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Thursday, 3 April 2025

Hinton Hunt Time Capsule

Today was a rather exciting day here in the Hinton Hut. Firstly I was treated to a goodbye visit from Goya who pedalled over in the burning Perthshire sun to bring me a nice seated model of Napoleon before proceeding to discuss in depth with Mrs S the merits (or not) of the latest Bridget Jones film.

How fickle - just last year we were discussing HIS film!

No sooner had Goya left than the postman brought me a very interesting package, and I mean VERY interesting package.

This turned out to be an extraordinary Hinton Hunt time capsule gifted to me by Ian T. who contacted me recently to say that he was clearing out his loft when he rediscovered a box of Prussian figures he bought back in 1974 but never got around to using. He wondered if I could find a use for them!

In the top of the box original painting instruction sheets and an order form (don't try ordering them you will be disappointed).
In the box - layer upon layer of goodness. These are PN5 Private with separate musket, er yes, there are a lot of them.
The separate muskets were still in the original tissue paper as packed by Hinton Hunt!

There are a preponderance of Uhlans and Jagers because (and I love this) the rules his group were using back then favoured lances and rifles - that is so 70s!

40 Uhlans, yes that's right 40 - very nice crisp castings.
I'm still sorting through everything trying to work out how I can use them.

So it looks as if after the Austrian build up there is going to be a Prussian one. You never know quite how things are going to pan out when you collect vintage figures.

I can't thank Ian enough for donating these to the cause.

26 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Yes Bob, Christmas and birthday rolled into one!

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  2. Ooh you luck Bastard you! Now that is a care package!

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  3. Ian, Me again. Love the Napoleon. What make is he?

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    1. He's S-range see WM's at:
      https://thehintonspieler.blogspot.com/search?q=berthier#:~:text=Today%27s%20vintage%20vignette,Seated%20at%20Table.

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  4. Wow what a superb gift! Loads of goodies there, it never ceases to amaze me the number of nice people that are in this hobby.

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  5. I wonder if he really did order that many or was it one of Marcus Hinton's famous ordering errors. Saying that I have double the Imperial guard and artillery thanks to him...what a generous gift anyway, enjoy!

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    1. Thanks Simon - so that’s why there are still so many Old Guard castings around!

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  6. You are a lucky, lucky boy. I'm, green with envy and I don't even do Prussians (well actually I do, but in 6mil). I don't suppose there was a spare Spaniard or two in there, but I suppose they were not in fashion in the 70s thanks to all those national characteristics.

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    1. No Spaniards Rob but we can live in hope!

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  7. I don't know why I said that, I'm pretty well sorted for Spaniards. What I desperately lack are French Hussars, surely they were in vogue back in the 70s, or did the lack of lances and tricky paint jobs hold them back?

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    1. Rob, I have some stuff you'd be welcome to. Hard to read, but the number on the bottom of the base appears to be 164. They are unpainted hussars in a busby, 16 of them. I also have 10 what look like line chasseurs a cheval with paint on them and number 140(?) 8 hussars in shakoes with paint. Let me know if you can use any/all of them. Oh, and 8 or so grenadiers a cheval with paint.

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    2. Bob,


      I think those are Der Kriegspieler codes. 164 is a British Hussar (very similar to HH BN55) and 140 is a Prussian volunteer jaeger.

      Goya

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    3. Bob if you send me an email (my address is on my profile) I can put you in touch with Rob.

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  8. By Toutatis, what a lot of Prussians. No wonder your new Napoleon is looking so pissed off.

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  9. That is the most generous gift!

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    Replies
    1. That’s nothing Matt just wait until you see what you’ve got!

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  10. A box of treasure indeed …
    I have to admit that I am quite fond of the infantryman with separate muskets….
    I remember being given some of the British versions way way back in the day…

    All the best. Aly

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    1. Thanks Aly. The self assembly figure does open up possibilities I agree!

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  11. Wow, wow and thrice wow. Finally an answer to our musings about where all the other castings went. Well done, Sir and well deserved.

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    1. Thanks Nigel but I don’t have ALL the castings, not yet anyway…

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  12. What a great parcel, lots of Prussians. Will make a good army to fight the french.
    Paul

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    1. Thanks Paul, actually it’s probably enough to make two armies to fight the French!

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