Free to follow every thread. No paywall, no dead ends.
Citadel Miniatures: the story on HearLore | HearLore
Common questions
When was Citadel Miniatures founded and by whom?
Citadel Miniatures was founded by Bryan Ansell in February 1978 after he left Asgard Miniatures. The company secured funding from Games Workshop to establish its operations in Nottingham.
What materials did Citadel Miniatures use for their figures in 1987 and 1997?
Citadel Miniatures introduced plastic miniatures under the names Psychostyrene and Drastik Plastik in January 1987. The company switched to a lead-free white metal in February 1997 to address public health concerns regarding lead poisoning.
When did Games Workshop announce the Citadel Finecast range and what material does it use?
Games Workshop announced the Citadel Finecast range on the 16th of May 2011. This range introduced a resin-based material that offered greater detail but required significant assembly effort from experienced modellers.
Which companies did Citadel Miniatures partner with or acquire between 1979 and 1993?
Citadel Miniatures maintained a reciprocal distribution deal with Ral Partha from April 1979 to December 1984. The company absorbed Iron Claw Miniatures which ran from February 1987 until October 1988 and Marauder Miniatures which was established in November 1988 and absorbed in August 1993.
What licensed properties did Citadel Miniatures produce figures for?
Citadel Miniatures produced figures for licensed properties including RuneQuest, Fighting Fantasy, Judge Dredd, Doctor Who, Dungeons & Dragons, Star Trek, and The Lord of the Rings. The company created miniatures to tie in with the Lord of the Rings film trilogy released by New Line Cinema.
Citadel Miniatures
In August 1976, Bryan Ansell stood at the precipice of a new industry while co-founding Asgard Miniatures in Nottingham alongside Steven Fitzwater and Paul Sulley. Ansell was already an experienced sculptor who had honed his craft at Conquest Miniatures, but his vision for tabletop figures was about to outgrow the constraints of his current partnership. By February 1978, he made the calculated decision to leave Asgard and strike out on his own, securing funding from the burgeoning Games Workshop to establish Citadel Miniatures. This bold move transformed a small group of hobbyists into a formidable force in the wargaming world, setting the stage for a brand that would eventually define the visual language of fantasy and science fiction battles for decades to come. The announcement of Citadel's formation appeared in White Dwarf issue 11 in December 1978, marking the beginning of an era where the company would not merely supply figures but would dictate the aesthetic standards for the entire hobby.
Metals And Materials
The physical composition of Citadel models has evolved through a series of technological and ethical shifts that mirror the changing times. Originally, these figures were cast in a white metal alloy containing lead, a standard practice for the industry that prioritized durability and detail over safety concerns. However, the landscape changed dramatically in January 1987 when Citadel introduced plastic miniatures under the names Psychostyrene and Drastik Plastik, attempting to modernize their production capabilities. Despite this innovation, the company continued to produce white metal miniatures because the economics of plastic molding made it unsuitable for small production runs, leading to a hybrid approach where arm-less bodies and heads remained metal while arms, weapons, and accessories were plastic. A pivotal moment arrived in February 1997 when Citadel switched to a lead-free white metal, a decision driven by growing concerns about lead poisoning, particularly among children who might handle the figures. This transition was not merely a marketing ploy but a necessary adaptation to public health standards, ensuring the longevity of the brand in a safety-conscious market.
The Assembly Challenge
Acquiring a Citadel miniature was rarely a matter of unboxing a finished product, as most models required significant construction by the buyer. Smaller figures typically demanded the attachment of arms, weapons, and bases, while larger models arrived in numerous pieces that required patience and skill to assemble. The complexity of these figures varied, with some requiring more effort than others, creating a barrier to entry that separated casual buyers from dedicated hobbyists. On the 16th of May 2011, Games Workshop announced a new range known as Citadel Finecast, which introduced a resin-based material that promised greater detail but delivered mixed reviews from the community. Retailers like Wayland Games in the UK issued warnings that Finecast products were intended for experienced modellers only, noting that remedial effort was required due to the nature of the material and manufacturing techniques. This shift highlighted the tension between the desire for higher fidelity and the practical realities of mass production, forcing consumers to decide whether the extra detail was worth the additional labor.
