Putting History in Your Hands Visit www.wbritaincollectorsclub.com for more informationOrder your W. Britain figures and receive information about the entire W. Britain line from the retailers listedDUTKINS’ The History StoreCOLLECTABLES 1019 West Route 70 Store hours: 101 North Paint Street Cherry Hill, NJ 08002 Tuesday – Friday 10 am – 5 pm Chillicothe, Ohio 45601 Saturday 10 am – 4 pm. 1-800-LIL ARMY Closed: Sunday & Monday 740-775-7400 (545-2769) 3775 S. 108th St., Come Visit Our Store! Fax: 856-428-9640 Greenfield, WI 53228 (414)302-1850www.dutkins.com www.toysoldiershoppe.net [email protected] Maitland Toy Are you aSoldier Shoppe W. Britain dealer? Canada’s place for Toy Soldiers! This spot is very affordable and gives you great exposure in the #1 magazine for 108 Victoria Street South, Goderich, toy soldier collectors worldwide! Ontario, Canada N7A 3H9 Tel: (519) 524-6804 Call or email Sara at: [email protected] Email: [email protected] or 605-646-1100 for more information. www.toysoldiers.com StOoyLDIER 16 makers – Sierra Toy Soldier Company covering most 29 N. Santa Cruz Avenue, Los Gatos, CA 95030 time periods Toll Free (866) 869-7653 • International (408) [email protected] 3749E. UniversityAv e. www.sierratoysoldier.com 973p-6h2o7n-e4961 DesMoines, IA50317 www.greewnsecbolsleitcetables.com 515-266 -8697 Why not join the largest toy soldier club in the world? WBA1709 are © 2009 FIRST GEAR, INC FIRST GEAR®, design, W. Britain®, and registered trademarks of First Gear, Inc., Peosta, IA
Plastic n Len Cooksey Parade crafts reviews of the latest REVIEWS OF THE LATEST PLASTIC RELEASES releases for collectors ofAMERICAN CIVIL WAR COMBATANTS plastic toy soldiers andBY EXPEDITIONARY FORCE figures.Reviewed by: Len Cooksey Dismounted Union cavalrymen by Expeditionary Force. (Photos by Dave Norton)Expeditionary Force was founded by “Overall, Expeditionary Force’s figures are slim andScott Lam in December 2010, but I didn’t almost languid. These troops are extremely detailed anddiscover its 54-mm figures until they should be a delight to paint.”recently turned up with U.K. dealer SteveWeston. In the recent past, some companies with six gunners in three poses, a bugler, have seemed to struggle to produce an officer afoot and a dynamic mounted The business is based in Singapore decent cavalry. However, that’s not a officer for a total of six different poses.and the figures are made in China. Scott problem with Expeditionary Force, which Also included are two gun carriages andoriginally set out to meet the needs of has designed two types of rather nicely a total of four barrels in two different sizescollectors and wargamers. His first releases proportioned mounts posed trotting and so collectors can vary the caliber of theirwere painted PVC figures of Vikings and made in varied hues. miniature batteries’ firepower.Anglo-Saxon warriors from the DarkAges in 40-mm scale. Each Blue or Gray artillery set comes Overall, Expeditionary Force’s figures Now the maker has been gracious Three ACW infantryenough to send me some samples of his figures along with a54-mm American Civil War figures, dismounted Rebelwhich are sold unpainted. dragoon at right. SPARE HEADSExpeditionary Force has produced avery nice range made up of four types ofbasic sets: infantry, dismounted cavalry(“dragoons”), mounted cavalry andartillery. The figures are molded in grayplastic to depict Confederates and inpowder blue for Yankees. All of the troops on foot come innine-figure sets led by sword-wavingofficers. They portray Union foot soldiersand dismounted dragoons as well asConfederate infantry and cavalrymenfighting on foot. The infantry are offered in two differentadvancing poses. The dragoons on footare either advancing while shooting theircarbines or holding their weapons at theready. Additional variety is afforded in theinfantry sets by the provision of eight extraplug-in heads wearing either kepis or slouchhats.This thoughtful touch makes it possibleto have all eight of the rank and file in a setwear the same headgear or a mix. HIGHLY DETAILEDNine figures on horseback make upsets of either Union or Confederatecavalry in a pair of different poses.52 TOY SOLDIER & MODEL FIGURE
An artillery commander rides an impressive horse. Confederate gunners with one of the cannon barrel variations.are slim and almost languid. These troops So how do you get hold of theseare extremely detailed and should be a figures? Expeditionary Forces products aredelight to paint. SETS COME BOXED available directly from the manufacturer as well as dealers on both sides of the pond. They are a decent 54-mm in size and The sample figures I received were presentedcompatible with contemporary ACW in very attractive blue boxes.This made for a Scott’s plans for future releases includefigures by W. Britain. They are, however, rather pleasant change from the ubiquitous more 54-mm ACW forces, painted 40-mmbigger than the old Britains Herald header card bags that most plastic figures figures of ancient Greek warriors andACW troops. seem to be packaged in these days. ACW troops, and World War II items.n Foot sets sell for about £12 U.K./$18 U.S. Cavalry or artillery sets cost around £20/$28.A sampling of the cavalry posescharges into battle.plastic appeal Expeditionary Forces’ figures come in boxed sets. Plastic toy soldier manufacturers and traders are invited to send figures in for review. Please send items with a cover letter to the attention of TS&MF about the reviewer Editor Stuart A. Hessney at either the U.K. or U.S. offices. Please direct inquiries to the editor at [email protected] or reviewer Len Cooksey Len Cooksey is a keen collector of at [email protected]. old and new 54-mm toy soldiers. Operating as Ivanhoe Figures, he runs a stall at toy soldier fairs in England, selling his own products and items by various manufacturers. get in touch Expeditionary Force Alexandra PO Box 70 Singapore 911503 Email: [email protected] Web: www.expeditionaryforce.com.sg TOY SOLDIER & MODEL FIGURE 53
1/6TH ARMY n Scott J. Dummitt covers the latest SHOWCASE action figure- related items. If Reviews of the Latest Action Figure-Related ITEMS it’s new in the hobby, you’ll findWWII GERMAN WEHRMACHT OBERFELDWEBEL STEINER it here first!BY DRAGON IN DREAM CORP.Reviewed by: Scott J. Dummitt Peninsula on the Black Sea in late 1943. be left behind enemy lines. Nevertheless The plot centers on German Sgt. Steiner and his squad manage to make it back to their lines just as the Soviets areAnyone who has read my column during Rolf Steiner, played by Coburn, and his launching an attack. And, well, you’ll justthe past nine years will probably realize by continuous conflict with his commanding have to rent the movie to find out thenow that I am a great movie buff. officer, portrayed by Schell. The basic story outcome. is that Steiner’s captain sets the highly I use movies to supplement my interest decorated sergeant and his men up to The new “Wehrmacht Oberfeldwebelin history, not document it. As most of usrealize, the cinema doesn’t always pay thegreatest attention to accuracy. However,Hollywood seems to be getting betterabout achieving authenticity. I think one of the more interestingWorld War II films ever released was1977’s “Cross of Iron,” directed by SamPeckinpah and starring James Coburn,Maximilian Schell, James Mason andDavid Warner. The film is set on theEastern Front during the Soviet RedArmy’s Caucasus operations that forcedthe Germans to retreat from the TamanRIGHT: A reversible jacket with splinter or whitecamouflage comes in the set along with a capturedRussian submachine gun.BELOW: The head sculpture resembles actorJames Coburn and a character he played in the warfilm “Cross of Iron.”54 TOY SOLDIER & MODEL FIGURE
Steiner, Eastern Front 1943” figure by RIGHT: Winter about the reviewerDragon in Dream Corp. (DiD) bearsa remarkably strong resemblance to camouflage is included Scott J. Dummitt retired from theCoburn’s character, and most of the with the Steiner figure. Royal Canadian Navy after 25 yearsequipment is exactly the same. of service. He is an avid collector of BELOW RIGHT: action figures and toy soldiers. He is also the proprietor of Scott J. Dummitt The German figure’s Presents, which sells 1/6th-scale actionHANDS-ON ADVICE features include varied figures and accessories. In addition, apparel and accessories he produces 54-mm toy soldiersThere is a lot of great equipment and such as field glasses. representing Canadian units. accessories with this set. And whilethe price has risen steeply on DiD’s A secondmost recently released products, this uniform consists“oberfeldwebel” (master sergeant or of a water and tanplatoon leader) figure does have a lot winter reversiblegoing for it. parka and overalls with a white- First off the head sculpture is right washed M42on for Coburn’s role in “Cross of Iron,” helmet. The jacketalthough the figure’s hair coloring is a and overalls aredark brunette shade while the actor’s role winter white onportrayed the NCO with whitish/gray one side and canhair. I like the fact that the figure’s eyes are be reversed toactually looking off to the side instead of “splittermuster”the customary straight ahead. The mouth (splinter