Skybirds: Acorn Models advert in Wargamer's Newsletter June 1970

A little bit of an oddity, as this range was included in the Douglas Miniatures catalogue the following year, is this advert for Skybirds from Acorn Models in Wargamer's Newsletter in 1970. It provides a handy short thumbnail of the history of the company.

Skybirds

Some Skybirds figures were 30mm, but some are nearer 20mm. These pictures are of the 20mm ones, some originals, some recasts, and some repainted.

Douglas Miniatures Crimeans, Napoleonics and Wodensfeld ACW ranges - availability

The arrival of the Brunswick figures featured in the previous post reminded me that I had a couple of samples of Douglas Napoleonics from John Cunningham, who holds the rights to these ranges. John is about to release the Crimean War range, and has limited stocks of part of the Napoleonic range (some of the moulds have been lost). John also has the ex-Wodensfeld ACW slowly starting production - Louisiana Tigers and Rebs marching as well as few mounted generals & officers are currently available in limited numbers.

The first two pictures are of NP 7, British Line Infantry Advancing




The next two are NP 23 French Line Voltigeur/Grenadier in shako firing




John tells me limited stock of the following figures are available:

NP10 British Line Infantry standard bearer
NP 9 British Line Infantry officer
NP 7 British Line Infantry at ready
NP 7a British Line Infantry at ready, variant with musket sling
NP 22 French Grenadier of Guard firing
NP 23 French Line Voltigeur/grenadier in shako firing

and further figures to come:

NP 6 Brunswick Infantry
NP 8 British Line Infantry firing
NP 19 French Guard officer
NP 21 & 21a British Hussar and horse

Douglas Miniatures Napoleonic Range NP 6 Brunswick Infantry

A recent arrival are these rather nice early Brunswickers from Douglas Miniatures, with a Hinton Hunt officer. In Polrock or Litewka, these pre date Waterloo and are therefore useful for Peninsular War service.

Les Higgins Napoleonics

Some stills of the Les Higgins units involved in the battle and slideshow from the previous post.

The Battle of the Bernebeu

As part of a weekend in North Berwick play testing Tony's Napoleonic hex based and computer managed rules, we staged a Peninsularwar battle betweena joint Portuguese and Spanish force attacking an Italian/Spanish force. This gave my Hinton Hunt Iberians a run out, with Tony's troops including figures by Les Higgins, Minifigs S Range, Hinton Hunt (Brunswick Hussars), Kennington, NapoleoN, and Warrior, among others.



Generals play an important role in command and control and are so well represented.



The Italians and Spanish occupied a line of ridges and positions. The italians were their best troops; the Portuguese were their only equals on the other side, and did not arrive for several moves. On the Italian/Spanish right a village formed the strongest part of the line, occuped by elements of Saint-Paul's Italian Brigade, with the remainder of the brigade occupying the hills behind. The central ridge was occupied by cavary (Dragoni Napoleone) and atillery; and on their left Monastery Ridge was occupied by Casapalacios' Spanish Brigade.



Blake, commanding the Portuguese-Spanish army, had two Spanish Brigades (Espana's and Morillo's), Spanish and Portuguese batteries, and the 14th Light Dragoons. Marching to join him were two columns from Collins' Portuguese Brigade of the 7th Division, each of two line and one Cacadore battalion. Additionally the Brunswick Hussars were on their way. The rules allow for te use of blinds so their time and direction of arrival were a little uncertain; Blake proved loath to advance until his best troops had arrived.



I am adding a slideshow of the battle; if you want you can try to spot the manufacturesr involved in the various units.



If you want a slightly less frenetic view, and some explanatory notes, you can ascess the photobucket album here

Jacklex Pancho Villa range - final figures

Peter Johnstone has written that Jack Alexander has completed his work on this range.


PEA 2 (b) American kneeling firing

The figure listed as PEA 2 American Firing is now PEA 2(a)


PEM 9 (b) Mexican Rurale officer
(c) Mexican Rurale Bugler
(d) Mexican Rurale Guidon

The earlier RURALE with sabre listed as PEM 9 is now PEM 9(a).

As before, the figures are available from Peter Johnstone at Spencer Smith Miniatures

Jacklex Pancho Villa range - limbers, Colt machine guns, and motorcycle

Peter Johnstone has sent the following information aboout further releases in this range:

The codings for these figures are:

AMERICANS

PEA 103 COLT MACHINE GUN £1.25
PEA 104 MG CREW (3 FIGS) 1.35
PEA 105 US MOTOR CYCLIST 1.25
PEA 106 LIMBER WITH RIDERS £7.95

MEXICANS

PEM 103 COLT MG £1.25
PEM 104 MG CREW (3 FIGS) 1.35
PEM 105 LIMBER PLUS RIDERS 7.80

There are a few more figures to follow to complete the range for the time being.