Miniature Figurines Magazine 'Minimag' Volume 1, Number 4...

Some spare time whilst the hound sleeps so I've got the second copy of the magazine up. It would be nice to get hold of more of these, if only to record them for posterity... please let me know if you have any and can scan them or lend them to me to do so. Thank you.

Previous copy below or click here.

enquiries@deartonyblair.co.uk

Miniature Figurines Magazine 'Minimag' Volume 1, Number 2...

Produced around 1971, this is a little piece of old school miniatures' history. With a foreword by the founder and director Neville Dickinson, it starts with an interesting story of their printer going bankrupt... and the fact that the printer had mistakenly produced 1000 copies of the first issue when they had only ordered 500... they sold most of the 1000... a sure sign of the early growth of the hobby. Miniature Figurines were one of the most prolific of the early pioneers of wargaming founded in 1964. This issues includes a painting article by the renowned Dick Higgs, unfortunately it's the second part so I'll need to somehow find a copy of issue one. Miniature Figurines are still going strong of course, having been bought in 2009 by Caliver Books. Dave Ryan is slowly getting all the old figures back in production including, to my delight, the fantasy ranges... he also keep finding mysterious pieces that weren't released back in the day... keep 'em coming Dave.

Also there is a much later mystery Minifigs' sculpt that is possibly a tribute to a surfing movie hero... any thoughts?

Please leave comments below and maybe sign onto the blog and become a 'Politico'... make me feel wanted.

enquiries@deartonyblair.co.uk

Politicopoly - it's a Brexit nightmare!

Well, we all know I don't do politics but sometimes you have to nudge the boat... Bob Olley sculpts for the Politicos range from The Little Soldier Company

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1896378744/politicopoly-its-a-brexit-nightmare

It has already hit its low funding goal so if it does keep going I may commission a stretch goal or two...thoughts? John Bercow? Nelson Mandela? George Bush?

Any shares or promotion appreciated folks!

enquiries@deartonyblair.co.uk

Dragontooth Personalites - P41 Halfling Magician

Well, in an effort to find my hobby mojo I decided to tackle this little guy. A Tom Loback sculpt from the P range of personalities - mostly supplied as a mounted and foot version, the exception being; 

P1 Wizard, Ranger & Dwarf King

P2 Goblin Captains

P3 Pegasi (Winged Horses)

P4 Hippogriff & Unicorn

P5 Saurian Capt. & Champions

P6 Superhero & Superheroine

P7 Dungeon Feast

P7 Dungeon Feast (an 'interesting' Mike Gilbert sculpt) was retired and replaced by the first of the duo sets, Adventurer or Thief.

There are 51 codes in the range so 45 of these duos to collect...I'm still missing P42 Elfin Thief or Adventurer, P43 Celtic Wizard, P48 Celtic Warrior Prince and P50 Dwarf Warrior in Chainmail so if you have any of them to trade or sell please let me know. The full range can be seen here.

Tom sculpting in wax using a paint brush which gives his characters of lot of ebb and flow in their movement. I am totally addicted to his work of course....

Still needs varnishing of course but it was a thoroughly enjoyable set to paint. 

As always; enquiries@deartonyblair.co.uk

Asgard Miniatures Robin Hood and Maid Marian

I was looking for some wargaming minis for a friend who likes Robin Hood and happened to come across these 2 larger scale beauties on eBay... they weren't described as Asgard but they looked very old school and not 'giftware'. They have since been confirmed as Stan Pockron sculpts by Paul Sulley... Asgard being founded by Bryan Ansell, Steven Fitzwater and Paul back in 1976 until going out of business early to mid 1980's. A number of the sculpts are now produced by both The Viking Forge in America and Alternative Armies in the UK.

Most Asgard Miniatures are pictured on the Lost Minis WIKI.

I first came across them in this old Model Soldier Magazine for August 1978... in fact, my good friend Tony Yates just told me that the skeleton picture was his first published artwork! History in the making.

And on to the figures...

As always; enquiries@deartonyblair.co.uk