"25mm MiniFigs specialist wanted !" Topic

Hello everyone,

What are these 25mm MiniFigs?

I bought a batch of second-hand 25 mm MiniFigs and I find references that are not in the catalog?

Here they are :
CMC 1 – SN5 – AXC 34 – PB157- PB 177 and PB 188.

As the seller does not know what it is, does anyone know the history of these references and give me their exact designation? Thanks

Paskal

NS is the code for the extinct Norman and Saxon range. The early numbers are mostly Norman infantry, so I would guess SN5 is a Norman of some kind.

Similarly PB is the "Phil Barker" range, which began with Phil's illustrations in the first version of Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars, and other WRG publications. I know PB179 is a Pictish spearman, and PB184 is a Frank or similar German tribesman with an axe. Nearby numbers are likely to depict the same or similar nations.

Are they in boxes ? The final "C" in CMC and AXC suggests cavalry figures, which usually weren't marked with the number.

AXC 34 is a Russian Knight from the Alexander Nevsky range:
AXC34 Knight, lance, shield, bear head-dress

According to the Wargamer's Newsletter from 1974: PDF link

PB is actually the Armies and Enemies of Rome Range…just a bit WRG reference book influenced though! (Phil Barker range lol!)

PB 157 – british slinger
PB 177 – Asiatic mountaineer with javelins
PB 188 – Lower class Scots/Irish warrior

No, PB was the Phil Barker range. Some of the PB range were remade as the "IR" range, taken from "The Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome". Very similar figures can have either PB or IR numbers, the later IR ones having better sculpting.

What else do you think "PB" could stand for in the context ? Don't forget Phil held a copyright on the drawings.

Good demonstration of knowledge. Well done chaps!

martin

@dagwood – I tip my hat to you!

Having looked at the 1975 catalogue online there is indeed an attribution to Phil Barker.

AIl the figures in the PB range have been designed from the .information provided in the books written by phillip
Barker-and published by the War Games Research Group.
These books have been meticulousiy researched and we
have no hesitation in endorsing their accuracy and authenticitiy . As other books follow we hope to continue producing fresh figures in the Ancient period, and these will phase out any of our earlier ancient figures which do not reach the same standard of accuracy.
While saying this, however, it might be mentioned that
many of the figures in our ancient range can often be used to represent other nationalities than those laid down in the catalogue, merely by a little ingenuity in painting. This period is one in which there was a qreat deal oof flexibility in both armour and weapons, arid very often
the only real difference between the-warriors of certain countries was the manner in which they painted their Shields. A Gallic figure could easily be used for a Britain and vice-versa, Saxons and Vikings can be interchangeable. Similarly, there are figures in other ranges, in particular the ME range – which can easily be fitted-into the Anclent perlod. For exanple ME 35 would be ideal for a Viking.
This is, after aI1, the period in which there was least uniformity in weapons and equipment, so why not show a
little imagination in your choice of figures?

That got dropped from the (1978?) reprint with added photo's and more WRG inspired ranges such as DA (Dark Ages). I think I just thought PB was some weird Punic Battles or something abbreviation.

But I'm really glad I searched for it because it has the SF/ME range in it and that catalogue page really brought back some memories.

Funny thing is – I don't recall anyone in the shop ever referring to it as the Phil Barker range. I knew it was WRG inspired, but not quite so attributed.

Still – I learnt something new (and useful?) today !

My heart jumps looking at the old Wargamers newsletter add.
What memories flood in my mind!
Look at the price of those figures!!
Thanks.
Russ Dunaway

Me too ! And so I resell all my armies of figurines "recent" or not (including my Old Glory 25mm), to only buy 25mm MiniFigs, same for the rules of wargames, because now I only play with rules from before the WRG (1970?).

If you wish, see my topics on TMP on my research of old rules for each period…

If you have lots of unpainted 25mm MiniFigs for sale, contact me at: loicohiniac @orange.fr

The extinct Norman and Saxon range only had Normans and Saxons or also other fighters from the Dark Ages in general ?

Because SN5 does not look like a Norman, nor a Saxon, it looks like a Breton light horseman or a Carolingian medium horseman from the ninth century…

Can someone post on this thread the list of reference numbers for the NS range that Dagwood is talking about?

Thanks.

Vikings as well. I can give you a list of ones that I have, maybe tomorrow. Minifigs didn't usually mark the cavalry with the code, and cavalry codes usually had a "C" at the end. The cavalry I do have (both of them !) are glued to the horses, so I can't see any codes even if they are present. Otherwise Breton LC would be feasible as part of the range.

GREAT !!

Yes the Breton LC would be feasible as part of the range with Carolingian figurines…

Otherwise if there is anyone who has old 25mm MiniFigs reference lists, please put them online on this thread, thank you.

Especially for Mr Robert Wagner,

3 times I replied to your address and three times, my answers came back???

Cheers,

Paskal

OK Paskal, here is what I have in my figure boxes. Lots of gaps. ADA = Armies of the Dark Ages, illustration number.

NS 1 Norman armoured spearman
NS 2 Norman archer, armoured
NS 3 Norman (?) spearman, unarmoured, kite shield
NS 4 Flemish (?) archer, unarmoured, strange headress !
NS 5
NS 6 Norman, armoured, attacking with sword
NS 7 Norman, armoured, with club
NS 8 Saxon chieftain, ADA 103
NS 9 Saxon spearman, unarmoured, round shield
NS 10 Saxon archer, unarmoured, cloak
NS 11 Saxon slinger
NS 12
NS 13 Saxon advancing with axe
NS 14 Late Saxon Huscarle swinging axe, round shield
NS 15 Norman or Late Saxon Huscarle with axe, kite shield
NS 16
NS 17 Viking chieftain, ADA 63
NS 18 Viking ADA 64
NS 19 Viking spearman ADA 65
NS 20 Viking archer, ADA 66
NS 21
NS 22
NS 23
NS 24 Norman, armoured, kite shield, with spear, vertical
NS 25 Saxon, unarmoured, round shield, with spear, vertical
plus others …

NSX 1 King Harold

I have another figure with no number, although the "NS" is clearly visible. I have about six of these, so the lack of code is not just the one figure ! A Viking of some type judging by the baggy trousers, with round shield, spear and two javelins. Makes a good standard bearer !

I note that the "X" for personality follows the usual Minifigs convention, so I don't understand why NS 5 should be a cavalryman; they would normally have had a "C" in the code, and had the code removed before sale. And there are not enough gaps in the early codes for all the Norman cavalry variations that I know about (spear, club, sword, light cavalry, etc.).

Have fun, Dagwood

Thank you very much Dagwood!

Now I would like to know if anyone knows if there was in the 25mm MiniFigs, a range of samurai in real 25mm because obviously, I am not talking about the "S" which are not 25mm!

Also, does anyone know if the horses of the Alexander Nevskiy Range would be identical to the horses of another range currently on sale?

And why in the – Ancient World – Egypt & Assyria 25 mm MiniFigs range currently on sale, are there only chariots for Egyptians and Assyrians?

In the past, in this range, there was not also for other peoples?

Thank you all.

For the chariots you will have to ask the current producers ?

Yes thank you, and for the other questions?

And by the way the figure I designated at the beginning of the topic is CNC1 not CMC 1 and it is indeed a rider with its reference number between the legs.

NS5 is a French crossbowman for the Hastings battle.

It is currently the DA78 reference in the "Dark Ages" range of the latest 25mm MiniFigs, although I don't think there were crossbow stirrups from this era.