Eichhörnchen's Armies

Eichhörnchen · 04-22-22, 12:28 PM

Expanding on an album in my Profile page, this thread is for anyone interested in old or new plastic toy soldiers and figures (including animals)

Since I hit retirement I've more time to devote to my hobbies - without feelings of guilt - one of which is collecting vintage plastic figures then, if desired, stripping & repainting them. Sometimes in faithful imitation of their original finish and other times devoting much more time and care than the average piece-worker could in the 1960s

My 'Swoppet Knight' figures from that time did not require much more than a clean up, restoration of some missing parts and some silver-grey paint on the armour before they were ready to go to war again

Buddahaid · 04-22-22, 12:44 PM

Playing with toys at your age....

mapuc · 04-22-22, 01:56 PM

When grown-ups play with tin soldiers or soldiers made of plastic/other material they usually put them up in certain pattern to demonstrate a famous battle.

I try to remember what I saw when I was around 3-5 years old. A friend to my father-I think he was, had his entire basement arranged with fields mini trees mini hills mini trench.

If I remember correctly he had build in some scale the last battle of sonderburg 1864.

On tv I have seen some American making a true copy of some famous civil war battle.

Edit
In Denmark it is called slaget ved dybbøl-Eng the second Schleswig war

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Schleswig_War

End edit

Markus

Eichhörnchen · 04-22-22, 03:15 PM

I have a friend with the same hobby; he's created a huge diorama of Rorke's Drift (Zulu Wars) with toy soldiers - not model soldiers but toys. He was a high-flying shares dealer in the City but, like me, never lost his love for his little plastic men

Rhodes · 04-22-22, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eichhörnchen

Expanding on an album in my Profile page, this thread is for anyone interested in old or new plastic toy soldiers and figures (including animals)

Since I hit retirement I've more time to devote to my hobbies - without feelings of guilt - one of which is collecting vintage plastic figures then, if desired, stripping & repainting them. Sometimes in faithful imitation of their original finish and other times devoting much more time and care than the average piece-worker could in the 1960s

My 'Swoppet Knight' figures from that time did not require much more than a clean up, restoration of some missing parts and some silver-grey paint on the armour before they were ready to go to war again

My father and his friends destroyed entire armies of this!

But he still keep a few figures for collection.

ET2SN · 04-22-22, 06:23 PM

Hey Eich, you know about this

https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/forumdisplay.php?f=325

right?

C'mon in and grab a beer.

Eichhörnchen · 04-23-22, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ET2SN

Hey Eich, you know about this

https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/forumdisplay.php?f=325

right?

C'mon in and grab a beer.

Cheers, mate... I just posted on your thread

Jimbuna · 04-23-22, 04:35 AM

I've a fair few 25mm Napoleonic Russian Army up in the loft but only ever got round to painting about 10%

Commander Wallace · 04-23-22, 07:23 AM

Cool little army there, big E.

mapuc · 04-23-22, 08:26 AM

I found these interesting homepage

Quote:

So far in our blog series on making the model David Marshall has given an overview of how the project took place and the Perry brothers have detailed how they produced the bespoke figures for the battlefield. Here, David will take you through how he made the terrain of Agincourt for this extremely detailed diorama.

https://royalarmouries.org/stories/b...t-battlefield/

Here is a story of making US most known battle in the civil war

Quote:

When you were a young child, your imagination could run wild with a few action figures and a couple square feet of carpet in your living room. As we grow older, our boundless creativity is reigned in by demanding work schedules and busy lifestyles.

https://www.gettysburgbattlefieldtou...-for-everyone/

Markus

Eichhörnchen · 04-23-22, 10:31 AM

Thanks for those, Markus

Here are some Norman soldiers by the Spanish maker JECSAN, which I got from eBay recently. First photo shows them as they were... the seller (in Florida) didn't know who they were made by and neither did I at first. Second photo shows how much better they look after a lick of paint and in the right setting. I'd stress that these are toy soldiers, not models, so I don't always go to work on facial features

Skybird · 04-23-22, 10:58 AM

I had a collection of maybe 20 medieval knight figurines by Britains Deetail, those with the rectangular light green metal stands , maybe ca. 7-12cm high (on foot or on horse), I do not exactly remember. Those were my pride and joy when I was a boy, because they were pretty detailed compared to figures like that made by other manufacturers, and they were not cheap either, and my pocket money was limited.

Its strange that things from that era, over 40 years ago, can appear to be just a short time ago, are vivid memories feelign very alive, while events form last week already are forgotten and seem two or three lifetimes away. Maybe I simply was happy back then. I certainly was, i really had the biggest luck of my lifetime with my family, parents, home. It was not all perfect, but nevertheless it was so absolutely alright.

