Stearns at Hinchliffe

From Mil Mod February 1973 the legendary Phil Stearns (the OSS, Penthouse and Mil Mod - beat that for a CV) pays a visit to Hinchliffe Models.

For a little more on Stearns see Shep Paine's tribute.

At Home With Hinchliffe

An article from Mil Mod February 1979 issue timed to coincide with the launch of the Calder Craft brand. I was interested to see Robert Fort get a mention - as we know he was Bicorne Miniatures original sculptor.

In the same issue we also have reviews of 1978s Northern Militaire (sponsored by Hinchliffe Models of course), and Nationals (wherein we are told that a certain Doug Mason was runner up in the 'Class 5' painting competition).

Wargamers' Holidays

Some early publicity for the original WHC as Mil Mod's chief scribbler (and Roy Orbison tribute act) Ken Jones pays a visit to Peter Gilder. From Mil Mod May 1980.

Gilder at Waterloo....Preliminaries..

Those of you who've been paying attention will no doubt have realised that an earlier post was part two of a series (i know, you were too polite to mention it), and at last we have part one.

Incidentally, you have to feel sorry for the Prussians (John Tilson and friends), John writes:
'I remember waiting,as Blucher,all one weekend desperately trying to get my Prussians on ... needed a six and only succeded on the penultimate move so you can imagine the impact I had on the game.'

I hope you brought a good book John...

It Pays to Advertise...Again

From issue 1 of Military Modelling (January 1971). No mention of 25mm, or indeed any scale of figures yet. Interestingly Suren is also advertising Hinchliffe products (as do Garrison in their ad. in the same issue).

This scan comes to us courtesy of the ever helpful Mr Siggins.

It Pays to Advertise

Mil Mod was a fairly broad church in the 1970s and 80s - so there was usually something of interest each month - but even if there wasn't you could rely on the regular Hinchliffe ad. to fire the imagination (even though i could rarely afford the new products featured, and wouldn't have known what to do with most of them anyway).

This ad. from October '77 features one of Hinchliffe's best equipment sets - EG19 Landsknecht Baggage Wagon - you got everything (including the kitchen sink...and 'company shoe carrier'...?!) with this one. Renaissance wargamers were spoiled rotten by the Hinchliffe equipment range - i wish the AWI or SYW had received similar treatment.

This also reminds me that at its peak Hinchliffe Models was close to the complete toy soldier company - producing a vast range of products in everything from 12 to 150mm. I can't think of anyone (with the possible exception of Tradition - which may or may not be a coincidence given Frank Hinchliffe's early involvement with Tradition) who has come close to that level of coverage before or since.

All of which reminds me that that article on Frank Hinchliffe is woefully overdue.

That Classic Mil Mod Cover

I remember being transfixed by this Hezzlewood and Ray created FIW set piece pretty much from the moment i collected the magazine from the local newsagent. Neither Suren nor Stadden figures were on my radar at the time so seeing such finely sculpted figures for the SYW was a revelation (Spencer Smith's these were not, and, although i liked Gilder's SYW cavalry, the infantry he did for Hinchliffe were a bit too chunky for my liking).

I guess this cover was arranged to coincide with the launch of Hezzlewood's Pax Britannica range (ads for which appeared in early editions of Miniature Wargames, which places them in 1983 or '84), and the majority of the figures featured appear to be standard PB castings. Apparently John Ray painted the British, and Hezzlewood the French (and rumour has it he didn't bother painting the legs of the chaps defending the stockade). The buildings look suspiciously like the creations of the late Ian Weekley of Battlements fame.

Nearly 30 years on this remains an inspirational image and one of my all time classics.

Peter Gilder's 'Painting Wargame Figures & Armies'

The most comprehensive 'how to' PG wrote was this databooklet included in the December 1981 issue of Mil Mod. Despite being nearly 30 years old (yikes!) there are many wise words within.

I have a PDF version (courtesy of Mel Spence) - you'll have to email me if you want that.

Great Gilder Set Pieces 4

Another Gilder Mil Mod cover shot (and another image that you'll also find in Curt Johnson's book). Peter Gilder appears to have got far more coverage in Mil Mod than in Battle - even when Battle was a separate title dedicated to wargaming ....odd....?

This image is a good example of why Johnson's book was so frustrating for us mere mortals - the majority of the figures pictured were never made commercially available. As many of these 'specials' were superior to the Hinchliffe range it was frustrating indeed. The main line unit pictured here (4th Foot) and the opposing rebel riflemen are good examples of this. Actually the 4th could be replicated without the need for God-like talent - take a Hinchliffe Grenadier, scrape off the shoulder wings and remove the head and sword, replacing the former with a line infantry head. I could never face doing that 30 to 40 times (probably just as well for what's left of my sanity).

Great Gilder Set Pieces 1

I was drawn into wargaming by the toys, rather than, for example, a great desire to replay the antics of Napoleon, Wellington, or any of the great generals (though i have managed to mimic the win/loss ratio of George Washington rather well). As a young (and inept) military modeller i was captivated by the photos of the Peter Gilder collection that were published in Military Modelling magazine from time to time, and when i discovered that a cousin had been collecting 25mm Napoleonics i was sold.

This is one of my favourite shots - Napoleon and entourage from June 1975. Unlike some classic Gilder shots i don't think this one has been widely used elsewhere - i can't remember seeing it in any other magazines or books.

Rematch

August 1972 and Charles Grant takes a look at the next batch of Hinchliffe Napoleonics.

Again this comes to us courtesy of Clive.

Grant vs Gilder

Whilst it might sound like an intriguing episode of Celebrity (Wargamers) Death Match sadly this post is merely an article from the February 1972 edition of Military Modelling. In it Charles Grant takes a look at some of Peter Gilder's earliest work for Hinchliffe Models - 25mm Napoleonics.

This is another article sent to me by Clive- thanks Clive.

Gilder at Waterloo....Again..

Unlike everyone's favourite Corsican midget Peter Gilder had many Waterloos - indeed with at least 3 written up for magazines, 1 televised, and no doubt numerous refights at the WHC, PGs Waterloos must have been as frequent as Abba encores....

I am left with the impression that he won them all too.

If you have been left frustrated by the sudden end to PG's series from Miniature Warfare then this article from September 1975's Mil Mod might help complete the picture to some extent as it's an account of a different refight staged by PG and friends 5 years later. Guess who won...