Monday, February 1, 2021


Ral Partha LotR 'wood' Elves, circa 1976.

I have recently had a conversation with some gamers who doubted my tales of collecting the old Ral Partha Lord of the Rings figures, in their little cardboard boxes, circa 1976.

'Surely, you are mistaken, for Ral Partha never had such a line'."I don't remember any such figures, perhaps you are mis-remembering?' "I bought my Ral Partha figures in blisters.' 'You must be thinking of Heritage models.'

But no, I am thinking of the old RAL PARTHA LotR figures. We had (have) them by the hundreds, and still play with them to this day. People started getting me to doubt my own memory, but then I snapped out of it. Here are just some of the figures, there are many more:


Riders of Rohan


Mina Tirith Citadel Guard with Gondor's White Tree and seven stars heraldry on their shields. Coincidence?


Dwarves of Moria with the anvil and hammer symbol on their shields.


Men of Harad.


Goblins.


Orcs of the Red Eye.


Orcs of the White Hand.


Warg Riders. Shame Peter Jackson turned them into hyenas.

Anyway, I hope you now see that I wasn't dreaming; there WAS a Ral Partha LotR line of figures in the 70's.

The End.

 

6 comments:

Col Durnford said...

I stand corrected. These are clearly stamped Ral Partha.

Are they 25mm or 15mm?

Thanks,

Vince
AKA Col Durnford

Nia Parillo said...

Vince,

They are 25’s.

Steve

David Wood said...

These are from the Ral Partha Wizards, Warriors and Warlocks range. Some of Tom Meier's earliest work... obviously a 'homage' to Tolkien without a licence! Ral Partha Legacy may have some of the molds?

http://www.miniatures-workshop.com/lostminiswiki/index.php?title=Wizards%2C_Warriors_and_Warlocks

David Wood said...

The other early US 'not Tolkien' range was the Heritage / Der Kriegspielers 'Fantastiques';

http://www.miniatures-workshop.com/lostminiswiki/index.php?title=Der_Kriegspielers_Fantastiques_%281000%29

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Terrement said...

Hi, Can you message me on Facebook? I may have a lead for you.

Also:
Elan Merch took over the Heritage line of figs

Minifigs did "Middle Earth" figures - not that they'd be of particular interest.
Unremarkable in comparison

Mirliton now does a number of the Grenadier lines under their brand. Though not specifically "Tolkein / LotR" figs, there are figs of various races that are clearly "borrowed" to fit. Dwarves, Goblins, Orcs, Hlf-orcs, High Elves, Wood Elves, Halfmen, etc.

Superior did some, and Mithril (US, or just sold here?) had a lot but stylistically "unique"

http://www.miniatures-workshop.com/lostminiswiki/index.php?title=The_Lord_of_the_Rings

John Parus / Terrement