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Ral Partha Enterprises

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Ral Partha Legacy Ltd.
IndustryWargaming
Role-playing games
Founded1975;49 years ago(1975)
HeadquartersCincinnati,Ohio,United States
Key people
Sculptors:
Tom Meier
Dennis Mize
Julie Guthrie
Robert N. Charrette
Sandra Garrity
Richard Kerr
Dave Summers
Presidents:
Glenn E. Kidd
Chuck Crain
Jack Hesselbrock
Michael Noe
Productsminiature figures

Formed in 1975,Ral Partha Enterprises, Inc.ofCincinnati, Ohio,United States, is now known asRal Partha Legacy Ltd.and producesminiature figuresin 25 mm, 30 mm, 15 mm, and 54 mmscale.The company's products are made byspin-castingmetal alloys which depict soldiers, adventurers and creatures that have been inspired by history and fiction. Their miniatures are sold at gaming conventions, in hobby shops, and by internet and mail order for use inrole playing games,wargaming,dioramas, competitive painting, and collecting.

The company began as a basement enterprise undertaken by a group of wargamers around the talents ofTom Meier,a 16-year-old sculptor. The company grew with the increasing popularity of board and role-playing games. By 1982 Ral Partha products were sold worldwide.[1]Ral Partha is best known for its historical figures,Fantasy Collector'sseries, and miniatures produced forTSR, Inc.'sAdvanced Dungeons & DragonsandFASA'sBattleTechgames. Tom Meier became a freelance sculptor in 1988, and retains copyrights to much of his work for Ral Partha. Until 2020 he worked on commission and operatedThunderbolt Mountain Miniatures,a boutique company for pet projects involving dioramas, 54 mm figurines, and a new series ofelvesandgoblins.During its 40-year history Ral Partha has employed more than two dozen sculptors, of whom some of the most prolific were Dennis Mize, Julie Guthrie, Sandra Garrity,Robert N. Charrette,and Dave Summers.

The owners of the original Ral Partha Enterprises, Inc. sold the company toFASAin 1998, and was one of the assets acquired byWizKidsin 2000. The following year Ral Partha's production assets were recast as Iron Wind Metals, LLC of Cincinnati. In 2015 and the 40th anniversary of the founding of Ral Partha, reacquired the long unused trademarks and relaunched Ral Partha as a division of the company focused on producing new and archived miniature lines under the banner of theChaos Warsgaming world. In July 2020, Iron Wind Metals retired the "Ral Partha - A Division of Iron Wind Metals" brand and licensed the Ral Partha era fantasy and historical miniatures to "Ral Partha Legacy Ltd." which owns theChaos Warsgames. Ral Partha Legacy also acquired the license toTom Meier'sThunderbolt Mountain Miniaturelines which unites more than four decades of the artist's work. The new company has announced additions to the existing lines by original designers likeTom MeierandRobert N. Charrette,as well as new artists. Iron Wind Metals continues to produce lines for the futuristic FASA era games includingBattletechandShadowrun.

Licensees and distributors

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United States

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In 1980 Ral Partha licensed select designs toRawcliffe Pewtera long-time producer of cast metal art.[2]The pewter versions of Ral Partha sculpts were typically bare-metal with a satin finish and decorated with glass jewels. In time, a division of the company calledPartha Pewterwas established to produce directly for the giftware market.

Canada

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Ral Partha established a licensing agreement withRAFM,a miniatures manufacturer inParis, Ontario,Canada in 1980.[3]The two companies have had a long-term working relationship which lasted well into the 1990s.

Great Britain

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In 1979Citadel Miniatureswas formed byGames Workshopas a miniatures production shop to produce their own figures and to distribute Ral Partha figures in Britain.[4][5]Citadel Miniatures attempted to establish a U.S. division in 1982 with Ral Partha as the local manufacturer.[6][7]The partnership was short lived and in 1984Games Workshopestablished their own U.S. subsidiary and became a direct competitor. The Citadel Miniatures U.S. products were brought under the Ral Partha logo and marketed asRal Partha Imports.[8]In 1985 the import lines included theFTx-xx Fantasy Tribes,FAx-xx Fantasy Adventurer,FF/31-xxx Fiend Factory,FS/32-xx Fantasy Special,the popularWF-xx Weird Fantasyseries with whimsical themes,FMM-xx Fantasy Mysterious Miniatures,andLB-xx Tabletop's Laser Burnline ofspace marines.Historical lines included RomansAR-xx,Dark AgesDA-xx,MedievalsM-xxxand SamuraiSAM-xx.[9][note 1]At least two figures (FTT 3 Troll hurling rock and FTT 4 Troll in chainmail with scimitar) were sculpted byTom Meierwhile visiting England in 1981.[10]

In 1986Minifigsgained the rights to manufacture and distribute Ral Partha's fantasy range in Britain.[11]The following year Ral Partha dropped Citadel Miniatures' historical lines and began to distributeDenizen Miniatures'dwarves(33-xxx),orcs(34-xxx),36-xxx Legion of the Damnedskeletons, and39-xxx Fantastic Adventurers.[12]

Continental Europe

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By 1989,Jeux DescartesofParisgained the rights to distribute Ral Partha figures in continental Europe.[13][14]Some early Ral Partha advertisements erroneously give the name as "Jeaux Descartes." The relationship was on-going in 1997,[15]but was probably severed when FASA purchased Ral Partha the following year.

Australia

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In the 1980s and 1990s, Ral Partha products were distributed in Australia by Military Simulations ofMoorabbin, Victoria,and thenBentleigh, Victoria.

Product codes

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Only a product code marked Ral Partha's early packaging and customers required a contemporary catalog in order to identify the miniature. In late 1979 the company switched from product codes that used descriptive letter and number codes to a numeric system. For example, in the seriesPersonalities and Things that Go Bump in the Night,ES-001 Evil Wizard, casting spellbecame 01-001, and the first figure of the 15th century Renaissance series1501 Command Setbecame 54-001.[16][17][18]The change was not universal. Ral Partha used letter codes for Citadel Miniatures andDenizen Miniaturesin their line ofRal Partha Importsuntil 1992.[6][8][19]Ral Partha's international partners used their own systems.RAFMofCanadaused the descriptive product codes as late as 1984.[20]Jeux Descartes initially used Ral Partha's numeric codes on packaging of their own design, but new lines were introduced selectively and given codes sequential to their own series. As a result, product codes often differ depending on whether the miniatures were produced in the United States, Canada, or Europe.

Throughout the company's history, figures were modified to improve reproducibility, unpopular designs were re-sculpted, and existing product codes were used for new designs. A common cause of modification was a level of detail or animation which challenged the casting technology. An industry-wide reorientation of scale from 25 mm to 30 mm in the late 1990s, and interest in removing artist's royalties from lines, also prompted new sculpts of existing lines.

