An Old School Tale

Veteran wargamer John Briggs has kindly sent me the following wonderfully evocative story accompanied by some really nice images from his recently completed Russo-Japanese War collection. 

'I blame my mother. It's 1962 and we have to go to the local library to change her books. There it was, on the shelf, War Games by Donald Featherstone. I took it out so many times and, for lack of funds, copied most of the rules by hand into and exercise book. Later that year my grandmother bought me my own copy for Christmas. This coincided with the arrival of boxes of figures from Airfix at 2/- each, allowing, along with some home-made buildings and Merit trees, the beginning of a lifelong hobby.

Then I noticed that DF lived in Southampton, about an hour's bus ride away. A quick search through the phone book and I have very kindly been invited to visit and see his wonderful collection of wargaming figures. I came away with my pockets full of home cast figures and visions of colonial troops and far away campaigns.

And so, it went on, with the occasional purchase of Hinton Hunt or Stadden figures when pocket money allowed. Education and other activities pushed the soldiers out of my life and it wasn't until many years later that I came across the Harrow Model Shop.

I had visited with my brother, looking for some aeromodelling supplies but, there in the corner of the shop was a glass cabinet with the loveliest models of figures and equipment from the Boer War. I was hooked.

Little did I realise that the man who served me was Jack Alexander, the creator of this wonderful range of figurers. I am grateful that I have had a chance to meet him again in more recent years.

I think most wargamers are partial to a second-hand bookshop. In one, on the Isle of Wight, I found a copy of Cassell's 3 volume history of the Russo-Japanese War. Then I remembered that I had seen some figures for this fascinating conflict. Sadly, however, the range was never completed, so I put those thoughts aside, ending up with a collection of figures for the Boer War.

The range passed from Jack to the preserving hands of Peter Johnstone and has now re-emerged in glory from Mark Lodge at jacklexminiatures.com. I had to have a look. Could he? Would he?

Yes, he did! The missing items from the Russo-Japanese and other ranges were either in production already or on their way. So my fate was sealed. Nearly 50 years on from my first purchase of Jacklex figures, I could at last buy all I needed to complete a pair of armies for the conflict.'

Russian and Japanese troops face off across John's lovely terrain.

Massed Japanese formations ready to storm the Russian positions.

A supporting massed battery of Japanese guns with waiting limbers.

Opposing Russian guns engaging in counter-battery fire.

Russian troops with machine gun in support. 

Massed Russian cavalry (line and cossacks) in reserve.

Japanese forces storm Russian positions.

'The order was made, infantry in units of 20, cavalry in 12s with the possibility of using the 'Sword and Flame' as my set of rules, at least at first. Very soon, the little boxes arrived with the figures beautifully packed in sawdust. Not one damaged figure! An excellent Lucky Dip.

Following consultation of Osprey, internet and a variety of books I did my usual practice of writing a painting chart for each type of figure. This saves a lot of trouble when returning to the painting table after a break.

Well they're all done now. I think they look wonderful and when lockdown is eased, I look forward to many games with them. I only had to wait 40 odd years. I think it was worth it.'

John Briggs

   

A trip down memory lane - The Harrow Model Model Shop

In the day in London there was Under Two Flags in St Christopher's Place; the Miniatures Wargame Shop in Gillingham Street, Tradition in Piccadilly; Hinton Hunt in Camden Passage and the Harrow Model Shop in Harrow, North  London.  Unlike the others, it never specialised in just figures but it was the only shop to sell Jacklex figures.

In my last blog I am appealed for any pictures of the the dioramas which used to in be shop windows and the displays cabinets in inside the shop.  Some canny customers bought the displays when the shop finally and some have survived.  

I want to take those who have got in touch and will hopefully provoke a memory, particularly John Cunningham and Roy Boss.

Most if not all the dioramas  were painted are Stuart Asquith who worked in the shop at the weekends!

If you have any more pictures you can send than via Mark Lodge at jacklexminiatures.com

I have to apologise my cancer has come back with avengeance and had an my ICU with bleeds on the brain so spelling and some English isn't what it should it.  I have some great pictures of the work wargamers have been doing with Jack's figures and I will posted them soon.  Managed to get over to see Jack before falling prey to the brain seizures and he was very pleased and humbled to see the all the work people had done.  Thank you from two old wargamers!

Jacklex Indian Gunners 'rediscovered'

As you know I have converted some Indian gunners for Jack's Madhists forces.  These were essentially the Jacklex Indian Mountain Gun crew.  When I did the conversions for the Sudanese Standard bearer I went back to some pictures I had taken of Jack's Colonial army that Bob had laid out on his table to have a look at the Sudanese figures.  By chance Bob had set up an Indian Gun crew next to them and these were standing around a field gun.  

