: Lamming Royal Scots Greys (later series)

2010-07-10T19:31:00.001+01:00

Napoleonic Units: Lamming Imperial Guard lancers

2010-07-10T19:29:00.001+01:00

Napoleonic Units: Lamming British Light Dragoons

2010-07-10T19:28:00.001+01:00

Napoleonic Units: Les Higgins British Light Dragoons

2010-07-10T19:26:00.001+01:00

Skybirds: Acorn Models advert in Wargamer's Newsletter June 1970

2010-06-26T21:44:00.000+01:00

A little bit of an oddity, as this range was included in the Douglas Miniatures catalogue the following year, is this advert for Skybirds from Acorn Models in Wargamer's Newsletter in 1970. It provides a handy short thumbnail of the history of the company.

Skybirds

2010-06-26T21:35:00.002+01:00

Some Skybirds figures were 30mm, but some are nearer 20mm. These pictures are of the 20mm ones, some originals, some recasts, and some repainted.

Douglas Miniatures Crimeans, Napoleonics and Wodensfeld ACW ranges - availability

2010-06-25T12:23:00.003+01:00

The arrival of the Brunswick figures featured in the previous post reminded me that I had a couple of samples of Douglas Napoleonics from John Cunningham, who holds the rights to these ranges. John is about to release the Crimean War range, and has limited stocks of part of the Napoleonic range (some of the moulds have been lost). John also has the ex-Wodensfeld ACW slowly starting production - Louisiana Tigers and Rebs marching as well as few mounted generals & officers are currently available in limited numbers.

The first two pictures are of NP 7, British Line Infantry Advancing

The next two are NP 23 French Line Voltigeur/Grenadier in shako firing

John tells me limited stock of the following figures are available:

NP10 British Line Infantry standard bearer
NP 9 British Line Infantry officer
NP 7 British Line Infantry at ready
NP 7a British Line Infantry at ready, variant with musket sling
NP 22 French Grenadier of Guard firing
NP 23 French Line Voltigeur/grenadier in shako firing

and further figures to come:

NP 6 Brunswick Infantry
NP 8 British Line Infantry firing
NP 19 French Guard officer
NP 21 & 21a British Hussar and horse

Douglas Miniatures Napoleonic Range NP 6 Brunswick Infantry

2010-06-25T12:01:00.005+01:00

A recent arrival are these rather nice early Brunswickers from Douglas Miniatures, with a Hinton Hunt officer. In Polrock or Litewka, these pre date Waterloo and are therefore useful for Peninsular War service.

Les Higgins Napoleonics

2010-06-22T15:12:00.004+01:00

Some stills of the Les Higgins units involved in the battle and slideshow from the previous post.

The Battle of the Bernebeu

2010-06-22T14:13:00.005+01:00

As part of a weekend in North Berwick play testing Tony's Napoleonic hex based and computer managed rules, we staged a Peninsularwar battle betweena joint Portuguese and Spanish force attacking an Italian/Spanish force. This gave my Hinton Hunt Iberians a run out, with Tony's troops including figures by Les Higgins, Minifigs S Range, Hinton Hunt (Brunswick Hussars), Kennington, NapoleoN, and Warrior, among others.

Generals play an important role in command and control and are so well represented.

The Italians and Spanish occupied a line of ridges and positions. The italians were their best troops; the Portuguese were their only equals on the other side, and did not arrive for several moves. On the Italian/Spanish right a village formed the strongest part of the line, occuped by elements of Saint-Paul's Italian Brigade, with the remainder of the brigade occupying the hills behind. The central ridge was occupied by cavary (Dragoni Napoleone) and atillery; and on their left Monastery Ridge was occupied by Casapalacios' Spanish Brigade.

Blake, commanding the Portuguese-Spanish army, had two Spanish Brigades (Espana's and Morillo's), Spanish and Portuguese batteries, and the 14th Light Dragoons. Marching to join him were two columns from Collins' Portuguese Brigade of the 7th Division, each of two line and one Cacadore battalion. Additionally the Brunswick Hussars were on their way. The rules allow for te use of blinds so their time and direction of arrival were a little uncertain; Blake proved loath to advance until his best troops had arrived.

I am adding a slideshow of the battle; if you want you can try to spot the manufacturesr involved in the various units.

If you want a slightly less frenetic view, and some explanatory notes, you can ascess the photobucket album here

Jacklex Pancho Villa range - final figures

2010-06-16T19:43:00.001+01:00

Peter Johnstone has written that Jack Alexander has completed his work on this range.

