Numidian or Moorish Javelinman

PB47

I'm starting off the catalogue posts with a model from The Macedonian and Punic Wars range - mostly to try and figure out how to present the images in an effective way. So please bear with me whilst I get to grips with the formatting. 

A bit of background for this post - the PB codes comprise two ranges: The Macedonian and Punic Wars, and The Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome. Each is based on the illustrations in the books of the same name by Phil Barker - hence 'PB'.

My aim with these catalogue posts is to show the raw metal as cleanly as possible. The examples shown here have been stripped, but you can see traces of paint here and there.

The PB range superseded the earlier Ancient 'S' range and both appear in the 72/73 Miniature Figurines catalogue. The designation 'S' range (special) indicates that the figures are the then new '25mm' size as opposed to the earlier and slightly smaller '1/72' scale. The original catalogue listing gives the codes for all the PB Macedonian and Punic Wars with the 's' added - i.e. PB47s. You occasionally find figures with the 's' marked on the base - which I guess would suggest they are from an early casting. Oddly, the listing for The Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome range dispenses with the 's' designation altogether, although the figures are the same size if not a wee bit bigger..

By the time of the 75 Miniature Figurines catalogue the same codes are given as plain numbers without the 's'. The entire range was replaced in the late 70s by a new version - confusingly also coded as 'PB' - and this is the range still available from Caliver books at the time of writing. 

PB47

What size are these guys? Well the 72/73 catalogue claims that the 'S' range is equivalent to 25mm = six feet, which is a bit of a stretch! The 75 catalogue cheerfully changes this to 4mm = 1 foot. The figure measures almost exactly 25mm in its standard Minifigs javelinman pose leaning forward on one foot, so I would take all such statements about scale with a large pinch of salt.  

 

On the whole this is a fairly easy figure to spot despite the fact that all Minifigs javelinmen of this era tend to look pretty much the same! It has a distinctive tunic and well-modelled hair. As with all this range, it's a one piece casting with integral shield and weapon. It's a pleasing little figure and the examples I have are all well cast without any obvious defects.

PB47

All of the Macedonian and Punic Wars code numbers correspond to the numbered drawings in the original edition of Phil Barker's book. So, illustration 47 is this very figure, for example. It's often easier to identify figures from the book than it is from catalogue listings. Even though the book itself is rather out of date, it remains useful when it comes to identifying figures and putting them into the context of contemporary armies.

With future catalogue posts I'll keep things shorter and more essential. I'll also label the posts by manufacturer's range and manufacturer's codes, and you should be able to navigate to individual codes that way. 

PB47 thick spear

This chap carries a thicker version of the javelin. This is the most common variation with all these Minifigs ranges - you get the impression that they had problems casting spears! The earlier Ancient range that preceded the PB range had very hefty spears - the PB range itself seems to have a thick-spear type and a thin spear type. The thick spears are massive affairs - the thin spears are very delicate and usually turn up broken. Replacing or repairing spears is something I've become quite expert at over the years. Look forward to informative posts comparing various gauges of brass wire - can't wait can you? 

Code

Finally - and most obviously - all Minifigs of this era carry their code number stamped on the upper surface of the base in a distinctive style. This is usually obscured by basing material, but is easily visible on the raw metal. I've run a little black paint over this one to photograph it. 

 

Cavalry figures are another matter - the code was usually on a little tab between the figure's legs.