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Hello, compatriots! I am a college student in desperate need of useful sources of information! I have taken upon the task of writing my final project in my composition class on the history of wargaming and tabletop miniatures. Painting miniatures is potentially my biggest hobby, and it seemed like an excellent topic for a paper. I need to do a 12-minute elevator pitch of my paper next Friday, and the paper itself must be 2,500 words and is due at the end of the semester (May 5th).


The issue is, I'm having difficulty finding sources that I can cite. I'd go hunting for books, but I don't have a whole ton of time to wait for shipping. So, I've come to you folks. If there are any sources that you are aware of that will help me in my journey, please post them here. If there are important people I could potentially email and ask questions of, that would be cool, too. I already have some info with W. Britain beginning production of hollow lead toy soldiers and the publication of H.G. Welles' "Little Wars". I'd like to know more about when and how painting miniatures for wargames became a hobby of its own, major changes in the miniature manufacturing industry, key players, where we are today, etc.

I would look into Jack Scruby. He was important in the hobby in the 50s, and for at least a couple of decades after. As a young lad in the 70s, his name was a household word among wargamers. If I'm not mistaken, he also published a magazine.

Ultra Grey wrote:
I would look into Jack Scruby. He was important in the hobby in the 50s, and for at least a couple of decades after. As a young lad in the 70s, his name was a household word among wargamers. If I'm not mistaken, he also published a magazine.

You are a lifesaver. Looking him up has linked me to ALL SORTS of good stuff. Thank you so much!

 RedTheWhite wrote:

Ultra Grey wrote:
I would look into Jack Scruby. He was important in the hobby in the 50s, and for at least a couple of decades after. As a young lad in the 70s, his name was a household word among wargamers. If I'm not mistaken, he also published a magazine.

You are a lifesaver. Looking him up has linked me to ALL SORTS of good stuff. Thank you so much!

You also want to start off with H.G. Wells, Fred Jane, and Robert Louis Stevenson. After that, you want to jump primarily to the likes of Donald Featherstone. There's plenty else, but if you've only 2,500 words, you'll break that quickly if you add much else.

Another topic might be Zinnfiguren Tin Flats. They were really popular with my uncles in the 70's for historical wargaming. Maybe you could talk/write a bit about the transition from flats to 3d casting. Not sure on books.

https://www.zinnfigur.com/en/Flat-Figures/

There's a book called "Playing at the World" by Jon Peterson. It is ostensibly about the history of pen and paper roleplaying games, but because D&D has a significant background in tabletop wargaming, the first third of the book covers it extensively - and I mean extensively. It is well researched and extremely detailed, if a bit dry at times.

Edit - because it isn't about wargaming specifically, you won't find many details about the craftsmanship of miniatures. It's more about how the early grass roots communities and magazines built up. However, there are some old timey YouTube videos, like this one with Peter Cushing that goes into the hobby 60 years ago. Follow the recommended videos to find 60s documentaries about companies that built tin soldiers and stuff like that.

There's quite a few bios of Sir Ian Livingstone who was very important in the founding of the modern hobby as we know it. BBC just did a special on him.

He founded a company importing games from the US and later making miniatures.

Games Work... something. Forget what it was called

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Livingstone

And do note that the Steve Jackson of Steve Jackson games is not the Steve Jackson that wrote Fighting Fantasy books and co-founded Games Workshop.