pattern)is slightly open as well. camouflage. Once again from DiD, the body has great articulation allowing for multipleposes. There are also three sets of hands EQUIPMENTincluded. There is a pair of poseable hands, & WEAPONSplus two pair of pre-posed hands. Equipment consists The one drawback I found was there of a Wehrmachtare no stems on the spare hands, so you belt and buckle, “Y”have to remove the stems from the rubber harness, bread bag,hands and plug them into the pair you canteen, map case,prefer. This can lead to breakage of a stem, PPSh ammo pouch,if you’re not extremely careful. K98 bayonet, scabbard and frog, One method to remove the stems field glasses, andwithout too much difficulty is to place faux leather holster.the hands with the stems, and the hands Weapons includedyou want to change them to, in a boiling are a Luger pistol, two stick grenades andhot cup of water. Leave them there for Russian PPSh-41 submachine gunapproximately 1 minute, then removethem using needle-nose pliers. Quickly The PPSh is a bit tricky as it is entirelydry the hands off and pull the stem made of wood and metal, and the ammodirectly out of the one set of hands, then drum has a tendency to fall out of theplug it into the second set. The hot water weapon. To rectify this, I used a bit of tape,makes the hands pliable enough that this which I then wedged between the ammocan be done very easily. drum and the weapon’s cartridge slot. Then I trimmed the excess with an X-Acto knife.2 UNIFORM STYLES The PPSh was very popular with the German army. It was not uncommonThere are enough uniform pieces with this for captured weapons to be used by theset that you could actually do two figures Wehrmacht as well as the Waffen-SS.up, as long as you have some spare bootsand webbing. Because of the very close dimensional similarities between the Soviet 7.62 by First off, there is the standard M43 25-mm Tokarev and the German 7.63tunic with Iron Cross ribbon, Iron by 25-mm Mauser cartridge used in theCross, Infantry Assault Badge, Bronze Mauser C96 pistol, the PPSh could fireWound Badge, Close Combat Clasp, either cartridge. Thus it was easily suppliedPanzer Destruction Badge (Gold and with ammunition.Silver), and what appears to be a KubanShield. That battle shield was created Sept. As I mentioned earlier, DiD along21, 1943, to commemorate the campaign with most of the other action figurelaunched in the Crimean area after manufacturers have raised their prices. It’sFebruary 1943. The award came attached a trend that might dramatically impact theto a piece of cloth to allow its bearer to hobby as the average collector is countingsew it to the sleeve of his tunic. his or her pennies. The extra equipment in this set helps make up for the price Add to that the M43 trousers and increase, but expect to pay between $110visored field cap (“einheitsfeldmütze”), and and $115 U.S. for this set. nyou are ready to go. In addition, there is agray turtleneck sweater, gloves and a pairof faux leather jackboots. TOY SOLDIER & MODEL FIGURE 55
KIT n Paul NewmanKORNER nails down news about the latestTHE LATEST MODEL FIGURE KITS AND MORE model figure kits and more.COMBINING KITS TO CREATE A WORLD WAR II DIORAMAFollowing on the heels of last month’sreview and modeling of a pair of 54-mmWorld War I figures by Tommy’s War, thistime I wish to take the vignette themea bit further by combining a few kits tocreate a World War II mini-diorama.I also want to trumpet the work of twotraders whose businesses are growingfast due to their great products. THE FIGURESThe 1:35-scale model figure kits recruitedfor this project both come from the “WeeFriends” range produced by FriendshipModels. They are the “WWII BritishSeaman in Duffel Coat” (ref. WF350007)and the “WWII British Paratrooper” (ref.WF350047), which retail for £9 apiece. The Royal Navy kit comes in justtwo parts: the body and head. The figuredepicts a typical sailor in a soft hat and bigduffel coat. There’s not much more to say,really, except it is a useful figure for any1:35-scale WWII vessel or seaside scene. The “Red Devil” paratrooper has a lotmore parts to put together with 11 in all!Some of the parts are very small and delicate,but they show a terrific level of detail.TOP RIGHT: Painting guides and parts for the“Wee Friends” British seaman and Para (from left). RIGHT: Pins are added to the assembled model figures. BELOW: Back view of the figures following assembly.56 TOY SOLDIER & MODEL FIGURE
ABOVE: The seafarer would be useful in a varietyof naval settings. RIGHT: The finished figures are positioned on thedock. This figure shows the typical dress of aparatrooper. He carries the later version ofthe Sten gun -- the MkV with a woodenstock, placing him firmly in 1944-45. The paratrooper appears in a fairlyrelaxed pose, as if he’s talking to someoneelse -- like the seaman. This gives me themakings of a vignette with the two figuresinteracting with each other. ABOUT FRIENDSHIPFriendship Models is based inMusselburgh, Scotland. It is operated byIan Hanratty and his partner Lilley. The enterprise has been around for afair time, but only recently have Ian andLilley made it a full-time occupation.Friendship Models is run as a trueRIGHT: Parts for the dinghy kit produced by Realityin Scale.BELOW: The Para poses some tricky challenges,particularly painting the wings of Parachutist Badge. BELOW RIGHT: The detailed pier kit’s parts eveninclude a seagull. TOY SOLDIER & MODEL FIGURE 57
ABOVE: Five parts must be assembled to complete the rowboat. partnership, with Ian doing the figure casting and Lilley the administration.BELOW: The dinghy is undercoated prior to final painting. They attend many shows around the United Kingdom and Europe. BesidesABOVE: Weathering and shading enhance the rowboat’s paint job. their own “Wee Friends” items, they stock items from other makers, includingBELOW: The finished dinghy is tied to the dock and placed afloat in the “water.” Legend Productions and Pro Art.58 TOY SOLDIER & MODEL FIGURE PERSONNEL CONTEXT When WWII began, Great Britain had the largest navy in the world. The Royal Navy consisted of 15 battleships and battlecruisers with five more under construction, seven aircraft carriers, 66 cruisers with 23 more under construction, 184 destroyers with 52 under construction, 45 escort and patrol vessels with nine under construction and one on order, and 60 submarines with nine under construction. During the early phases of the war, the Royal Navy provided critical cover during the British evacuations from Dunkirk. As well as providing cover in operations, it was also vital in guarding the sea lanes that enabled British forces to fight in remote parts of the world, such as North Africa, the Mediterranean and the Far East. Naval supremacy in the Atlantic was vital to amphibious operations carried out, including the invasions of Northwest Africa, Sicily, Italy and Normandy. Royal Navy ships also provided an important role in escorting convoys across the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, and to other countries on the Allied side. So there are plenty of situations to portray with naval figures. The other figure portrays a paratrooper armed with a Sten gun, which was regimental issue at the start of the war. The Parachute Regiment, colloquially known as the “Paras,” is the airborne infantry of the British Army. It is the only line infantry regiment that has not been amalgamated with another unit since the end of WWII. The Parachute Regiment was formed during the Second World War and eventually raised 17 battalions. In Europe, these battalions formed the 1st Airborne Division, 6th Airborne Division and 2nd Independent Parachute Brigade. Another three battalions served with the British Indian Army in India and Burma. The regiment took part in five major parachute assault operations, often landing ahead of all other troops. They fought in North Africa, Italy, Greece, France, the Netherlands and Germany. They carried out their most famous mission, but also incurred their highest losses, when the 1st Airborne Division parachuted behind the German lines in Holland in order to take the bridge at Arnhem during Operation Market Garden in September 1944. BUILDING THE FIGURES I don’t have much to say about building the seaman. I just removed the small resin blocks from the feet and the neck and
