Conversions – Page 15 – My Toy Soldiers & Me

Howard’s (Whitehouse) Own

Howard Whitehouse author of A GENTLEMAN’S WAR wargaming rules soldiers…

That is preaching by example… lovely toy soldiers by the way…

Tony Dilley (again)

Unusual uniforms perhaps… but the same craftsmanship!

I just love his models… so here you are…

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…)

Tony Dilley’s artwork

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

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.

Taste in 54mm

Wonderful setting and ambiance (seen in Facebook)

You can achieve perfection in many fields… here is an example… you can almost hear the Band.

Napoleonic Playmobil Customized (75mm)

I never indulged in that (well, only two figures) because I did found the task herculean and complicated… but diorama makers do it to perfection and you must be aware of rhe cost of it too!

I think they represent a Swiss Regiment (Asociacion Napoleonica Española) seen in Facebook!

Some real “toys”… (toy soldiers in a true sense)

Wargaming can be done in multiple ways… here is one! (Facebook)

Probably the 4 black spots on the horses are a bit too much a simplification… (loved them) but you need all sorts as you know… excellent buildings and scenography! H.W. must be pleased!

Playmobil 75mm

When I got my 25/28mm crisis (a deep one) that produced the effect of selling my whole collection on that scale (but for 3 or 4 sentimental minis) I was distraught… I was still reading History and Historical Fiction but wargaming in 25/28mm had lost its appeal… I thought my wargame days were over… I toyed with Playmobils as a distraction mainly having my grandchildren in mind (not that I had much success with that) but the original idea was there. For nearly a decade I collected, converted, added stickers, bought special headgear and weapons and what not… to get the Playmobils the trade mark NEVER PRODUCED!… LOL… in fact I was recreating, in the end, my old 25mm collection in 75mm… but it was FUN!… and there were “things” not possible to do with metal minis as mounting a horse or dismounting at will, getting weapons in hand or not, magnificent sailing ships, skirmishing games were possible and periods like the Lace Wars (Tricorne era… a la Charles Grant) which I never indulged on in 25/28mm were a joy to toy with (that part of my Playmobil collection is in the respective hands of my grandchildren). Of course at the same time I rediscovered 6mm (1/300 in the old days) and went wargaming again. Not that I stopped ever collecting 54mm Toy Soldiers mind…

Today’s pic (extracted from Facebook) is an example of what I mean… probably german readers will love their toys… if really interested see posts about Playmobil and Playmopics in this web page.