I have been to.... Minifigs UK

A quite splendid day off on Wednesday - I had taken the day off as my wife was supposed to be working, and I needed to be at home to meet the spuds when they finished school. As it turned out they rang her up the day before and told she didn't need to go in, so the two of us went out to do what I'd planned for me to to do for the day. Now as a wargamer I'd be the first to admit that Steve-the-Wargamer leads a "socially challenged" existence, but I think even my missus enjoyed the day out!

First stop was the new Miniature Figurines factory at Southampton - Neil and Liz have been the "new" owners of Minifigs (or more correctly Miniature Figurines Ltd) for almost five years now (I think their anniversary is coming up soon) and have just moved premises from the old Northam Road location to a unit in the Solent Business Centre. The new place is still in Southampton, and I'd say about five or so miles away from the old factory, but a whole lot easier to get to, and park at.

(If you're coming from outside Southampton then the M27 is the easiest route - just take junction 3 and follow the signs for Southampton. The unit is in a huge building (an old warehouse I think) on the left as you head towards the centre/docks).

Minifigs share the building with a load of other company's, and although there's no shop as such (I always remember the old one as being a bit dark, but with all the soldiers on little shelves round the walls....), they're still open to pick up orders, and now you get to see the where the real business is taken care of. I've been a wargamer for 30+ years and never seen inside one of the "majors" and I have to say that I found it really interesting.

Anyway - the pictures are from the casting area - it looked to me like there were three casters, one against each bench. In the picture below you can see one of them with the lid up..

The shelves have all the moulds on them (the black circular things that look a little like old film can's), and I would say there were at least three double sided racks.. Minifigs have a very large range is all I can say.

My purpose for visiting was to take advantage of the special offer that Minifigs were advertising in "Battlegames" this month - a "big battalions" deal they had come up with in conjunction with Henry (the editor) - I don't have the details of the 25mm offer to hand, but certainly for 15mm it was buy 6 packs of horse and musket period troops, get 1 pack (a command pack) free.

Given the amount of painting going on in Steve-the-Wargamer's loft recently, my unpainted lead pile was looking dangerously light, so I ordered 3 packs each of British and French Marlburian foot, with a command pack.

The 50+ figures cost me £12.50 with the offer, and that was more than enough for two regiments - bargain.

To make the visit "worthwhile" I also added some WWII stuff to the order; every time I play Blitzkrieg Commander I get enthused to add more figures! Three Pz. IV's (long barrels - what the British called "specials" in the Desert), a Pz.Jgr I (early war tank hunter) and a couple of command vehicles....

What really surprised me was that I was the only one who'd taken advantage of the "big battalions" deal! I would encourage everyone to investigate the offer - the details are in Battlegames and you need to quote BGMFOS01 when ordering...

Brilliant visit - Liz & Neil made both us very welcome, and thanks to Neil for allowing me to post the pictures...

Second visit was to the "Flowerpots" at Cheriton * for "lunch" ie. liquid, comprising a pint (or two!) of "Goodens Gold" (click here).

As my wife was present this time, I did actually have something to eat besides the normal intake of Goodens.. On a very cold day we sat in front of a big log fire, me with a cheddar cheese ploughman's of quite gargantuan proportions, and her with a big bowl of home made soup.... sometimes life doesn't get much better....

* This was the same pub I visited after the recent battlefield walk I posted on... a super pub run by very nice people, with lovely food, but above all else, sublime beers..

...but I spoke to soon. The day did get better as the third trip of the day was on the way home and was to the Southwick Brewhouse (click here) a noted purveyor of fine ales in the bottle.. bliss... as a regular customer I filled my pannier, got a free bottle (as a returning customer), and took home a four pint container of "Palmerston's Folly" brewed locally by the owners, and named after the forts that were built to protect Portsmouth from an invasion by the French under Napoleon III...

Over a cigar and a couple of glasses of the Folly that evening, I had to come to the conclusion that I'd been right earlier, and that a day really doesn't get any better than that!!