My Toy Soldiers & Me

Tony Dilley’s Artwork

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

ROY DILLEY ARTWORK

On the border line between Military Modeling (Scale Models) and Toy Soldiers (of the best quality), IMHO over the line and much more models than “toys” sure enough.

He did those works (artworks) in the fifties… with very limited materials at hand, to say nothing about paints and brushes.

A pioneer and a master of so many that he has become “the reference”.

Today he would have been a hundred years old and his heir Tony (see other posts about his work) posted those pics in Facebook.

They do not need comment or words from me… I just framed and polished a bit the pics.

Enjoy! (And get a copy of his book).

Always have admired the work of the Dilley’s (father & son)… even bought the book (the original one in e-bay or amazon second hand shops… not sure exactly) done years ago and it is a treasured one in my collection.

I do not paint in mat, more Toy Soldier Classical gloss varnish for me… but as with Military Modeling I do appreciate CRAFTSMANSHIP!…

So…

Enjoy!

Friends and Collectors.

I decided to group in the year 2019 starting of course on January and so on, with the list of Posts I published about other Collectors Collections, not my Toy Soldiers at all (even if I have bought some for my collection inspired by them). I do not do that anymore, have long ago counseled to search on Facebook for them directly if you are interested.

But, I am not deleting those pics I “collected” during years about Toy Soldiers. Why at all?… maybe they will help other collectors.

Of course after so many years in the hobby some of them have become “long distance friends” because we share the same interest

Hope you like their outpout.

My French Foreign Legion Collection 99% Dorset Soldiers with a touch of REPLICA. Included in the pic are French Line Artillery (sometimes display is complicated)

The rest of my French Army post 1870. Again DORSET SOLDIERS (including the gift of a Cantiniere from Antony Spencer… thanks my friend I appreciated!). Of course it took me long years to achieve.

ACW in 54mm!

Lovely Toy Soldiers… very difficult to do the big battles with that scale… but as long as you are a collector anything is feasible… skirmishes, AGW, etc. (imagine the range of the Artillery piece… LOL)

Just love those figures.

Enjoy!

Francesco Thau’s Own 28mm

I am a huge fan of what Francesco does with 28mm Perry’s… unsurpassed IMHO… those mini dioramas are full of action and tasteful display (and some are standard figures or minis!)… mindblowing standard of painting if you ask me… not my favourite scale anymore… but dear me!… he tempts me everytime I see his works.

Enjoy!

X’mas Carols (By DORSET) and James Opie’s version

Whatever you celebrate this days have a good time with your beloved one’s, be kind, courteous, speak softly, hug everybody with grace and do not mention war or politics… there… a recipe for success…

James Opie version… must be Britain’s I guess…

And remember that not everyone has the same taste… so it is alright to love all music or just parts of it (genres), same with art and literature… to do not mention movies and actors/actresses… whatever you like can get on the nerves of others… so simply agree to disagree… and all of the best for everybody!

Enjoy!

Spencer Smith’s (Edited 2025)

I did never got into them in my wargaming period… and still I love them… so this is a kind of tribute to them and those who followed the path of wargaming a la Charles Grant (father and son… the grandson seems more WWII inclined)

Excellent pic. Enjoy

Have not a single one… but they really look great!

Those are the 30mm classical figures (now done in lead)

Never collected them… but having a sudden whim…

Those are the minis used by Charles Grant (Senior and Junior)

Military Modeling Quality

There is a line between the Toy Soldier and the Military Modeling Miniatures… it can be a thin line (if you pardon the pun) sometimes but surely not in this case… fans of John Ford’s Cavalry Trilogy will appreciate…

Fort Apache characters I think by ANDREA MINIATURES… but not sure (Facebook pic)

Miscellaneous 54MM

In another Post I showed “MY” Royal West Kent Regiment… in fact the Post was not complete because it did not showed the more “action” minis of the Regiment… so… here you have them (painted by me).

They are TRADITION OF LONDON Rifles painted as RWK, and some original to help the composition. The Wagon is from RPWORLD MODELS.

On the lower shelf some medical corps minis including nurses and police officers and “bobbies”… the only “civilians” in my collection… Holmes&Watson + Lestrade + Hansom cab (Some Tradition of London… some RPWORLD MODELS).

At the end of the Post see some minis and river boat pics I found on Facebook!… great pics of other collectors passions.

Enjoy!