Few of Ral Partha's miniatures were marked with product codes and the company's advertisements and catalogs remain a critical resource for collectors. Advertisements by Ral Partha and its British and Canadian partners appear in most editions ofTSR, Inc.'sDragonandGames Workshop'sWhite Dwarfmagazines. Product catalogs were published annually from 1978 to 1997, and in 2000. The 1998 and 1999 catalogs were combined into a single issue. Ral Partha also released Christmas catalogs in 1982, 1983 and 1984, anImportscatalog in 1984, historical miniatures catalogs in 1985 and 1996, a 2000Direct Mail Catalog,and sporadically released updated order forms which listed all the figures in production. In the late 1996 Ral Partha augmented their catalogs with a webpage which highlighted popular products and new releases. After the formation of Iron Wind Metals in 2001, an online catalog and electronic order forms entirely replaced printed catalogs.

Company history

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Ral Partha Enterprises was formed in 1975 when Glenn E. Kidd,Tom Meierand Rich Smethurst set out to produce Meier's sculptures. Meier pioneered the sculpture of miniatures in a two-partepoxy puttydesigned for automotive repair.[21]The epoxy held detail better than traditional media and rest of the miniature industry adopted its use. When mixed together, the blue and yellow components of the putty formed a green putty which gave rise to the term "Greens" for the original artist's work. Finding themselves still short of funds, the three enlisted Marc Rubin, Chuck Crain, and Jack Hesselbrock as partners.[22]The six investors pooledUSD$3,000 to purchase the equipment necessary to produce Meier's sculptures.[1]

The company had its origins in the established hobby of historical wargaming, but the company's rapid growth was fostered by the popularity of role-playing games. The company was namedRal-Parthaafter a particularly successfulwizardcharacter created by Tom's young friend John Winkler. The character was a notoriously hard bargainer whose shrewdness was exemplified by the catch phrase "What's it worth to you?" It was hoped that the fledgling company would have similar good fortune.[1][23]Like their popular line of "3-stage characters," Ral Partha has had a trio of aspects. The first was Winkler's gaming character, depicted asES-001 Evil Wizard, casting spell."Ral" Winkler himself became one of the company's chief casters. Lastly, "Ral" was the company's totemic progenitor credited with collaborative projects and depicted as10–412 Lord of the Balrogs.[1][24][25]

Products were originally cast in the basement of 3642 Hyde Park Avenue, in the Fairfax neighborhood of Cincinnati, the home of the company's first president, Glenn E. Kidd.[22][24][26]In the spring of 1978, the company established a factory at 3726 Lonsdale Street in the Norwood section of Cincinnati.[27]At the time of the move, the address was erroneously rendered as 2732[16]and 2736 Lonsdale,[23]but there is no 2700 block of that street. Small stickers were applied to the 1978 product catalog to correct the address. Those stickers have typically fallen off in the intervening years. By November 1980 Ral Partha moved to a larger industrial space at 5938 Carthage Court, where it, and the Iron Wind Metals production facilities remained until 2014.[18][28][29]Iron Wind Metals has its offices and production facilities at 10437 Chester Rd inWoodlawn, Ohio.

Ral Partha's formative years were the late 1970s, when the company was a part-time basement enterprise producing the art of a teenage sculptor for a nascent gaming market. In 1979, the company became a full-time endeavor with industrial space and two professional sculptors designing products for multiple themes made popular by the rapidly expanding gaming market. The number of sculptors and catalog of miniatures grew rapidly. In the mid-1980s, the preponderance of work moved from Ral Partha's sculptors' designs to manufacturing under license for nationally marketed games. In the short run, the move was economically beneficial. However, the lack of product diversity left the company vulnerable to the marketing decisions of clients for whom miniatures were a minor interest. Between 2001 and 2014, Ral Partha was an unused trademark caught up in the mergers and intellectual property negotiations between large game producers. Since 2001 the focus of Iron Wind Metals has been on existing product lines,Battletechlicensed figures, and manufacturing for partner companies who carryout their own designs, marketing and distribution. In 2014 the production and productive capacities were reunited under Ral Partha Enterprises, a division of Iron Wind Metals.

Basement enterprise, 1975–1978

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The young company received early encouragement from the sale of its entire stock atGen Con1976, a convention of gaming enthusiasts.[24]Ral Partha's lines and customer base grew quickly and they regularly won multiple categories of theOrigins Award.[30]Ral Partha's figures were popular with historical wargamers, but fans of fantasy themed role-playing games like TSR, Inc.'sDungeons & Dragonsaccounted for the majority of their sales.[2]Meier's sculpts tended to carry greater detail than many of his contemporaries, but some early products presented challenges to the casting process.[31]

One of Tom Meier's earliest lines was theFantasy Line,which included about two dozen figures in late 1976.[26][31]Meier'sES18 Adventuressis credited as being the first female character for role-playing games.[32]The fantasy line was renamedES/01-xxx Personalities and Things that Go Bump in the Nightin 1978, and Meier augmented the line throughout the 1980s.[12][16][25][33][34][35][36]

As early as 1976, Meier had begun a series of soldiers fromClassical antiquitywhich were collected together asAN/35-xxx The Hoplites.[37]By 1978 the line was essentially complete and includedGreeks,Carthaginians,Persians,Gauls,Early Republic RomansandMacedonians.[16]Another series begun by Meier in 1976 was a line of 11th-century knights and footmen called11/42-xxx 1200 A.D..[26]The series includedVikings,English, French, Spanish,Moorish,Mongol,andSung Chinesesoldiers.[16]

Ral Partha putE-xxx Wizards, Warriors and Warlocksinto production in 1976, 1977, and 1979.[16][17]The line included some of Meier's earliest work and much of it was executed in the style ofHeritage Models,for whom he had briefly worked.[38]TheE-xxxseries was retired in 1980, but portions of it were re-released in 1995 as part of the19-xxx Ral Partha Rememberedline commemorating the company's 20th anniversary.[18]

In 1978 Ral Partha acquiredThe Old Guard'sLegions of the Petal Throneline of figures for TSR, Inc.'sEmpire of the Petal Throne,a role-playing game based onM. A. R. Barker's world ofTékumel.[16][26]Ral Partha retained the services ofWilliam Murray,the line's sculptor. Tom Meier and Brian Apple made contributions to the series (T, Y, P, M, NH-xxx) in 1979, but it was discontinued later that year.[17][18]

As early as 1978, Ral Partha produced three series of 15 mm historical miniatures sculpted byGeorge Freemanof Dayton, Ohio. They includedNapoleonic-era figuresN-xxx Days of the Empire,AW-xxx American Civil War,andAK-xxx Desert Rats,modeling theNorth African Campaignof World War II.Ann Gallupalso contributed anAC-xxxseries to theAmerican Civil Warline.[16]In 1979 Ral Partha added Freeman's 25 mmW-xxx Waterloo Collector's Series,[17]but all of Freeman and Gallup's figures were discontinued in 1980.[18]George Freeman's 15mm Napoleonics figures are available from Monday Knight Productions (see external links below).

