Baber on wargames

Sunday, 15 February 2026

British Commonwealth Additions

British Commonwealth Additions

First figures of 2026.

This year I`ve decided to expand my games into Italy, but I have no intention of creating a whole new British/Commonwealth force! I`m just going to re-use my Mediterranean theatre British and Indians including those in shorts - frankly fuck it it is my table 😁

But I do need to upgrade some elements to that later theatre, particularly PIAT teams, so I quickly messaged Tony at Raventhorpe who was happy to provide what I needed plus separate Punjabi turban heads also.

Ten Raventhorpe desert British/Commonweal in helmet plus 2 Airfix mine detector guys, because my Commonwealth troops don`t have any! (though I have already ordered a new set of Mine detector/engineers from S&S Models)

Raventhorpe moving PIAT team

Raventhorpe prone firing PIAT team

Moving PIAT team (as above) but with Punjabi heads (all Raventhorpe)

Raventhorpe British medic with a Punjabi head conversion

All 19 figures together

Friday, 6 February 2026

L’Iber - Museo de los Soldaditos de plomo, Valencia

Museo de los Soldaditos de plomo

The museum of lead soldiers, Valencia.

I heard about this place several years back and it has been on my to do list for ages.

When Chris told us his friends from university were coming to visit, I took this opportunity to book a weekend away for Debbie and I to Valencia with this museum on the list of places to go.

The collection is said to one of the largest of its kind in the world with an estimated 1.5 million pieces!

The collection was started by Mr. Álvaro Noguera, an important Valencian entrepreneur and businessman. His collection grew continuously, as he never stopped acquiring new pieces. His amazing collection grew to the more than one million pieces! The museum continues to expand the collection, much stored or being restored in their workshops. The museum only actually has about 95,000 pieces on display, but I`m told it rotates these at regualar intervals and also has special themed display events.

It was in the 1980’s when Mr. Álvaro Noguera started the idea of exhibiting his collection to the public, but his perfectionism always postponed it. It was not until 2007 that the dream of this collector became a reality, when the L’Iber, Museum of the lead soldiers, was opened to the public, by his son, Alejandro Noguera, the current director of the L’Iber Museum.

The museum is housed the Palacio de Malferit a fine building in the Mediterranean Gothic style, there are ten rooms and well over 95,000 pieces on display. The collection is vast, covers all periods from dinosaurs and cavemen, through all periods of recorded history through to Starwars and Marvel heroes. Most of the display collection appears to me classic lead soldiers in the 40-50mm range, but some of the big battle scenes are in smaller 15mm scale. I also spotted Airfix 1/32nd and 1/76th scale plastics and 1/35th scale plastic kits. There were also larger 90mm figures and bust type models mixed in with serious colectables still in their boxes!!

The museum is located at: Calle Cabellero No22 not far from the cathedral

Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday 11 - 2 & 4 - 7, Sundays 11 - 2

Entrance costs: 8 Euro adults, 4 Euros for concessions