British Slinger

This is the British Slinger that first appeared in the Miniature Figurines 72/73 catalogue as PB 157.

Both PB ranges were based on Phil Barker's books Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars and The Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome. This figure is taken from illustration 57 in the first edition of AEIR.

The code numbers for the AEIR range correspond to the illustrations in the book plus '100', i.e. illustration 1 is figure 101. 

The base is stamped PB 157 on the upper surface in the usual manner.

Whilst it's nice to see a slinger posed doing something other than slinging this chap does tend to look rather odd when lined up next to his fellows. Nice early 70s rock band haircut though. He would - of course - make a perfectly good Celt or German and more besides.

I struggled to strip the paint from this figure and have left it as you see it - with traces of stubbornness defiant despite all my efforts. 

 

Cataphtact Cavalryman

 

This is the Cataphract Cavalryman that first appears in the Miniature Figurines 72/73 catalogue as PBC 33s, and subsequently in the 75 catalogue as PBC 33. 

As with all the 'PB' range it is derived from Phil Barker's pair of books Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars and Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome. PBC standing for Phil Barker Cavalry. This figure corresponds with illustration 33 in AMPW.

The mount shown here is the PBH 61s listed in the 72/73 catalogue Cataphract Half Armoured Cavalry Horse. The code 61 is stamped on the base in the usual way. 

As usual we have thick and thin versions of the lance - kontos - this being one of the thicker ones. 

This is a pretty common second-hand find because such cavalry were very effective under the then current WRG Ancient rules.  Everybody who could had them! 

Thracian Light Cavalryman with Sarissa

 

This is the Thracian Light Cavalryman with Sarissa that first appears in the Miniature Figurines 72/73 catalogue as PBC 6s, and subsequently in the 75 catalogue as PBC 6. 

As with all the 'PB' range it is derived from Phil Barker's pair of books Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars and Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome. PBC standing for Phil Barker Cavalry. This figure corresponds with illustration 6 in AMPW.

The mount shown here is the PBH 65-217 which is listed as two different horses in the 72/73 catalogue: PBH 65 Cavalry Horse and PBH 217 Roman Cavalry Horse 1st and 2nd Centuries AD. The code is stamped on the base in the usual way. 

This chap is armed with the longest weapon I've ever seen on such a model. Not surprisingly it it often found broken and otherwise bent. One can't help wondering whether the reality was something more akin to the not-quite-so-long kontos - a weapon also held in two hands. 

Hannibal

I am almost certain this is the figure of Hannibal that appeared as part of the Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars range as PBP 7 - for 'Phil Barker Personalities'. 

The model is not taken from the AMPW book despite the code designation, but forms part of a small range of 'general' figures.

The figure appears in the Miniature Figurines 72/73 catalogue and the 75 catalogue under the same code. 

As a mounted model this figure carried no code, which makes it hard to tell the various mounted PBP models apart, so my identification is tentative. If anyone knows better please tell me! 

The horse is PBH 65-217 which served in both the PB range as a general mount. I don't know which horse came with the model as advertised and suspect it was pot luck! As far as I know Minifigs never made specific horses for the mounted personality ranges. 

It's a nice leader figure and would sit well at the head of a unit of Carthaganian Noble Cavalry. 

 

Dahae Horse Archer

This is the Dahae Horse Archer  that first appears in the Miniature Figurines 72/73 catalogue as PBC 7s, and subsequently in the 75 catalogue as PBC 7. 

As with all the 'PB' range it is derived from Phil Barker's pair of books Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars and Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome. PBC standing for Phil Barker Cavalry. This figure corresponds with illustration 7 in AMPW.

The mount shown here is the PBH 65-217 which is listed as two different horses in the 72/73 catalogue: PBH 65 Cavalry Horse and PBH 217 Roman Cavalry Horse 1st and 2nd Centuries AD. The code is stamped on the base in the usual way. 

This model is essentially a 'Scythian' and as such a fairly common addition to many armies including Persians, Greeks, Macedonians and Successors. Not surprisingly it is a fairly common find, although often well hidden under layers of brightly coloured Humbrol enamel. 

A nice enough model, it tends to suffer from the classic Minifigs trait of horse archers in that he's shooting to his side. When arranged into a unit this has the disconcerting effect of making them look as if they are shooting each other rather than the enemy. 
 

Thracian or Thessalian Light Cavalryman

 

This is the Thracian or Thessalian Light Cavalryman  that first appears in the Miniature Figurines 72/73 catalogue as PBC 5s, and subsequently in the 75 catalogue as PBC 5. 

As with all the 'PB' range it is derived from Phil Barker's pair of books Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars and Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome. PBC standing for Phil Barker Cavalry. This figure corresponds with illustration 5 in AMPW.

The mount shown here is the PBH 65-217 which is listed as two different horses in the 72/73 catalogue: PBH 65 Cavalry Horse and PBH 217 Roman Cavalry Horse 1st and 2nd Centuries AD. The code is stamped on the base in the usual way. 

As with all this range there is a thick and thin version of the javelins - this one being a thinner type. 

Unshielded cavalry like this are a feature of pre-Successor armies - notably the army of Alexander the Great - which served to make these forces less attractive to canny wargamers ever mindful of the extra combat bonus to be gained from a shield. 

Successor or Italian Light Cavalryman

This is the Successor or Italian Light Cavalryman  that first appears in the Miniature Figurines 72/73 catalogue as PBC 36s, and subsequently in the 75 catalogue as PBC 36. 

As with all the 'PB' range it is derived from Phil Barker's pair of books Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars and Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome. PBC standing for Phil Barker Cavalry. This figure corresponds with illustration in AMPW.

The mount shown here is the PBH 65-217 which is listed as two different horses in the 72/73 catalogue: PBH 65 Cavalry Horse and PBH 217 Roman Cavalry Horse 1st and 2nd Centuries AD. The code is stamped on the base in the usual way. 

This figure seems have been a staple in every army back in the day because it turns up frequently second hand. An absent minded chap could easily end up with fifty of sixty of them if he wasn't careful. Just saying. 

As with all of the spear and javelin waving models in this range there are thick and thin variations - the thinner ones being later as far as I can tell. This is a thin one.