Ral Partha's first venture into science fiction was Meier's 1978 line ofspace marinesandspace aliensGG-xxx Galactic Grenadiers: Strike Force Alpha.Their release was in tandem withGamescience'sStrike Team Alpha,a set designed by Michael Scott Kurtick for Meier's Galactic Grenadiers.[39][40]Other early lines included collectible 54 mm figures calledS/97-xxx ParthaPersonalitiesand lines of 25 mm dungeon accessories (D/97-xxx) and weapons (D/97-5xx).[16]

Producer of signature lines, 1979–1986

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In the summer of 1978, Meier began reworking the themes of theE-xxxseries to create theCS/02-xxx Fantasy Collectorsline ofelves.[41]Meier's lines were successful and he began sculpting full-time in 1979. The addition ofdwarvesin 1979 andgoblinsin 1980 almost entirely replaced theE-xxxseries.[17][18]Meier addedhalfingsin 1982 and began a series of fantasy vehicles. The first was02–030 Dwarf Steam Cannon,released in 1983. Meier's contribution to the series was completed when02-078 The Warmachineand02-020 The Elf Chariotwere put into production in 1984.[33][34][35]

Ral Partha hiredDennis Mizein 1979. With two full-time sculptors, Ral Partha's product lines increased rapidly. Mize's first project wasH-xxx Royal Armies of the Hyborean Ageto accompany aFantasy Games Unlimitedgame of the same name, based on the world ofRobert E. Howard'sConan the Barbarian.[17]The Hyborean line was dropped in 1980, and Mize introduced53-7xx The Samuraiand a line of 15mm fantasy soldiers called05-xxx Armies of Myth and Legend.[18]His popularCN/13-xxx Children of the Nightwas begun by 1982 and expanded over the course of the next two years.[33][34][35]In 1982 Mize and Meier created figures for small thematic box sets called98-xxxThe Adventurers.[33][42]Mize also added to and revised Meier'sThe Hoplitesand1200 A.D.lines in 1984.[35]

In 1979, Meier introduced15/54-xxx Condotitieri,a line ofRenaissance-era figures.[17]The first offerings were Imperialists, to which he added Swiss and Turks in 1980.[18]Meier expanded the historical ranges with the 1983 addition of88-xxx The Colonials.[34]Sculpts for theAnglo-Zulu Warwere augmented in 1984 with figures for theNorthwest Frontierand theSudan Campaignin 1985.[9][35]

Ral Partha entered the game market in 1980 with the release of99–001 Witch's Caldron,99-002 Caverns Deep,99-003 Final Frontier,and99-004 Galactic Grenadiers,skirmish games designed by Glenn E. Kidd and Marc Rubin. "Galactic Grenadiers" included miniatures from theGG-xxxseries. 15 mm figures fromFinal Frontierswere released in 1982 as08-xxx Star Warriors.[33]By 1982, the presidency of the company passed from Glenn E. Kidd to Jack Hesselbrock.[1]The lines of 15 mm fantasy figures were taken out of production and the figures from theCaverns DeepandWitch's Cauldrongames were incorporated into98-xxx The Adventurersin 1983.[34]Ral Partha returned to the board game market in 1985 when they joined with Leggett Games Inc. to publishFortress,a skirmish-based board game which incorporated lead Ral Partha miniatures.[43]That same year the company launched77-xxx Partha PaintsandDragonscalemetallic cremes which were packaged with dragon figures.[36]

In the spring of 1983 Ral Partha began publishing a four-page newsletter entitledThe Partha Pipelinewhich was a housefanzinewith articles generated by staff and friends. A typical issue included "Letters to Ral" where the company's semi-mythical progenitor would answer reader's questions, scenarios for battles with Ral Partha figures, and new releases by Ral Partha and those which they distributed forRAFM.[44]The Partha Pipeline continued for three more years until ending its first series in 1986. A second series using the same name would be revived in 1999.

Julie Guthriebegan freelance sculpting for Ral Partha in 1983. Her first line was the02-9xx All Things Dark and Dangerous.She worked with Meier and Mize on98-xxx The Adventurers.[34]Later that year, box sets of10-3xx The Best of Ral Parthaand Julie Guthrie's96-xxx Elfquestfigures forChasosium'sElfquestgame were put into production.[45]Guthrie expanded theAll Things Dark and Dangerousline in 1984, 1985, and 1986. In 1984 she joined Meier and Mize to develop a short series of miniatures (95-xxx) forNova Games'Lost Worldsseries of combat books.[25][35][36]In 1985 Guthrie contributed two sculpts of unicorns toPO-3xx Once Upon a Timeseries designed for the giftware market, cast in lead-free alloy, and marketed as "Partha Pewter" byRawcliffe Pewter.[46]Their work with pewter allowed Ral Partha's mold-makers to develop the technical expertise necessary to transition to non-lead alloys in the early 1990s.

Robert N. Charrettejoined Ral Partha in 1984 and contributed to Meier'sThe Hoplites,1200 A.D.,andCS/02-xxx Collector Serieslines.[35]In 1985, Charrette inaugurated figures for Chaosium'sRuneQuestand a line of pulp adventurers. The line was initially called "20th Century Plus", but was later renamed20-xxx The Roaring Twenties.[36]Charrette revisited a line of figures he sculpted in 1979 to accompanyFantasy Games Unlimited'sGangster!.[47][48][49]Charrette updated the line to include new cinematic themes such as the intrepid archaeologist. In 1986 Charrette introduced53-9xx Bushido,a line of miniatures forBushido,a game he authored and sculpted a line of figures for Fantasy Games Unlimited.[25][48][50]In 1985, Bob Charrette began producing a line of miniature robot war machines for a game that was first called "Battledroids" and renamedBattleTechin 1986, for FASA's game of the same name.[25]It was the beginning of a permanent relationship between the two companies that would eventually lead to Ral Partha's sale to FASA. Battletech products remain a leading product of Ral Partha's successor, Iron Wind Metals and Charrette continued on as creative development and authored several related novels.

