Discovery: Les Higgins Subscription Figures

In an earlier post I mentioned the earlier Les Higgins ECW figures which were available on subscription. From Richard via John C of 20mm Nostalgic Reveival I have received this image of a letter from Les Higgins which accompanied the fulfiilment of an order for these figures. It may not be a complete list (the order may not have included examples of all the figures available) but it is the first time I have seen anything approaching a list for these figures, so I thought it would be useful to post it here and also on Vintage Wargaming.

In case the photo is hard to decipher (it is not a scan) here is the list:

English Civil War

Royalist

King Charles I with cloak
Royalist fencing (with cloak)
Royalist fencing
Cavalier standing
Cavalier for horse

Parliamentarian

Oliver Cromwell
Walking Roundhead
Roundhead fencing in low position
Roundhead fencing standing

Universal figures

Running musketeer
Musketeer shooting
Officer doffing hat
Pikeman standing
Pikeman receiving
Pikeman at push
Musketeer, gun on shoulder
Running figure
Trooper for horse

Other Periods

Guthram 878 AD with cloak
Grenadier 1742
Queens Cameron Highlander


Guthrum was a Dane who first defeated and then surrendered to King Alferd at the Battle of Chippenham in 878 AD. This figure is almost certainly the one posted last week by Harry P here on his Parum Pugna blog.

Napoleonic Units: Les Higgins French Foot Dragoons

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.

Napoleonic Units: Les Higgins British Light Dragoons

Les Higgins Napoleonics

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

The Battle of the Bernebeu

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

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

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.

Figures avaialble for Marlborough's Wars, by Brian Lyndon, Military Modelling May 1972

Unbeatable - Charles Grant reviews Les Higgins 25mm line in Military Modelling April 1972

NOTICE: Les Higgins and Douglas Miniatures Figure Availability

Important news for collectors or wargamers using figures from these two manufacturers.

The Les Higgins English Civil War and Marlburian Ranges, and the Douglas Miniatures Marlburian Range, are now available again by contacting Cunn.Joh@aol.com

Wodensfield 20mm Seven Years War French figures will be available as a 36 piece set from the same source at the end of February.

There will be a small number of additional figures released for the Les Higgins English Civil War and Marlburian ranges shortly, and the Douglas Miniatures Crimean Range are currently being mastered.

Along with the efforts of Rob at Garrison and Angel at NapoleoN, this promises to be something of a Golden Age for the availability of new casts of old ranges.

Phoenix Catalogue and Handbook c1976: Les Higgins 25mm Napoleonic Range painting instructions

Phoenix Model Developments Catalogue: Les Higgins 25mm Napoleonic Range

This listing from a Phoenix Model Developments catalogue of 1976 shows the full range including the additional figure sculpted by Tim Richards after Les Higgins death, and therefore additional to the listing in the Les Higgins catalogue shown in another post

Les Higgins 25mm French Napoleonic Range - Cavalry FN 33 Cuirassier mounted

No picture of this figure is available at present

Les Higgins 25mm French Napoleonic Range - Cavalry FN 32 Dragoon Trumpeter mounted

No picture of this figure is available at present

Les Higgins 25mm French Napoleonic Range - Cavalry FN 31 Dragoon Officer mounted

No picture of this figure is available at present

Les Higgins 25mm French Napoleonic Range - Cavalry NF30 Dragoon Trooper mounted

Les Higgins 25mm British Napoleonic Range - Horse Artillery Crew

These figures (no picture available at present) were sculpted by Tim Richards to help complete the range after Les Higgins's death. Richards also did a French Horse artillery crew, some French and British cvalary types, and a much sought after British Line infantry command group, comprising officer, ensign and drummer.The officer figure is much more animated than the usual stylised pose. It seems possible that a counterpart French Line infantry command group may have been planned, but to the best of my knowledge no such set was ever produced. I do have some pictures of some French Horse artillery in shakos, which I will try to post at a later date.

Les Higgins 25mm British Napoleonic Range - Cavalry BN29 Heavy Dragoon Trooper mounted

No picture of this figure is currently available

Les Higgins 25mm British Napoleonic Range - Cavalry BN28 Household Cavalry Trooper mounted

No picture of this figure (sculpted by Tim Richards) is currently available

Les Higgins 25mm British Napoleonic Range - Cavalry BN27 Scots Grey Officer mounted

No picture of this figure (sculpted by Tim Richards after Les Higgins's death) is currently available.

Les Higgins 25mm British Napoleonic Range - Cavalry BN26 Scots Grey Trooper mounted

No picture of this figure is available at present. It is one of those sculpted by Tim Richards after the death of Les Higgins