ABOVE: “Rope” wrapped around the miniature tireadds a nice detail to the assembled pier. RIGHT: A sponge is used to apply paint to make thepier’s decking look worn.joined the head to the body with Superglue. I also drilled a small hole in one of thefeet and inserted a length of wire. I use apaperclip because you can get several smallstraight pieces of wire from one clip andthe diameter of the wire is the same as oneof my drill bits. I also drilled into the neckand body to get a stronger joint. The paratrooper was a differentmatter. A lot of careful cutting of the resinblocks from the parts was needed. Thebarrel of the Sten gun was a victim here,so I had to replace it with a small piece ofbrass wire. The legs and arms were drilledand pinned and glued in place. After the glue set, I went around thePara with some two-part epoxy resin to fillgaps and make the joins stronger. A pinwent through each of the arms and wasfilled with the epoxy. PAINTING THE MODELSI always start painting any figure by doingthe face first, so I set to work on theseaman and paratrooper. The seaman hasa fairly softly featured face, which hints ata young man, which of course, a lot of theWWII sailors were. The face of the Parais a bit more defined. But both facespainted up well with a bit of character,even at this small scale. They were paintedin acrylics as usual. The seaman’s duffel coat was paintedin a mix of sand and flesh colors withshading in brown and highlights in thesand color. Under his duffel coat, heis wearing the standard off-white RNsweater, which was painted in a sand colorand highlighted in a sand and white mix.To bring out the detail on the model,this was done with a couple of dry brushpasses. I load a fairly large paintbrushwith paint, then wipe most off on a pieceABOVE RIGHT: Right side view of the jetty.The bottom of the posts are painted black to reflectthe effect of the tide over time. RIGHT: Left side view of completed pier. TOY SOLDIER & MODEL FIGURE 59
of tissue paper and apply the paint to its primary purpose was to prevent the LEFT: The “Still Water” ends up looking rather choppy.the figure with a couple of quick light wearer’s equipment from snagging whilepasses of the brush so as to only paint emplaned or during a jump. Airborne ABOVE: Close-up showing the painted seagull andthe raised surface. troops preferred to wear the smocks under cargo accessories. their webbing once they had landed. The Para wears a Denison smock, BELOW: Close-up of the mini-diorama created froma coverall jacket issued to Special The smock was painted in khaki, then four kits.Operations Executive (SOE) agents, the I added the camouflage with shades ofParachute Regiment, the Glider Pilot brown and green, avoiding going over Regiment, Air Landing Regiments, seams with one color (as the print isAir Observation Post Squadrons and different where the cloth is cut). The BOAT & PIER KITSother Commonwealth airborne units trickiest bit of the painting was the wingsto wear over their battle-dress uniform. of the Parachutist Badge worn on the To go with the figures, I obtained someThe smock was initially worn over the right shoulder above the airborne forces scenery from Olav Smeets of Reality inparatrooper’s webbing equipment, but patch of Bellerophon riding the flying Scale. He is a modeler who loves to scratch-under his parachute pack and harness, as horse Pegasus. build scenery and sells resin casts of his work at European shows, aided by Jerry Plettenberg. Olav’s range of really useful accessories must be seen to be believed. For this project, I obtained the “Rowing Boat” (ref. 35205) and “The Old Pier” (ref. 35196). Each costs 12.95 euros and fits in with either 1:35 or 1:32-scale scenes. The beautiful little dinghy kit comes in five resin parts, plus metal eyebolts (for the rowlocks) and some miniature60 TOY SOLDIER & MODEL FIGURE
RIGHT: A nameplate completes the project.Note how a picture frame was used for the base.rope. The boat is flat-bottomed for given a coat of dark, almost black paint to of enamel paint left out. This was not thepositioning on a base. represent the effect of the tide over time. effect I wanted. I had intended it to be fairly still water! I set about making waves The boat is approximately 95-mm long. The “extras” were painted last – the instead.As with most of Olav’s accessories, the seagull, box and barrel. All of them areresin is textured to depict the surface, in beautiful models! This was a lesson for the future: Just usethis case the wood of the dinghy. one layer or leave the bottom layer for more than a day! Because of the disaster with the The boat goes perfectly with the other water effects, I almost had to change thepart of the scene – “The Old Pier.” This WATERY REALISM mini-diorama’s title from “When’s the Nexthighly detailed resin set of 13 pieces even Ferry?” to “I’m Not Going Out Today!” dueincludes an old tire, a seagull, a box and a To represent water as realistically as to the choppy water.barrel to show that there is some activity possible, I purchased acrylic-based “Stillgoing on in the vicinity. Since the pier is Water (ref. Val 26230) and “Transparent I drilled holes into the jetty for the pinscast in gray resin, there is already a good Water Effects” (ref. Val 26201) from attached to the figures’ feet and glued thebase for the paint. Model Display Products in Wales. Made figures into place with epoxy (I find that by Vallejo, these items are part of a range the join needs to be as firm as possible). Like the boat, this jetty is designed to of water and earth pastes/gels which can The finished scene was completed with asit flat on the base, with the posts looking be used for sculpting diorama bases. They nameplate as usual.like they are coming out of the water. The can be mixed with acrylic colors beforemain base of the pier is 9 by 5-cm, which applying them to produce different colored Thanks to Friendship Models andOlav says can accommodate up to three landscapes. Reality in Scale for the review kits. They1:32-scale figures. really go together well! I would encourage I have not used these before. But what all readers to have a look at their ranges of fascinated me is that the “Still Water” is figures and accessories to see how they can literally poured on the base and will set inspire a modeling idea to take fruition.BUILDING SCENERY solid in a day. Next month I will be making a largerI tackled the dinghy first when building The base itself was a cheap picture figure: a new 75-mm Confederatethe scenery. There weren’t any resin frame of the right size to display the boat infantryman by La Meridiana Miniatures,blocks to remove on the boat itself, but and jetty without too much space around supplied by El Greco Miniatures. nthe oars needed careful cutting due to them, as I wanted to present the jetty andtheir thinness. figures, not a seascape! about the reviewer The hole in the front of the bow was The glass was taken out of the frame Paul Newman is a keen modelerdrilled through to take the thin “rope,” and disposed of safely (watch your hands – whose main interest is the Napoleonicwhich was tied to a buoy that I connected please use gloves!). The strong card was put Wars, particularly British cavalry. Heto the side of the boat with Superglue. back in the frame and secured with the is a longtime member of the BritishI also applied a drop of glue to the knots catches supplied. To ensure that the base Model Soldier Society and serves asin the rope to ensure that they didn’t come would not leak, I sealed it with silicon bath its treasurer while his wife, Julie, is itsundone. and shower sealer. secretary. Paul’s memberships have also included Planetfigure and The The rowlocks are provided by two I sprayed the base in a brown color for Basement. In addition, the Newmansbent pins, which were glued in place the seabed. Once it was dry, I added some operate Name It! providing engravedafter drilling appropriate holes (carefully blue/gray acrylic paint to the “Still Water” nameplates to model figure enthusiasts.because there’s not much space here in the and poured a layer on the base. When this They can be found manning their standboat wall). was set (the following day), I put the boat at many major European shows. and jetty in place, added the rest of the Rowboats are the general workhorses water and left it to dry.of a harbor. They are used for ferryingkit, provisions, etc., out to larger vessels To my dismay, the top layer of watermoored some way from the jetty. Therefore “bubbled up,” with unset material trappedI intended to paint the boat as being in underneath a soft skin, similar to a candaily use, rather than in pristine condition.The boat was undercoated, finished withweathering and shading, and placed on thebase. The jetty needed a bit of carefulpositioning to glue the posts to thedecking, as there are no connecting lobes.I used a couple of bits of cardboard to restthe decking on, then used two-part epoxyto glue the posts in place. Afterwards,I suppose that it would have been easierto drill and pin together. A split pin was drilled into a post.The tire was glued to the post with smalltwine wrapped around it to make it looklike it is being held in place by “rope.” The jetty was painted a medium brownall over, then I applied washes of gray/black/blue mix with a large brush. NextI used a piece of sponge to take off alot of the paint and repeated this stepseveral times to get a look of a worn setof decking. The bottom of the posts were TOY SOLDIER & MODEL FIGURE 61
