My Toy Soldiers & Me

Collecting Toy Soldiers in whatever scale. DO’S and DON’TS. This Post would be under construction forever

A standard 6 cavalrymen unit for A GENTLEMAN’S WAR rule set. Incidentally part of “THE LOST SETS” that finally arrived.

Mind, those are my personal DO’S and DON’TS and I do not like preaching at all, you must follow your own instincts and experiences (they teach you a lot: actions and non-actions alike). As I have already said before in this webpage, constiously or not, I have been collecting toy soldiers, from an early age, more or less continuosly all my life. So here are my thoughts for what they are worth.

If I give you an optimistic view of the end of it, I am three orders short of completion. Not that it is an important indication for you, but for the record let’s say that STEADFAST is going to provide 9 painted figures to complete existing units or crews (Infantry and Artillery); REPLICA is going to deliver (quite soon I hope) the British Naval Brigade and a couple of French Cavalry units (say 1870 onwards) + some casts to be painted by me + odds and ends; finally DORSET SOLDIERS would finish my yearly order providing the last of the French Infantry and Cavalry + some sets of casts to be painted by yours truly. It sounds like a lot of items and future work… but it is not. Of course there are lots of other manufacturers… but those are “mine” after a long period of collecting them. Of course “maintenance” alone would keep me busy.

As you can see (evident), you can buy directly from the producers (painted or unpainted items), pretty boxes will arrive in due time and you can display your figures (or not) after adding them to your collection. That’s that.

The other alternative (when you want something no longer “new” or even difficult to be done by your suppliers of Toy Soldiers (be that another range or a particular item you did not get when it was there!) is getting items second hand through sellers (mainly ebay in my case).

Of course any collector is obsessed by the idea of getting particular items they fancy, sometimes no longer produced anymore, then you are going to use ebay, (have some tips for you about that experience!) Say for example BRITAINS sets -use James Opie books as a reference- (be those antiquarian stuff end of the XIXth or prewars (WWI or WWII), or post WWII, or even the Centenial sets (see Norman Joplin book) even me who has not the inclination of collecting overpriced (this is subjective of course) “antique” items have a few of them in my collection, but maybe not for the same reasons as other collectors! (as if you care!)

I do digress a lot, mind, as a result of the tardiness of items production once they have been ordered (after all behind much pompous titles trade mark Toy Soldiers are often the production of small dedicated individual artists!) I started buying on ebay.co.uk to get going… (probably the best site by far to get Toy Soldiers in 54mm gloss finish), and one of my purchases was (exactly!) Bengal Lancers, the set called CENTRAL INDIA has two references (or boxes produced), I concentrated in one of them and I was distraught when some horses did not “stand” properly, tried to bend (gently) the horse’s legs and the brittle thing snaped! (broken Toy Soldiers can be repaired with patience and spare parts but it is a lot of work!), so with one thing and another I purchased also the other CENTRAL INDIA set (in fact I ordered 3 boxes -one from a seller- two from another). The last one meaning the ebay seller who sold me two boxes in a single transaction was a nightmare because I was stupid enough to follow the AI updates, I always check the “status” of any order sometimes daily, and to cut a long story short: The items were paid for (easy enough… not talking about a lot of cash), acknowledged and sent to me, there was an indicative delivery time, so far so good, and then the waiting time started. Days, weeks, months got away and no results at all… other items arrived in the meantime (even comparatively other late comers)… and then you see the updates on your summary: IT IS RUNNING LATE, WILL NOT ARRIVE IN TIME, YOUR PARCEL IS MAYBE LOST, IF NOT HERE IN (say for example) FOUR DAYS YOU CAN ASK FOR A REFUND, ETC. So frustrated I did, I asked for a refund, and was glad to be refunded truly and fast in a matter of hours! (ebay is great in this) Everyone is satisfied you may wrongly asume. In the first place when you have find an item and bought it the main reason is because YOU WANT IT… so to be refunded is only a justice monetary thing but not the point at all… AND MORE: two months later the parcel arrived!… quite delighted I was… perfect items!… of course I contacted the seller and told him I wanted to pay for them, I will cut a boring tale saying that finally (including some puzzling emails and ebay messages -it is very easy to fall apart when communicating this way I guess-) finally the trick was done using Western Union (for the first time in my life I tried to send money via postal services!… and thanks to them!) end of story.

