Oldest wargame figures still in your possession

[Zenbadger]

Just some Donington hoplites I bought in about 1980-82 using a postal order of all things.

[Panzer21]

Just some Donington hoplites I bought in about 1980-82 using a postal order of all things.

Postal orders! That takes me back........
Neil

[Peeler]

Apart from airfix etc, I'd say a pack of Mini figs french Napoleonic line infantry, bought in 1977/78, from the (now) stamp shop on St Nicholas St.

[BaronVonWreckedoften]

IIRC, one of the leading London model shops, back in the day, was also a stamp shop (Rye Stamp and Hobby - run by, I think, Bill Brewer?) - am I thinking of the same one, Mark? Down Peckham way - probably not far from Nelson Mandela House.....

[goat major]

In my youth the only place to buy wargame figures in Middlesbrough was the stamp shop on Linthorpe Rd.

[Peeler]

No, my one was in Scarborough. Sounds as stamp shops selling figures was maybe a bit of a thing though.

[Willz the Wargamer]

Early Hinchcliffe French Napoleonic infantry, the first metal figures I painted.
Probably some WW2 Airfix figures and tanks.


Willz.

[Paul]

Postal orders! That takes me back........
Neil

They still exist...I wonder if anyone still uses them?

[Count Belisarius]

I looked them up too. Good they are still around. Can't remember last time I bought one!

I purged a lot of my old stuff years ago between moves. Probably the oldest I have is a Citadel (I think) Medieval dude bought in 1980...

[Tim Hall]

IIRC, one of the leading London model shops, back in the day, was also a stamp shop (Rye Stamp and Hobby - run by, I think, Bill Brewer?) - am I thinking of the same one, Mark? Down Peckham way - probably not far from Nelson Mandela House.....

I always enjoyed my trips to the Rye Stamp and Hobby shop. Bill Brewer was a very nice chap when you got to know him, and he always remembered my name. We used to have a good old hobby natter. I purchased all of my hoard of Essex Miniatures there, and a unit of Medieval archers painted by the man himself. I know Kevin Dallimore was one of his acolytes, but Bill was far and away the better painter in my book. I never saw any stamps on sale though.

As to oldest figure, the only candidates I could locate are a handful of ACW officers from Steve Hezzlewood's excellent "Echelon" range circa 1980, oh and a couple of Stadden 30mm Zulu War Brits. They are all still serving proudly. Everything else has been sold over the years to fund new projects.