Archive Miniatures
1111 S. Railroad Ave.
San Mateo, CA 94402
Archive Miniatures was formed in the late 1970's. Most of the miniatures in the Archive collection were the work of the infamous Neville Stocken. Somewhere near the end, Neville brought on another sculptor, the astounding Steve Lortz.
In many ways, Archive was a miniature company ahead of it's time. While not everyone agrees to the technical quality of the miniatures, no one can deny that those figures had character! Also, they were larger than the true 25mm figures that everyone else was sculpting at the time. A few years later, a little British company (that was the sole improrter of Archive Miniatures into the UK) would rise to the top of the industry with armies of larger, more characterful figures... but that's another story.
In 1977, Archive released an extensive range of unlicensed "Star Wars" miniatures, apparently hoping to make a killing before (if ever) the budding Lucasfilm found out. The miniatures were only released at Origins, before the plug was pulled. In the years that followed, Archive would frequently tempt legal action by releasing obviously "Star Wars" miniatures with easily removable details (Stormtroopers with rabbit ears, Darth Vader with bull's horns, etc.)
Fans of Archive miniatures need not dispair... although Archive is long gone, there are still miniatures by Neville Stocken and Steve Lortz still available in the gaming industry. Lance & Laser (Columbus, OH) has a selection of excellent science fiction models by Neville Stocken, and several entire ranges by Steve Lortz. Fortress Figures (Jonesburo, IN) also has an excellent miniature range by Steve Lortz. Both small companies, and could use your support!
-Chris Fitzpatrick |
