Yesterday I decided to begin sorting out the 'lead mountain' I had found hidden and forgotten in a toolbox in the now-defunct shed. (I had mistakenly thought that it contained tools ... until I tried to pick it up!) I expected to find the lead mountain was little more than lots of odds and ends of broken and damaged figures from half-finished and forgotten projects, with the occasional painted figure.
I was wrong.
Almost as soon as I started to go through the contents of the toolbox I began to find 25mm-scale American Civil War Minifigs that I painted in 1974. I remember that I had begun this project just before Minifigs changed their figures over from the previous thinner style of figures to the chunkier ones that I think that they still make. As a result I ended up with a mixture of figures in both styles.
The toolbox also contained quite a number of unpainted Hinton Hunt, Douglas, and Rose Miniatures American Civil War and Crimean War figures ...
I was wrong.
Almost as soon as I started to go through the contents of the toolbox I began to find 25mm-scale American Civil War Minifigs that I painted in 1974. I remember that I had begun this project just before Minifigs changed their figures over from the previous thinner style of figures to the chunkier ones that I think that they still make. As a result I ended up with a mixture of figures in both styles.
The figures were undercoated with grey matt enamel paint and then painted in gloss! (Good old Humbrol!) This probably accounts for the reasonably light levels of damage to most of the paintwork. After all, they were painted forty years ago and have survived several house moves since.Please click on the images to enlarge them.
The toolbox also contained quite a number of unpainted Hinton Hunt, Douglas, and Rose Miniatures American Civil War and Crimean War figures ...
... and a very mixed selection of unpainted Peter Laing 15mm-scale figures.Please click on the image to enlarge it.
I am currently about a quarter of the way through the contents of the toolbox, but I hope to find quite a few more Hinton Hunt, Douglas, Rose, and Peter Laing figures. I expect that examples of these figures may well find their way to other collectors in due course.Please click on the image to enlarge it.
Bob
ReplyDeleteA wargamer's dream - uncovering long lost/long forgotten piles of lead?
On a much smaller scale I yesterday discovered a pile of unpainted 6mm WW1 figures left over form our epic Marne refight in Christchurch NZ using Great War Spearhead in 2008 .. unfortunate, because now I have no real excuse other than ' I want some of those' for buying any of the new Baccus 6mm releases. Lorraine isn't quite convinced by that line, even after 35 years. LOL
I'm enjoying the story.. what will you rediscover next?
Kind regards
Robin
Truly you do have more in your forgotten stuff than I've got in my active collection.
ReplyDeleteQuite a find. I can always find a good home for any Laing figures you don't want!
ReplyDeleteIan
Brilliant finds, put me down for the Douglas, Hinton & Rose Crimea & ACW figures
ReplyDeletecheers Old John
Robin Sutton,
ReplyDeleteI am only a quarter of the way through the lead mountain, and I can only guess what I have yet to find. (More of the same I suspect!)
The story of your 6mm-scale figures sounds all too familiar ... and I doubt that my wife believes any of my 'I need some of those figures to just finish of this project' protestations either.
All the best,
Bob
Trebian,
ReplyDeleteI am discovering that have far more stuff than I ever thought that I had ... and that it will have to be pruned as I know that I will never use some of it.
All the best,
Bob
Ian Dury,
ReplyDeleteI hope to pass some of the Peter Laing figures on to you ... and I am sure that you will ensure that they are put to good use ... possibly as masters for recasts?
All the best,
Bob
Old John,
ReplyDeleteI guessed that you might be interested in them ... and with luck there may be some more in due course as I still have three-quarters of the toolbox left to sort out.
All the best,
Bob
It won't take too much effort to get those painted figures into action.
ReplyDeleteJim Duncan,
ReplyDeleteI think that a little bit of re-painting would fix most of the damage done to these figures.
But first, I have the rest of the toolbox to sort out.
All the best,
Bob
That shed continues to delight - what will you come up with next!
ReplyDeleteA quarter, you say? Ye gods...
ReplyDeleteA veritable Aladdin's cave.I follow your delvings with fascination...
ReplyDeleteStryker,
ReplyDeleteThere is lots more to come!
All the best,
Bob
Archduke Piccolo,
ReplyDeleteI have sorted through a quarter of the contents of the toolbox and extracted what I think I or other people might find useful. The majority of that quarter has been set aside for further 'mining' in the future.
All the best,
Bob
Tradgardmastare,
ReplyDeleteThere is a lot more to come ...
All the best,
Bob