PEA 2 (b) American kneeling firing

The figure listed as PEA 2 American Firing is now PEA 2(a)

PEM 9 (b) Mexican Rurale officer
(c) Mexican Rurale Bugler
(d) Mexican Rurale Guidon

The earlier RURALE with sabre listed as PEM 9 is now PEM 9(a).

As before, the figures are available from Peter Johnstone at Spencer Smith Miniatures

Jacklex Pancho Villa range - limbers, Colt machine guns, and motorcycle

2010-06-07T22:32:00.000+01:00

Peter Johnstone has sent the following information aboout further releases in this range:

The codings for these figures are:

AMERICANS

PEA 103 COLT MACHINE GUN £1.25
PEA 104 MG CREW (3 FIGS) 1.35
PEA 105 US MOTOR CYCLIST 1.25
PEA 106 LIMBER WITH RIDERS £7.95

MEXICANS

PEM 103 COLT MG £1.25
PEM 104 MG CREW (3 FIGS) 1.35
PEM 105 LIMBER PLUS RIDERS 7.80

There are a few more figures to follow to complete the range for the time being.

Lamming Medievals: Mounted Figures

2010-05-31T20:54:00.004+01:00

The posts below about the Lamming Medieval mounted figures show the variety which could be achieved through the mixture of heads, helmets, crests and weapons.

The barded horses are very distinctive, being cast in two parts. I am sure this should make them easier to paint but I have still not worked out how best to do this....

I have nearly finished my foot figures (with the exception of 16 bombard gunners with ladles...) and have run out of enthusiasm to do the 50 or so mounted knights I still have to go. I have filled in the time with painting Jacklex Russo Japanese war figures and will come back to these knights in batches later.

Lamming Medievals MC 1 and 2 Mounted Knights with sword and battle axe

2010-05-31T20:52:00.001+01:00

Lamming Medievals Mounted Knights with helmets

2010-05-31T20:51:00.002+01:00

Lamming Medievals Mounted Knights with helms

2010-05-31T20:48:00.001+01:00

Lamming Medievals MC 7 Herald with trumpet

2010-05-31T20:46:00.002+01:00

Awaiting their trumpets...

Lamming Medievals MC8 mounted men at arms

2010-05-31T20:39:00.002+01:00

Two men at arms, with a mounted knight with the bishop's head MF/l

Lamming Medievals: foot figures

2010-05-31T16:58:00.003+01:00

There follow some posts of foot figures from the Lamming medieval range. As I had already glued these to mdf bases I haven't been able to verufy code numbers, so I have done my best to identify the figures from the previously posted B&B Miniatures catalogue (here).

The examples demonstrate some of the head and crest options which were available. As I have refurbished these figures recently, some have weapons which are not original Lamming ones but which have come from other current manufacturers and other sources.

I am reasonably happy with most of the suggested identifications, but of course you may know better.

Lamming Medievals: MF 1 Standing knight with sword and shield

2010-05-31T16:56:00.002+01:00

The two variants (with axe and with mace) are not listed in the B&B catalogue

Lamming Medievals: MF 2 Archer

2010-05-31T16:55:00.001+01:00

Lamming Medievals: MF 3 Man at arms (chain mail) with pike

2010-05-31T16:53:00.002+01:00

I am reasonably confident of this identification. These figures have replacement wire pikes - I believe originally the figures cam with soft metal (and therefore bendy) pikes

Lamming Medievals: MF 4 Man at arms (plate) with halberd

2010-05-31T16:52:00.003+01:00

Lamming Medievals: MF 5 Dismounted Lord with axe and shield

2010-05-31T16:50:00.001+01:00

Lamming Medievals: MF 6 Bombard gunner with ladle

2010-05-31T16:49:00.002+01:00

Lamming Medievals: MF 8 Genoese crossbowman

2010-05-31T16:46:00.002+01:00

I think I have got this (Genoese) and the following (British) crossbowman figures the right way round - I think the Genoese has the squr=arer, and the British the rounder, hat

Lamming Medievals: MF 9 British crossbowman

2010-05-31T16:44:00.002+01:00

This figure comes with a separate right arm on which the crossbow is moulded

Lamming Medievals: MF 9a British pikeman (chain mail)

2010-05-31T16:41:00.002+01:00

It seems to me that this figure must be MF 9a. It is the same figure as the crossbowman, but with a different separate arm. I think perhaps this is a variant as I wouldn't describe the weapon moulded to the arm as a pike.

