"Minifigs 5mm blocks" Topic

In answer to a request on another topic, here's some rather poor photos of some Minifig 5mm blocks.

Stephen, I just quickly snapped these with my compact camera but I can take some better on my "proper" camera later if you want:

Here's some painted – not very well – (and I haven't go much better in the intervening 40 years) French infantry, cuirassiers and artillery:

A blurry closer shot of the cavalry:

And an equally blurry shot of the infantry:

Doug

I remember these. Great to see them again. Excellent!!

martin

Didn't Irregular do something similar ?

Irregular do blocks of troops in 2mm.

I still use my 5mm Minifig Marlburians (cunningly converted from the Napoleonic blocks) and have managed to acquire more so I can expand the armies when time permits. They are one of my most used armies (although they are also my oldest armies).

How do these match up with the single strips of 6mm from Irregular, does anyone know? If they are close, it could add some nice variety. Irregular do some 6mm blocks also as well as the strips I if I recall correctly.

@Moonraker Miniatures

Hi Doug,

Thanks so much for taking the trouble to take the photographs. I really appreciate it.

They look really good. I particularly like the effect of the cavalry en masse. I don't think Minifigs produced them for very long (as far as I know they only appear in one of their catalogues). I think they were a bit ahead of their time. I imagine they would sell rather well now.

Stephen

I had some of these back in the day – including the Ancients – there was a tiny elephant I seem to remember. In part the inspiration behind the Warmaster range at games Workshop.

And… lovely to see them again – thank you!

Glad they struck a cord with people. Maybe I'll take some proper photos of the rest of them. The sad thing is, I never got to use them in battle…..:-(

Doug

There was also a 1/300th micro armour range.

martin

Whoa, so that's what they look like! I'd always wanted to see them but these are rare as white whales. When did they stop making these?

You know, they actually look pretty good! I've heard of these, but have never seen them before now. Thank you for sharing these photos with us.

Jeff

I have had the pleasure of playing with Johns 5mm blocks. They are a fair bit smaller than the Irregular strips though (I use those for a lot of periods).

They fit in OK with H&R though.

They look very nice,never seen these before so good to get a look at them.

Irregular Miniatures still makes Napoleonics in 6mm, both in blocks and strips:

link

Never thought to paint them in greatcoats! Brilliant idea!

John: Have any pictures of your Marlburian conversions you can share? How did you deal with the headgear change? Would love to see them!

Thanks.

v/r
Tom

I hope that this works:
link

Three Minifigs blocks (painted in the late 1970s) with an Irregular strip for comparison.

The headgear was dealt with by running a file across the top of the blocks. I also files the backpacks off.

Many thanks, John! I have been drilling holes in the center of the second ranks to accept my flags. I use mine as company "blocks". Very much appreciate the effort to quickly send that picture. Very nicely done.

v/r
Tom

Thanks Tom.

Mine are normally used as battalions, occasionally brigades.

I've been thinking about doing the "new" ones with wire flag poles in the centre of the blocks. In the 70s I simply stuck a piece of plastic rod on the side.

Battalions would work just fine, too! Large games would be very do-able! If you care to, drop me a line at tomdye14 AT yahoo.com

v/r
Tom

Can these 5mil blocks be made again? Commands and colors would be awesome with these

I remember seeing these in 75-76?

I remember playing a game at the UK National Convention back in '75 with these. It was the first game I'd played written from the 'top down' considering what a commander could and could not do with their troops, rather than the Grant/Featherstone 'bottom up' approach.

They were a shock to see first time around. Shame they never caught on.