Wot we get planned for 2026

This is the section that attempts to balance boundless optimism with soul-crushing realism.   Which aspect will prevail in the next 12 months  Read on and place your bets...

What plans are in place for 2026?

This is a bit of Deja-vu, but the first item on the list is Ancient Assyrians.   These must be the single most announced and least produced range we have ever had.   However, this time, confidence that things will work is pretty high.   All but one of the production moulds have been made, most of the codes have painted examples and the chariots look really quite cool.  These are slated to be the first releases of 2026.

Staying with the Ancients theme, we are still intent on pottering around in the ancient middle east for a little longer.   Although specifics remain very hazy, two of the candidates mooted over a cup of coffee were Mitanni and Elamites.   Bear with us on this.   A major challenge is research into things like dress and equipment which seems to be in short supply.

Other possibilities in the pre-gunpowder space are the Qin Chinese and Hundred Years War, but both are currently in the ‘first reserve’ category.

Moving forward we have the Italian Wars project.   Having completed the Landsknechts, we now move on to their implacable foes, the Swiss.    These will have the same complete lack of regard to uniformity espoused by their more northerly opponents.   We are well on with these, having moulds completed for the various pikemen and with the sculpts for the arquebusiers ready to be pressed.  

Once we complete these chaps, our attention will move the Spanish infantry.   Should we actually complete these before the year end, then we will move back to adding more cavalry to the range.   

As always, these will be accompanied by some of our luverly flag sheets,

All of which brings us on to the second World War.  We realise that we need to make up for last year, so we will be going all out to get the Italians into the fight for North Africa accompanied by appropriate artillery and vehicles.   To those of you waiting, we will also revisit the list of mid and late war models forecast in the 2024 predictions and start tackling these with vim and yes, vigour.

While I have good intentions, and very strong motivation, I will make no promises on the publications front, as much of my ‘spare’ time is now taken with production and managing tasks.

We will be holding the Joy of Six a little earlier this year, as Sheffield Hallam University has taken our more usual slots for its own events.   This year’s show will take place on Sunday June 28th.   We’ve already had a number of traders and game booking slots, and the JOS website will be updated early in the New Year so you can get an idea of what to expect. 

And that’s it.   A little less ambitious than previous years, but at the same time offering a number of opportunities for slips and spectacular fails. Please feel free to comment/moan/ridicule/question on this forum or on social media to your heart’s content.

As always, this now brings me on the ‘thanks’ section of this annual twaddle.  I’d like to start by thanking the casting Goblins without whom nothing would happen and none of you would get your little men.   They really do a grand job under pressure.    Admin has been artfully managed by Lindy, so my gratitude goes out to her for freeing up time for me.  There is a load of other people behind the scenes, tech, sculpting, mould making etc. who don’t see the limelight or have contact with customers, but are vital to how we work, so take a bow, Stewart, Martin, Tony and Andrew.     Finally, and inevitably, thanks to you lot for buying little men.  Without you we’d all have to go and find proper jobs!

Now I’m off to visit a rancid Goblin bar to see if I can lever the casting Goblins out of there and back to work for the New Year.