Lamming Medievals: MF 10 Footman in gambeson with poleaxe

2010-05-31T16:40:00.003+01:00

Lamming Medievals: MF 11 Knight with mace defending

2010-05-31T16:38:00.001+01:00

Lamming Medievals: MF 22 Knight advancing

2010-05-31T16:31:00.002+01:00

These figures came with a metal post on the neck to which you could add your selection of head, including:

great helm
open basinet
closed basinet
flat top crusader helm
round top crusader helm
helm with nasal
barbette
helmet with mail neck guard
bishop
page boy

and others - the list can be viewed at the second catalogue page on this previous post

Both these figures are equipped with Great helms, the figure on the right sporting the bishop's mitre crest.

Lamming Medievals: MF 24 Knight hands upraised

2010-05-31T16:27:00.003+01:00

I am not sure which one of these figures is MF 24 (if either) and if one is, what the other one is....

Lamming Medievals: light foot

2010-05-31T16:24:00.004+01:00

Again, I can't identify the individual figures here with confidence, but I suspect they may include MF 12 peasant open handed, MF 13 unarmoured footman open handed, amd MF 18 serf.

Lamming Medievals: spearmen

2010-05-31T16:21:00.002+01:00

I haven't been able to identify exactly which figure this is but I am reasonably confident it is Lamming

Lamming Medievals Foot Knights illustrating helms

2010-05-31T16:16:00.003+01:00

This picture shows some of the variety of crests which were available to go with knight figures (both foot and mounted) wearing the Great Helm.

Wargames Holiday Centre: Garrison French Infantry Units

2010-05-28T23:00:00.004+01:00

Mike Ingham of the Wargames Holiday Centre in Scarborough has been in touch with photographs of some of the original WHC units used by Peter Gilder, before they were replaced by Hinchliffe and Connoissuer figures.

I have posted the Hinton Hunt units on the Hinton Hunter blog. Here are two rather pretty French units - the 2nd Grenadiers of the Old Guard , and a line infantry unit, which also includes Hinton Hunt command figures.

Jacklex Pancho Villa range - artillery now available

2010-05-25T10:19:00.000+01:00

Peter Johnstone of Spencer Smith Miniatures has been in touch again with pictures of the artillery pieces and crews for this range.

He writes:

I am attaching photos of the artillery pieces for this conflict: the Mexican French 75mm gun and crew and, for the Americans, the Erhardt gun and crew.

As it will take a while to update my website, the codes are:

PEA101 ERHARDT GUN £2.50
PEA102 CREW 1.80

PEM101 75MM GUN 2.50
PEM102 CREW 1.80

More bits to follow.

Please pass on my thanks to those stalwart Jacklex customers who are supporting this new range.

Almark plastic British Infantry and Heavy Weapons sets

2010-05-23T01:01:00.002+01:00

Given the third word in the title of this blog I thought it might be more appropriate to post an old article by Bryan Fosten from Almark's Modelworld magazine from January 1974 on Vintage Wargaming., but I also thought I would signpost it from here, given the interest in the recent post on the metal figures.

John Cross review of Les Higgins 20mm and Jason 30mm figures, Scale Models Magazine September 1970

2010-05-22T19:45:00.003+01:00

I love Les Higgins 20mm figures (now happily available again from John Cunningham), but I also have an extremely soft spot for his Jason range of 30mm English Civil War. Unfortunately I had to sell the few figures I had as I knew I could not do them justice (now painted rather beautifully and adorning another blog). Here is John Cross's review of Les Higgins products in 20mm, and 30mm from Scale Models magazine in September 1970. This predates the 25mm Napoleonic range which was first issued in 1971 and along with the Brian Marlow designed Sudan range.

Almark/Charles Stadden 20mm WW2 figures

2010-05-21T14:48:00.006+01:00

In March 1973 Almark added some lead World War 2 figures designed by Charles Stadden to their two existing sets of plastic British Infantry and British Infantry weapons.

These are very elegant figures which were sold shrink wrapped onto display cards.

An original advert from Almark's Modelworld magazine from May 1973 is shown, together with pictures of some actual figures.