In 1986 Ral Partha sculptors crafted01-3xx 3-Stage Characterswhich consisted of three aspects with increasing amounts of arms and armor to represent a single adventurer's game career.[25]The line was folded into theES/01-xxxline in 1987.[12]Because of their popularity with collectors and role-players, they regained status as a separate line and a place of prominence in the 1991 and subsequent catalogs.[14]

Chaos Wars, 1986–1987

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At the same time that integrated campaign worlds likeGames Workshop'sWarhammer Fantasy Battlewere showing early success, Ral Partha introduced the "Chaos Wars" theme into their 1986 and 1987 product lines.[12][25]It was the first step toward unifying a collection of disparate themes into an integrated brand. In the 1986 catalog sculptors were no longer credited and a mythical "Ral Partha" rather than the president of the company addressed customers in the prologue.[25]At about that same time, the Ral Partha staff had developed a four-pageRules According to Ralfor medieval battles. A fantasy version by Bob Charrette, Rich Smethhurst, Marc Rubin, and Chuck Crain was released in 1987 as part of a boxed setRules According to Ral: Chaos Wars.[25][50][51][52]The Chaos Wars theme collected together numerous existing products, many from Meier'sES/01-xxxline, and their packaging was marked with stickers.

As part of the Chaos Wars product line thePartha Pipelinenewsletter was transformed into theRal Partha War Bulletinin January 1986. TheWar Bulletinfollowed much of the same format as thePipelinebut its focus was the Chaos Wars product line. Releases were sporadic and continued until at least the Spring of 1990.[53]

The new initiative was to include10-2xx Free Companies of Chaos Warsbox sets, but large contracts to produce miniatures for other gaming companies became a higher priority and the Chaos Wars lines were appended to theCS/02-xxx Collector's Series.Among these sets were Charrette's popularFangs of Furybeastmen, Tom Meier'sKorg's Killersorcs, and Meier'sStarbrow's Selectelves. Having never fully materialized, the Chaos Wars theme was set aside in 1988 in order to give necessary attention to producing officialAdvanced Dungeons & Dragons Miniaturesfor TSR, Inc.'sAdvanced Dungeons & Dragonsgame.

Producer of licensed lines, 1988–1995

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In 1988 Meier began his own company, Thunderbolt Mountain Miniatures, but continued to do freelance work for Ral Partha.[2]Company president Chuck Crain hired Sandra L. Garrity, Dave Summers, and Richard Kerr as full-time sculptors[14][54][55]to produce an official line of monsters and personalities for AD&D figures.[30]The earliest figures included10-56x Battlesystem Brigades (25 mm)which included an entire 25 mm military unit in for tabletop wargames, and adventurers (11-0xx) and monsters (11-4xx) for role-playing games.[56]In 1990 Ral Partha launched10-5xx Dragonlance and Dungeons & Dragonsand10-55x Forgotten Realmsboxed sets.[56]The line grew rapidly and 1991 saw the addition of box sets for11-9xx Battlesystem Brigades (15 mm),11-5xx Ravenloftand10-54x Dark Sungame worlds.[14]The11-05x, 11-06x AD&D Personalitiesof heroes and villains was released in 1994, and additional figures for thePlanescape,Ravenloft,andForgotten Realmsgame worlds followed in 1995.[57][58]By 1997 Ral Partha had also added figures for TSR, Inc.'sDark Sun,Council of Wyrms,andBirthrightgame worlds.[15]The breadth and earning potential of theDungeons & Dragonsfranchise drove new releases and Ral Partha scrambled to acquire the sculpting talents of British and American sculptors, including Nick Bibby, Jeff Wilhelm, Bob Olley, Chris Atkin, Walter Vail, John M. Garrity, and Jim Johnson in 1992, and Chis Fitzpatrick and Geoff Valley by 1995.[19][58]

By 1991 the20-xxx BattleTechline had grown to include eleven box sets, and more than one hundred 'Mechs, Aerospace fighters, and ground vehicles. Ral Partha also produced 25 mm20-9xx Mechwarriorsdepicting pilots, mechanics and guards for role-playing in theBattleTechgame world. That same year, Ral Partha sculptors had begun crafting figures for FASA's gameShadowrun,a role-playing game set in a futuristic cyber-world.[14][30]Shadowrun miniatures had previously been produced byGrenadier Miniatures.Ral Partha introduced their sculpts (20-5xx Shadowrun) in 1992.[19]

The12-xxx The All American Lineof fighters, orcs,magic-users,undead,dwarves, and elves was released in 1991 and 1992.[14][19]The name of the line appears to refer to the fact that all the figures were sculpted Ral Partha's four staff sculptors. Other new lines included Richard Kerr's 1992 futuristic tanks forSteve Jackson Games'Ogre[30]and the introduction of the "69-xxx" series forWhite Wolf, Inc.'sWerewolf: The ApocalypseandVampire: The Masqueradein late 1993.[59]Figures for White Wolf, Inc.'sMage: The Ascensionfollowed soon after.

Initially, Ral Partha figures were cast from lead and tin alloy, but in 1993 New York legislators nearly passed a public health bill barring the use of lead in toys and miniatures.[60]Despite the additional cost, numerous manufacturers anticipated parental concerns, similar legislation in other states, workplace safety, and began using white metal alloys. Ral Partha's staff had previously developed a lead-free alloy for their "Partha Pewter," a line of collectible figurines designed for the giftware market. In September 1993 they began using a trademarked white metal alloy they calledRalidiumin all their products[61]and its use marks a clear benchmark for dating old figures. The move away from lead was promoted in advertisements and bright red stickers on existing packaging. In time, New York GovernorMario Cuomorelented to hobbyists' concerns and exempted miniatures from the state's Public Health Law.[62]However, the company never went back to lead. Ral Partha correctly anticipated the industry's movement away from lead, but the associated price increases came at a time when miniatures and role playing games were being eclipsed bycollectible card gameslikeWizards of the Coast's 1993 hitMagic: The Gathering.In 1994 the company experimented withPartha Plastics.[57][63]The move was made well after Citadel Miniatures' successful introduction of plastic and part-plastic figures, but the figures were not popular with Ral Partha's older customer base.

