April 2022 – My Toy Soldiers & Me

Back to basics

OK the plume is not exact at all… but they are Toy Soldiers!… (Facebook)

After Mr. Horan outpout… something we all are able to do with a minimum of expertise… well… trial and error included… maybe I am assuming too much… but this is what is all about… FUN with Toy Soldiers!

Bill Horan

Military Modeling paradigma… as seen in Facebook

Bill Horan does it better… than me and probably you… he is in a class of his own… I can remember when buying (long long ago) my copies of the magazine Military Modeling I was treated to examples of his craftsmanship or artwork… starting with a little mesh of bended wires etc.

Take this post for what it is, a “hats off” to his contribution to the Hobby. Never have I even intended to step on his footsteps (I know my limits)… and there are less then a dozen pieces in my modest collection that you can consider “pure” Military Modeling (see Posts about that in this web page to see the pics).

Simply awesome! (just look at the tartan trews paintwork…)

The Mess (II)

Probably not a “novelty” but really “original” 54mm various makers as seen in Facebook

Those vignettes (as per yesterday post) have tons of nostalgia… and somehow loving Toy Soldiers is just that!

The Mess (I)

Actually it means that the sky is the limit in 54mm Toy Soldiers… Facebook (MTSAM)

Of course the officer in the left needs to see his optician (not that he is going to ever acknowledge this)… A superb vignette that mixes manufacturers and a great scenery or setting. I found the “atmosphere” a delightful reminder of times gone by… More tomorrow maybe…

Tony Dilley’s artwork

Extensive use of Milliput as you can see in the unpainted figures in the background (shoulder wings etc). 54mm

Steadfast

I must say I have come very late in my collecting to unusual subjects (Heliograph party is in the offing too!)… but those are particularly well done.

Traditional Toy Soldiers in 54mm of course!

Heavy Cavalry

French Napoleonic Cuirassiers… seen in Facebook

No wonder I wargamed Napoleonics in 25mm for thirty years! Enjoy the pic…

Awesome ACW wargames table (or scenery)

Vastly superior to anything I ever tried on that field… seen in Facebook… Congratulations!

I am first and foremost a collector of Toy Soldiers (of course that includes wargames minis)… terrain has never been my forte… rather schematic I am (you need all sorts…)… see Napoleon or Waterloo Posts in this same web page or Blog and you will see what I mean… not landscaping for me (I did that as a job also so in a way it is probably easy to understand why I did not wanted to get too much involved in this side of the hobby… and of course also a matter of priorities I always chose to buy more “toy soldiers”… MY priorities…

Cheers.

Military Modeling piece.

French 1870… as seen in Facebook… Magnificent!

An unlucky Army the French in 1870… bad High Command… colourful uniforms though… Prussian had Moltke and the French a collection of popinjays… sorry but those are facts.

Just a pic of 25/28mm

Cover pic of a web page in Facebook… rather good if you ask me.

Ancients is a period I have played in a few occasions due to my initial introduction to the hobby (METAURO – GREAT BATTLES OF THE WORLD), experienced wargamers tend to use metal spears (or sarissas for that matter) instead of lead alloys to avoid bending and eventually broken “things”. This pic is a fine example of that practice.