Information on the two plastic sets is available on Plastic Soldier Review:

British Infantry set here

and

British Infantry Weapons here

Garrison FNC 2 Mameluke of the Guard

2010-05-18T13:57:00.003+01:00

Thanks to Will for these figures

Jacklex Pancho Villa range - the guns and equipment

2010-05-18T13:56:00.000+01:00

Peter Johnstone at Spencer Smith Miniatures has let me know that the artillery, machine guns and equipment for this range are now out and available to order. They are listed below (order details as in previous post):

PUNITIVE EXPEDITION IN MEXICO

AMERICANS

ARTILLERY

PEA101 ERHARDT GUN £2.50
PEA102 CREW (4 figs) £1.80
PEA103 COLT MACHINE GUN £1.25
PEA 104 MG CREW (3 FIGS) £1.35
PEA 105 US MOTOR CYCLE PLUS RIDER £1.25

MEXICANS

ARTILLERY

PEM101 75MM GUN £2.50
PEM102 CREW (4) £1.80
PEM103 COLT MG £1.25
PEM104 MG CREW £1.35

Jacklex 35 years on - New Pancho Villa Range

2010-04-28T16:06:00.004+01:00

Peter Johnstone of Spencer Smith Miniatures has been in touch with news of interest to all who love Jacklex figures and were tantalised by the pictures of Jack Alexander's Pancho Villa figures.

Dear 'Old metal detector',

Following earlier postings on this blog regarding Jack Alexander's new range of 'Pancho Villa'(1917) war figures or the American Punitive expedition into Mexico, I am pleased to say that the infantry and cavalry figures are now ready for sale and I am pleased to attached a list of available figures. The artillery pieces: erhardt gun, French 75mm gun, motor cyclist and a US colt machine gun plus limbers will be due very shortly. Jack points out that the Japanese WW1 infantry double nicely as the Mexican regular army figures and the Boer war range of mounted figures are useful extra figures for the American cavalry. Pictures should be up on our website very soon, but you already have some very nice pictures on your blog. Hope you can make mention of this new range. A bit unique, I think. How many soldier makers leave it 35 years before bringing out new figures? I will let you know when I have the rest of the range.

Please ask your members to contact me directly for further information or to place orders via phone/post or website in the usual way.

Peter's Spencer Smith Miniatures web site can be found here

PUNITIVE EXPEDITION IN MEXICO

AMERICANS

INFANTRY

PEA1 ADVANCING
PEA2 FIRING
PEA3 STANDARD BEARER
PEA4 BUGLER, PLUS SEPARATE RIFLE
PEA5 OFFICER FIRING PISTOL
PEA5(a) OFFICER STANDING WITH BINOCULARS

CAVALRY

PEA6 OFFICER WITH PISTOL
PEA7 TROOPER WITH PISTOL
PEA8 TROOPER WITH BUGLE
PEA9 TROOPER, STANDARD BEARER
PEA10 HORSE AT TROT WITH SWORD AND CARBINE TO ATTACH

(All figures cost 45p each except PEA10 which costs 50p)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------MEXICANS

INFANTRY

PEM1 ADVANCING
PEM2 STANDING FIRING
PEM3 KNEELING FIRING
PEM4 FLAG BEARER
PEM5 OFFICER

CAVALRY/ARTILLERY

PEM6 CAVALRY FIRING FROM SADDLE
PEM7 CAVALRY WITH RIFLE
PEM8 FLAG BEARER
PEM9 RURALE (MEXICAN POLICE) WITH SABRE
PEM10 CAVALRY OFFICER WITH PISTOL
PEM11 HORSE (CHARGING)
PEM12 HORSE (TROTTING)

(All figures cost 45p each)

As I have just been painting some Jacklex Russo-Japanese War Japanese infantry I can endorse Peter and Jack's comments on the suitability of these figures to expand the options available.

Lamming Catalogue

2010-04-07T20:00:00.002+01:00

Probably only the Lamming first series Napoleonics (see posts elsewhere) really fall within the scope of this blog, and a full list is available at Vintage20mil.

I was not a fan of the chunkification of the Napoleonics. However, I always had a soft spot for Lamming figures and had an opportunity once a year to buy them from the man himself, at an annual show. While not a fan of the Napoleonics (I did and do like the earlier versions) there was just something about the look of his Normans and Saxons, Vikings, oddly for me Romans, and most of all Medievals, that really appealed. Add to this in many cases separate heads and weapons, and you could achieve variety that was out of the question with other manufacturers.

Obviously this would be a great asset in one-to-one scale games and Lamming published a set of campaign and battle rules by Bill Lamming and T H Houltby. This allowed for exploration, castle building, cattle rustling and all sorts of goodies, backed up by 1/3000 scale medieval cogs.

My little burst of enthusiasm here is due to my trying to work through painting or refurbishing around 200 Lamming medieval figures. My basic painting style particularly falls short with anything requiring heraldry, but a few pictures of figures may appear at a later date to illustrate the listings posted below.