In 1993 Dennis Mize designed the "Titans of Terror" series which invoked the heroes and monsters of the horror films.[64]The following year Mize conceptualized and sculpted01-7xx Beastmasters,a line of carnivores and their trainers. The line was expanded the following year, and would be completed until 1998.[57][58][65]That same year Ral Partha produced "Coins of the Realm," fantasy and historical coinage.[57]In 1995 Ral Partha's sculptors crafted figures for Steve Jackson Games'Space Knight,and dioramas calledSculptors' Row,The Sterling Collection,andEncounters of the Imagination.[58]

The trouble with wizards, 1996–2001

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During Jack Hesselbrock's second term as company president, he re-established a newsletter which he called theRal Partha Gaming Club.Like its predecessors it addressed letters from customers and company news. The series ran for six issues from June 1996 to September 1997. In December of 1996 Ral Partha launched a website which hosted the newsletters and product ordering information. The newsletters reveal a number of licensing setbacks. The hobby market had moved away fromroleplaying gamesandwargamesand was rapidly becoming dominated bycollectible card gameslikeWizards of the Coast'sMagic: The Gathering.Steve Jackson Games'Ogreminiatures and all threeWhite Wolflines were discontinued in 1996. Bob Charrette's18-xxx Runequestfigures were discontinued the following year.[15][66]

Since the late 1970s the gaming miniatures industry had undergone what collectors call "scale creep," an increase in size from 20 and 25 mm scales (i.e. height to the eyes of an upright human-sized figure) to 30 mm and 32 mm. By the late 1990s the move to larger figures by market leaders likeGames Workshopof Great Britain had made it such that Ral Partha's sculpts of the 1970s and early 1980s appeared significantly smaller than others. In response to the shift in the market, Ral Partha began adding to Tom Meier's collector's series (CS/02-xxx) with a 30 mm scaleFantasy Armiesline in a "British style" which tended to have oversized weapons,punkandGothicfashions, and separate square bases. Chris Fitzpatrick designed a line of elves. Bob Olley produced new dwarves, goblins, trolls and ogres. Jeff Wilhelm created a series of skeletons. Jim Johnson's contributions were bands of humans known asHorse Lords,Savages,Reavers,andTyrants.Sandra Garrity designed theKnights of the Legion of Justice[15]A set of rules of theFantasy Armieswere developed by an outside work group calledRal Partha Publishing.The game was first introduced in the 1997 Ral Partha catalog flier as14-001 Bloodstorm.Soon after the project was retitledBattlestormand published in 1998.[63][67]The game was advertised as the first volume of the "Fables Gamesystem," but no subsequent installments were issued.[65]

Buoyed by the success of Magic:The Gathering, in 1997 Wizards of the Coast acquired TSR, Inc. and with it, control of the rights toDungeons & Dragonsminiatures.[68]After an extension to their contract, Wizards of the Coast did not renew Ral Partha's license forAdvanced Dungeons & Dragonsminiatures and the figures went out of production at the end of 1998[63][69]These miniatures are highly sought after by collectors who believe that Wizards of the Coast had ordered the destruction of the master molds.

The loss ofDungeons & Dragonsand other licenses meant that FASA's BattleTech figures became the majority of Ral Partha's revenue. Under threat of also losing those lines and the financial difficulties created by the changing hobby market, the owners of Ral Partha sold the company in 1998 to FASA and Lanier Hurdle and Mike Hurdle, owners of Zocchi Distribution, a hobby shop supplier.[70]FASA gained sole ownership in the spring of 1999,[70]and Ral Partha began to produce miniatures for FASA'sCrimson Skies,Crucible: Conquest of the Final Realm,andVOR: The Maelstromgames.[29]No sooner were these miniatures in stores when FASA ceased production of all their games.[71]

In December 1999 Ral Partha launchedThe Partha Pipelineto announce new products for FASA's games, as well as house designs. At this time Ral Partha had an in-house design studio and a host of staff and free-lance sculptors which included Kev Adams, Jeff Grace, Behrle W. Hubboch III, Randy Kerr, Robert Kyde, Phil Lewis, Dennis Mize, Bob Olley, Tim Prow, Steve Saunders, C. Staples, Dave Summers, Jeff Wilhelm, John Winter.[72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80]The second series of thePartha Pipelineran until late 2000 when the Ral Partha assets faced another acquisition.

In January 2001WizKids,a New Jersey-based producer of plasticcollectible miniatures games,acquired the bulk of Ral Partha's assets as part of their purchase of FASA'sBattleTechandShadowrungames.[68]WizKids purchased the rights to some figures from Ral Partha sculptors, but the bulk reverted to the artists. Meier retained his15/54-xxx Condotitieri,88-xxx The Colonials,and most of theCS/02-xxx Fantasy Collectorslines.[81]Charrette remained in possession of his53-9xx Bushidofigures.[50]Ral Partha continued to produce miniatures for theBattletechandShadowrungaming worlds. Wizkids licensed the rights to rulebooks and other gaming materials toFantasy Productions,better known as "FanPro" in the United States, which had produced and distributed the German language versions of those games for FASA. FanPro's support of theShadowrunandBattletechgame worlds resulted in continued demand for metal miniatures by gaming enthusiasts.

In March 2001 Ral Partha began producing collectible metal versions of the WizKids 64-figureMage KnightRebellion set.[82]The relationship between Wizkids and Ral Partha was a short one. By year's end Wizkids rethought its investment in metal miniatures and divested itself of Ral Partha's manufacturing capabilities while retaining the Ral Partha trademark.

Iron Wind Metals, 2001–2014

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In late 2001 Ral Partha's manufacturing capacities were spun off from WizKids, and renamed Iron Wind Metals, LLC, with longtime general manager Michael Noe as president and in partnership with Marc Rubin, one of Ral Partha's original owners.[83]Iron Wind Metals retained the same location and much of the same production staff, molds, equipment, working relationships with artists, and licensing agreements. In addition to their own lines, Iron Wind Metals carries out contract production work for other gaming labels such as Tom Meier's Thunderbolt Mountain, Dark Sword Miniatures, Crocodile Games, and dozens of others.

Iron Wind Metals' new focus on productive capacities reflected a shift in game production strategy. The previous model had been that gaming companies hired sculptors and other creative talent to feed their in-house casting and packaging facilities. This model was successful, but artists sometimes didn't have the capital necessary to retain copyrights, and the mercurial nature of the market meant that their game designs could be sold to others, or languish as assets of dead companies. In the late 1980s, many game designers and sculptors established boutique companies, often operating out of their own homes, and then contracted out or made partnerships with companies like Iron Wind Metals to do the production.

