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

Phoenix Models - risen from the flames so to speak......

Well, I just picked up a couple of Phoenix Miniatures larger scale 'Bolgs'. Two of the A17 Female Bolg to be exact. I then did a search and found that Forty-Third Limited have re-released the full range along with a lot of the 1/43 railway items. 

Edit; now available from S&D Models https://www.sanddmodels.co.uk/products_32_fantasy.htm

 I remember well the excitement of seeing this range develop back in the day although it was mostly out of my price range. I've since got quite a few and they really are most excellent sculpts by the late Tim Richards.

 Phoenix Model Developments themselves are still going strong of course although they concentrate of doll's house items these days although still superbly sculpted ones. There's a little bit of their history here.

 

Also, for those into the old 'Follies' range, they are available here!

Tell them I sent you!

enquiries@deartonyblair.co.uk

Salute and stuff from the 70s...I was just becoming aware of the hobby...

Salute 1973...the 2nd one held I believe as 2012 was the 40th Anniversary. 

Later in the year the South London Warlords at a show in Aldershot....Dave Rotor umpiring....

and the Duke of Wellington talking to the legend that was/is Peter Gilder...

1974 Salute held at the Regent Centre Hotel...

Back to 1973 and Phoenix were rising.....nowadays their molds have scattered to various casters and, although they seem to be going strong, they only manufacture doll's house pieces. Very nice dolls house pieces mind. Link here.

Beautiful 1974 colour advertisement for Hinchliffe models....

Minifigs liked to keep at the forefront of the hoby, introducing new products and scales...

The first 'proper' ad for (possibly...Jack Scruby vies for attention here.....) the first fantasy range.....1974 although it was introduced earlier....

Various Peter Laing advertisements. I was put off 15mm when I first recieved a sample...mainly by the fact I couldn't work out what it was meant to be....that would have been about 1975. How we change.....the molds and sculpts have long gone although they are being chased by various very keen hobbyists.

Just discovered a great Peter Laing blog; http://wargamehermit.blogspot.co.uk/

Not forgetting the fantasy of course, I have 2 copies of this old Asgard Miniatures Dragon, both missing the forked tongue. Possibly easy enough to replicate out of putty but that is not the type of game I play.....if anyone has a spare???

Also found my old copy of the 1979 graphic novel 'Jewel in the Skull'. Eureka Miniatures have started releasing licenced minis for this at long last. Previously the only ones available were some of the characters in the Jes Goodwin classic boxed set by Citadel.

As usual; enquiries@deartonyblair.co.uk