Thane Tostig, Wargames Illustrated 428 and my blog!

Well, the latest issue of WI (#428, August 2023) contains a great article on the legendary Thane Tostig by Daniel Mersey.

It's a great read and takes you back to the early years of minis and rule writing. Dan gives it a thoroughly modern update and accompanies it with some lovely pics of painted minis, old and new. 

Some of the pics are mine, used with permission, from my various articles on Thane Tostig. 

http://www.deartonyblair.co.uk/search/label/Thane%20Tostig

Another article is by Rick Priestley, 'Returning to Old Favourites', a wonderful look at his history of collecting proper old school lead and some modern converting to fill out his Minifigs 'Mythical Earth' armies. A great read... I have a growing tub of old Minifigs lead for Rick that I was going to bring over to BOYL last weekend but, as the dice roles go, my ex took the munchkins away so I was left without a dogsitter. Doh! A great weekend missed but I got to spend quality time with my hound. My good friend Tony Yates was there and has posted about it;

http://shadowking-shadowkings.blogspot.com/2023/08/boyl-2023-saturday.html

There's another very interesting article with the Perry twins talking about their sculpting history.

I always think that people today have a tendency to frown on proper old school miniatures as we're now treated to a veritable avalanche of metal, plastic, 3D printed miniatures etc along with a plethora of scenery pieces that could only have been dreamed of decades ago. Someone posted on a old school (Facebook) group a rather derogatory comment about some early sculpts and I couldn't understand why they would walk the halls of such a group. For me, the lack of detail, the small ranges, the joy of waiting weeks for an unknown commodity you've only seen in listed format (possibly extending that wait time by having previously sent a postal order / stamped addressed envelope for said listing), the days of waiting for the postman to visit, the frustrations of non delivery (barring Hinchliffe / Lamming who were extremely efficient)... then the day comes and you are faced with a mixed bunch of metal that brings a smile to your face and, even now, all those years later, bring back those happy memories. In the mid 80's I received a large pile of Pendragon Miniatures sculpted by Barry Minot (of Thane Tostig fame) long after he had stopped producing them (I phoned him at Elstree Studios on the off chance he might still be at the address) and balked at the poor sculpting... today they have been re-released by Wargames Design Workshop (https://wargamesdesignworkshop.co.uk/) along with some other old historical ranges. Now, of course, I look at them and love them. As Karl Hulme, ex assistant manager at Games Workshop in Manchester said (when I worked there and was in charge of miniatures) 'they are his children and he loves them well'. I remain the same to this day.

If you enjoy the blog, please follow by joining up (top left).

Any thoughts or critiques leave a comment below or email me over on enquiries@deartonyblair.co.uk

Minifigs Sculptor Dick Higgs' obituary.

In my never ending quest to complete the lead gaps I came across this obituary for the late Dick Higgs, sculptor extraordinaire for Miniature Figurines. It is from Wargames Illustrated issue 107, August 1996. All cudos to the unknown author.

Richard Michael Arthur Higgs

Born 31 August 1937; dies 25 May 1996 at Southampton General Hospital.

After graduating from the Portsmouth College of Art where he specialized in fine art and sculpture, Dick Higgs joined Sanderson Wallpapers as a wallpaper designer and in his spare time made master models for Miniature Figurines of Southampton. In 1968 he became design director of the company and was responsible for all the designs issued from then until forced into early retirement in 1990.

In partnership with Neville Dickinson who produced the models, Dick Higgs originated or invented in 1974 the now much abused but still very popular 15mm  scale of figure which allowed the hobby to grow into the industry which it is today. Although interested and knowledgeable in the Napoleonic period, Dick's talent for design covered from Ancient times to the beginning of the 20th century  and whilst a brilliant model figure painter he relaxed and preferred his love for landscape and portrait painting.

Believing the wargamer wanted to game with more models and with metal prices increasing dialy, Dick designed a small range of British and French Napoleonic models which swept the hobby market and created a whole new concept - and a 'bandwagon' that many people jumped on.

Just when the fruits of his labours and abilities were proving an integral part of this hobby's history, dick was forced, because of ill health, to retire from his work, from his hobby and from his love of design and art.

Dicks Higgs died in his sleep at 3am on Saturday May 25th to gain relief from the pain he had endured for many years.

It is always interesting to find out the background of sculptors and so sad to discover, as with Dick, where one had to retire due to ill health. Very sad however may he rest in peace with his easel in the sky looking down upon us crazed hobbyists pursuing his art.

As always; enquiries@deartonyblair.co.uk