First Post

I've decided to start a blog about collecting and restoring old wargames figures. This is something I've been doing for a good while - at least ten years - but things have cranked-up a gear over the last two - i.e. since the 'Great Lock Down' of 2020-2021, during which most ordinary wargaming activities were brought to a standstill due to the corona virus epidemic. There are already a good few blogs that cover vintage wargames and old figures - I've included a list on the side bar - so I know I'm something of a Johnny-come-lately to this lark. Thought I'd start off by explaining what sort of things I'm interested in - and therefore likely to cover- and showing off a little of my current work in progress. 

What I'm mostly interested in are the old ranges of what we would usually refer to as '25mm' wargames figures, primarily ancients and medieval subjects, although I'm sure I shall sometimes stray a little. These are the kinds of figures that dominated ancient and medieval wargaming in the mid-1970s, and the three most popular manufacturers of the time were Miniatures Figurines (Minifigs), Greenwood & Ball (Garrison) and Hinchliffe. The majority of my collection comprises figures made by these three, predominantly Minifigs, although anything contemporary is fair game and has been bagged on occasion. 

As well as old wargames figures I have more than a passing interest in the books, magazines, catalogues and wargames rules of the day. Some of these are really useful for reference, especially old catalogues and adverts from magazines such as Military Modelling, Battle, and Wargamer's Newsletter. As most folks will appreciate, manufacturers rarely illustrated their lists at the time, which means identifying models can be a challenge in itself. I'm intending to photograph as many models as possible as an aid to identification and reference - and to save me digging through boxes and boxes of models every time I want to identify a figure. 

Finally, something I've just finished and a few things from my work in progress.

I've just added these Minifigs Libyan Spearmen to my growing Carthaginian army.

Some of the work in progress a batch of Numidian/Moorish Ponies I've finished stripping.

Some of the stash - I do sometimes think my hobby has becoming stripping and hoarding - let's hope the floor joists hold out. 

More work in progress, Successor Phalangites stripped and cleaned up ready to paint.