Miniatures for Wargamers, figure painters & collectors, 6mm, 15mm, 20mm, 25mm, 28mm, 32mm, 40mm

Foundry Miniatures Ltd manufacture the world's largest range of 28mm metal miniatures for gamers, collectors, modellers and painters.

Clifford Ansell was looking for an interesting retirement job that would keep him busy. Cliff had spent much of his life working in the mining industry (apart from a few years away with the Royal Navy in the 1940s) he ended up a mining engineer and an expert on mine safety, ventilation and dust suppression. In the 60s Cliff moved on to a second career as a maths teacher: he taught maths at Bishop Dunn Comprehensive in Nottingham.

Cliff's son was, and is, my father: Bryan Ansell who had made toy soldiers with Skytrex, Tabletop, Asgard and Citadel/Games Workshop. He ended up owning GW and was responsible for games like Warhammer Fantasy Battle, 40K, Space Hulk etc.

When Cliff announced that he was going to take early retirement, Bryan suggested that Cliff might like to have a go at manufacturing toy soldiers himself.

Cliff was already experienced in dealing with both stubborn Lancashire miners and wilful, disorganised children: so it was clear that the strange mindset of the confused denizens of the toy soldier industry would be absolutely no problem for Cliff to handle.

As it happened: this was the time when Citadel was starting to change from metal based models to their new "slotta bases", and also ceasing to make historical models. Bryan was able to set Foundry up with a number of discontinued ranges - Barons Wars and Wars of the Roses Medievals, Samurai and the Vikings, Normans and Saxons, Woodland Indians, Huns and Elizabethans initially (these had all previously served as Human forces in Warhammer Fantasy Battle for some years). Further hundreds of other Citadel models followed. We still make those models at Foundry today, though we cannot manage to have them all in stock at the same time.

Michael and Alan Perry sculpted almost all these models and were keen to continue sculpting historical models for their own painting and wargaming purposes, so they continued to sculpt new Foundry ranges for Cliff for quite some years. Alistair Morrison and Dave Andrews both contributed ranges too.

So, Foundry was up and running very quickly indeed. Cliff first had premises in Sherwood, then moved to a larger unit in New Basford. The upstairs in New Basford was taken by Alistair and Trish Morrison: who sculpted the Marauder range for Games Workshop up there.

For a long period, Foundry was making many master moulds and production moulds for Games Workshop whenever they found themselves with more moulds than they could handle. Over the years many ex Games Workshop staff worked for Foundry; most notably John "Bones" Ellard, "Ep" Epworth, Andy Pattinson, Kevin Adams, Colin Dixon and Shane Hoyle.

In 1991 my father left Games Workshop and went off to Guernsey for a decade or so. In Guernsey he had three children, restored four old houses (he does that wherever he goes: not the children, just the houses) started Guernsey Foundry and made Seven Years War, Old West, Pirates and Darkest Africa models these were mostly sculpted by Mark Copplestone. When he came back to England in 2000 he brought his ranges and a couple of the Guernsey staff with him, started restoring a house near Newark and took over running Foundry from Cliff. He produced more Seven Years War, Darkest Africa and loads more Old West, then Street Violence, Vikings, Gladiators, various Romans, 16th century Swashbucklers, huge ranges of Greeks and Macedonians, Fantasy and various odds and ends.

In 2005 my father left Foundry and went back to gardening and restoring houses.

We only re-entered the world of toy soldiers because my cousin Neil Littlewood went to work at Foundry for a while, and it became apparent that there were serious problems that needed sorting out. In the end we stepped in, and the Ansell family are running the factory again.

We have moved Foundry into the huge old Carriage Court alongside our house in East Stoke.

Cheers

Marcus

Magister Militum, The home of over 14,700 wargames products for wargamers everywhere, from Akkadians to Zulus, Tanks to U-boats, aircraft to orcs we have thousands of products in various scales. We also stock some great rules and board games.

Who We Are
Magister Militum was founded in 2002 by Richard and Zoë Clewer. Our company manufactures and imports of some of the finest wargaming figures, scenery and accessories money can buy, with over 14,700 products on our website. We truly are Giants in a Land of Miniatures!