history & collecting toy figures Scotland’s Sir James Douglas with his banner leads the third schiltron with a Scottish pikeman at his side and the English knight, Sir Thomas St. Ledger, mortally wounded at his feet while England’s Gilbert de Clare, the Earl of Gloucester, is getting unhorsed (Scenes 3 and 4).BannockburnPhilip J. Bennett relates how a trip to Scotland and a chance meeting with anartisan combined to inspire him to create the medieval battle in miniatureText: Philip J. Bennett Photos: Philip J. Bennett and Brian RoddenLike many collectors, I fostered a love collected almost exclusively knights, men- It was about 75 miles north of of history, toy soldiers and military at-arms and other warriors based on history Borthwick, however, that I visited the vehicles early in my youth. I still ranging from the 12th to 16th centuries. place that would become the inspirationhave my collection of military Dinky Richard Courtenay, Britains’ Knights of for a new set of figures, and ultimately, forToys, alas without the boxes, which were Agincourt, John Braithwaite’s Plantagenet this article. The town of Stirling is homesent to the trash bin while I was away at Knights, Freddie Ping, Brian Rodden, to Stirling Castle and the site of the Battleuniversity (I imagine many of us can recite Hornung Art, Peter Greenhill, Mulberry of Bannockburn. We toured the castle,a similar tale). and Jacques Cuypers of Tiffany Toy Soldiers the Wallace Monument and made a quick are among the many makers represented in stop at the Bannockburn Heritage Centre Of the many troops that defended my my 2,000-figure medieval collection. to view the approximate site of the battle.bedroom, only a few plastic Marx U.S.Cavalry and American Indians, Napoleonic But at one point I discovered that I say “approximate” because there areflats made by Germany’s Kilia and the hardly a Scottish knight was to be found, no first-person accounts, and there arethen-elite Britains Grenadier Guards let alone figures to depict the Scots’ Wars many opinions and hypotheses aboutsurvived. What battles they fought, planned of Independence from England! After exactly what happened. We do knowand executed from the many books and a visit to Scotland, followed by a chance the battle was fought on June 23 andmagazines that I read over the years! My meeting with a master sculptor, all that 24, 1314, because that was the deadlineimagination was sparked by everything began to change. -- negotiated between Edward Bruce andfrom Spartacus and King Arthur to “The Sir Philip Moubray -- to relieve StirlingLeatherstocking Tales” and stories about VISITING SCOTLAND Castle from surrendering to the Scots.World War II. My wife, Bernadette, and I made a trip to When we got back from our trip, I read Through the years my tastes have the history-steeped Scottish countryside more about the Scots’ fight for independencechanged. I have toy soldiers encompassing in 2000, indulging my love for the era by and started looking for figures that I couldthe Napoleonic era, French and staying in Borthwick Castle. Indeed, we collect. For me, reading about the battles andIndian War, Spartans vs. Persians, World even slept in the “Mary Queen of Scots” military encounters comes to life when I canWar I and my prime passion, medieval room, reputed to be the place where she re-create it with toy soldiers, brought to lifeknights and heraldry. spent her last night before being captured with metal and paint. and taken to her death in England. During the past decade or so I have My search for figures to re-create62 TOY SOLDIER & MODEL FIGURE
history & collecting toy figures England’s King Edward II tries to fend off Scottish men-at-arms from the Douglas retinue (Scene 2).ABOVE: Scottish King Robert the Bruce I asked Brian if he had ever considered could about the people who took part inversus English knight Sir Giles de Argentine. producing figures in the 50-mm scale the battle, and it was then that the theme of that could fit with the Courtenays and the diorama began to take shape. It wouldthe Battle of Bannockburn was mostly Greenhills. Brian said he would consider encompass the initial action of the Scotsunsuccessful, however, with only a it. Several months later, to my delight, he as the Earl of Gloucester led the Englishmounted Robert the Bruce fighting sent me some photos of his first group van in their attack against Edward Bruce’sHenry de Bohn and several single figures of 50-mm knights. Brian’s figures are the “schiltron,” or shield troop.of Robert the Bruce (all beautiful, but rival of any knights being produced today.historically inaccurate) to show for my BATTLE HISTORYefforts. Try as I might, I couldn’t find The next step was convincing Brian toany of The Bruce’s fellow knights or produce accurate armor used in the early Before I continue, however, this mighthis English adversary, King Edward II. 14th century. Almost every figure that I be the time to provide an overview of the have seen has the heraldry correct, but the battle and the strategy involved. EdwardRODDEN ENCOUNTER figures are always in full plate armor, which II, realizing that his prestige would suffer was not widely used until the 1330s. Brian’s if he did not relieve Stirling Castle,Then one day, while attending the Boston figure of The Bruce was the first cloaked in gathered a force of knights, footmen andarea’s North East Toy Soldier Show, I mail and wearing an open-faced bassinet archers to meet the June 24 deadline. Inspoke with sculptor and painter Brian with a crown, which was the standard so doing, he hoped to force the Scots andRodden of New Hampshire-based uniform for the wealthy knight of the period. The Bruce into open combat. Up to thisRodden Heraldic Sculpture. I already had time, the Scots had fought a guerilla wartwo beautiful 90-mm mounted figures I supplied Brian with a list of the Scottish of ambushes and raids.of Brian’s King of Palestine mounted and English knights who fought at theand, of course, his accurate rendition of battle, as well as pictures of their heraldic As the English army pushed towardRobert the Bruce in all his glory with the banners and the weapons that would have Stirling Castle along an old Roman road,royal Lyon of Scotland coat of arms. been used at Bannockburn. During the King Robert assembled his supporters at next several months I read everything I the Thor Wood between the English and Sir Robert Clifford Mounted Robert the Bruce battleswith his banner bearer English knight Sir Giles de Argentine while Alexander Scrimgeour holds the Robert de Lyburn. Scottish ruler’s banner (Scene 1). TOY SOLDIER & MODEL FIGURE 63
history & collecting toy figuresABOVE: A Scottish man-at-arms takes a mass of of pike heads to the enemy (not to the enemy. The outcome was a routswing at English King Edward II. unlike the phalanx used so effectively by of King Edward II’s army. The English the ancient Greeks). For defense, it formed losses were heavy, estimated at 700 knightsABOVE CENTRE: Scottish pikeman a hedgehog or porcupine-like shape with and mounted men. In contrast, the Scotswearing the blue lion rampant, identifying him spear points projecting out of all sides. suffered little, losing only two knights andas a member of Edward Bruce’s division. relatively few footmen. Only a minor skirmish took place JuneABOVE RIGHT: England’s Gilbert de 23. The main battle started early the next King Edward II himself narrowlyClare, Earl of Gloucester, gets unhorsed. In day with an advance by the Scots against avoided capture. He was hounded out ofhis haste to join the battle, he failed to don the English camp. They marched in an Scotland by a pursuing James Douglas.his heraldic surcoat with fatal consequences. oblique line, four schiltrons strong, across an area of sloping grassland with their DIORAMA PROJECTBELOW: Scot wearing the Earl of Carrick’s line eventually connecting between thearms and carrying the St. Andrew’s standard. Bannockburn stream and the Peltstream. The diorama that Brian Rodden and I This forced the English to fight with their developed depicts the second day of thistheir prize. Exact figures are unknown, backs to water on poor carse (swamp-like) pitched battle in a series of miniscenesbut the best estimates place the English land, a disadvantageous position for cavalry. capturing the major personality figuresforce at 20,000 while the Scots had a mere and the men-at-arms. Plans called for the7,000 troops. The English, who were not expecting inclusion of 32 figures: 15 Scots and 17 the Scots to contest the field in open English. While the Scots awaited the arrival of battle, hurriedly gathered their arms andthe English, The Bruce had his men train armor. The knights, led by the Earl of SCENE 1: Two figures on a singlein the formation they would use during the Gloucester, attacked quickly, confident base show Robert the Bruce mountedbattle: the schiltron. This formation had no that they would sweep the lowborn and battling the English knight Giles defixed strength, but was probably 500 to 800 Scottish rabble from the field. Argentine, who is on foot. The king ispikemen for ease of command and mobility. armed with a battle-ax, of which he was anIn attack, the formation would present a However, the schiltrons absorbed the acknowledged master. English onslaught and took the battle Since there is no historical record of Figure Maker’s Techniques My Rodden Heraldic Sculpture figures are designed to give the collector as much choice as possible in what he envisions for a scene or figure. For his Bannockburn re-creation, Philip J. Bennett used his considerable research to spell out historically accurate portrayals of specific knights and scenes from the battle. In consultation with Philip, I created the figures he had in mind both in pose and coat of arms. The process involved is fairly complicated. The chest, hips, arms, hands, legs and heads of the foot sculptures are all separate castings done in fine pewter. The same breakdown applies to the mounted figures: the horses’ legs, body, head and trappings all being separate. I have a variety of different heads, chests, hips, arms and hands from which to choose and employ those which I feel best meets the pose which the collector has in mind. They are then given a fine finish and the various elements are welded or soldered together to create a human figure or horse. The part of the surcoat which hangs from the hips to the shanks is formed from sheet pewter to re-create the effect of cloth and soldered into place. The visors on the helmets are held in place with brass pins. Once the sculpture is completed and set onto the pewter base, the armor is given a high polish and the mail and rivets applied. --Brian Rodden64 TOY SOLDIER & MODEL FIGURE
