A Look at Vintage Wargaming Figures.

 This spiel is just to point would be SYW/Vintage type gamers in the right [ my opinion] direction.

  There doesn't seem to be a week goes by where some brave enterprising soul isn't releasing a new range of wargames figures, vehicles or buildings for the enthusiast to swoon over. Every period, every nation, real or otherwise is catered for. There has never been a better time to be a wargamer.

 However I sometimes wonder who the figures are actually aimed at. Just how many ranges of French Napoleonic figures does a person actually need? How many times do you need to update you're units, just because the latest figures are even better than the last? To me it all smacks of a Games Workshop type of mentality, and I do collect Warhammer figures so I'm not bashing that company. 

All are good, some are truly wonderful, however replacing your old units with the new improved ones are not only expensive but it is very time consuming.

 It should be noted that I have been wargaming for over forty years and like virtually every other gamer of that experience I progressed from Airfix figures to 25mm metal figures and then onwards ,ad infintum.

Three years ago I set out on a journey of re discovery and returned to my wargaming roots.

I decided that I wanted to fight with a simple set of rules, pushing around large wargaming units, and I wanted it to be fun with a capital 'F'.

I identified my aims as;

1] Simple but accurate rules.

2] Colourful armies.

3] Large units.

I also wanted to fight a period that I hadn't done before.

I opted for the Seven Years War, a period of beautiful uniforms and numerous battles.

There are several very good ranges of figures on the market, but I wanted my armies to contain figures from a by gone age. I opted for the ranges produced , by the late Peter Gilder ie. Hinchliffe and Steve Hezzlewood,ie .Pax Brittanica/RSM.

 Hinchliffe are now owned by Ian Hinds of Hinds Figures. Pax Brittanica or RSM are now produced solely in America by the Dayton Painting Consortium, [ www.dpcltdcom.org/] when searching on the internet.

 Steve Hezzlewood was a wayward genius who produced anatomically correct 30mm figures, in practical poses from a wargamers point of view, they are elegant and in my opinion capture the 'look' for the period.

Peter Gilder in turn adopted a different approach, and created wonderful ranges of action packed characterful figures. Both had their detractors, both in my opinion were gifted designers.

 Gilder opted for a broad stroke approach which if then painted in that style look brilliant,research any wargames magazine from the 70's and 80's.

 Ian Hinds when he purchased the Hinchliffe ranges took the wise move of dropping the prices of the figures. There's not many wargaming companies doing that is there. His infantry retail at 75p per figure, his cavalry are £1.65p.They are extremely good value. Interestingly from my point of view, Hinchliffe sell an old Steve Hezzlewood range of figures under the name of the X range. These are really fine AWI figures, probably the best AWI on the market. Discuss.

The Dayton Painting Consortium sell the Steve Hezzlewood ranges for $29.00 per bag of 36 infantry, the cavalry retail at $25.80 per bag of 12 figures. That equates to £18.54 for a bag of 36 figures at current exchange rates.
Both companies do decent mail order, and both are readily available via the internet.

When buying from America you always run the risk of HM Customs, so I would recommend that you place smallish orders and come to some arrangement with the owner Richard Masse regarding how the orders are recorded on the parcels. It may help save the purchaser getting a bill for actually opening the parcel to see whats inside. The usual cost for this service from HM Customs is £8.00! plus tax.

I thoroughly recommend the service provided by Ian Hinds and would liken it to a by gone more naive era where trust was a given.

Finally what I would suggest is that before the reader goes reaching for the latest range of figures. They pause and consider what are now classed as vintage figures, they will be pleasantly surprised at what is out there and just how good they are.More importantly just how good value they can be. 

                       Hinchliffe Austrian Dragoons.

           RSM French Heavy Cavalry.

 

More Ducal Troops.

