Well, it's almost that time again so, from both Arya and myself, here's wishing you all a very seriously Merry Christmas!
May 2021 be the start of a much improved decade!
The Little Soldier Company
Thursday 17 December 2020
Tuesday 15 December 2020
1976 Battle for Wargamers Magazines wanted...
Well, I was sorting out cupboards and came across a bunch of my old magazines... along with the realisation that I'm missing loads... grrrr. I don't think I have any from 1976 and am missing a bunch from 1977... if you have any to trade please let me know!
These are the only pics I could find off the old t'internet...
Saturday 12 December 2020
Dwarven Bar Room Brawl - Kickstarter now live...
Well, it's been a long time coming but I've finally launched the dwarf bar room brawl Kickstarter...
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1896378744/bar-room-brawl-rpg-miniatures-for-tavern-skirmishing
All the figures are sculpted by the renowned John Pickford with the illustration by the wonderful Martin Buck.
It's already hit the target so if it keeps climbing I'll commission some more pieces.
It'd be great if people could share the link.
Saturday 28 November 2020
Hinchliffe Calder Craft Robin Hood Adventure Game
Well, I managed to pick up a copy of game at last... there were actually two copies up on evil bay, I put an offer in that was accepted and the other hit £28. Plus postage of course... I was charged £8.75 but it was sent second class signed for at £4.10... I await a response from the seller! Very pleased to have it though. The box was a little the worse for wear however the components are all fine. The miniatures are, as expected, very basically painted but old school has no better love than poorly painted figs...
If you click the link it'll take you to all the Calder Craft posts regarding the Robin Hood booklet and minis.
http://www.deartonyblair.co.uk/search/label/Calder%20Craft
As always; enquiries@deartonyblair.co.uk
Tuesday 24 November 2020
Oldhammer Tenoch range expanded... the Dead God arrives!
Well, some new releases in the run up to the festive season... hopefully the New Year will let us turn a corner of this rather Nurglesque 2020!
The Dead God, eater of souls and the blood of children... sculpted by Kev Adams with the throne sculpted by Philip Page. Cast in resin for a change.
https://thelittlesoldiercompany.co.uk/oldhammer-miniatures-by-kev-adams
There will be an option for the Dead God on a palanquin shortly... here accompanying the Tenoch Overlord on his travels through the Culhuacan swamps.
Mounted Shaman, priest of the Dead God...
Mounted Warrior with blowpipe... a deadly troop in massed charges...
There are now 4 mounted Tenoch in the range...
Final new release of the Tenoch spawn, Tochlings... 6 metal or resin bundles of joy to invade the dreams of the unwary...
Plenty of Enhanced Warriors now...
Along with their Tenoch masters...
Back to old school soon but please spread the word in the meantime!
Saturday 26 September 2020
Minifigs ME39 Giant - 1973 or 1974? Oldhammer eat your heart out...
Well, I seem to have caught an old school bug again following on from my last post of the ME Goblins... this is my first attempt at tartan and will possibly be my last... I've tried to make him look slightly more 'menacing' than the sculpt appears...
Most of Minifigs fantasy lines are on the Lost Minis WIKI here and, of course, Dave at Caliver Books is doing his best to bring them back to life;
(scroll down the left hand side until you come to 'Classic Fantasy & Sci-Fi Ranges'... unfortunately a direct link doesn't work for some reason.
Many thanks to the Figure Mentors site for the tartan tutorial... well worth a visit;
https://figurementors.com/tutorial/a-step-by-step-for-painting-tartan-patterns/
Any comments or criticisms please post below and, whilst your at it, if you haven't joined the site please follow me (top left) and become a non-political Politico! Also, if you scroll down on the right hand site of the site and look under 'labels' there are all sorts of old posts to look at.
Tuesday 22 September 2020
Beginnings of fantasy - Minifigs ME Goblins, Oldhammer and some history...
Well, back in the dawn of time... around July 1973 we think (I had thought 1972 but appear to be out by a year...), Minifigs released the start of possibly the earliest fantasy range for wargamers - Middle Earth of course. If you know of any earlier dates for them please comment below or email me. Still trying to find out how early the American Jack Scruby fantasy range was... Dick Higgs was the designer and he sculpted in solder... giving reason to the angular quality of their sculpts - see him in action here.
24th September 2020 - note the edited additional pics at the bottom
Note the COMING SOON section at the bottom (Military Modelling, July 1973)
A who's who of Minifigs from earlier in 1973...
In the September 1973 Military Modelling, there was the first hint of interest via the letters column...
It wasn't until November 1973 that Minifigs put an advertisement for the Middle Earth range, they also got the dragon on the front page... a first for fantasy!
Note they didn't give the range a title... it was eventually to become 'Mythical Earth'... possibly due to a C&D from the Tolkien estate (much like the changing on the Sword & Sorcery range later losing their Conan descriptions)...
ME15 Mounted Goblin with Axe
ME16 Mounted Goblin with Sword
ME50 Goblin with Sword & Shield although missing the lovely pointed ears...
The rest of the range can be seen here.
Now, one of the fathers of fantasy wargaming and all round nice guy, Rick Priestley, pointed out that these were the influence behind the later Citadel range of lesser goblins...
The Citadel Journal sketch shows 9 variants however I seem to have 10... looks to be the one walking with his bow on the right hand side at the back below. Sculpted by Michael and Alan Perry .
This figure started this little journey... I received him as part of a small job lot however he had a broken spear. I chopped off all the original spear remnants, drilled out his hand and, after a little tidying up, armed him with a small wire spear.... please note that these things are dangerous!
Finally, a pic of them all. I think they work quite well together...
A few other Minifigs bits from 1973 which might be of interest... there are various blogs out there with more info. Get your deerstalkers on and join in the fun!
Don't forget that Dave at Caliver Books is slowly releasing most of the old Minifigs ranges... Link here - scroll all the way down the left hand side till you hit 'Classic Fantasy & Sci-Fi Ranges'
Edit; courtesy of Nick Elsden, Airfix Magazine review from August 1973...
Text cropped and enlarged for ease of reading...
As always enquiries@deartonyblair.co.uk
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