history & collecting toy figuresRIGHT: With a Scottish pikeman at his sideand wounded English knight Sir Thomas St.Leger at his feet, Sir James Douglas waveshis banner to inspire his men.FAR RIGHT: Edward Bruce atBannockburn. these two knights meeting in combat, this Saracens. After that time, the red “bloody the flag of Scotland. On his yellow jerkinscene was conceived by the artist. Brian’s heart” was added to the Douglas coat is the red and white coat of arms of thepainting and sculpting of the Robert the of arms in recognition of the valor and Earl of Carrick, one of Edward Bruce’sBruce figure is the most accurate and well- service to the King of Scots. titles. The last man-at-arms (not shown)executed that I have yet seen. attacks with a pike aimed de Clare’s horse. SCENE 4: Gilbert de Clare, the Earl An addition to the scene was the of Gloucester, is depicted being unhorsed ADDITIONAL SCENESfigure of Alexander Scrimgeour, with the while attacking the schiltron of EdwardKing’s Lyon standard. He was granted the Bruce. Because he armed in haste to lead Brian subsequently tackled crafting figureshonorable but perilous position in a grant the attack, he didn’t don his heraldic for eight additional scenes not picturedconfirming him and his heirs as constable surcoat. Consequently, instead of being here. Planned figures included:of Dundee Castle in 1298. captured for ransom, he was killed like any • English-- Sir Robert Clifford; John common man-at-arms. SCENE 2: King Edward II is mounted Comyn, “The Red”; Hugh Despenser;and fending off an attacking Scottish The idea for the heraldry on the Sir Thomas Gray; and Sir Rogerman-at-arms from the Douglas retinue. horse’s trapper was taken from a Northbridge, the banner bearer forAgain, the two figures are placed on a painting of the battle by Mark Churms. King Edward II.single base. According to various accounts, On the knight’s helm is a bull crest and • Scottish -- Sir Thomas Randolph, Earlthe King used a mace to fight off the lambrequin. of Moray; Sir Robert Keith, MarshalScottish attackers. of Scotland, mounted; Angus Og This figure is surrounded by four McDonald, Lord of the Isles; Walter SCENE 3: This scene shows Sir James Scottish pikemen wearing standard Stewart, High Stewart of Scotland;Douglas with his banner leading the third kettle helms and carrying 12-foot pikes. Sir Robert Boyd; Sir Neil Campbell;schiltron with a Scottish pikeman at his A yellow-surcoated figure has a white and Gilbert de la Hay, the constable ofside and the English knight, Sir Thomas cross of St. Andrew on his jerkin. A Scotland. St. Ledger, mortally wounded at his feet. white-surcoated figure bears the blue lion I hope fellow collectors will agree that rampant, identifying him as a member of the Battle of Bannockburn offers excellent Sir Douglas’ helmet has a fan crest, Edward Bruce’s contingent. material for the modeler and toy soldierwhich was common at that time. It also collector. nhas a movable visor, an innovative device The third figure shows a Scottish man-that was just starting to gain acceptance at-arms with the St. Andrew’s standard, about the writerwith armorers. Avid history buff Philip J. Bennett The pikeman in the blue surcoat bears has been collecting toy figures sincethe cross of St. Andrew, the ancient symbol childhood and he is the proprietor of Lordof the Scots, on his breast. The banner Tankerville’s Knights. The Americanrepresents the original Douglas heraldry. retired after a career as a senior executive with an international food service The red “bloody heart” would not be organization. Now he enjoys spendingadded until the 1330s after the death of time with his family, entertaining hisRobert the Bruce. Legend has it that King grandchildren, playing golf, collectingRobert, on his deathbed, implored Sir medieval heraldic miniatures and writing.James Douglas to take him on a crusade to He has authored four books chroniclingfight the infidel. Sir James took the king’s the craftsmanship of knight makersheart in a gold casket on crusade to Spain, Brian Rodden, Jacques Cuypers and Johnwhere he and his knights perished fighting Braithwaite, as well as military models produced by Metal Shed’s Bruce Hebron.Recommended Reading • Armstrong, Pete. “The Battle of Bannockburn, June 1314 (Heraldry, Armour, and Knights).” Keswick, Cumbria, U.K.: Lynda Armstrong, 1998.• ”Bannockburn.” Booklet produced by the National Trust of Scotland. Has a good overview and some heraldry.• Barrow, G.W.S. “Robert Bruce and the Community of the Realm of Scotland,” 3rd edition. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1993. This is the best recent account of the battle, and of Scotland in the 1300s.• Brown, Michael. “The Black Douglases: War and Lordship in Late Medieval Scotland, 1300-1455.” East Linton, U.K.: Tuckwell Press, 1998.• Martine, Roddy; Pottinger, Don (illustrator); and Malcolm Innes. “Scottish Clan and Family Names: Their Arms, Origins and Tartans. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing Co. Ltd., 1993.• Nusbacher, Aryeh. “The Battle of Bannockburn 1314.” Stroud, Gloucestershire, U.K.: Tempus Publishing Ltd., 2000. A new book on the subject.• Oman, C.W.C. “The Art of War in the Middle Ages A.D. 378-1515.” Ed. John H. Beeler. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 1953. • Tranter, Nigel. “The Bruce Trilogy.” London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1989. Historical fiction and a great read!• Traquair. “Freedom’s Sword.” Denver: Museum of Denver, 1998. My personal favorite.• Young, Alan. “Robert the Bruce’s Rivals, the Comyns, 1212-1314.” East Linton, U.K.: Tuckwell Press, 1997. TOY SOLDIER & MODEL FIGURE 65
RBEoVoIEkWS n Reviews of READ ALL ABOUT IT... books of interest to history buffs as well as toy soldier and model figure enthusiasts.THE DRIVE ON MOSCOW 1941Coauthors: Niklas Zetterling two powers invaded and carved up Poland tapped a variety of sources to re-create& Anders Frankson shortly after. the battle from the perspectives ofPublished by: Casemate Publishers both the lowliest soldiers and topISBN: 978-1-61200-120-3 Later Hitler stunned Stalin by commanders. They show how the failurePrice: £19.99/U.K./$32.95 U.S. unleashing the Operation Barbarossa of the German assault on Moscow hadReviewed by: Grant Peterson offensive against Russia June 22, 1941. a decisive influence on the overall Nazi Axis forces rapidly made vast inroads strategy in the East. They also assert that against communist troops. the battle’s outcome ranks as WWII’sThe high-water mark of Nazi Germany’s crucial turning point.military successes and a historic turning By the end of September 1941, morepoint are examined in a new book penned than 1 million German soldiers were lined This interesting book and its wartimeby the Swedish team of Niklas Zetterling up along the front line only 180 miles photos should supply toy soldier collectorsand Anders Frankson. west of Moscow, the Soviet capital city. with lots of historical context and The coauthors relate how the Germans inspiration for displaying fairly recent Twenty-four photos and seven maps were well trained, confident and had releases of German and Soviet forces byillustrate their 336-page, hardcover book, good reasons for hoping that just one last makers such as Figarti Miniatures, First“The Drive on Moscow 1941: Operation offensive would end the war in the East. Legion Ltd. and King & Country Ltd. nTaifun and Germany’s First Great Crisis They were opposed by a Red Army forceof World War II.” that was about equal in size, but lacked POWER AND training and confidence. RESISTANCE: Despite their mutual dislike and THE DELHIdistrust, Germany’s Adolf Hitler and the When the Axis hammer fell on CORONATIONSoviet Union’s Josef Stalin agreed to a the Soviet anvil, it was a catastrophe DURBARSnon-aggression pact in August 1939. The for the defenders. German panzers Editor: Julie F. Codell speared through the Russian Published by: Mapin Publishing defenses and encircled most ISBN: 978-1-935677-10-9 of the enemy soldiers on Price: £48 U.K./$75 U.S. the approaches to Moscow. Reviewed by: Colin Luxford Within a few weeks, the majority of the Soviet POWs were marched into captivity, Photographs and essays highlight where a grim fate awaited “Power and Resistance: The Delhi them. Coronation Durbars.” Though the Germans These Durbars were held for Indian scored overwhelming successes rulers to pledge their allegiances to initially, Stalin’s capital did not the British Crown on the occasion of fall. Autumn rains created mud Queen Victoria being made Empress that bogged down German of India in 1877, and the accessions to combat and supply units. This the throne and becoming Emperors bought the Russians precious of India of Edward VII in 1903 and time to call Gen. Georgy George V in 1911. George V was Zhukov to Moscow and create the only monarch to attend a Durbar defensive lines west of the city. personally. The other rulers were represented by the viceroys of India. As a result, the Germans faced stiffer resistance when This book is ostensibly a collection they renewed their attacks of nearly 150 photos of the Durbars in November. Nevertheless from the Alkazi Collection of they still came tantalizing Photography. However, this is more close to taking Moscow. But the Germans were ultimately foiled by Mother Nature and an overwhelming buildup of Red Army strength. Zetterling and Frankson66 TOY SOLDIER & MODEL FIGURE
