Minifigs - MiniMiniFigs - 5mm 'scale' blocks

 Updated 27th December 2025.

I picked up a miscellaneous bunch of old miniatures recently which contained two of these... I had no idea what they were exactly until I was researching further and came across the Wargaming Hermit blog;

https://wargamehermit.blogspot.com/2019/10/minifigs-5mm-miniminifigs-ancients.html

https://wargamehermit.blogspot.com/2017/02/5mm-minifigs-blocks-part-2.html

Lots of images on there of the various types (still no WW2 images found as yet) and, of course, I can only find one of my blocks - possibly 5M 2 French Line Infantry though I could be wrong... they really are very tiny. The range didn't last very long as apparently Neville Dickinson couldn't find anyone to sculpt what he wanted. 

Edit - the original sculptor was a Neil Butcher - does anyone have any other details for him?

Anyway, a few close ups of mine... There's nothing on the base... just checked as I'd forgotten to take a pic!

The listings from my 1972 catalogue...

A short article from Wargamer's Newsletter, No.122, May 1972 by Peter Gouldesbrough

As always leave a comment or if you've anything to sell or trade please email me on enquiries@deartonyblair.co.uk

Wargaming Personalities of the 70's

 

These images are taken from Wargamer's Newsletter No. 145 and 146. I don't own the original images (just the magazines!) and are just posted for awareness. I've added links to some pages where found rather than have me whitter away.

Peter Gilder and Don Featherstone

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Featherstone_(wargamer)

https://petergilderalifeinwargaming.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-battle-interview-in-1978.html

'Images of Wargaming'

Eric W.Knowles

https://awargamingodyssey.blogspot.com/2017/12/eric-knowles-rip.html

Terry Wise

https://steve-the-wargamer.blogspot.com/2010/08/terry-wise.html

Roger Moores

Can't find a decent link... let me know if you have one!

Neville Dickinson of Minifigs fame... apparently still wargaming away.

Phil Barker

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Barker

Tony Bath

https://www.soa.org.uk/joomla/about-us/14-our-founder

Thought they might be of interest!

Phoenix Models 25mm Ancients - 1973

 

I managed to find these in one of my old boxes... still surprisingly pristeen after these years.

The info snippet below is c/o John Cunningham at http://www.vintagewargamingfigures.info/rblack/

Mettoy mentioned in the text was an old toy company based in Northampton;

https://www.brightontoymuseum.co.uk/index/Category:Mettoy

‘A new Ancient range of Persians and Greeks was also produced, designed by Steve Farmer another Mettoy denizen ("They didn’t pay much at Mettoy," Marlow recalls, "and designing the figures to go with the James Bond Aston Martin wasn’t exactly a challenge. I think everyone was desperate to get out"). This latter range was released in January 1973 and made up of Greeks and Persians.’

The Ancient World (500-320 BC)

All figures designed by Steve Farmer.

AW/1 Greek javelinman [this figure is actually a spear armed hoplite]

AW/2 Greek warrior with short sword [Hoplite with cloak]

AW/3 Thracian Peltast [with oval shield and rhomphaia]

AW/4 Cretan archer

AW/5 Greek cavalryman with sword

AW/6 Persian archer

AW/7 Persian infantryman (Cardaces)

AW/8 Persian slinger

AW/9 Persian Anatolian spearman

AW/10 Dahae horse archer

(Javelins and spears were not included with packs)

The baggies below are in Phoenix attire, I have some of the earlier Les Higgins pike and shot era historicals which I'll post at some point if there is interest.

A nice old ad from either Military Modelling or Model World... I was reading both last night so could have been from either.

Phoenix Miniatures became Phoenix Model Developments Ltd at some point and had a short lived slightly larger scaled ancient range featuring the Roman Imperial Army. I've never seen these in the flesh unfortunately and would love to get some examples... hint hint!

Please leave comments below or, if you've any trade goods give me a shout of enquiries@deartonyblair.co.uk

Games Day 1983

 

A jolly pile of goodies popped through my letterbox a little while back (thanks Rob!) including this old prog. 1983 marked the 7th or 8th Games Day - there was a Northern Games Day up here in Manchester as well (see prog pic at the bottom) so there may have been more? Anyway, they started in December 1975 at the Seymour Hall in London and went from strength to strength!

Enjoy!

Northern Games Day, my neck of the woods. There were a few shows back in the day, Northern Militaire being a great one.

There are more Games Day posts if you hits the tag listing on the right.

As always do leave a comment or shoot me an email enquiries@deartonyblair.co.uk

Minifigs Space Warriors Range - The Zarquin Alien Force

Edit 8th September 2025 - Combat 3000 details added at the bottom. Thanks to Pete Brown!

This sci fi range was released in April 1979 and sculpted by Pete Manning. I'm just popping this one part on for now, will get the rest another time. I'm sure I read something about a ruleset in the works at the time but I could be wrong. A nice insectoid race although the minis had a tendency to snap at the thorax/waist section. I was sorting a set out for a friend so thought it was worth posting.

SW23 Trooper with Heavy Lazer Advancing

SW24 Trooper with Axe and Radiation Shield

SW25 Trooper with Heavy Anti-Matter Grenade Projector

SW26 Zarquin Captain

SW27 Trooper in space with Heavy Lazer and Jet Pack

SW28 Robot

It was a nice little range of slightly different aliens for the time. Dave at Caliver Books is bringing them all back to life of course... link below (can't link direct for some reason, it never seems to work) - follow the left side all the way down to Classic Fantasy & Sci Fi Ranges. Tell him I sent you of course!

http://www.miniaturefigurines.co.uk/Home.aspx

Pete Brown (he of The Mouldmaker and The Assault Group) remembered the name being used in the old Combat 3000 ruleset. I dug my copy out and, lo and behold, they are there! Further Combat 3000 posts linked below as well.

http://www.deartonyblair.co.uk/search/label/Combat%203000

Any thoughts etc leave a comment below or email me on enquiries@deartonyblair.co.uk