We are spoiled individuals, I have to acknowledge, only a Google search away or with luck finding in ebay at first try (NOT always the case), it is nowadays quite straightforward to get the missing items you crave (the more “modern” the easiest I guess) for your collection.

IMPORTANT tip: once you have completed succesfully a transaction on ebay NEVER believe the AI updates of your order!, they are well intentioned and useful updates to be sure!… but not ALWAYS true (Incidentally the same happens when buying books out of print in amazon). For example: in my case (a particular case you think) since I saw when a child Gary Cooper as Lieutenant McGregor in THE LIVES OF A BENGAL LANCER I have favoured Bengal Lancers as collectable Toy Soldiers, my first unit was MINIFIGS 25mm painted by me many decades ago (Skinner’s horse and not even many of them). Afterwards I got them in 6mm (BACCUS); and quite recently (as per collection relative time) in 54mm by Tradition of London including a nice experience because one arrived with a broken lance and was replaced at no extra cost by Erik (thanks for that!); remain with me a bit more : I started buying BRITAINS centenial commemoration sets to complete what I call my British SIMKIN Army (and additions to my Khaki British Army), one turn of collecting not intended but used to fill gaps quickly because usual manufacturer (REPLICA) could not cope with the demand (mine) with enough tempo. You see even if you are old enough, got the financial means to complete your collection and know where to ask (politely) for them… availability and TIME is or are ISSUES.

My advice is of course NEVER lose your patience and wait until the guarantee limit is about to end before asking for a refund, it is a nightmare to try to repay for the items if they arrive LATE but true.

Which leads us to this postulates:

1.- What you like to collect is a very personal choice. Maybe what you like is really minoritary and not understood by fellow collectors (In my opinion and experience respect for others interests is quite the norm and fellow collectors are a very nice bunch) but you also think of other people interests as peculiar to say the least.

2.- People out of our field do not dig our hobby as we do not probably dig theirs. But, even inside the hobby for years does not mean that you like ALL periods and scales and types and finition and style… there are Toy Soldiers you do not like at all and would not bend your back to retrieve from the floor in any case. On the contrary you love so much those kind of Toy Soldiers that you will go to great extense of trouble mending, repairing if need be, repainting and converting to get “piece unique”… and the whole rigmarole.

3.- Even more, if you spend long years into it, you will buy (sometimes wrong items that later on are going to be sold or exchanged) or do not buy (to your exasperation once the occasion gone forever)… no one I know robs or steals for that matter… LOL

4.- So collecting Toy Soldiers is really a very personal thing, James Opie has described to perfection in his books the main categories and ways or tics of collectors, not going to copy that or spoil you the read. Get them. Even if not interested in BRITAINS at all the books are a must read in a general extrapolation to any other trade mark.

The whole lot of CENTRAL INDIA sets purchased (broken legs repaired) only 6 sets (3 from each reference), and not SIMKIN ARMY at all (I hear you think) but some will be repainted into ceremonial units. Watch this space.

The other CENTRAL INDIA set (see colour of horses is different and so it is the shade of the uniform).

Those two Bengal Lancers Units were the last to be collected.

The first Cavalry Brigade was 9th lancers and Guides Cavalry

Last British Infantry Units with Commander

Rolls-Royce Armoured car and Guides & Gurkhas

54mm Toy Soldier Collection: Folding up!… filling gaps on the ranks and “final steps”

I’ve been collecting gloss Toy Soldiers in 54mm (and other scales) for what it seems forever, and believe it or not I can see the end of it. A collection you will learn is never complete or “finished” but the addition of items slows and becomes much more sporadic.