Who Does What?
Richard has a degree in War Studies and a lifelong passion for history of almost all eras matched by an enthusiasm for wargaming and board games to be reckoned with. He researches new ranges, makes the moulds, answers historical enquiries and is half of our double act at trade shows.

We have two fantastic spin doctors, a packaging princess and Zoë spends her time mainly maintaining and improving our website, including photography of newly painted figures - a never ending job!!

Where Are We Based?
We’re based in two industrial units near Salisbury in south west England. This is where we run the manufacturing and mail order part of the business, although you can see our ranges ‘in the flesh’ on the show circuit throughout the UK and parts of Europe. Check out when we are next in your area by clicking on our Trade Show link.

Mission
We have always worked to the principle of providing top quality, inspiring wargaming products. We sell historically accurate ranges, strong in breadth and depth, backed with expert knowledge in a professional manner for you, our customers.

Our History
Magister Militum came into being in 2002, when we began by importing Hallmark Figures 1:6000 ships back into the UK from their new owners in the USA. We soon progressed to manufacturing with the purchase of Navigator Miniatures 28mm ancient ranges and shortly afterwards bought the Chariot Miniatures 15mm range which spans the Biblical era to the Napoleonic Wars and has been in business for over 30 years.

It was during this time that we began producing 10mm Crimean War figures of our own. After a chance conversation with Rick Priestly at a Society of Ancients day, we began a rapid expansion of our fledgling 10mm Ancients range in collaboration with Games Workshop Warmaster Ancients team. This huge range of 10mm figures includes the Medieval era, a massive Napoleonic and Revolutionary Wars range, WW1 and WW2 figures and indeed our scale model dinosaurs.

Next came an expansion into the world of buildings and scenery with JR Miniatures, Baueda and Miniature World Maker from the USA, Italy and Australia respectively.

With GHQ we knew this was a range that couldn’t be beaten on quality or detail, so we had to make this excellent range easily available to you on this side of the Atlantic. We stock over 10,000 packs with deliveries on average every six weeks or so, so you’re never far away from 1:285 heaven.

Latterly, we have begun stocking pleasantly challenging strategy board games, card games and other useful items like bases, paint and brushes and unusual dice. Not to mention our growing range of 10mm fantasy ranges!

We’re always spotting and stocking new products that may interest you, the latest being 15mm Polly Oliver, 28mm Lead Adventure Miniatures, Dark Sword Miniatures which includes the Game of Thrones figures as well as A Song of Ice and Fire, Ozmy Oddzial 3mm and Et Sans Resultat! rules and armies series.

Be sure to follow us on social media to get the news as it happens!

Newline Designs manufacture finely detailed white metal historical figures for wargamers and collectors in 10mm and 28mm scales. All the figures are sculpted by Sean Pereira ensuring consistency, accuracy and anatomical correctness throughout the range.

The 28mm scale has long been popular amongst collectors as the sculptor is able to show high levels of details in each individual miniature. Figures in this scale can be purchased singularly as well as in discounted army or unit packs. The army packs provide excellent value and give a well balanced force an ideal starter set for a new army or period. Use the unit packs to expand your army easily & economically.The figures are compatible with the majority of other manufacturers in this scale.

In 20mm Newline Designs provide one of the most extensive and detailed ranges available, ideal for FoG, WAB, DBA or DBM. This scale provides a low cost alternative to 28mm, without compromising the detail, enabling the painter to produce stunning results. Try a new period or army utilising the army details & you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the value this scale offers.

Based in the U.K, Newline Designs offer a reliable world-wide mail order service. In addition, the figures can be purchased at various wargames shows throughout the U.K. Pre-ordering is recommended due to the large number of figures & ranges available. Please see our events section for details

Suggestions for future ranges are always welcome.

Old Glory Miniatures USA are "Simply the finest" in meeting your gaming needs. We provide high quality miniatures for all your scenarios: 10mm, 15mm, and 25mm scales are all covered. Aside from miniatures, we also have buildings, ships, rulebooks, and terrain!