WABASH 1791: ST. CLAIR’S DEFEATAuthor: John F. Winkler Fort Recovery, Ohio. Awaiting them victory. Superb color plates by PeterIllustrator: Peter Dennis were an Indian confederacy’s estimated Dennis depicting woodlands combat arePublished by: Osprey Publishing, 1,400 warriors led by Little Turtle of the complemented by period illustrations,Campaign 240 Miamis, Blue Jacket of the Shawnees and maps and photos showing everything fromISBN: 978-1-84908-676-9 Buckongahelas of the Delawares. It was artifacts and re-enactors to the present-dayPrice: £14.99 U.K./$19.95 U.S. likely the largest Native American force site of the clash.Reviewed by: Hayden Hammersmith ever assembled. They were covertly advised by a couple of British officers from the This concise, 96-page book is aSt. Clair’s Defeat, also known as the Battle garrison at Detroit. fascinating look at a relatively little-knownof the Wabash, ranks as American Indians’ battle, especially considering how the Armygreatest victory over the U.S. Army. The Indians furiously attacked at dawn suffered triple the number of casualties on the cold morning of Nov. 4. They at the Wabash than were much more The Treaty of Paris, which officially deployed in a crescent formation that famously slaughtered by the Sioux and theirended the American Revolutionary enabled them to overwhelm St. Clair’s allies at Custer’s Last Stand in 1876. nWar, had been reached only eight years outposts and encircle his encampment.earlier and George Washington was still Because most of the Americans werepresident of the fledgling United States condensed in a relatively small area, theywhen the battle took place in the disputed quickly fell prey to the warriors. WithinNorthwest Territory. three hours, the last of the surviving Americans, including St. Clair, had taken Gen. Arthur St. Clair, who had been chaotic flight from the battlefield.a capable commander during the ARW,led a hastily assembled force into Ohio in The casualty rate among the soldiersan effort to seize control from its resident was 97.4 percent. Nearly all 200 campIndians and put an end to deadly frontier followers were slaughtered for a totalraids. Ignorance of the geography and American death toll of 832. Only arugged terrain combined with wintry few dozen soldiers escaped unharmed.weather and a lack of supplies to hinder Essentially, 25 percent of the newlythe American infantry, dragoons and formed United States’ entire Army wasartillery as they slowly advanced through wiped out.the wilderness. Author John F. Winkler expertly After a month of trekking, about examines the Army’s controversial1,300 soldiers reached the headwaters calamity, analyzing what went wrong andof the Wabash River near modern-day how the Indians scored such a completethan just a book of photos with identifying or Indian perspectives or from modern delight to behold. Many photos that I amtext. In reality, it’s a book of essays with as opposed to traditional approaches are already familiar with explode into graphicphotos chosen to support their theses. also deliberated. Technical issues are detail when they occupy a double-pageThe essays have been written by various considered, including the limitations of spread in this 10.8 by 9.4-inch book.professors and are very “academic” in style. equipment. It might help to have a dictionary handy I would recommend this 244-page,when reading them! Apart from the approved, fee-paying hardcover book to those who study this professional photographic companies, it topic fairly deeply, but perhaps not to The essays explore the motives behind is interesting to learn how many of the those who only want to look at thethe photos, particularly how the British people in the audience were taking their photos. nstage-managed the occasions to promote own amateur shots by 1903. It is arguedtheir cause. I must say that I think some that this in itself prevented the authoritiesof the arguments put forward are a little from having the level of control theycontrived in that, with limited technical wanted over the photos taken and released.equipment and a moving parade, manyphotos must have been “one-chance” Indeed because of all the extra photos,shots that could not have deliberately Raja Deen Dayal & Sons, probably theincorporated the elements some of the most established of the photographicwriters have interpreted in more political companies of the time, nearly went bust asways. it was unable to sell the number of albums it had anticipated to recoup its financial The essayists also explore how the outlay. Indian nationalist movement put differentspins on what was going on, both On occasions, photos are shownabout the events themselves and their with a cropped version next to them tointerpretations of the photos taken. make points that I think could have been achieved without the duplication. Although the egos of some participants This would have freed up space forwere satisfied by being immortalized in other photos to be used. Also irritatingphotographs, it is argued that the more is how one photo is used in two of theornate the costume of a maharaja; the essays. more subservient to the British Raj thismade him look. As well as photos, some Mortimer Menpes paintings are reproduced along Matters such as whether events should with a few maps and diagrams. The qualityhave been represented from European and size of most of the photos used are a TOY SOLDIER & MODEL FIGURE 67
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EPXREIRZCEISE n Figarti and TS&MF MONTHLY COMPETITION TS&MF team up to put a Tiger in some lucky reader’s tank.WIN WWII GERMANY’S FIRST TIGER This month readers have a chance to into action months earlier than planned. It Figarti model, such as replicating storagewin Germany’s “First Tiger” of World War made its inauspicious debut on the Eastern bins that appear on the sides of the turret.II thanks to the generosity of the fine folks Front Sept. 23, 1942, near Leningrad.at Figarti Miniatures. The historically accurate details also Several of the 502nd’s Tigers simply include the Feifel air cleaner system found This 1:30-scale Tiger I (ref. ETG-080) broke down. Some of the German on early production models and a lackreflects how the 502nd Heavy Panzer behemoths fell prey to dug-in Soviet of side fenders.The 88-mm gun barrel isBattalion was the first unit to field the new antitank guns. The Red Army even movable and actually recoils into the breech.tank. Because it weighed nearly 60 tons managed to capture one Tiger intact,and ranked as the heaviest tank of its time, allowing the communists to study it and Both hatches on the turret open, withthe 502nd adopted a prehistoric woolly formulate countermeasures. one occupied by a commander figure inmammoth as its unit emblem. the black uniform of the panzer corps. The captive Tiger became a Soviet Inside the vehicle, collectors will find an Pressure exerted by German leader war trophy. Photos of it helped shape the impressively detailed fighting compartment.Adolf Hitler triggered sending the Tiger photo-etched detailing of this superb This incredible model retails for $259 U.S. and it’s a limited edition of only 100. However,TS&MF readers can have a chance of winning one simply by sending in the correct answer to the following question: Where is Figarti Miniatures based? A) London, England, U.K. B) Boston, Mass., USA C) Shanghai, China D) Mississauga, Ont., CanadaABOVE: The first unitequipped with the heavy tankadopted the woolly mammothas its emblem as can be seenon the model’s turret. ABOVE: Production of Figarti’s “First Tiger” was limited to 100.70 TOY SOLDIER & MODEL FIGURE