If you have minimally programmed objectives one day they will come true, and that’s that. Of course items seems to continue appearing on the radar from time to time… and then collectors act and add them to the collection without a second thought!

To be fair, in my particular case I am nowadays rounding up units (or Armies) Recently from Tradition of London I got about 6 painted pieces and 4 castings to be painted by me. Also waiting from STEADFAST about ten more Toy Soldiers to complete sets. My yearly order from DORSET is being done by Antony Spencer, and only one more order has to be shipped to me by Andrew Stevenson from REPLICA fame.

As you will see in the pics the world is not perfect at all and even some mishaps occur, the painting jobs of the added Toy Soldiers by Tradition of London did not match the old one’s (and that from the same company mind!), so I am repainting the bits that offend my aesthetical eye. Even more strange I got 4 casts missing a bit of the right foot (with the consequence -obvious- that the toy soldiers did not stand upright… because “unbalanced” was the result (steadiness is of course expected from the British Infantry!…pun intended) a tricky job… repair included gluing little bits of iron clip to the right foot, a bit of plasticine to “reconstruct” the boot, and then the painting job would be possible (will add pics of course when all finished). In the process I had to cut out the nice bayonets because one was already “falling off”.

Close up of the iron clip bit glued on to get “balance”

Had to repair a third time… but I am quite stubborn!

First coat of imprimation. In the end I had to cut out the bayonets because one was nearly out anyway… a pity mind!

By now the right foot is not a very nice piece of modeling but seems to hold on tight (what it was all about I guess)

They now have equilibrium and that was the point of the work on them

Only a coat of gloos varnish and that’s it!

The one on the right is the original one, the middle one has only been partially mended, and the left one waits for the correct shade of sky blue colour.

Royal Navy Landing Party completed as a 12 sailors unit… at last

PLAYMOBIL: ACW skirmish games build up (II)

Slowly getting there. The 7th Cavalry built for the Little Big Horn 1876 campaign doubles nicely as the ACW Michigan Brigade just changing hats for kepis. Custer is a different figure and uniform.

Curiously I like to confront a real unit with a fictional one, the Confederates are the Texas Light Cavalry of Dusty Fog literary fame (but I guess some real units can be done just getting a new commander because there are very good real one’s!).

Added the horses from the pool (pool of horses and equipment ALWAYS!), and got the appropiate sabers, pistols, carabines and what not.

Hope you enjoy.

The Michigan Brigade. The Union Cavalry can be increased at whim because I have a lot of them.

The REBS outfit (waiting for some grey kepis to arrive).

Grey kepis and hats have arrived! Have to paint the visors black though…

54mm Toy Soldiers: New organization of the display, my collection is now parted in ceremonial/marching units and those able to wargame with (II)

The move is completed.

See the cabinets in Andorra la Vella: Three kinds of British Armies (Khaki-White FSH-SIMKIN times); Two (but complementary) kinds of French Armies (Basically North of Africa / Colonial and more Continental/Regular one). They are my “best enemies” always.

Some exotic units are also there Second US Cavalry (She Wore a Yellow Ribbon) and lots of Bengal Lancers.

Still waiting some reinforcements but nearly there. Probably this year I will top the needs… never the capricious sudden whims (I know).

Enjoy

The British Collection: REPLICA – BRITAINS (old/new) – Tradition of London – Steadfast/R.P Models – DUCAL – and some Dorset Soldiers too!

Mainly the French Collection with on the top US Cavalry, Bengal Lancers, Scot’s Greys and 21st Lancers at Omdurman. Mainly Dorset Soldiers – REPLICA – BRITAINS (New) – and a bit of Tradition of London.

54mm Toy Soldiers: New organization of the display, my collection is now parted in ceremonial/marching units and those able to wargame with (I)

As a matter of fact, it was obvious enough… once the table and painting area has been moved and put together. The cabinets in Andorra la Vella now stock all the Toy Soldiers with wargaming potential (quite Old School). Will add more pics tomorrow.