The more I looked at the pictures I had taken and others I had taken a couple of years ago I couldn't find the Indian Mountain Gun crew in Jack's collection.  I then went to the jacklexminiatures.com website and discovered that Mark Lodge didn't have the set of 'standing'  Indian Gunners that Jack had in his army.  Really odd! 

I contacted Mark and sent him the set of figures which after cleaning turned out to be a set of 4 conversions that Jack had made.  The heads don't match any of the other figures in the Indian army range so they are not simple head swaps. These conversions must have been made over 40 years ago and have never been part of the Jacklex range till now.

I pleased to say that Mark has now recast them and they are available from jacklexminiatures.com

I like the addition of the 'tassle?' from the centre of the turban.  It gives them a certain flair.

It makes you wonder are there any other missing Jacklex figures out there?  Do you have anything, if so please get in touch.  We are also looking for the list of Jacklex figures which was produced by the Harrow Model Shop in the 1980s.  Finally, any pictures of the dioramas which were in the model shop and that were sold when the shop closed.

Jack Takes a Tumble

At the age of 90 Jack decided to do a bit of housekeeping to mop up some water and whilst getting a mop and bucket took a fall and fractured his hip.  Fortunately, because he is an active soul his heart is good and they are planning to operate to support his fracture so that it can heal,

With any luck he will be up and about soon and back home with his family and finishing the wooden model ship he is working on. Once he has had the op Bob and I are going to see him in hospital.  I will keep you updated on progress.

54mm Battle of Britain Anniversary set

Went over to Jack's to take some pictures of his 54mm figures and he asked me whether I had ever seen his Battle of Britain 50th Anniversary set which he made back in 1990.  Well the answer was 'no' so I thought I would share some picture's of the boys work.  The added extra being the 100th Anniversary of the RAF.

This is set 217 of 300 I did ask him why he didn't have set 1 or at least a lower number!

Yet another Miltra item - The Parachute

I posted a picture of a Miltra German Paratrooper cast from a mould I found at Jack's  and the Vintage Wargamer was able to identify this and the rifle which I also posted.  He signposted copies of the Miltra catalogue and articles on his Old Metal Detector blog site.  It was whilst browsing this that I came across a picture and article referencing Miltra Parachutes. 

It says that there are/were a range of 'vacuum formed Parachutes'
 I recognised this as something I had seen in a dusty box in Jack's garage and here it is.

The Parachute itself is made of some sort of rubber.  It hasn't perished at all despite the 'hostile conditions' in which it has been stored or its age. Just covered in dust and grime.

I appreciate that this isn't the most inspiring thing ever posted but it may just be the only one of it's kind left so it may make this little bit of rubber a bit unique!

More Miltra bits? - German Paratrooper and rifles

As I mentioned in an earlier blog I found a mould at Jack's which was marked German Paratrooper.  I finally got back to Jack's to get him to run a couple of figures to see what they looked liked and to get your view on whether this in fact a Miltra figure.

The figure comes with open hands and no weapon.  Whilst Jack was casting this and some other bits I had a further rummage around and found a mould marked German rifle. This is definitely not a Jacklex rifle but again I know next to nothing about Miltra and the weapons that were made available with the figures so don't know if it is connected with the range.  Not a bad casting given the age of the mould.

Unfortunately Jack's can't remember.  The rifle straps didn't quite come out quite right but this was just the first try and there is a little flash on the rifle bolt which makes it look like a flintlock in the picture (it isn't). Any thoughts?

I also found a couple of other figures lurking in the bottom of the 'to melt box' which I have rescued and put to one side.  Again I think these are lost Miltra figures.

So I now have a bag of odds and sods of figures and 2 moulds (assuming they are Miltra).  I will keep looking and posting.

Miltra British Officer in Beret - worth a closer look

In the previous post I included this figure in a row of Miltra figures.

I like this a lot and thought he deserved some pictures on his own.  Not sure if he is a 'tanker' or a 'para' but I think he has something about him.. Not something you can often say for a figure just standing unarmed.  The figure is a bit 'flat on the back' but that seems to be a bit of a 'style thing', as some of the others are the same.

More finds in Jack's scrap box - Miltra figures?

Whilst Jack was busy casting up some figures for me, I had another rummage through his scrap box and moulds.

My latest find - Miltra figures?  Also a mould marked German Para trooper.  The figure has open hands.

Jack tells me that he was one of four making the figures but his role turned into the mould maker, gathering in the work of the other modellers and producing the moulds and casting them.  Anyway some bits for your thoughts.

The first figure in the beret is really well done.

I think both these figures are Poles.  The one in the helmet looks like he should have been seated on a gun.

The brown staining on the figure loading looks like rust!