Bastion Models Boxer Rebellion (1 Viewer)

[ucla1967]

Andrew Rose of Bastion Models is a well-know figure in the hobby. He has been involved with several lines of toy soldiers including Albion, Mark Time, Steadfast, Blenheim, Wessex, and Bastion. He is the author of "The Collector's Guide to Toy Soldiers" which was published in 1985, 1997 by Salamander Books Limited. As far as I know, he is still producing the Bastion Models line in the U.K. I am not aware of any U.S. dealers who carry this line.

While most of us would agree that when it comes to the Boxer Rebellion, it is hard to beat Len Taylor's Trophy of Wales given the breadth and depth of his line. However, Bastion Models has a charming Boxer Rebellion line numbering at least 27 numbered sets. Bastion's sets usually comrise one officer and seven men marching; they are traditional, 54 mm glossy figures. Some sets are also made "in action" poses. Bastion's sets are ideal for displaying on curio shelves rather than in a diorama.

The Boxer Rebellion sets are numbered B.1, B.2, etc, while the two artillery sets are numbered C.1 and C.2. Sets B.1 through B.20 are, for the most part, marching, while B.21 through B.25 are in action versions of the other sets. There may be more than 25 Boxer Rebellion sets, but that is all I have seen.

I have a six-page color brochure that dates to 1995 or earlier that shows many of these sets. Here is the catalog description of the Bastion Models Boxer Rebellion product offering:

B.1 U.S. MARINES The U.S. Legation was protected by Marines from the battleship Oregon and the cruiser Newark. The officer wears undress uniform and the men are equipped as thise fighting in Cuba and the Philippines.

B.2 GERMAN MARINES This set represents men of thr elite 3rd Seebataillon based at Tsingtao, in their special khaki summer uniforms.

B.3 FRENCH MARINES The French Marine Infantry in China worea short lived and unpopular denim uniform which faded rapidly.

 

[ucla1967]

Re: Bastion Model Boxer Rebellion

Sets B.4 through B.14.

B.4 ITALIAN BERSAGLIERI A volunteer battalion of the famous Italian Light Infantry was sent to China after fighting broke out. Their tropical helmets are decorated with the traditional blade cockrel feathers.

B.5 RUSSIAN INFANTRY In white summer caps and tunics these soldiers are equipped as they would be on campaign against the Japanese four years later.

B.6 JAPANESE INFANTRY Japan contrubuted the largest contingent in the Allied Forces. In 1904 Japanese Infantry like these would be fighting the Russians.

B.7 AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN SAILORS The only Austro-Hungarian forces available in China were sailors such as these from the cruiser Zenta.

B.8 FRENCH SAILORS The French Legation and the Pei T'ang Cathedral were both defended by sailors from the cruiser D'Entre Casteaux.

B.9 GERMAN SAILORS Sailors from the East Asia Squadron protected the German Legation and formed part of the Relief Column.

B.10 RUSSIAN SAILORS The Russian Navy was unique among the European powers in having dark green, rather than blue as its basic uniform color.

B.11 1st SIKH INFANTRY The senior infantry regiment of the Punjab Frontier Force, the 1st Sikhs were, along with the 7th Rajputs, the first Allied troops to enter beseiged Peking.

B.12 H.M. 1st CHINESE REGIMENT Raised to protect the British possesssion of Wei-Hai-Wei, this regiment was present at nearly all the major actions during the Boxer uprising.

B.13 ROYAL WELSH FUSILIERS The 2nd Battalion R.W.F. landed from H.M.S. Terrible, was the only regular British Infantry Regiment involved in China. They wear the khaki Service Dress of the Boer war period, and, the officer has the distinctive regimental black "flash" at the back of the collar

B.14 IMPERIAL CHINESE INFANTRY While the officer wears a mandarin style costume, the infantrymen are dressed in a "Europeanised" uniform and carry Austrian Mannlicher rifles.

 

[ucla1967]

Re: Bastion Model Boxer Rebellion

Sets B.15 through B.20 and artillery sets C.1 & C.2.

B.15 CHINESE IRREGULAR INFANTRY This set reflects something of the variety of costume worn byChinese troops in 1900.

B.16 CHINESE BOXERS The name of the I Ho Chaun secret society might be better translated as "The Fists of Righteous Harmony." Their aim was to preserve China from the influence of foreigners, against whose weapons they believed they could make themselves invulnerable.

B.17 ROYAL MARINE LIGHT INFANTRY TROPICAL DRESS The British Legation was defended by a detachment of Marines, shown here in their tropical white uniforms.

B.18 ROYAL NAVY These "blue-jackets" are typical of the British sailors who fought in China and took part in landing operations around the world.