Iron Wind Metals continued to use the name Ral Partha to describe archived designs, but the website and Ral Partha trademark remained the property of Wizkids which underwent a series of acquisitions. In 2003 WizKids was purchased byTopps,a manufacturer of sports cards who were interested in WizKids range of similarly collectible plastic miniatures.[84]In 2007 Topps was purchased byThe Tornante Company,a private equity firm.[85]Citing falling profits associated with theGreat Recession,Tornante put the Wizkids product lines on hold in November 2008, but continued to lease theintellectual propertiesofBattletechandShadowrungame worlds.[86]In September 14, 2009, The Tornante Company sold the majority of the Wizkids assets to theNational Entertainment Collectibles Association(NECA), but retained the rights toBattletech,Shadowrun,and the Ral Partha trademark and website.[87]

The divisions and purchases meant that assets important to the Ral Partha brand were divided among numerous enterprises. Between 1998 and 2009, the Ral Partha trademark passed from FASA, to Wizkids, Topps, and finally The Tornante Company. None of whom utilized the brand. The miniatures for theBattletechminiatures produced by Ral Partha and then Iron Wind Metals remained popular, but the future of the game was always in question. FanPro had lost its bid to produce theBattletechandShadowrungame worlds, butInMediaRescreated a new subsidiary,Catalyst Game Labsto design new expansions for the games and provided continuity by employing many former FanPro staff[88]The productive capacities for Ral Partha miniatures remained with Iron Wind Metals who had retained working relationships with many of the artists, but could not use the Ral Partha name. Longtime customers could special order many of the figures, but they could not be marketed as Ral Partha figures. The trademark languished until 2014 when The Tornante Company agreed to sell the assets to Iron Wind Metals. By the end of 2014 Iron Wind Metals had recreated Ral Partha by forming a new division which united the Ral Partha trademark, website and sculptors' copyrights with their improved productive capacities.

Ral Partha, a Division of Iron Wind Metals, 2014–2020

[edit]

On the 40th anniversary of the founding of Ral Partha, Iron Wind Metals relaunched the miniature lines from Ral Partha's "golden age." Establishing Ral Partha as a division of Iron Wind Metals, president Mike Noe and co-owner Mark Rubin launched aKickstartercampaign tocrowdfundthe production costs of its 1980s lines under theChaos Warsgame world. Ral Partha had begun developingChaos Warsin 1986. At that time they had released a new version of 'house rules "calledRules According to Ralgaming system with scenarios, several boxed sets, and blister packs marked withChaos Warsstickers. However, the initiative was put on hold by the push to produce miniatures for lines licensed by TSR, FASA, and other partners. After a sixteen-year hiatus,Chaos Warsreturned as a series of blister packs, limited edition boxed sets, and battle packs of elves, orcs and goblin figures drawn from Ral Partha'sCS/02-xxx Fantasy Collectors,12-xxx The All Americanand other lines. A majority of the figures were sculpted by Tom Meier who supported the re-release.[89]In 2016 Iron Wind Metals completed a second campaign and revived previously archived figures of dwarves, undead and troglodytes[90]

Ral Partha Legacy LTD., 2020–present

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In July 2020, Iron Wind Metals retired the "Ral Partha - A Division of Iron Wind Metals" brand and licensed the Ral Partha era fantasy and historical miniatures to "Ral Partha Legacy Ltd." which owns theChaos Warsgames. Ral Partha Legacy also acquired the license toTom Meier'sThunderbolt Mountain Miniaturelines which unites more than four decades of the artist's work. The new company has announced additions to the existing lines by original designers likeTom MeierandRobert N. Charrette,as well as new artists. Iron Wind Metals continues to produce lines for the FASA era, futuristic games includingBattletechandShadowrun.

Sculptors, artists and mold-makers

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Ral Partha's sculptors, artists, and mold-makers and the years in which they worked for the company:[9][12][15][16][17][18][25][33][34][35][36][45]

Awards

[edit]

Origins Awards/ H.G. Wells Awards[30]

  • 1977 – Best Fantasy Figure Series (ES/01-xxx Fantasy LineTom Meier)
  • 1978 – Best Historical Figure Series (11/42-xxx 1200 A.D.Tom Meier)
  • 1978 – Best Fantasy or Science Fiction Figure Series –Fantasy Collectors Series(CS/02-xxxTom Meier)
  • 1979 – Best Fantasy or Science Fiction Figure Series –Collectibles(CS/02-xxxTom Meier)
  • 1980 – Best Historical Figure Series –Condottieri(15/54-xxxTom Meier)
  • 1980 – Best Fantasy or Science Fiction Figure Series –Personalities(ES/01-xxxTom Meier)
  • 1981 – Best Historical Figure Series –Condottieri(15/54-xxxTom Meier)
  • 1982 – Best Fantasy or Science Fiction Figure Series –Personalities & Things That Go Bump In The Night(ES/01-xxxTom Meier)
  • 1983 – Best Vehicular Series –25mm Dwarf Steam Cannon(02-030Tom Meier)
  • 1984 – Best Historical Figure Series –25mm Colonials(88-xxx Zulus and Northwest Frontier,Tom Meier)
  • 1984 – Best Fantasy or Science Fiction Figure Series –25mm Personalities(ES/01-xxxTom Meier)
  • 1985 – Best Historical Figure Series –25mm Samurai(53-7xxBob Charrette,Dennis Mize)
  • 1986 – Best Vehicular or Accessory Series –BattleTechMech.(20-8xxBob Charrette,Julie Guthrie,Tom Meier)
  • 1987 – Best Historical Figure Series –Shogun Hardguys: The New Samurai(53-7xxDennis Mize, Bob Charrette)[93]
  • 1988 – Best Historical Figure Series –1200 A.D., Aztecs(42-3xxRichard Kerr)[94]
  • 1988 – Best Fantasy or Science Fiction Figure Series –TSR'sAD&DSeries(11-xxxTom Meier, Dennis Mize)[94]
  • 1988 – Best Vehicular or Accessory Series –BattleTech Mechs(20-8xxBob Charrette,Julie Guthrie,Tom Meier)[94]
  • 1989 – Best Fantasy or Science Fiction Figure Series –DragonlanceHeroes Line(10–502Dennis Mize, Tom Meier, Richard Kerr)
  • 1989 – Best Vehicular Miniatures Series –BattleTech Mechs and Vehicles(20-xxxDave Summers,Sandy Garrity,Richard Kerr, Tom Meier, Bob Charrette, Julie Guthrie)
  • 1990 – Best Historical Figure Series –25mm Ancients(35-7xxNorth African Ancients Dave Summers, Sandra Garrity)
  • 1990 – Best Fantasy or Science Fiction Figure Series –AD&D Monsters(11-4xxDennis Mize,Nick Bibby,Richard Kerr, Sandra Garrity)
  • 1991 – Best Fantasy or Science Fiction Figure Series –Shadowrun(20-5xxTom Meier, Dennis Mize, Dave Summers)
  • 1991 – Best Vehicular Miniatures Series –BattleTech Mechs & Vehicles(20-xxxJeff Wilhelm,Dave Summers, Sandy Garrity, Richard Kerr, Tom Meier, Bob Charrette, Julie Guthrie)
  • 1992 – Best Fantasy or Science Fiction Figure Series –Ravenloft(11-1xxDennis Mize)
  • 1992 – Best Vehicular Miniatures Series –BattleTech Mechs & Vehicles(20-8xxJeff Wilhelm, Dave Summers, Sandy Garrity, Richard Kerr, Tom Meier, Bob Charrette, Julie Guthrie)
  • 1992 – Best Vehicular Miniatures Series –OgreMiniatures(Jeff Wilhelm, Dave Summers, Richard Kerr)
  • 1992 – Best Historical Figure Series –HyksosAncient Biblical(Jim Johnson)
  • 1993 – Best Fantasy or Science Fiction Figure Series –AD&D line(11-xxxDennis Mize, Jim Johnson,Geoffrey Valley,Dave Summers, Jeff Wilhelm, Richard Kerr)
  • 1993 – Best Vehicular Series –BattleTech(20-8xxDave Summers, Jim Johnson, Richard Kerr, Jeff Wilhelm)
  • 1994 – Best Fantasy or Science Fiction Figure Series –AD&D Personalities(11-xxxJim Johnson, Dennis Mize, Jeff Wilhelm)
  • 1994 – Best Vehicular Series –BattleTech: Vehicles & 'Mechs(20-xxxChris Atkin,Jim Johnson, Richard Kerr, Dave Summers, Jeff Wilhelm)
  • 1995 – Best Vehicular Series –BattleTech: Vehicles & 'Mechs(20-xxxChris Atkin,Robert Kyde,Jim Johnson, Dave Summers, Jeff Wilhelm)
  • 1996 – Best Vehicular Miniatures Series –BattleTech: Mechs & Vehicles(20-xxxChuck Crain,Chris Atkin, Jim Johnson, Robert Kyde, Dave Summers, Jeff Wilhelm)