Finally I have completed two more units for my Ducal [ I must create a name] project. These are Pandours decked out in a more sedate green colour,for the odd skirmish.
The figures are Foundry that I had laid about in my mountain of metal. Definately one of their better models.The unit is a half batallion,of 12 figures,which fits in nicely with our rules, 'A Nostalgic Whim'.
 Light troops fire in twos,but tend not to be a battle winner.

Next up are my Ducal Lancers who are more for show than for effect. Light cavalry in our rules dont fight very well against line types, although they are effective against the odd wagon train.

Still they are really just eye candy and will probably just line up at the end of a table looking pretty.

 I have been very busy the last two weeks with work etc,but I now finally hope to paint some red on my Hanoverians,who have been sat in their black undercoat for a little while.

 Next weekend is Sheffield Triples,which used to be John and mine's favourite show. I felt the last few years it was showing signs of failing,but with a new venue,I hope it can re invent itself. Still, something to really look forward to.

 Bookwise,I have managed to but Donald Fetaherstones' Battle of Poitiers, which is a fine little book. Featherstone writes a good description of battles,which does inspire folk.[ well at least me]  

In my spare time [ !] I have been watching Game of Thrones on Sky,and I must admit that from a slow start,it is getting pretty interesting,and would make a great background story for a campaign based on a Tony Bath type of setup.
 The large number of Ducal [that word again] houses is perfect for a setup.
 Anyway there has been further progress on my house, and a nice suggestion from 'Alte Fritz'  re my wargames room.
Unfortunately his suggestion to have one massive room on the top floor of my new home,had already met with stony silence from my wife last year.I am just grateful that I am getting an indoor room after all my years of gaming.



My New Wargames Room.

I thought it would be nice to show a bit of the plans of my new home,now that it is finally out of the ground and up to first floor level. This is the plan of the top floor with my 'games' room and guest bedroom across the landing.
 I didnt want to record the actual purpose on the original plan to the council,just in case, they thought I was some sort of risk to the neighbours. God knows I have had enough runs in with them. Dont be fooled by Grand Designs, unless you have shit loads of money, the planners will come after you,especially when you intend to live next door to one of the planning department.
 Anyway, enough of the bitterness. Why I wanted to publish this was I am trying to get the biggest use from the room, with the best shape for the actual table. The roof is a dormer shape,and will slope in from the windows,so there is a bit of an issue with height at the sides. Ideally the table will need to be an even size of two foot sections,to accomadate my boards. Please dont think I am being flash,because this dream has cost me dear,in both sanity levels,savings and the fact I am having to work on. But I cant complain and just feel lucky to have this oppourtunity.
 My aim has always been to leave the table set up over night,and allow any wargame guest to have the use of the room across from the table.
 So any innovative suggestions re table shape etc,please let me know. The key thing it will be used by 30mm figures,and 6mm figures. 

Confused from County Durham!

Well I'd like to thank Moss Trooper for sending me this nomination for my ramblings, I am a bit wary because coming from a computer knowledge base of zero, I always worry there's some scam and my computer is going to melt with viruses or whatever.
 Anyway I accept, but I wont be doing a tearful acceptance speech.
 I understand that I have to nominate a blog for a similar award, and I commend the following, Unfashionable Shiney, purely on inspiration alone.
 I also believe that I am supposed to record seven things about myself;
 1] Typically I have been wargaming for over 40 years, the 70's were a great time to be a teenager.
 2] I am proud to say I have been to see Rod Stewart 42 times, but I am more reluctant to be down the front now, I always get covered in perfume and makeup from the other fans.
3] I have lost count of the number of times I have seen Bruce Springsteen, but never tire of being in the pit with the rest of the fans.
4] I still regret selling my 25mm Italian wars armies, and always ask if I can buy them back.
5] I regret not buying the fabulous Wars of the Roses armies that John sold years ago, they were one of the best I have ever seen, and would still out shine most other WOR armies.
6] I am glad I perservered with my SYW armies, as they have led me to other areas of wargaming and contacts with other gamers.
7] I am determined to make the wargames room in the house I am building an inspiration to new and novice wargamers, as I remember the first time I entered the room owned by a man called Dave Natrass and was literally blown away by the whole spectacle.Dave [god knows what happened to him] had a loft room with a 10' by 8' table, a Martini Henry rifle on show, and a uniformed manaquin of a soldier from Rorkes drift. He also posessed BIG Napoleonic, and Ancient Greek armies.
 I hope to emulate the excitement one had when you entered the room in my new room.    