Aktungbby · 04-23-22, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eichhörnchen

Thanks for those, Markus

Here are some Norman soldiers by the Spanish maker JECSAN, which I got from eBay recently. First photo shows them as they were... the seller (in Florida) didn't know who they were made by and neither did I at first. Second photo shows how much better they look after a lick of paint and in the right setting. I'd stress that these are toy soldiers, not models, so I don't always go to work on facial features

Nice! but make sure the crossbowman (at right front) has a body-sized pavisse so he's not picked off by some archer(bowman-quicker fire rate/greater range) whilst cranking up the reload, ever a time-consuming process...also an indispensable tool in forming defensive shield walls against cavalry counterattacks. William the Bastard's feigned withdrawal at Hastings broke the Saxon Senlac Hilltop shieldwall in 1066 and changed the course of history....

no need for facial features; just glue a proper nasal facepiece on those 'Norman' helmets!

I note that the center front chieftain-helmed swordsman is wielding a left handed sword and a righthanded shield...with a leftside scabbard..?

Poor expendible bugger: he must be the right-end guy in a solid all left-shield wall!

Literally: "the right of the line" ie the place of honor! Love the diorama too...ie:"what castle lies hard by?"

nikimcbee · 05-14-22, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

I've a fair few 25mm Napoleonic Russian Army up in the loft but only ever got round to painting about 10%

I've got some Revolutionary War figures, 54mm. Need to paint...Maybe we could have a painting party?

Jimbuna · 05-14-22, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

I've got some Revolutionary War figures, 54mm. Need to paint...Maybe we could have a painting party?

These days I reckon I'd use a paint spray gun

04-22-22, 12:28 PM	#1
Eichhörnchen Starte das Auto Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: The Fens Posts: 17,384 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Eichhörnchen's Armies Expanding on an album in my Profile page, this thread is for anyone interested in old or new plastic toy soldiers and figures (including animals) Since I hit retirement I've more time to devote to my hobbies - without feelings of guilt - one of which is collecting vintage plastic figures then, if desired, stripping & repainting them. Sometimes in faithful imitation of their original finish and other times devoting much more time and care than the average piece-worker could in the 1960s My 'Swoppet Knight' figures from that time did not require much more than a clean up, restoration of some missing parts and some silver-grey paint on the armour before they were ready to go to war again __________________

04-22-22, 12:44 PM	#2
Buddahaid Shark above Space Chicken Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,319 Downloads: 162 Uploads: 0	Playing with toys at your age.... __________________ "However vast the darkness, we must provide our own light." Stanley Kubrick "Tomorrow belongs to those who can hear it coming." David Bowie

04-22-22, 01:56 PM	#3
mapuc CINC Pacific Fleet Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Denmark Posts: 20,537 Downloads: 37 Uploads: 0	When grown-ups play with tin soldiers or soldiers made of plastic/other material they usually put them up in certain pattern to demonstrate a famous battle. I try to remember what I saw when I was around 3-5 years old. A friend to my father-I think he was, had his entire basement arranged with fields mini trees mini hills mini trench. If I remember correctly he had build in some scale the last battle of sonderburg 1864. On tv I have seen some American making a true copy of some famous civil war battle. Edit In Denmark it is called slaget ved dybbøl-Eng the second Schleswig war https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Schleswig_War End edit Markus __________________ My little lovely female cat Last edited by mapuc; 04-22-22 at 02:51 PM.

04-22-22, 03:15 PM	#4
Eichhörnchen Starte das Auto Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: The Fens Posts: 17,384 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	I have a friend with the same hobby; he's created a huge diorama of Rorke's Drift (Zulu Wars) with toy soldiers - not model soldiers but toys. He was a high-flying shares dealer in the City but, like me, never lost his love for his little plastic men __________________

04-23-22, 04:35 AM	#8
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,525 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	I've a fair few 25mm Napoleonic Russian Army up in the loft but only ever got round to painting about 10% __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

04-22-22, 06:23 PM	#6
ET2SN Ocean Warrior Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 2,652 Downloads: 60 Uploads: 0	Hey Eich, you know about this https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/forumdisplay.php?f=325 right? C'mon in and grab a beer.

04-23-22, 07:23 AM	#9
Commander Wallace Navy Seal Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Under the sea in an Octupus garden in the shade Posts: 5,295 Downloads: 366 Uploads: 0	Cool little army there, big E.

04-23-22, 10:31 AM	#11
Eichhörnchen Starte das Auto Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: The Fens Posts: 17,384 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Thanks for those, Markus Here are some Norman soldiers by the Spanish maker JECSAN, which I got from eBay recently. First photo shows them as they were... the seller (in Florida) didn't know who they were made by and neither did I at first. Second photo shows how much better they look after a lick of paint and in the right setting. I'd stress that these are *toy* soldiers, not models, so I don't always go to work on facial features __________________

04-23-22, 10:58 AM	#12
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,620 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	I had a collection of maybe 20 medieval knight figurines by Britains Deetail, those with the rectangular light green metal stands , maybe ca. 7-12cm high (on foot or on horse), I do not exactly remember. Those were my pride and joy when I was a boy, because they were pretty detailed compared to figures like that made by other manufacturers, and they were not cheap either, and my pocket money was limited. Its strange that things from that era, over 40 years ago, can appear to be just a short time ago, are vivid memories feelign very alive, while events form last week already are forgotten and seem two or three lifetimes away. Maybe I simply was happy back then. I certainly was, i really had the biggest luck of my lifetime with my family, parents, home. It was not all perfect, but nevertheless it was so absolutely alright. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.