Origins Hall of Fame[30]

  • 1991 – Tom Meier
  • 1995 – Julie Guthrie
  • 1997 – Ral Partha BattleTech Mechs & Vehicles (Chuck Crain, Developer)
  • 2003 – Bob Charrette
  • 2005 – Dennis Mize[95]

Strategist Club "Creativity in Wargaming" Award[35]

  • 1978 – Outstanding Miniature Figure Line –Fantasy Collectors Series(CS/02-xxx,Tom Meier)
  • 1979 – Outstanding Miniatures Figure Line –Condottieri(15/54-xxxTom Meier)

The Courier Award[35]

  • 1979 – Best Historical Miniature Line –Condottieri(15/54-xxxTom Meier)

Games Day Awards

  • 1979 – Best Range SF/F Figures –Personalities and Things that Go Bump in the Night(ES/01-xxxTom Meier)[96]
  • 1980 – Best Figures Range, Historical –1200 A.D.(11-xxxTom Meier)[97]
[edit]

The company was honored by the writers of the television showAndromedaby the naming of a fictional planet "Ral Parthea," a planet-wide nature preserve created by an ancient race of space aliens.[98]The miniature company's name has been adopted by theSan Francisco"Scandinavian Preppy" bandRal Partha Vogelbacher.[99]Reportedly the last part of the band's name was the surname of a childhood bully of one of the members,[100]and forms a statement of thenerdpride movement.

Notes

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Footnotes

[edit]
  1. ^Unless otherwise noted, the designs discussed were produced in 25 mm scale.

