Monday, 30 December 2019

Miniature Figurines late 60's or early 70's catalogue...


Amazing the things you forget about. I was sorting out some space for the washing machine to be stored whilst the kitchen floor is laid... suddenly I could open a cupboard that has been covered for some time... mostly full of old Minerva (archaeology) and Wargames Illustrated magazines there was, however, a pile of children's keepsakes in a pile under which I discovered this little piece of joy. I have vague memories of getting it in the last couple of decades but not many... Not sure of the year so it would be interesting to find out. They moved from this address in 1972 and were incorporated  (becoming a limited company) in 1968 so any year between these? Hope the pics are ok (the rear was blank so I've left it off)... with the way the house is at the moment I can barely find room to move... 
























Lots more Miniature Figurines / Minifigs posts here and background information on the company on the Minifigs site here.

Happy New Year to you all by the way, hope the winds of chance blow beneficially in your direction.


Friday, 13 December 2019

Hinchliffe Calder Craft Robin Hood series... part le deux...


Well, as mentioned in the above post, I managed to pick up the Calder Craft Robin Hood Adventure Gaming booklet along with the painting and adventure gaming guide. They are lovely old school publications and a great read. The illustration are the same type as the Hinchliffe Collectors guide from 1976 although I'm not sure of the illustrator (unless it was Norman Swales the equipment piece designer who still designs models today?). 

The Adventure Gaming booklet


















The Painting and Adventure Gaming Guide

(this is just an A4 sheet folded over)





Still looking for the boxed game of course and the other figure packs...


Wednesday, 11 December 2019

Hinchliffe Calder Craft Robin Hood series...


Many years back Hinchliffe moved part of the company into a division named Calder Craft - aimed at a  more gift packaged product. One of series was re-purposed ranges as 'Adventure Packs'. I just managed to pick up 2 of the blisters... the castings are pretty poor (I don't remember poor castings from Hinchliffe back in the day) - the RH7 Man at Arms shows mold slippage in both examples and also in the one on the Lost Minis WIKI here. All the miniatures seems to be from the RH range barring the 2 scenic pieces in the archery tournament.

1106 The Tax Collector at His Work



The blister had been opened and the contents placed in individual ziplock bags... I don't know if all the pieces are there but live in hope...

1108 The Archery Tournament with Robin Hood in Disguise

  

The 3 arrows to be stuck to the target were in their original (I assume) plastic bag and are quite effected by lead rot... I'll give them a good clean before attaching them.


The offending plastic bag...


The 2 scenery pieces are possibly from another range, they don't have the RH prefix, instead SA8 A and B...



So far I only know the names of 2 other blisters... not 100% certain of the contents...

1103 Prince John Sir Guy of Gisbourne and the Sheriff of Nottingham
(I'll assume RHC2 & 3 of course)


1107 The Creaky Transport of Sherwood Forest


Edit 13th December... found an old catalogue listing;

1100 Personality Pack - Robin Hood, Little John, Friar Tuck, etc

(poor pic via the PDF)



1101 The Outlaw Band - Trusted Followers of Robin Hood

1102 Sherwood Villagers - People of the Forest Dwellings

1104 The Mounted Sergeant and his Men at Arms

1105 Sergeant and his Men at Arms on Foot

1109 The Bridge of Encounter Robin Hood and Little John

I've also just purchased the Robin Hood Adventure Gaming booklet which should be here in a couple of days... more pics once it arrives!


The boxed game which I'd love to pick up one day! Decent pictures would be a bonus as well!




There are a couple more small images over on Boardgame Geek here.

And while we're at it this is an RH mini without a code... possibly a Heritage release in the States as he's reminiscent of the John Carter Warlord of Mars style. Any thoughts?

Edit 13th... I checked the base and memory had ill served me. This is a Heritage Sheriff...


Possibly from a medieval range? I'm not aware of them doing a Robin Hood one...


The full RH listing and many pics are on the Lost Minis WIKI here.

Some of the Calder Craft Adventure Packs are here. Many images missing as are listings... if anyone has either please give me a shout. Posterity calls!

A lot of Hinchliffe minis are available again through Hinds Figures Limited. I did pick up the Robin Hood range but they seem to be using old molds which, coupled with the hard alloy used, makes them quite difficult to clean up.

A great Frank Hinchliffe history is over on the wonderful Unfashionably Shiny blog here.

As always, leave a comment or give me a shout on enquiries@deartonyblair.co.uk