I found it particularly hard to find any resources on line about the Lamming ranges, apart from the history and Napoleonic listings at Vintage 20mil. So when I found a B&B Miniatures catalogue from around the year 2000 I thought it might be helpful to post up the listings of the various ranges, to make them accessible.

As far as I am aware these figures are not currently available.

Lamming Ancients

2010-04-07T19:58:00.002+01:00

Lamming Medievals

2010-04-07T19:55:00.002+01:00

From the B&B Miniatures catalogue, c 2000

Lamming Renaissance and English Civil War

2010-04-07T19:52:00.001+01:00

Lamming Napoleonics

2010-04-07T19:37:00.005+01:00

From the B&B Miniatures catalogue, c 2000

Lamming Horses

2010-04-07T19:35:00.001+01:00

From the B&B Miniatures catalogue, c 2000

Lamming World War 2 list

2010-04-07T19:32:00.002+01:00

From the B&B Miniatures catalogue, c 2000

Pax Britannica

2010-03-27T12:24:00.002Z

In the last few days over on his In the Grand Manner blog Matt has posted scans of an original Pax Britannica catalogue from 1984 (ish) and and the 20mm pages from an RSM/Pax Britannica catalogue from 1986.

Something about Pax Britannica has been on my to do list for a long time (I remember ordering some figures on their first appearance in 1984, while I was living briefly in Bethnal Green, and in common with few others having my cheque cashed but no figures arriving...) Lovely figures though, so hopefully some pictures to come in the future.

Scruby dooby doo

2010-03-14T16:12:00.002Z

I have posted some additional pictures below, all of 25mm Scruby figures. Some of these are taken from the review page of Jack Scruby's Wargamer's Digest magazine from the 1970s; the Crimean figures are the pictures Matt requested.

I have also posted over on my Vintage Wargaming blog an article on a typical day at Scruby Miniatures, from Table Top Talk in September 1965.

Scruby 25mm Crimean War Russian Infantry 3644 and 3646

2010-03-14T15:54:00.003Z

These pictures are of two of the Scruby Crimean War Russian Infantry. 3644 is in Picklehaub helmet and greatcoat, on guard, and 3646 is the firing figure.

Scruby 25mm Napoleonic French Cuirassier - from Wargamer's Digest November 1974

2010-03-14T15:51:00.002Z

This picture appeared in the Pass In Review section of Wargamer's Digest November 1974.

Scruby 25mm American Civil war figures - from Wargames Digest

2010-03-14T15:48:00.003Z

These pictures appeared in the Pass In Review sction of Wargamer's Digest from December 1974

Scruby 25mm Colonial Wars figures - from Wargames Digest

2010-03-14T15:45:00.003Z

These pictures appeared in the Pass In Review section of Wargamer's Digest in January 1975

Scruby Miniatures black and white photos from John C Candler's Miniature Wargames du temps de Napoleon

2010-03-10T23:39:00.002Z

John C Candler self-published this famous set of early wargames rules in 1964 - a little information can be found here in an earlier post on my Vintage Wargaming blog.

The rules are illustrated with black and white pictures of Jack Scruby's 30mm Napoleonics range. I don't know whether the 30mm figures and 25mm figures are the same poses in different sizes, but the pictures are here for interest.

The photographs are attributed to Tom Bookwalter and to Pete Nungesser.

Scruby pictures: Russian Line Infantry in Volley Formation

2010-03-10T23:35:00.003Z

Scruby pictures: Prussians changing from Column to Line

2010-03-10T23:33:00.001Z

Scruby pictures: French Imperial Guard Artillery

2010-03-10T23:32:00.001Z

Scruby pictures: French Horse Artillery

2010-03-10T23:30:00.002Z

Scruby pictures: Prussian Infantry in Line

2010-03-10T23:28:00.002Z

Scruby pictures: Prussian Infantry Square

2010-03-10T23:26:00.001Z

Scruby pictures: French Dragoons, Mamelukes du Garde

2010-03-10T23:24:00.001Z

Scruby pictures: French Dragoons

2010-03-10T23:22:00.001Z

Scruby pictures: French Voltigeurs Legere skirmishing against Prussian Landwehr

2010-03-10T23:20:00.001Z

Scruby pictures: Austrian Grenadiers, Musketeers charging Bavarians

2010-03-10T23:19:00.002Z

Scruby pictures: Prussian and Austrian Cuirassiers charging French Line Infantry

2010-03-10T23:17:00.001Z