Baby Tigers

These were on Richard Lewis' website. He is known as TheZooMan, did he pass away, does anyone know?




He said they were not listed so I assume they are not a repaint but perhaps a prototype? They do look more intricately painted than anything else that Britains has ever done.

They really are stunning! I'm afraid I don't know any more but a prototype seems like a good guess!

Never seen before

I once saw Britains tiger cubs in a lot on Ebay, but I didn't get them and I assumed that they were repainted. My guess is that they are simply repaints, I've never heard that Britains made exquisitely painted prototypes that they knew they would not be able to produce. My feeling is that if Richard Lewis knew the provenance of the tigers, he would have mentioned it. If he doesn't know the provenance, it seems much more likely that they were repainted than that they are prototypes. Just my two cents.

Certainly a more vibrant and attractive painting than the original.
And, in any case, Britains modeling, in my opinion, is one of the best in existence because it blends realism and expressionism.

oh they have a green base, and thinner shorter stripes

unlike the ones I repainted then sold  


I think they would be repaints.


I repainted lion cubs as tigers.
Then I sold them on ebay

here is some more info about their transformation -

my Collection on here

Painting Month sign up

Painting Month work in progress

Painting Month finished tiger family

and on my trade/for sale thread here - I advertised them as well :)

thebritfarmer wrote:

These were on Richard Lewis' website. He is known as TheZooMan, did he pass away, does anyone know?




He said they were not listed so I assume they are not a repaint but perhaps a prototype? They do look more intricately painted than anything else that Britains has ever done.

Found Richard Lewis' site - link

http://www.thetoybox.mysite.com/britainsplastic.html There is an e-mail address.

Picture of tiger cubs is still available but still without any details.

Agree here with others here that likely they are repainted lion cubs. However, even as painted they could be prototype painted by someone from Britains.

BTW both the original poses are based on the 1:42nd scale lion cubs from the Mini-Set 1031 Lions in cage.

Thanks everyone for your input. I did think they were likely repaints and as Richard never posted a set in his personal collection, that may well confirm it. I have sent an email to see if he is still actively selling. Many of my figures were bought from him.

I have had a response from Richard, his website is not active but he does have stock if anyone is interested.

Does he have stock of the tiger cubs?

rogerpgvg wrote:

Does he have stock of the tiger cubs?

I never asked but have emailed him back asking if he knew if they were repaints, prototypes etc, so will report back if he responds.

Here is his response to my question :-

Hello Scott,

Strangely I have just had the same question from someone else.
I do not know the history behind these tigers, they came with some stock I bought from another dealer years ago. The painting is of a professional standard and I wondered why anyone would go to that much trouble unless it was a prototype.

Regards Richard.

Thanks, it would have been interesting if he'd had several of them. I stick to my theory that they are very well-done repaints. Collectors often do put a lot of effort into repainting figures.