A Treasured Memory on eBay
[Pre-Cabinette Archives c.2017]
One of my abiding wargame memories was discovering Miniature Wargames magazine when I came across issue 13 (June ’84) in a shop and snapped it up. This magazine, set up by Duncan Macfarlane, was truly excellent and issue 13 a stand-out issue – the gem in the crown being Andy Callan’s ‘Landsknechts in Devon’. Many of the pictures in Duncan’s magazines are fixed forever in my head – so I was delighted when trawling eBay to see some Hinchliffe ECW figures that I was sure had been featured in that magazine.
The figures on eBay included a two-figure base including a hand-painted standard which was clearly the same as that in an Ian Weekly article in MW13. The hand-painted flag is so distinctive that there is no doubt it is the same figure. Of the other figures purchased from eBay only the one directly behind the standard bearer also featured in the MW photo - see below.
Needless to say I couldn’t resist owning this piece of my past and acquired the figures, although back then I had no ECW army for them to join.
Having obtained these, for me, iconic figures, I wondered if their history might be even more illustrious than the pages of MW. A quick search of the TTTV ‘Battleground’ episode ‘Edgehill’ soon revealed the figures were also stars of the small screen; the tell-tale flag can clearly be seen in the detail of the screen-grab shown below.
.jpg)
How nice to have such veterans in your ranks! There is always a sense of achievement to be had by rescuing old figures and giving them new life.
ReplyDeleteIf only some of my 20mil Naps were veterans of the old school.
DeleteLovely piece of history to own, I have a fair few Hinchliffe in my ECW armies although most are Minifigs, the Hinchliffe ones are lovely, great figures in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I also used to fancy the photos of the 25mm ECW Minifigs in their catalogue, especially the nicely posed group of cavalry figures, but never bought any. My armies are probably at least 95% Hinchliffe but do have a few Minifigs, mainly in my clubmen unit.
DeleteWhat a magnificent find!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year,
Stokes
I did pick up a couple more after these but haven't managed to link them to any historic owners, events or publications.
DeleteI wish all in the Grand Duchy a very Happy New Year - do you get another Stollen to celebrate?
Well, well. These are a real surprise. I painted these figures in the 1970's, part of a large ECW army I collected when I played with Peter Gilder. He supplied the castings from Hinchliffe when he lived in Hull. Once he moved to Thornton Le Dale to start the Holiday Centre some of the army went with Peter and the rest ended up in the with Duncan Macfarlane in Newark. I think you have one of the units that went to Duncan.
ReplyDeleteA pleasure to see them again, they seem to have aged very well.
A pleasure to hear from you as well. Your figures were the inspiration for the glossy look of mine. I must feature my ECW collection more, but in the meantime there's some photos at:
Deletehttps://napoleonictherapy.blogspot.com/p/robs-hinchliffe-ecw-collection.html
Now that is a find!
ReplyDeleteI was very pleased with them. I reckon having them was what convinced me to finally take the plunge and get some armies.
DeleteYou have an excellent eye for quality, Rob. Congratulations on such a spectacular find, which certainly had the desired effect. The ECW armies you created as a result are simply breathtaking.
ReplyDeleteBest regards, and Happy New Year, WM
Thanks, I am hoping you'll finally get well enough to make it here this year and we can actually have a game with them.
Delete