Now Pal holds the marching figures and ceremonial units.

See pics.

Enjoy

As you can see mementos of cars I owned (or not) and modeling experiences with my sons, also “historical toys of my life”

The old set up (that you have seen many times)

The way to move them without casualties.

PLAYMOBIL: ACW skirmish games build up (I)

After a long interval I decided to play some skirmishing with small units, got plenty of yankees but no Rebs remaining in my collection, so a bit from here and there (grey kepis still in transit), and here we are, nearly ready to play!

Dusty Fog rides again!… but also the Michigan Brigade & G.A.Custer… I also am going to modify the guidon of the Rebs to enhance a bit.

They are perfect for small scale wargames.

Enjoy

Two versions of G.A. Custer (if I have to choose I prefer been a Custerophile)

BRITAINS new (late XXth) cavalry sets from the Indian Raj (edited to show repairs)

I did not bought all of the sets or individual figures, only some, and I am glad I stopped because they are quite brittle (not a problem if you do not mess with them… but I do). I had a set of Central India Lancers with very bad stability -the horses had a tendency to tumble sideways- not all the 3 legs “touched” the ground at the same time… and I tried to fix them as I do with other commercial Toy Soldiers… OMG!… how easily broken (I stopped after 4 disasters!) -now trying to solder or weld them professionally- In fact I am interested in seeing if they can be mend at all.

As a thoroughly obsessed collector I even placed an order with London Bridge spare parts to see (if the ironworks repairing process does not work) if I can try another tack myself. A tangent on collecting and painting not much explored yet!

Will keep you posted. In fact see below!

Detail of a bad repair! (the near rear leg has now three parts instead of two so it is too long… the horse stability is great though!) the eagle eyed among you surely did notice

Mended joints with Plasticine (or Milliput)

I bought three replacements just in case… lol

Just to get the right shade and there you are…

Curiously (as bought in ebay.co.uk) some of the sets more than a quarter of a century old are very well preserved, on the contrary some were not. The true nature of ebay sellers is not revealed until packages delivered, some are true optimists about items descriptions… but the majority of them are OK.

Look at the pictures and you will understand.

Hope you enjoy the info.

Disaster!… really imposible to bend the leg at all… the painting of the Toy Soldier was quite good mind!

I stopped after 4 “breaks” in a couple of minutes… Now sent to an ironworks place to see what happens…

Two sets of Hodson’s Horse in very good condition… had to paint some little “chipping” but very few and small areas. I painted the guidons dark blue under the red top to be more historical. The level of finition of the original Toy Soldiers I did find very good!

Did some works on the “sash” ends… lancers just plain dark red.

Another view. I am considering now (maybe tomorrow) to complete the sash on the right side of the rider (overpainted blue originally)… see what I’ll do… not decided yet.

On the left the original paint, on the right once modified.

Next unit to be checked and repaired: Skinner’s Horse (Yes both units are now with lances upright), the yellow coats were badly chipped off and it was difficult to match the original colour (in the end mixing yellow and orange Vallejo paints did the trick. Not as beautiful as Hodson’s Horse (IMHO) and have prevented me buying more sets. Work in progress.

The 8 sets of the 21st lancers were a complete success!… horse stability is fantastic… and repainting the horses was easy and fair. Still waiting for three figures to come to me from a profesional manufacturer (Dorset Soldiers – aka Antony Spencer)… he will supply Colonel Martin, Lieutenant Churchill and a non historical standard-bearer because I fancied one! Will add pics when they are all gloss varnished.

You can read more about them in the Post 21st Lancers at Omdurman in this same web page.

Luiz Fleury collection Sudan/NWF and French Foreign Legion 54mm

If you want to see the full collection of pics try to join the International Toy Soldier Club (ITSC) club 93 members but growing and if I may say so great quality (not talking about my contributions). And there you can comment and post and interact with other members.

Enjoy! I did

Guess he is attracted by the same themes as me!