B.19 ITALIAN SAILORS Sailors from the Italian cruiser "squadron" helped protect the Legations and the Pei T'ang Chathedral.

B.20 ROYAL MARINE LIGHT INFANTRY BLUE TUNICS These Marines are equipped similarly to B.17, but wear their blue serge undress tunics.

C.1 5 INCH B.L. HOWITZER 1896 Designed to use the new "Lyddite" high explosive shell, this Howitzer equipped medium field artillery batteries up to the 1st World War. The 4 man crew wear khaki Foreign Service Dress.

C.2 IMPERIAL CHINESE ARTILLERY While some Chinese artillery was antiquated or fanciful, this unit has a modern Krupp Field Gun.

 

[ucla1967]

Re: Bastion Model Boxer Rebellion

Here are three photos of my Bastion Models Boxer Rebellion sets.

 

[Louis Badolato]

Re: Bastion Model Boxer Rebellion

Andrew Rose of Bastion Models is a well-know figure in the hobby. He has been involved with several lines of toy soldiers including Albion, Mark Time, Steadfast, Blenheim, Wessex, and Bastion. He is the author of "The Collector's Guide to Toy Soldiers" which was published in 1985, 1997 by Salamander Books Limited. As far as I know, he is still producing the Bastion Models line in the U.K. I am not aware of any U.S. dealers who carry this line.

While most of us would agree that when it comes to the Boxer Rebellion, it is hard to beat Len Taylor's Trophy of Wales given the breadth and depth of his line. However, Bastion Models has a charming Boxer Rebellion line numbering at least 27 numbered sets. Bastion's sets usually comrise one officer and seven men marching; they are traditional, 54 mm glossy figures. Some sets are also made "in action" poses. Bastion's sets are ideal for displaying on curio shelves rather than in a diorama.

The Boxer Rebellion sets are numbered B.1, B.2, etc, while the two artillery sets are numbered C.1 and C.2. Sets B.1 through B.20 are, for the most part, marching, while B.21 through B.25 are in action versions of the other sets. There may be more than 25 Boxer Rebellion sets, but that is all I have seen.

I have a six-page color brochure that dates to 1995 or earlier that shows many of these sets. Here is the catalog description of the Bastion Models Boxer Rebellion product offering:

B.1 U.S. MARINES The U.S. Legation was protected by Marines from the battleship Oregon and the cruiser Newark. The officer wears undress uniform and the men are equipped as thise fighting in Cuba and the Philippines.

B.2 GERMAN MARINES This set represents men of thr elite 3rd Seebataillon based at Tsingtao, in their special khaki summer uniforms.

B.3 FRENCH MARINES The French Marine Infantry in China worea short lived and unpopular denim uniform which faded rapidly.

I have set A24 (which if I remember correctly is the Royal Welch Fusliliers) tucked away somewhere. The figures are kind of primative, but not too bad.

 

[ucla1967]

Re: Bastion Model Boxer Rebellion

I have set A24 (which if I remember correctly is the Royal Welch Fusliliers) tucked away somewhere. The figures are kind of primative, but not too bad.

When I get a chance, I will start a second thread based on the "A" series sets which are for units from approximately 1890 to the 1st World War. The figures are not as primative as some other makers including old Britains; they are painted to a much higher standard and are more historically accurate in their detail. Also, Bastion made the Italian sailors and German sailors sets which Trophy did not.

Many "A" series Bastion figures are exactly like the Steadfast figures that preceeded them. A.24 is BRITISH INFANTRY MIDDLE EAST 1914 wearing shorts and Wolsely helmets. The RWF are found in set B.13 as in post number 2 above, but it is possible that there is another set of RWF numbered higher than A.34 which is where my catalog listing ends.

 

[Andanna]

Re: Bastion Model Boxer Rebellion

Your collection is absolutely breathtaking. Very impressive. I also like your display a lot.

 

[GICOP]

Re: Bastion Model Boxer Rebellion

Great display Mike.

I rediscovered Toy Soldiers around 1989 via the Wessex and Bastion ranges

Cheers

Martyn

 

[ucla1967]

Re: Bastion Model Boxer Rebellion

Your collection is absolutely breathtaking. Very impressive. I also like your display a lot.

Thank you for your kind comments. I have made two and three-tier steps for many of my curio shelves in order to maximize the number of figures I can display. For example, on one shelf, I have 192 Bastion Models Boxer Rebellion and World War I figures on three tiers while the bottom (base) shelf has 48 Imperial Productions figures. In this fashion, I am able to get up to 1,000 figures in a single curio.

 

[ucla1967]

Re: Bastion Model Boxer Rebellion

Great display Mike.