PREVIOUS WINNER ANNOUNCEDCongratulations to the lucky winner of TS&MF issue 175’s First Legion’sPrize Exercise featuring a World War II German Afrika WWII GermanKorps motorcycle and sidecar graciously supplied by First Afrika Korps BMWLegion Ltd. R75 motorcycle combination. This set’s complete title is “DAK German BMW R75Motorcycle Combination: 15th Panzer Division ReconBattalion HQ” (ref. DAK017). The division fought underthe command of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, who wasnicknamed as the “Desert Fox.” A motorized recon battalion functioned much like thecavalry of the horse and musket armies of an earlier age. TheBMW R75 motorcycle was a vital component of Germanrecon units tasked with moving rapidly to find and fix Alliedforces. This 1:30-scale, mixed-media model is primarily madeof resin with metal, photo-etched and plastic components.Incredible detailing has been achieved right down to thecombination’s desert paint scheme and markings, such as thecircular blue and white BMW logo and the Afrika Korps’stylized palm tree/Nazi swastika symbol. The authentic-looking driver and extra stowage in thepassenger compartment are separate parts. This gives collectorsthe option of displaying this motorbike with a vacant sidecaror no figures at all. Valued at $199.95 U.S., this fantastic set was won by U.K.reader William Magill of Larne, Country Antrim, NorthernIreland. He correctly answered that the acronym BMW standsfor Bavarian Motor Works. Kudos to the issue 175 Prize Exercise winner, and manythanks to all of the other readers who entered. Please keep ontrying because you’ve got to be in it to win it!NEXT TIME WIN PRPERVIIZEWENext month in TS&MF issue 180 readers will have a chance to win Thomas Gunn Miniatures’ World War IIGerman Sd.Kfz. 252 tractor unit towing an ammunition trailer. HOW TO WIN!All entries must be submitted in writing with your complete contact details, including an e-mail address ifavailable. Entries can be sent via fax to 01903 885514 or mail to Issue 179 Prize Exercise, TS&MF, Ashdown Ltd.,Unit 5E, Park Farm, Chichester Road, Arundel, West Sussex, England, U.K. BN18 9EY. Entries can also be sentvia fax to (507) 634-7691 or mail to Issue 179 Prize Exercise, TS&MF, Ashdown Inc., 68132 250th Ave., Kasson,MN, USA 55944. All entries must be received by April 30, 2013. TOY SOLDIER & MODEL FIGURE 71
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Just think, you’ll have • Young Collector’s Story • Before the Bearskin • Playing Cards & Toy Figures •Young Bonaparte at Toulon •Williamsburg Weekend •Euro Militaire •Heyde Collectors thousands of pages, at your fingertips! • OMSS Turns 50 • Toy Soldier First Aid •Floor Wars • Royal Wedding Set •1903 Delhi Durbar •Vietnam War 1st Air Cavalry •French Camel Corps • West Point Color Guard • WWII U.S. Tank Ace • WWI German Infantry 9 771359 742033 NeW coNtest: 9 771359 742033 NEW CONTEST:DECTEOMYBSEORLD20IE1R2:D-EiCssEMuEB1ER75 JaTnOuYaSrOyL2D0I1ER3:J-AisNsUuAeR1Y76Pgs_1_Cover.indd 1 9/28/12 12:40 PM Pgs_1_Cover.indd 1 11/7/12 5:22 PMIssue 175 Issue 176 Issue 178War of 1812 2012 Chicago Show Caravan of CamelsWest Point Color Guard Christmas Releases Build a MountainWW1 German Infantry Gettysburg Diorama Scratch Building ScenesPlease send me the above indicated issues. 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Call the US Toll Free: 1 866 606 6587 www.oldtoysoldierhome.com Quality Collectible Figures www.crowntoysoldiers.com 25 years service Phone: (760) 758-5481 USA: 603-552-5069 The only authorized distributors for the Americas UK: 020300 48058 www.lepetitsoldat.com We stock the book and everything in it! St. Louis, Mo, USA USA 314-567-3311The Treasure Bunker Militaria Shop 21 King Street, Glasgow G1 5QZ, Scotland, UK. Tel.0141 552 8164King and Country | Collectors Showcase | First Legion | W.Britain w w w. t r e a s u r e b u n k e r. c o m Phone: 928-717-1698 www.bruntonsbarracks.comCTHFPHOAIELRNOTNRTVECSL R C f l y.t v £2.50 to £4.50 each Tarrant’s Toy Price Includes engraving Soldiers Advertisers indexAEROART INTERNATIONAL................................................................................ 68 15 fonts, 29 finishes The following are available:AG FARM TOYS.................................................................................................... 51 20 standard sizes Rank & FileBritish Model Soldier Society................................................................. 69 Also available from Seaview CuriosBRUNTON’S BARRACKS..................................................................................... 73 Borders, Symbols & badges and Collectables, Seaton.COLLECTORS SHOWCASE (THE)......................................................................... 3 Prompt Mail Order service Latest Rank & File set is Joe Smith’s War.COTSWOLD COLLECTABLES............................................................................. 10 16 Oxbarton, Stoke Gifford,CRAIG MCCLAINS OLD TOY SOLDIER HOME.................................................. 73 Send for a leaflet to: Bristol BS34 8RPCROWN MILITARY MINIATURES........................................................................ 73 Name It! Tel: 01454 777278DUTKINS COLLECTABLES.............................................................................. 51,73 Email: [email protected] GEAR INC.............................................................................................. 18-19 12 Savay LaneFIRST LEGION LTD............................................................................................... 11 Denham GreenGREEN’S COLLECTABLES................................................................................... 51 Bucks. UB9 5NHHOBBY BUNKER.................................................................................................... 2HUDSON & ALLEN STUDIO.................................................................................. 9 Tel: 01895 832757IVANHOE FIGURES.............................................................................................. 73KING & COUNTRY-HK....................................................................................37, 76 Email: [email protected] PETIT SOLDAT................................................................................................ 73 www.nameitplates.co.ukMAITLAND TOY SOLDIER SHOPPE (THE)......................................................... 51MARLBOROUGH MILITARY MODELS............................................................... 73 ‘Scott J. DummittMINUTEMEN TOY SOLDIERS............................................................................. 25 presents’Name it................................................................................................................ 73PETER NATHAN TOY SOLDIERS........................................................................ 25 Canada’s largest selectionRodney’s Dimestore Gallery..................................................................... 69 of military action figuresSCOTT DUMMITT PRESENTS............................................................................. 73SIERRA TOY SOLDIER COMPANY................................................................25, 51 Featuring:TARRANT’S TOY SOLDIERS................................................................................ 73 Vintage GIJOE, Vintage Action Man,TEDTOY MINIATURES......................................................................................... 10 Adventure Team, DRAGON, IGNITE,THE HISTORY STORE.......................................................................................... 51 bbi, Elite Brigade, Ultimate Soldier,THE TREASURE BUNKER.................................................................................... 73 DID, 54mm Canadian Toy Soldiers,THOMAS GUNN MINIATURES............................................................................ 10 William Britain Ltd., Armies in Plastic,TOY SOLDIER SHOPPE...................................................................................9, 51TOY TROOPS.......................................................................................................... 9 Del Prado and more!TREEFROG TREASURES...............................................................................73, 75TROOPS OF TIME................................................................................................ 25 ‘Scott J. 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shows and clubs Event organizers are invited to submit information for inclusion in the Toy Soldier Calendar.Toy Soldier CalendarMarch to May 2013MARCH free. The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee-themed event will British Model Soldier Society (Bristol Area feature trade stands, displays, demonstrations, open Branch), British Aerospace Welfare Association Club,Sat., March 2, Military in Miniature 2013 staged by competitions and inter-club competition. Contact: 589 Southmead Road, Filton, Bristol, England. Meetsthe Aldershot Branch of the British Model Soldier BMSS President Michael Creese, tel: +44 (0) 1728 at 7:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month.Society, Christ’s College, Larch Avenue, Bellfields, 602746; or Treasurer Paul Newman, tel: +44 (0) 1895 Information: Peter Sturgeon, tel: 0117 9732067.Guildford, Surrey, England, U.K. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 832757; Website: www.bmssonline.com or e-mail:Contact: Andy Dunstan, tel: 01483 852398 or [email protected]. British Model Soldier Society (Ealing Branch),e-mail: [email protected]. Northfields Community Centre, 71a Northcroft Sun., April 28, 6th Annual Gettysburg Toy Soldier Road, Ealing, England. Meets on the secondSun., March 10, 24th Annual West Coaster Toy Show and Sale, Gettysburg Hotel (Best Western), Friday every month. Information: Bruce Harron,Soldier & Miniature Figure Show, Irvine Marriott 1 Lincoln Square, Gettysburg, Pa., USA. 10 a.m. to tel: 07847 855 850.Hotel (Orange County Airport), 18000 Von Karman 3 p.m. Admission $6; children under 12 free.Ave., Irvine, Calif., USA. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission Contact: organizers Carl Hoegermeyer, tel: (215) British Model Soldier Society (Essex Branch),$6; children under 12 free. For information, tel: 794-5606, or Wayne Stevens, (717) 253-7228; Two Brewers, Springfield Road, Chelmsford, England.(760) 758-5481, fax: (760) 758-7004, Website: or promoter John Stengel of The Marx-Man, tel: Meets at 8 p.m. on the second Wednesday of everywww.oldtoysoldierhome.com or e-mail: (718) 418-9439; Website: toysoldiershowpromo.com. month. Information: Les Bickmore, tel: 01621 [email protected]. MAY British Model Soldier Society (Northants Branch),Thurs. to Sat., March 14-16, Lone Star Figure Show, Wellingborough Bowls Club, Hatton Park Road,Renaissance Hotel, 2222 Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, Sat., May 4, 28th Annual Plastic Warrior Show, Wellingborough, Northants, England. Meets atTexas, USA. Sponsored by the Lone Star Military Harlequin Suite, Winning Post Inn, Chertsey Road, 7:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month.Miniature Society, the event will feature workshops, Twickenham, London, England, U.K. Early admission Information: Terry O’Neill, tel: 01933 681536.seminars and vendors. Scheduled workshops will £3 for PW subscribers only at 10 a.m.; generalfeature experts Julio Cabos of Andrea Miniatures and admission £3 at 10:30 a.m. Contact: PW Editor Paul British Model Soldier Society (Northern Branch)Doug Cohen on painting; and John Long on creating Morehead, tel: +44 (0) 1483 722778, fax: +44 (0) 1483 and the Manchester Association of Militarygroundwork and bases. The featured seminar speaker 772723, Website: www.plasticwarrior.com or Modelling Societies meet jointly from 1 to 5 p.m.will be movie special effects wizard John Rosengrant. e-mail: [email protected]. on the third Saturday of every month at the SaleContact: Anders Heintz, tel: (417) 848-2902 or 001 Moor Methodist Church Hall, Northenden Road,361 334 16 25, Website: www.lonestarfigureshow.com Thurs., May 9, The Toy Soldier Museum Open Sale Moor, England. Adults £1 (children free).or e-mail: [email protected]. House and Cellar Sale, 5459 Paradise Valley Road, Information: Tom Cunningham, tel: 01614 992803. Cresco, Pa., USA. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contact: JamesSun., March 24, Valleycon 23, Knights of Columbus H. Hillestad, tel: (570) 629-7227; Website: www. Irish Model Soldier Society, Garda Club,Hall, 460 Granby Road, Chicopee, Mass., USA. the-toy-soldier.com or e-mail: [email protected]. Harrington Street, Dublin 8, Ireland. Meets on9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission $5; children under age the first Thursday of every month. Information:16 free. Sponsored by the Western New England Fri. and Sat., May 10-11, 72nd Annual Miniature Tony Foley, tel: 00 353 1 4932248.Chapter of Wings & Wheels Modelers-IPMS, the Figure Collectors of America Show & Mart, Valleyevent will feature an open competition and Forge Convention Center, 1160 First Ave., King of Letchworth Scale Model Club, host of the Britishexhibition encompassing everything from scale Prussia, Pa., USA. Noon to 5 p.m. Friday. 9 a.m. to Model Soldier Society North Herts Branch. Meetsmodels to figures, dioramas and vignettes. Contact: 4 p.m. Saturday. Admission good for both days is $15; on the third Wednesday of every month from 7:30Al LaFleche, tel: (413) 306-1270, Website: www. children under 12 free. The event features exhibitions, to 10 p.m. at the Four Emblems Club, 2 Stationwwmodelclub.org or e-mail: [email protected]. competitions and vendors. For vendor information, Road, Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire, contact: Dennis Sosna, e-mail: sozmfca10@gmail. England, U.K. All welcome. Guests must pay a £1Sun., March 24, 23rd Annual Indy Toy Soldier com; for exhibit information, contact: Dennis Levy, club guest membership fee to comply with the socialShow, Indianapolis Marriott East (I-70, Exit 89), tel: (856) 665-8909; Website: www.mfcashow.com. club venue’s bylaws. Information: Rod Johnson, clubIndianapolis, Ind., USA. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission secretary and BMSS area representative, tel: 01438$5. Room trading starts March 22. Contact: Show Sat., May 18, 12th Annual Toy Soldier Show, 814225; Website: www.letchworthsmc.yolasite.com.Manager Barry Carter, tel: (765) 345-5665, Virginia War Museum, 9285 Warwick Blvd.,Website: www.playsetmagazine.com/indyshow or Newport News, Va., USA. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission Ontario Model Soldier Society. Usually meets one-mail: [email protected]. for the show and museum: $6 adults, $5 seniors, $4 the second Sunday of each month (except July and children, and ages 6 and under free. Contact: August) at Branch 210 of the Royal CanadianAPRIL Colin Romanick, tel: (757) 247-8523, Website: www. Legion, 110 Jutland Road, Toronto, Ont., Canada. warmuseum.org or e-mail: [email protected]. Doors open at noon and the formal meeting beginsSat., April 6, Welling Model Show and Open at 1:30 p.m. Next meetings March 3, April 14Day, Falconwood Community Centre, The Green, Sat. and Sun., May 25-26, 7th Annual Texas Toy and May 26. Information: Gary Lenius, tel: (416)Welling, Kent, England, U.K. 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Soldier Show, Menger Hotel, 204 Alamo Plaza, San 261-6494 or e-mail: [email protected];Admission £1; juniors and concessions 50p. Antonio, Texas, USA. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Website: www.omss.ca.Club displays, vendors, open competitions, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission $7 per family.demonstrations, bring and buy, and living history. Toy Soldier Dinner and Symposium at 6:30 p.m. South Carolina Military Miniature Society.Contact: Dave Maddox, tel: 07795 490901. Saturday at the hotel. Sponsored by Kings X Toy Meetings are held at members’ homes in two U.S. Soldiers and King & Country Ltd. Contact: Martin cities: the second Thursday night of every month inSat., April 13, Sword & Lance model making and Vasquez at Kings X, tel: (210) 226-7000, fax: (210) Columbia and on Sunday afternoons every six weeksmilitaria exhibition sponsored by the Darlington 226-7117, Website: www.kingsx.com or e-mail: in Charleston. For meeting details, contact: SocietyMilitary Modelling Society, Darlington College, [email protected]. President Dennis Fontana, tel: (803) 419-6747Darlington, County Durham, England, U.K. 10 a.m. to (Columbia); or Lance Leader, tel: (843) 795-87204:30 p.m. Admission £2.50; children up to age 15 and Society Meetings (Charleston). For membership and club information,concessions £1. The event features trade stands, open contact: Geoff Walker, tel: (803) 356-2674 orcompetitions and displays. Contact: Colin Holmes, Bognor Regis Modelling & Wargaming e-mail: [email protected]. tel: 01325 489801 or e-mail: [email protected]. Society, Community Hall, West Meads, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, England, U.K. Usually meets Southern California Toy Soldier CollectorsSun., April 14, North East Toy Soldier Society’s from 7:30 to 10 p.m. every Monday. Contact Society. Meets on the last Saturday of every49th Biannual Toy Soldier Show, Crowne Plaza, the joint secretaries: Stephen Pidwell, tel: other month at members’ homes. New members15 Middlesex Canal Park, Woburn, Mass., USA. 01243 855449; or Dilip Sethi, tel: 01403 780637; are welcome. Contact: Mike Tarantino, tel:9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission $6; children under 15 e-mail: [email protected]. (909) 861-4252 or e-mail: [email protected]. Contact: show Chairman Matthew Murphyof Hobby Bunker, tel: (781) 321-8855, Website: British Model Soldier Society (National), Napier Sydney Model Soldier Society. New memberswww.hobbybunker.com/events or e-mail: Hall, Hide Place, Vincent Square, London, SW1. needed and welcome! Meets every [email protected]. Usually meets from 5 to 7 p.m. on the third Friday Wednesday in every second month at Earlwood- of every month. Upcoming meeting themes and Bardwell Park Bowling Club. Send all inquiriesSat., April 27, British Model Soldier Society Annual dates: Open Evening March 15 and Military concerning membership and meetings to theShow, Holiday Inn, Coram Street, London WC1N Pageant Trophy May 17. Information: Arthur secretary: Tom Thorpe, 29 Chaleyer St., Willoughby1HT. 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (members admitted at Smith, tel: 02088 560064; or Michael Creese, tel: 2068, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Tel: (612) 94172162.10 a.m.). Admission £4; BMSS members £3; children 01728 602746; Website: www.bmssonline.com.74 TOY SOLDIER & MODEL FIGURE
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