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^abcde"Hanging Out: Warriors & Wizards" by Perry Cooper,Cincinnati Best and Worstmagazine, Volume 16, Number 1, October 1982 pp. 18–25.
  2. ^abc"Sculptor's Confidential".Archived fromthe originalon 2008-08-27.Retrieved2008-11-23.,Tom Meier Autobiography, Accessed November 23, 2008.
  3. ^Ral Partha Advertisement,Dragon Magazine#36, April 1980.
  4. ^White Dwarf Magazine#11, February/March 1979.
  5. ^Citadel Compendium1,Games Workshop 1984
  6. ^abRal Partha Advertisement,Dragon Magazine#82, February 1984.
  7. ^Citadel Miniatures U.S. 1983 Catalog.
  8. ^abRal Partha Enterprises, Inc. 1984 Imports Catalog.
  9. ^abcRal Partha Enterprises, Inc. 1985 Historical Catalog.
  10. ^White Dwarf' Magazine#24, April/May 1981
  11. ^[1],History of Miniature Figurine Production, Accessed December 7, 2008.
  12. ^abcdeRal Partha Enterprises, Inc. 1987 Catalog.
  13. ^"Through the Looking Glass" by Robert Bigelow,Dragon Magazine#144, page 73.
  14. ^abcdefRal Partha Enterprises, Inc. 1991 Catalog.
  15. ^abcdeRal Partha Enterprises, Inc. 1997 Catalog.
  16. ^abcdefghijRal Partha Enterprises, Inc. 1978 Catalog.
  17. ^abcdefghRal Partha Enterprises, Inc. 1979 Catalog.
  18. ^abcdefghiRal Partha Enterprises, Inc. 1980 Catalog.
  19. ^abcdRal Partha Enterprises, Inc. 1992 Catalog.
  20. ^RAFM advertisement inDragon Magazine#90, October 1984.
  21. ^[2],Tom Meier Biography by Carin Meier, Accessed November 23, 2008
  22. ^abThe CourierVolume 1, No. 4, December 1980, "The Courier Interviews Glenn Kidd," by Dick Bryant, editor.
  23. ^abCincinnati MagazineBest Buys - Choose Your Demonsby Jani Gardener May 1978 pages 58-59.
  24. ^abcRal Partha Gaming Club NewsletterIssue #1 June 30, 1996.
  25. ^abcdefghijRal Partha Enterprises, Inc. 1986 Catalog.
  26. ^abcdRal Partha Advertisement,Dragon Magazine#4, March 1977.
  27. ^Ral Partha Advertisement,Dragon Magazine#16, July 1978.
  28. ^Ral Partha Advertisement,Dragon Magazine#43, November 1980.
  29. ^abRal Partha Enterprises, Inc. 2000 Catalog.
  30. ^abcdef[3],Origins Game Fair, Accessed November 24, 2008.
  31. ^abWargaming World,Dragon Magazine#3, October 1976
  32. ^From the Fantasy Forge,Dragon Magazine#8, July 1977.
  33. ^abcdefRal Partha Enterprises, Inc. 1982 Catalog.
  34. ^abcdefgRal Partha Enterprises, Inc. 1983 Catalog.
  35. ^abcdefghijRal Partha Enterprises, Inc. 1984 Catalog.
  36. ^abcdeRal Partha Enterprises, Inc. 1985 Fantasy Catalog.
  37. ^Ral Partha Advertisement,Dragon Magazine#11, December 1977.
  38. ^"Who sculpted Ral Partha's e Series".Archived fromthe originalon 2011-07-17.Retrieved2008-12-05.,Tom Meier on Thunderbolt Mountain Miniatures Forums, December 3, 2008.
  39. ^[4],Strike Team Alpha, Board Game Geek. Accessed December 22, 2008.
  40. ^Games Workshop Advertisement,White Dwarf Magazine#13, June/July 1979.
  41. ^Ral Partha Advertisement,Dragon Magazine#19, October 1978.
  42. ^Ral Partha Advertisement,Dragon Magazine#49, May 1981.
  43. ^[5],Fortress,at Board Game Geek.
  44. ^The Partha Pipeline, Ral Partha Enterprises, First Series, Volume 1, Number 3, Fall 1983.
  45. ^abRal Partha Enterprises, Inc. 1983 Christmas Catalog.
  46. ^Ral Partha Advertisement,Dragon Magazine#93, January 1985.
  47. ^Report on Origins '79,Dragon Magazine#29, September 1979.
  48. ^ab[6],Mirror of FGU website, Accessed December 17, 2008
  49. ^Molten Magic inWhite Dwarf#14, August/September 1979
  50. ^abc[7],Bob Charrette Games, Accessed November 23, 2008.
  51. ^[8],Board Game Geek, Ral Partha Games, Accessed November 24, 2008.
  52. ^[9],TMP: Chaos Wars, Accessed November 23, 2008.
  53. ^The Ral Partha War Bulletin, Ral Partha Enterprises, Spring 1990.
  54. ^"Miniature-Painting.net".Archived fromthe originalon 2008-11-18.Retrieved2008-11-25.,Interview with Sandra Garrity, Accessed November 24, 2008.
  55. ^[10],TMP: In Memory of Charles B. Crain III, Accessed November 24, 2008.
  56. ^abRal Partha Inc. 1989 Catalog
  57. ^abcdRal Partha Enterprises, Inc. 1994 Catalog.
  58. ^abcdRal Partha Enterprises, Inc. 1995 Catalog.
  59. ^Ral Partha Enterprises, Inc. Advertisement,Dragon Magazine#196, August 1993, page 119.
  60. ^"Through the Looking Glass" by Robert Bigalow,Dragon Magazine#192, April 1993.
  61. ^Ral Partha Enterprises, Inc. Advertisement,Dragon Magazine#197, September 1993.
  62. ^"Through the Looking Glass" by Robert Bigalow,Dragon Magazine#205, May 1994.
  63. ^abcRal Partha Gaming Club Newsletter#6, September 30, 1997.
  64. ^Ral Partha Enterprises, Inc. 1993 Catalog.
  65. ^abRal Partha Enterprises, Inc. Winter '98/'99 Catalog.
  66. ^Ral Partha Gaming Club Newsletter#3, September 30, 1996.
  67. ^Ral Partha Enterprises, Inc. 1997 Catalog Insert – The Final Battle Begins, Bloodstorm.
  68. ^ab[11],Game Cabinet – Wizards of the Coast to acquire TSR, Accessed November 24, 2008.
  69. ^Ral Partha Gaming Club Newsletter#5, June 30, 1997
  70. ^ab[12],Pyramid Magazine,Industry News, Accessed November 23, 2008.
  71. ^[13],FASA Closing FAQ.
  72. ^The Partha PipelineSecond Series, #1, December 1999, edited by Chris Bledsoe.
  73. ^The Partha PipelineSecond Series, #2, January 2000, edited by Chris Bledsoe.
  74. ^The Partha PipelineSecond Series, #3, February 2000, edited by Chris Bledsoe.
  75. ^The Partha PipelineSecond Series, #4, March 2000, edited by Chris Bledsoe.
  76. ^The Partha PipelineSecond Series, #5, April 2000, edited by Chris Bledsoe.
  77. ^The Partha PipelineSecond Series, #6, May 2000, edited by Chris Bledsoe.
  78. ^The Partha PipelineSecond Series, #7, June 2000, edited by Chris Bledsoe.
  79. ^The Partha PipelineSecond Series, #8, July 2000, edited by Chris Bledsoe.
  80. ^The Partha PipelineSecond Series, #9, August 2000, edited by Chris Bledsoe.
  81. ^"Thunderbolt Mountain:: View topic - Ral Partha Fantasy Collector Series and others".Archived fromthe originalon 2011-07-17.Retrieved2008-12-08.,Tom Meier, Thunderbolt Miniatures Forums, Accessed December 12, 2008.
  82. ^"Mage Knight Metal collectible pewter figures".icv2.com.ICV2. March 1, 2001.RetrievedApril 29,2015.
  83. ^"WizKids to spin off Ral Partha on its own in January".icv2.com.ICV2. December 25, 2001.RetrievedApril 29,2015.
  84. ^"Topps acquires WizKids".icv2.com.ICV2. June 23, 2003.RetrievedApril 29,2015.
  85. ^"Topps sold!".icv2.com.ICV2. September 18, 2007.RetrievedApril 29,2015.
  86. ^"Topps shuts down WizKids".icv2.com.ICV2. November 10, 2008.RetrievedApril 29,2015.
  87. ^"NECA acquires WizKids assets from Topps".NECA.NECA.com. March 28, 2011.RetrievedApril 29,2015.
  88. ^"The convoluted story of the Iron Wind Metals, Ral Partha, and Battletech miniatures".Yehuda Berlinger.PurplePawn.com. March 2, 2010.RetrievedApril 29,2015.
  89. ^"Ral Partha's Chaos Wars".IWM.Kickstarter. April 18, 2015.RetrievedApril 29,2015.
  90. ^"Ral Partha's Chaos Wars".May 7, 2016.RetrievedJune 24,2016.
  91. ^"Bio Page for Jeffrey P. Wilhelm".Archived fromthe originalon 2008-12-05.Retrieved2008-12-18.,Biography of Jeffrey P. Wilhelm.
  92. ^[14],Resume of Thomas O. Miller
  93. ^And the Winner Is...Dragon Magazine#139, p. 56, November 1988
  94. ^abcDragon Magazine#149, September 1989.
  95. ^Panzeri, Peter F. Jr. (2006-07-01)."32nd Hall of Fame Inductees Announced"(PDF).Talsorian. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2012-02-12.Retrieved2008-12-04.
  96. ^White Dwarf Magazine#16, December/January 1979/1980.
  97. ^White Dwarf Magazine#22, December/January 1980/1981
  98. ^0213327,IMDBAndromeda(2000), Accessed December 18, 2008.
  99. ^[15],Ral Partha Vogelbacher MySpace Page, Accessed December 18, 2008.
  100. ^"Audiversity: New Music: Ral Partha Vogelbacher, Brother Ali".Archived fromthe originalon 2008-01-24.Retrieved2008-12-18.,New Music: Ral Partha Vogelbacher, Brother Ali, Accessed December 18, 2008.
[edit]
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