I rediscovered Toy Soldiers around 1989 via the Wessex and Bastion ranges

Cheers

Martyn

Thank you, Martyn. I rediscovered toy soldiers in 1992 when my wife and I flew to San Antonio, Texas to attend my son's graduation from U.S. Air Force Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base. We wandered into the Kings X shop at the Menger Hotel next to the Alamo and I bought my first four sets (Alymer and Tradition) on the spot.

I started buying Bastion from a local southern California shop a few years later. Unfortunately, the owner sold the shop and it took me many years to get all 20 of Bastion's Boxer Rebellion sets plus the two artillery sets. But as you know, the fun is in the chase.

 

[tdubel]

Re: Bastion Model Boxer Rebellion

Mike,
love these, I got outbid on some Bastion Boxers earlier this year on ebay and was quite upset! They are neat,

Tom

 

[Louis Badolato]

Re: Bastion Model Boxer Rebellion

Tom,

If you want my Bastion set A24, you can have it. I'll put it aside with the Imperials for you.

Louis

 

[ucla1967]

Re: Bastion Model Boxer Rebellion

Mike,
love these, I got outbid on some Bastion Boxers earlier this year on ebay and was quite upset! They are neat,

Tom

I saw them, but can't remember what the winning bid was. I have eight duplicate/extra Bastion sets if you have any you want to trade. They are as follows:

A.7 PRUSSIAN INFANTRY ADVANCING 1900

A.22 BRITISH INFANTRY AT THE READY 1914

A.31 AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY STANDING FIRING 1915

A.33 TURKISH INFANTRY STANDING FIRING 1915

A.36 U.S. INFANTRY IN ACTION 1917 (Montana hats)

B.3 FRENCH MARINES 1900

B.13 ROYAL WELSH FUSILIERS 1900

B.25 JAPANESE INFANTRY IN ACTION 1900

 

[tdubel]

Re: Bastion Model Boxer Rebellion

I saw them, but can't remember what the winning bid was. I have eight duplicate/extra Bastion sets if you have any you want to trade. They are as follows:

A.7 PRUSSIAN INFANTRY ADVANCING 1900

A.22 BRITISH INFANTRY AT THE READY 1914

A.31 AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY STANDING FIRING 1915

A.33 TURKISH INFANTRY STANDING FIRING 1915

A.36 U.S. INFANTRY IN ACTION 1917 (Montana hats)

B.3 FRENCH MARINES 1900

B.13 ROYAL WELSH FUSILIERS 1900

B.25 JAPANESE INFANTRY IN ACTION 1900

Hi Mike, thanks for the offer, but believe it or not, I am a one sided Boxer collector - mainly the boxer forces!!!

Thanks
Tom

 

[PJDeluhery]

Thanks for this post, Mike. I have the Trophy sets, but was unaware of the Bastion series. I'm going to check them out.

BTW, very nice collection you have!!

 

[ucla1967]

Thanks for this post, Mike. I have the Trophy sets, but was unaware of the Bastion series. I'm going to check them out.

BTW, very nice collection you have!!

Thank you, I am glad you like it. I also have most of the Trophy sets, but I do like my Bastion sets, too. It gives another perspective on the Boxer Rebellion. Compare Trophy's BS30 Russian Sailors with their red striped shirts with Bastion's B.10 Russian sailors with their dark green trousers.

 

[maddadicus]

Re: Bastion Model Boxer Rebellion

Great display Mike.

I rediscovered Toy Soldiers around 1989 via the Wessex and Bastion ranges

Cheers

Martyn

My favorite gloss set is still the Wessex 17th Lancers set from the Zulu War. The detail and painting are magical. When Dorset picked them up, their same versions seemed less detail in sculpts and painting as well as smaller. I have 2 Wessex sets, but they are hard to find for purchase..Michael

 

[ucla1967]

Re: Bastion Model Boxer Rebellion

Mike,
love these, I got outbid on some Bastion Boxers earlier this year on ebay and was quite upset! They are neat,

Tom

Tom,

I didn't bid on them because the seller had the sets all mixed up with figures from one set mixed in with figures from another set or sets. I believe that there were some Boxers from the B.21 through B.24 sets which I have never seen before.

 

[tdubel]

Re: Bastion Model Boxer Rebellion

Tom,

I didn't bid on them because the seller had the sets all mixed up with figures from one set mixed in with figures from another set or sets. I believe that there were some Boxers from the B.21 through B.24 sets which I have never seen before.

I thought they were a mix, but boy did they bring ridiculous prices!!

Tom

 

[ucla1967]

Re: Bastion Model Boxer Rebellion

I thought they were a mix, but boy did they bring ridiculous prices!!

Tom

Tom,

Do you remember what they sold for? In the past, I have been selling my duplicate Bastion sets in their original boxes for $90 each at the West Coaster.