Minifigs S Range Assyrians and Ancient Horses

 

Updated 19th December 2025

The next installment... I do need single examples of the ones that are missing please! These were produced from 1968 as far as we can work out. The sculptor was probably Dick Higgs. There appears to different names associated with the codes so there may have been resculpts going on.

Quote from Vintage Wargaming;

These figures first appeared in autumn 1966. In 1968 when the S range ancient figures were launched the 20mm figure selection was renamed the JonBee range in honour of the designer John Braithwaite. They disappeared shortly afterwards possibly because Braithwaite had launched his own Garrison range.

Infantry

AA 1 Noble, full mail, firing bow / AA 1s Assyrian officer

(AA1 on the base)

AA 2s Assyrian Standard Bearer

?

AA 3 Light infantry throwing spear

?

AA 4s Assyrian Heavy Archer Firing Bow

AA 5 Light archer firing bow

?

AA 6s Assyrian Heavy Slinger

AA 7s Light spearman with Shield Advancing

AA 8 Light archer

?

AA 9 Light swordsman

?

AA 10 Standard bodyguard swordsman

?

AA 11 Standard bodyguard clubman

?

AA 12s Assyrian Heavy Spearman Charging

AA 13 Assyrian charioteer

?

AA 15s Assyrian Medium Archer

AA 16s Assyrian Javelinman

AA 17s Assyrian Wicker Shield

?

Cavalry

Please note my examples are later seperate castings, the originals were one piece which they phased out early on.

AAC 1s Assyrian Lancer

One piece casting I believe... let me know if I've got the wrong manufacturer but I think it's correct as it's very similar to Pascal's image below.

AAC 2s Assyrian Horse Archer

AAC 3s Assyrian or Parthian Half Armoured Cataphract

Images of the original one piece castings are c/o Pascal Mahe. I need these!

AAC 4s Assyrian Chariot

1972 catalogue image... I have the oxen somehow!

Listings and id compiled via the 1972/73 catalogues, Wargamer's Newsletter and also;

https://www.planetdiecast.com/index.php?option=com_zoo&task=category&category_id=362&Itemid=2579&page=5

http://www.vintagewargamingfigures.info/rblack/minilist20.htm

https://minifigssrange.blogspot.com/

All credit to them both. More research required to fill the gaps!

Wargamer's Newsletter May 1968 ad introducing the 'Special' or S range...

Cavalry Horses 25mm "S" Range

Ancient Period

ACH 1s Half Armoured Cavalry Horse

ACH 2s Fully Armoured Cataphract Horse

ACH 3s Ancient Britain Chariot Horse (inscribed ACH IIIs)

ACH 4s Eqyptian Chariot Horse

ACH 5s Ancient Cavalry Horse Trotting

ACH 6s Ancient Cavalry Horse Cantering

ACH 7s Ancient Cavalry Horse Galloping

ACH 8s Half Armoured Cataphract Horse for Sassanid

?

ACH 9s Chariot horse

?

Camels

Camel 1s Dromedary Trotting - further below being ridden by PBC35 Camel Rider

Here gallanty sprouting a war wounded missing tail...

Camel 1 on both the underside and top of the base...

Later version missing the s.

Camel 2s Bactrian Trotting

Camel 3s armoured dromedary

?

Camel 4... need to find a catalogue listing. CAMEL 4 inscribed under the base.

Artillery - Animals - 25mm "S"Range

NFAH 1s Limber Horse

?

NFAH 2s Pack Horse

?

NFAH 3s Ox

Unknown (so far) oxen... OXEN 1 (possibly not Minifigs?)

Unknown mule... no markings

Please leave a comment or two or even contact me on enquiries@deartonyblair.co.uk

Minifigs JonBee Ancient Greeks - possibly!

 Edit - updated 1st April 2026

Back in the dawn of time (mid 60's), in the early days of Miniature Figurines John Braithwaite, who later formed the machine behind Garrison Miniatures wargame figures, sculpted a number of historical pieces for Neville Dickinson in that currently popular 20mm scale that would allow their use alongside Airfix figures. It has to be said that a lot of the JonBe minis were possibly derived from converting said Airfix minis... The JonBee listing is taken from the wonderful Parumpugna blog, a veritable goldmine of old school joy.

https://parumpugna.blogspot.com/2013/01/jonbee-20mm-listing.html

As and when we can get confimation of the minis origins they wll be added to the Lost Minis WIKI;

https://www.miniatures-workshop.com/lostminiswiki/index.php?title=JohnBee

Greeks AGr 1 Officer throwing spear

AGr 2 Hoplite advancing with spear

AGr 3 Hoplite charging with spear

AGr 4 Phalanx hoplite with long spear

AGr 5 Light archer firing bow

AGr 6 Macedonian phalangite

AGr 7 Peltast

AGr 8 Spartan hoplite throwing spear

AGr 9 Slinger with shield

AGrC 1 Mounted spearman with shield

Very few of the below minis have codes, this seemingly was a later thing however I've added what codes there are (some of which were added in en by their previous owner. If you know what everything is please comment below or email me! These came together in a lovely job lot so some may be other manufacturers?

AGr 1 Officer throwing spear

?

AGr 1s Greek officer

AGr 2 Hoplite advancing with spear

?

AGr 3 Hoplite charging with spear

?

AGr 4 Phalanx hoplite with long spear

?

AGr 5 Light archer firing bow

AGr 6 Macedonian phalangite

?

AGr 7 Peltast

AGr 8s Spartan hoplite throwing spear

(a different version...)

AGr 9 Greek slinger with shield

AGrC 1s Greek cavalryman

ACH5s

Below are unknown / other manufacturers

G10 and G11 (possibly early Warrior Miniatures)

No markings

No markings

AG2 (a Lamming figure, not minifigs)

Any thoughts etc please leave a comment or giveme a shout on enquiries@deartonyblair.co.uk