British Khaki Colonials is also a favourite of mine

Of course one advantage is that as long as your scenery is a bit neutral it can be used very easily in the NWF and in North Africa.

See the French Foreign Legion pics below.

Smacks of March or Die… but who does not!

I thought I was the only one indulging in FFL manning Artillery!… suddenly I do not feel alone

Excellent models (or Toy Soldiers)… I guess mine are a bit more on the Toy Soldier side

PLAYMOBIL: Playing with Playmobils was and is a rewarding experience (II)

We checked all the figures, added a few lost items (very few), did some changes of headgear (mainly ADC’s), took a lot of pics, and enjoyed the time.

Their collections are in great shape as you can see in the pics. Armies usually have 4 line Infantry Units (regulars), 1 Light Company, 1 Grenadier Company; two units of Cavalry: Light Dragoons and Cuirassiers; Artillery (a couple of pieces); Sappers, and even a Doctor and assistants. Actually the Armies also have a mounted spy (masked) and a Religion Priest. Plenty of Generals and ADC’s too of course. Mainly the figures are straightaway from Playmobil figures and pieces (you are really spoilt for choice in the “tricorne period”) and apart from some resin headgear variations for the sake of shaking a bit the “uniformity” it is fairly easy to build your Armies. Old School Wargaming is probably the best approach IMHO

BTW the Red Army (British) is in the hands of the younger of my grandsons, but I do not mess with it because he is too young to take it too seriously and has to parade them a few years more I guess.

I reread the rules “Three Inch Glory” wargaming (XVIII Century) available for download free in google, recently they added a skirmish rules for 10/12 figures I must read too!

As usual an image is worth a thousand words, so here they are.

Enjoy

The back of the headgear of the Grenadiers.

A basic unit, a company of regulars of the “white Army” (Spanish or Austrian is just a matter of clipping the right colours in the hands of the standard-bearers)

Sorry for the “angle” but it was the only way to get a pic of the table.

The Grenadiers of the Blue Army (French or Prussian if need be)

The basic Unit a regular Company of Infantry.

In the front facing left the Cavalry of the Blue Army (looking right you can see the backs of the White Army Cavalry Units).

The Blue Army Light Dragoons (resin helmets by Javier Jimenez – MALONE-)

The Blue Army Cuirassiers.

The Blue Army Colours (French in this case)

A French King with dog. (In fact is based on a Prussian King figure!)

The White Army Colours (Spanish this time)

PLAYMOBIL: Playing with Playmobils was and is a rewarding experience (I)

This is a summing up, there are more Posts in this present web page about Playmobil Toys… probably never intended to become Toy Soldiers (in the true sense) at all mind, but the GEOBRA brand did enjoy producing Pirate Ships and Romans (probably very reality hard core violent subjects in the real world)… so it is more a matter of deluding themselves I guess.

The Sport of Kings it was called, and small profesional Armies took rendez-vous (more or less) shooted a bit to each other and claimed victory (sometimes both sides) see Barry Lyndon film.

Football and TV had not yet been invented so you had to do something completely different if you follow my thoughts.

Seriously, the potential as entertaining friendly wargaming is there, I recognized, collected, customized, and give as a gift to my grandchildren (I am more into lead Toy Soldiers myself). But still have kept some in my own collection!

Yesterday, we took a look at their collections, well preserved (to my surprise!) and reorganized the whole lot. It was my intention (completely wrong) to buy from them instead from ebay the imaginary “scraps” of the lot because I feared once interest outgrown it is always the bin nowadays… LOL… WHAT A SURPRISE!… Now I will probably buy some items (the less interesting that anyway they will inherit no matter what!) to give them pocket money… but will preserve their collections (the best parts)… and stop messing about with them. Sometimes with the best of intentions you are proved completely wrong!

If I have time (and interest) I will probably write a fastplay set of rules for them. (I only know about the “3,5 inch rules” that are not bad at all… but I love them more concise and not so complicated.

Have some pics (I will add more today I think!) as a summing up.