Napoleonic & ECW wargaming, with a load of old Hooptedoodle on this & that


Monday 17 August 2020

Nerds' Corner: Some Mystery Figures...

These aren't mine - any idea what they are? The figures in question are the British Waterloo-period Life Guards at the back of this photo. They are, as you see, of very slim build, and lanky (for comparison purposes, the figures at the front are Alberkens, which are the same size as Hinton Hunts).

Suggestions thus far are Greenwood & Ball, or possibly Stadden from his Tradition period. They have soldered-on sheet metal bases, with corners clipped. I rather like the Old School appearance, but I think they may be too toy-like for Stadden.

Any thoughts?


11 comments:

  1. Probably too big to be Rose Miniatures - MBR 1 British Horse Guard 1800-15. I understand that their cavalry were made without bases.

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  2. Sorry, no idea on the manufacture, but agree they do not appear to be Stadden. That aside they are quite cute figures from the early days. Cheers Greg

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  3. That's a tough one, pretty certain they're not Greenwood and Ball - too slim and not Stadden ( not stadden enough!) butvas to what they are?

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  4. judging by bases Life Guards could be Rose maybe Little Lead Soldiers, as for horses with officers in bicornes they look like some i got from Pete Bateman many years who told me the horses were homecast, cheers Old John

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    1. John - LLS looks very probably correct - very good. The guys in bicorns are Gilder-period Alberken OPCs - there were some terrible copies of these going about, but these are originals. The mounted British colonel is a useful figure.

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  5. Thank you all gentlemen - early Little Lead Soldiers is a good shout. Someone suggested they might be German - he said they look German - Heyde, maybe, but I didn't think Heyde did them in this size. Research continues...

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  6. Whatever they are, and they are rather nice, they couln't possibly fit in with your collection. I think you should send them to me.

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  7. They look quite similar to the Siborne figures on the Leeds model. A number of replacement figures were cast when the model was restored in the 60s.

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  8. They do have a look of Greenwood and Ball about them... just no ‘Skis’ on the feet...

    https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/greenwood-ball-niblett-20mm-highly-535253227

    Maybe Rob Young Would know...

    All the best. Aly

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  9. Gentlemen all - thanks for the suggestions - much appreciated. Goya very kindly supplied the link below, which is to a Little Lead Soldiers catalogue circa 1986. The figures in the photo at the top of this post must predate that by 20 years or so - the build is about right, and those horses look pretty convincing.

    http://www.littleleadsoldiers.com/history/catalogue/page02.htm

    Since LLS still make Greenwood & Ball stuff (for special occasions), there is a pleasing tie-in all round.

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    1. I had a little nose around the site... well it is toy soldiers and I am a geek.
      When you click on the ‘The Company’ tab you get a bit of their history...

      They made dioramas for the James Bond flick The Living Daylights...
      Using Greenwood and Ball figures... they own the moulds...
      It looks like these figures were then added to the catalogue...

      I have a real need to watch the film now 😂

      All the best. Aly

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