Go Figure Felix world of miniature figure modelling : January 2026

Richard Almond was a prolific and very talented figure designer/sculptor. He was an award winning silversmith. He sculpted for Barton Miniatures and Ceremonial Studios and later for his own company Almond Sculptures. It was claimed that he could create a 90mm foot figure in a week and a mounted one in two. I remembered back in the eighties he would release a new figure kit every 3 or 4 weeks. His kits were superbly sculpted and cast in fine white metal.

Richard last figure the AS/36 Sgt. 95th (Rifle) Regt. 1806 was released by Almond Sculptures before his untimely death in 1989, he was only 33 years old.

Here are a couple of articles from Military Modelling magazine.

After he passed away, his wife Jackie Almond continued to produce some figure kits but they were not sculpted by Richard Almond., who kept the business going for a number of years.

The second figure, the Rifleman kneeling loading his rifle AS/37 Rifleman 95th Regt. 1806, was incomplete at the time of Richard's death and was completed by John Tassel (of Lasset and subsequently Sovereign in the 1970's/1980's). Subsequent to these there was an Officer of the 95th sculpted entirely by John Tassel released by Almond Sculptures. Also released by them around this time was a figure of Lord Cardigan (a Sid Horton sculpt), and an Egyptian Infantryman and an Irish Kern. A great range of figures and sadly missing from the market place today.

Not sure what had happened to his masters and moulds. They may still be in the Almond family. But the figure kits do crop up on ebay from time to time. A real loss to our hobby during the first golden age of figure sculpting and figure modelling.

Richard Almond's last figures. AS/A37 was completed by John Tassel.

Here are somes figures which were not sculpted by Richard Almond and were released after his death.

Almond Sculptures kit list and catalogue pictures

Almond Sculptures grace the cover of Military Modelling magazine

Ads. featured in Military Modelling Magazines

Barton Miniatures was run by James Barton from 1978 until the 1990’s following which it was bought by Kitney and Co. (silver frame manufacturer). Chris Kitney bought the masters and employed Barton for a period of time to do casting for them. There was an attempt to resurrect the figures under the Kitney name.They primarily produced larger scale historical figures however they did produce one range of fantasy miniatures. Sculptors included Chub Pearson and Richard Almond. In 2008, after a hiatus of many years, there was a post announcing the return to production. This appears to have been short lived.