It began by reading this splendid blog post over coffee-
https://pampersandp.blogspot.com/2026/07/a-further-tarriance-in-hyboria.html
And continued thus-
Looked out these Airfix Ancient Britons from the shed. This is the colour l recall from my youth. Sadly these have plastic rot and will need to be disposed of.
Looked out these from the shed also and took them off their tired thin card bases. Wondered if this broken hollow cast elephant might be deployed with them…
I ordered the Airfix’s magazine below from eBay recently, it arrived pm.
Interesting series of articles from Bob O’Brien on converting Airfix figures.
Some examples of conversions, even mentioning Banana Oil!
An interesting review from the same magazine re WRG rules. The magazine cover below.
Currently getting the Minifigs ready for the tabletop and their newly acquired elephant too. I envisage them to be some sort of desert raiders , a thorn in the flesh of many.
Thanks Alan, you're very kind.
ReplyDeleteThose old articles in Airfix Magazine were really inspirational - Many of Robin Hood's Merry Men were chopped up to provide bits for "conversions".
Tempted to have a wee go now…
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
Hi Alan,
ReplyDeleteWhat a splendidly nostalgic day! Shame about the plastic rot on the Ancient Britons, but getting those vintage Minifigs rebased—along with that grand hollow-cast elephant—is proper wargaming treasure. Those old Airfix articles really take you back!
All the best, Andy
A grand nostalgic day in as they say.
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
Old figs and magazines, marvellous.
ReplyDeleteDon't throw those brittle Airfix away, they can be resurrected, used as casualties or other markers or as spare parts!
Best wishes, James
They are sooo brittle but worth a thought,definitely.
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
Super gluing and then a light overcoat of PVA or Modge Podge might extend their lives.
ReplyDeleteHmmm worth a go. Worried that they might spread their infection.
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
I have been having fun painting Minifigs S range Devish and Jacklex colonials. I knew that there was a box of them up in the loft.Finding them was the difficult part ! Assembling the Jacklex mountain battery next
ReplyDeleteThat sounds a terrific project. Look forward to hearing more.
DeleteAlan .
Tradgardland
Plastics do age, I seem to recall Charles Grant finding a lot of his Spencer Smith figures falling apart.
ReplyDeleteI have "somewhere" a number of those articles culled from Airfix magazine. Mike Blake did ACW and I recall others covering colonial British (from WWI Germans) and Crimean War Russians (from the Bedouin Arabs!). The magazine during the 60s. Sadly the editor, Chris Ellis, passed away last year.
A search has just produced this:
:https://archive.org/search?query=airfix+magazine
Should find more of the Bob O'Brien articles.
That poor elephant - perhaps someone was desperate for an elephants foot umbrella stand....
Brian
archive.org has some fantastic old Railway Magazines too
DeleteCreative days, thanks for the heads up re magazines.
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
A proper old school sort of day. and thanks for that blog find, it's intriguing. I saw recenrlty that Airfix has reissued some of their old sets, I think the Robin Hood set among others. I've been quite frustrated of late assembling Victrix 28mm figures and am starting to year for those old Airfix figures though banana oil frightens me! I hope that handsome elephant gets to see more life.
ReplyDeleteCheers, Michael the Mad Padre
A friend gave up on the Victrix stuff he was doing as too, too fiddly. The elephant will see action and new gaming life definitely.
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
Alan,
ReplyDeleteI was going to suggest using the heads for conversions.
That Airfix magazine link is a treasure trove!
Plastics can go brittle over time.....
Don't sniff that banana oil! ☺☺☺☺
Neil
A plan re heads. Fear not l shall keep away from the banana oil.
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
Lovely old-school stuff . So the Ancient Brits really were grey - my red-brown ones (late 70s?) must be relative youngsters..
ReplyDeleteI have a copy of the Terry Wise military museums book reviewed in your Airfix mag - charity shop find.
I seem to remember George Gush was a wizard with converting Airfix too?
When issued in 1969 the Brits were brown and the Romans grey. According to the listing the Brits have been dark brown, brick red, tan and grey. The Romans red, silver and grey. So perhaps they grew old together...
DeleteI recall that military museums book. Hmm interesting re Airfix’s plastic colours.
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
There is also a series on converting Airfix figures in Battle Magazine around 1977. I still have mine (and the magazines). If you are going to Claymore on Saturday, I could bring them along and you could photograph them (printer has died!).
ReplyDeleteInteresting and thanks. I hope to be there early am.
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
Memories... that Roman Friends and Foes article is still having it's effect on me - just that these days I'm chopping up lead figures and sending the results to Pete Brown so they can be made into moulds... he's working on my latest lot now...
ReplyDeleteThe spirit of Airfix conversions lives on! I have enjoyed your splendid metal ones.
DeleteAlan Tradgardland