What vehicles did Citadel Miniatures produce for Warhammer 40,000?
Citadel Miniatures produced iconic vehicles for Warhammer 40,000 such as the Land Raider and Rhino for Space Marines. These vehicles were functional components of the game requiring the same level of detail and construction as infantry figures.
The growth of Citadel Miniatures was fueled by a series of strategic partnerships and acquisitions that expanded its reach across the globe. From April 1979 to December 1984, the company maintained a reciprocal distribution and manufacturing deal with Ral Partha, allowing each to bring the other's products to Britain and North America respectively. This arrangement ensured that Citadel figures were available to a wider audience while maintaining a competitive edge in the market. The company also absorbed competitors and created subsidiary lines to diversify its offerings. Iron Claw Miniatures, designed and sculpted by Bob Olley, ran from February 1987 until October 1988 before its designs were incorporated into the main Citadel range. Marauder Miniatures, established by former Games Workshop-Citadel sculptors Aly Morrison and Trish Morrison in November 1988, was promoted alongside Citadel in White Dwarf and eventually absorbed into the parent company in August 1993. These moves consolidated Citadel's position as a dominant force, with retail outlets like the Medway Games Centre in Chatham, Kent, stocking their products from March 1982 onwards, reflecting the insatiable demand for their fantasy staples.
Licensed Legends
Beyond their original creations, Citadel Miniatures ventured into the realm of licensed properties, producing figures based on characters from games, movies, television series, and books. The company produced lines for RuneQuest, Fighting Fantasy, Judge Dredd, Doctor Who, Paranoia, Eternal Champion, Dungeons & Dragons, Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, Traveller, Star Trek, Lone Wolf, and The Lord of the Rings. A significant milestone occurred when Games Workshop re-won the Lord of the Rings license, allowing them to create miniatures to tie in with the trilogy of films released by New Line Cinema, and later extending the range to include characters based on the actual writings of J. R. R. Tolkien. The company also released limited edition models of specific or unusual characters, such as Thrud the Barbarian, with four versions produced, including a specific iteration known as LE104 - Thrudd (Scratching Head). These limited releases, along with figures like drunken Space Marines dressed in Christmas outfits and representations of Grombrindal, the white-bearded logo of White Dwarf magazine, demonstrated the company's ability to tap into cultural phenomena and create collectible items that transcended the wargaming hobby.
Vehicles And Machines
As the hobby evolved, Citadel Miniatures expanded their portfolio beyond standard infantry to include fantasy-based war machines and vehicles. The company introduced catapults and chariots to their fantasy lines, adding a layer of tactical depth to tabletop battles. When Warhammer 40,000 was released, Citadel branched out into vehicles, producing iconic transports such as the Land Raider and Rhino for Space Marines. These vehicles were not merely decorative additions but functional components of the game, requiring the same level of detail and construction as the infantry figures. The introduction of these larger models marked a significant shift in the company's capabilities, allowing them to cater to the growing complexity of wargaming scenarios. The ability to produce both small-scale figures and large-scale vehicles demonstrated the versatility of Citadel's manufacturing processes and their commitment to providing a comprehensive range of products for their customers.
Critical Acclaim
The reception of Citadel Miniatures from the gaming community was overwhelmingly positive, with critics and hobbyists alike praising the quality and detail of their figures. Edwin Joseph Rotondaro reviewed Citadel Miniatures 25 mm miniature figures released in March 1984 and October 1985 in The Space Gamer No. 76, commenting that he highly recommended them to gamers who used any FRPG system, and especially if they used the Warhammer rules. Mike Willis and Martyn Tetlow reviewed Citadel Miniatures for Adventurer magazine, stating that it was in the pure fantasy genre that Citadel models had made their mark and were contenders for the position of market leader, as reflected by the votes of the public at conventions and through White Dwarf. Their staple figures of roleplaying and miniature wargames, including Chaos Warriors, Orcs, Dwarfs, and Fighters, generated an insatiable demand that kept the company at the forefront of the industry. This critical acclaim solidified Citadel's reputation as a leader in the field, with their products becoming synonymous with high-quality miniature wargaming.