Monday, 12 March 2012

Back to Heritage John Carter minis!


I thought I would show some of the mighty green martians from the Heritage range......the camera should be working soon so I will be posting more pics. 

1505 Tars Tarkus, Jeddak of Thark 


1515 Green Martian Warhoon Warrior


1516 Green Martian with Radium Rifle


1514 Green Martian Thark Swordsmen


and then to finish off with some of the other deadly fauna of Mars.....

1528 Plantmen of the Valley Dor


 1529 Apt


1531 White Ape of Barsoom


Apparently the film has not done so well in the US.......still haven't seen it yet as I have been working night shifts......Thursday is now booked though....looking forward to it! 

By the way, if anyone is looking to get rid of any old lead please contact me on dave.sabs@ntlworld.com as I am always looking to fill the large gaps in my collection!

Tuesday, 6 March 2012

Hinchliffe Models Martian Range


Well, Hinchliffe Models were one of the main English wargaming mini companies of the 70s and early 80s. Their move into the SF and F genre was never, I believe, a totally serious one as they were historical designers at heart however I love the old school styles and they are a necessary addition to any serious collector.......sculpted by the late Peter Gilder (who started his career in the 60s whilst working as a pie-machine salesman)....see Vintage 20mil on Miniature Figurines history

On to the range itself...............

SF10 was possibly the figure for John Carter himself......                                         
                                                                             



SF11 was a Martian Princess so the incomparable Dejah Thoris takes form once again.......


SF8 Green Martian.... striking terror into all who beheld....


SF17 Green Martian mounted on Thoat


All these pics are mine and more (including other contributors) are on the Lost Minis WIKI. If anyone happens to know which sculpt sits in for SF15 please let me know......

19th July 2012 - late addition to this page is from the 1976 Hinchliffe Handbook;


enquiries@deartonyblair.co.uk

Sunday, 4 March 2012

John Carter Warlord of Mars




With the movie being released next week (March 9th) I thought I would post a few pics and details about the old Heritage licensed range from the early 80s. Sculpted by Max Carr they really capture how I pictured the characters when I first read the books back in the 70s. Some of the sculpts are a little basic by todays standards but that is what I love about old school minis. (BTW, Max is doing some great stuff at his new company, Barony Miniatures) 


Code 1503 contained the man himself and the incomparable Dejah Thoris......




The listing included a number of unreleased minis which may or may not have been sculpted before the licence was lost....one day we may find the unreleased 'greens'...


25mm Range

1503 John Carter, Warlord of Mars - Dejah Thoris, Princess of Mars & Kantos Kan plus Diorama Nameplate
1504 John Carter mounted on Thoat with Dejah Thoris and Woola
1505 Tars Tarkus, Jeddak of Thark
1506 Cathoris of Helium and Thuvia, Maid of Mars with Gahan and Llana of Gathol
1507 Issus, Goddess of Death upon her throne and Matai Shang, Father of Therns with the Holy Altar of Doom
1508 Ras Thavas, Mastermind of Mars and Princess Tara of Helium with Ulysses Paxton and Valla Dia
1509 Solon of Okar & Dator Thurid of the Black Pirates w Than Kosis, Jeddak of Zodanga & Tul Axtar of Jahar
1510 Phor Tak, Mad Jaharian Scientist Inventor of the Flying Death & Ur Jan, Assassin of Mars w 2 Mercenary Panthans
1511 Red Martian Swordsmen of Mars (3 each of 2 types)
1512 Martians with Radium weapons (3 each of 2 types)
1513 Martian Command Group
1514 Green Martian Thark Swordsman
1515 Green Martian Warhoon Warrior
1516 Green Martian with Radium Rifle
1517 Black Pirates of Barsoom - the Firstborn (3 each of 2 types)
1518 Yellow Martians - the Men of Okar (3 each of 2 types)
1519 White Martians - The Holy Therns (3 each of 2 types)
1520 Kaldanes of Barsoom - individual and upon Rykors
1521 Sythetic Men of Mars (3 each of 2 types)
1522 Orovars - Horz and Lotharians with Bowmen
1523 The Masena (Catmen) of the Thurian Moon
1524 Morgors (Skeleton Men) of Jupiter
1525 Red Martians mounted on Domestic Thoats Unreleased?
1526 Green Martian Thoat Rider Unreleased?
1527 Green Martian (Giant) Thoat Unreleased?
1528 Plantmen of the Valley Dor
1529 Banth and Apt
1530 Malagor with Synthetic Man Rider Unreleased?
1531 White Ape of Barsoom
1532 Zitadar with Red Martian Mahout Unreleased?
1533 Green Martian Chariot (Cart) for Zitidar Unreleased?
1534 Giant Martian Lizard
1535 Great Barsoomian Sader Unreleased?
1536 Rapid-Fire Radium Cannon w Operator and Radium Cannon w Crew (2)
1537 Ten-Man Scout Flyer Unreleased?