Wagon Trains

 I am a bit eclectic about my painting. I try to be disciplined and complete a unit at a time,but my attention does wander and I will paint up an odd figure,or more recently a wagon or limber. Lately I have managed to create a wagon train, bigger than the one toted around Saxony by the Prussians.
[ I exagerate a tad] I do like painting Hinchliffe wagons etc, as they have a charm about them. Gilder and Frank Hinchliffe were way ahead of their time with such models, especially their artillery pieces.  

Meandering on, I was pleased to see that Lamming figures are to be re released. I loved their medeaval range with the separate heads etc, and their renaissance range, especially the landsnects. I dont know how they will compare to current ranges,but still good news. What was also good news was that Bill Lamming is still alive,he was a great ambassador for wargaming. Buy some figures when they are released.

He Died Old.

The title of this entry is a curious one, but is the title of a book that I have just finished reading called, 'He Died Old' by Alfred Duggan. As I have stated before I am a bit of an anorak when it comes to collecting things,whether wargames figures,books or magazines. the same goes for authors. I have always enjoyed the books of Alfred Duggan,after being recommended to read ' Foundling Fathers' by my late mother [god rest her soul] when I was a pallid teenager. Duggan was an excellent author of historical fiction who had an idiosyncratic way of writing. Over the years I have slowly put together his collection of books and He Died Old is one of the last that I needed.[ Well technically I didnt need it, but I wanted it] He Died Old isnt a fictional book,but an enjoyable life of Mithridates VI `the Great' of Pontus.
 Now I knew very little about this figure,but having read this book, I want to know more. He was known as the poisoner king,who in order to survive took poison every day to build up his immunity. He fought three wars against Rome,and apart from marrying his sister and then having her executed,also sired numerous off spring,one of whom finally betrayed him.  He also inspired immense loyalty in the Hellenic world. Oh and by the way,instigated a massive pogrom which saw 70,000 italians/roman civilians killed. Duggan manages however to provide an enjoyable read to a massive character of ancient history and I do recommend this book as a good start to learning about Mithridates VI.
 I would also recommend 'Foundling Fathers' the story of Romulus and Remus, 'Family Favourites' the story of the Emperor Eglablagus?, 'Knight with Armour' a story of the first Crusade, ' Threes Company' the story of Lepidus and all right then, any other book written by Alfred Duggan.

 Some have been re released and are available on Amazon, buy one give them a try. I have been viewing the photographs of the painting competition from SALUTE 2011. The standard is as usual very high,but I have noticed that what is classed as a wargames unit is becoming smaller, with some being five figures or less,but set in really nice terrain. We used to call these dioramas. It is my intention to go back to Salute next year after a lay off of several years, I think I will enter the painting competition, I can proudly say the last time I entered I came second in the wargame unit section. That occassion it was with a unit of 20 Aztec Eagle knights.I dont think I am up to the present standard however.

The ducal artillery and train,for the game that never was..

Following on from the last posting,I thought Id post photographs,of part of the ducal artillery and wagon train,again just to gee myself up. I had some spare! RSM figures so I cobbled together these gunners resplendent in their green and yellow.

 the wagons I picked up on e bay and are Hinchliffe,which I still think is a terrific range.The grenadier,was a sample sent by Warrior Miniatures,and is a fine figure and at a cheap price,even now.
Anyway back to my Hanoverians.