"Vintage Minifigs: ECW Royalist Infantry" Topic

Perhaps the oldest figures still in my collection are the "new" Minifigs ECW dating back from circa 1974-1977. While they haven't seen as much tabletop use as I'd have liked, they are still quite lovely figures, I think.

They are painted in a very uniform, bright "toy soldier" style, enhanced by "black lining" of the different colored areas. I think the style works well on these very "clean" figures, even though I don't use it any longer.

There is an interesting story behind the "tree" design on the flag. That along with more pictures and some ECW ramblings on the blog at:

link

Peter

Nice – I like the old ("new") Minifigs!

I have these guys in my own army. I picked up several regimental packs years ago for them.

Thanks,

John

Your army looks great, very waragmers friendly.They were great little characters. Enjoyed them very much. I think they are still good figures, albeit sculptors have moved on to 28/30mm…..

Martin

Thanks for showing these.

My own ECW collection is all Minifigs. My painting has developed over the years and I now paint mine using the methods that are common today. I actually think they are still very nice figures if you know which codes to use. I can paint them reasonably quickly to a standard I'm happy with, far far faster then modern 28mm models. I also prefer the smaller size to the 28mm but that's just me I guess.

I avoid almost all Roundhead codes for the foot as they are in lobster pots but conversely I tend to prefer the Cavalry in pots not floppy hats. I've done a lot of conversions using plastic rod and green stuff. I've removed lots of plumes and also mixed in some figures from the TYW range as well. My artillery have come from all sorts of makes. I even looked into commissioning a sculptor to make me some more variants and although I'd still like to do it I don't currently have the funds. It would be wonderful if Minifigs themselves would consider adding to ranges like this to bring them up to date but I don't expect they ever shall.

I've had a lot of fun over the years with my collection.

These guys are the backbone of my ECW forces

Thanks for sharing

Yes, they look smart, don't they …

Wow! It's good to see how many fans these "classic" figures have, and how many of them are still in service! These "new"er Minifigs were themselves considerably bigger than the ones that they replaced, and don't hold up too badly size wise in comparison to other ranges, at least up until about the year Y2K.

I do think this particular range was one of the best they ever did, sculpting wise. Timmo, you are right about the pots on the Roundheads (some of which will be up next), but at least it makes it easy to tell the two sides apart. Both of my ECW armies are pretty much "idealised", as far as equipment, uniformity, colors, etc. Undoubtedly unrealistic on multiple levels, but they make a nice presentation on the tabletop!

Peter

Peter

I'm not that purist in my approach either, lots of mine were painted 20 odd years ago using the knowledge that was then available. All the stuff I add now, which is perhaps a couple of dozen castings a year, is painted as well as I can based on today's knowledge. I'll never sell mine. True veterans. For about a year I considered switching to 28mm but I'm glad I didn't bother.

I've added apostles to lots of mine and sculpted different headgear using green stuff. I like to try to get the older cavalry castings that had more lead and were thus softer metal. This enables the arms to be bent to give a bit more variety.

All of my (very small) ECW collection are the
venerable Minifigs.

Good looking army!

Timmo,

Understood. And you're right, the older, softer (heavier, lead containing) figures are easier to convert!

Looks great, Gonsalvo! Love those old Minifigs!

I avoid almost all Roundhead codes for the foot as they are in lobster pots……

I use the 2nd Generation 15mm Minifig ECW/TYW range, and I have found that the lobster pots make perfect monteros (the one form of headgear missing from the range) by putting a turban of greenstuff around the base of the pot, slicing off the nasal bar, and either carving away the "tail" of the helmet or painting it to resemble long hair. Of course, this would be much harder to get away with in 25mm, but not impossible.

I have a couple thousand pike and shot, but it is the Minifig and Garrison units that put the finishing point of pike (telephone poles that they are) to my more fancy modern 31mm+ figures. Something in the 1970's lead that makes for good dice rolling vibes.

@ Hal – Thanks – they got a work out for the first time in a while with the in development To the Strongest based EXW rules this fall, and I plan a test game with the near final revision in February.

@Supercillius – I don't mind the unrealistic lobster lots on the parliamentarian; makes it easier to tell who's who!

@Tricone – That's a LOT of Pike and Shot troops to be sure. If I include my Great Italian Wars stuff I probably have about 1500 Pike era troops altogether – the census has not gotten to them yet!