Martian Airships

1538 Scout Flyers (various sizes) Unreleased?
1539 Cruisers (light and heavy) Unreleased?
1540 Battleships & Battlecruisers Unreleased?
1541 Dreadnaughts & Transports Unreleased?

75mm Collector Figurines

1500 John Carter, Warlord of Mars
1501 Dejah Thoris, Princess of Mars
1502 Tars Tarkus, Jeddak of Thark



The range was supported by 2 books...



Check out most of the range on the Lost Minis WIKI

Thursday, 1 March 2012

Games Workshop Display Piece...........


In April 1978 Games Workshop opened their first shop in Dalling Road, Hammersmith, London. I visited the store the following year after being rescued by my Uncle Peter having tried very unsuccessfully to hitch back from Reading festival.......it was a joy to behold and I remember getting a few Minifigs Valley of the Four Winds figures......that was my budget blown. The displays of Archive and Der Kriegspielers were very tempting however totally outside my finances......they having been subbed by my Uncle at the request of my dad. God Bless you Uncle Pete....I hope you got it all back.

A few years ago I managed to pick up what is apparently a display piece from Dalling Road - slightly out of focus pictures unfortunately - our camera has died so I cannot retake them for the time being - this is a hefty pieces about 5" tall and cast, not a one off sculpt which makes it all the more mysterious. It is very Cthulhuesque but no markings anywhere - I keep being tempted to strip it to check if anything has been painted over.......if anyone has any knowledge of this piece please let me know!



As as note on this a couple of Frothers and LAF members have id'd this as a Heroes Miniatures GH50 The Ultimate Horror.............pics will be posted once I have a new camera!

http://www.miniatures-workshop.com/lostminiswiki/index.php?title=The_Nightmare_World_of_Monstrous_Evil


Monday, 27 February 2012

Heresy Miniatures Dragon


Andy at Heresy Miniatures has spent the last couple of thousand years sculpting what must be the ultimate dragon.......I was lucky to hold a cast metal head at Hammerhead recently and it was only reluctantly that I gave it him back! The theory is the dragon will be cast in resin but he is experimenting with metal to speed up production. I am number 125 in the queue with 108 to go as of last September...............

Take a look at the Heresy website for more info....

Back in 1983 Michael Perry (now of GW and Perry Miniatures fame) sculpted the ultimate dragon at the time....24" wingspan and 24" long.........I had one for a short while but sold it for beer money back then.....doh! It went for the princely sum of £49.50 when released.......now it tends to get around £1500+



A big difference in style to the early days of lead as shown by the Der Kriegspieler's large dragon from the first ever Games Workshop figure catalogue...this being pre-Citadel!



Sunday, 26 February 2012

Old School Fantasy Miniatures


A Yahoo Group dedicated to old school minis headed up by Scott Burnley. We are releasing a journal 3 times a year under the name of 'Old School Fantasy Miniatures Amatuer Press Association'......shortened to OSFMapa for ease of use. Currently 8 members and on the lookout for more - please visit the Yahoo Group at;


First journal has just been released with articles by all members.



Foundry Chaos Dwarves

A couple more pics.............looks like it could be a nice range depending on the scu



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Couple of Wayne England sketches previewing an upcoming Foundry range??




Comments etc as usual to; enquiries@deartonyblair.co.uk