Ted Toys - Buffalo Soldier (1 Viewer)

[wadepat]

Hi Johnny,

I have a set of Buffalo Soldiers that you might find interesting. The figures you see in the photographs below were castings that were painted as Buffalo Soldiers for me in 1997 by Compton Creel. I have asked Compton where he obtained the castings and he cannot recall. It has been too many years since he painted these figures.

However, you might watch for these castings as they can be nicely painted in matte or gloss as Buffalo Soldiers. I especially enjoy the older soldier who is seated on a rock smoking his pipe and drinking coffee.

I hope you enjoy the photos.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[PolarBear]

Pat

The moulds now belong to Nick Albanese of Camp Randall Toy Soldiers. They are being cast in pewter for him by Valiant Miniatures. He will sell them painted by himself or as unpainted castings. Here is his contact info (Tell him Randy sent you-I am a regular customer of his).

camprandall@charter.net

He has 4 sets (see below)--2 from the Plains Indian Wars and 2 from WWI but the heads are interchangeable and he can put them on other bodies that he has.

Here is a link to all the sets/figures that Nick has

http://www.toysoldiersgallery.com/zencartstore/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=69_27

 

[johnnybach]

Hey - to both Pat and Polar Bear - thanks for the tip-offs to Nicks site - regarding castings of Buffalo Soldiers. I am currently still getting over celebrating Wales XV (and also France) getting through in such wonderful style to the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup in NZ - but as soon as I can see straight again - I will be looking into those fabulous castings you both show and describe.

Just love 'em - and glad to see they might still be available as castings.

Hurrah - for the Welsh lads - and for Nick Albenese. I'll be contacting him soon to try and get hold of some, for sure.

Aren't they just great?

johnnybach

 

[jazzeum]

I am glad to see that my initial post had led to others posting photos of Buffalo Soldiers from other companies. It seems the role of the African American as a fighting man in our nation's history has long been -- and continues to be -- neglected.

 

[johnnybach]

Hi Brad - well lets see if we can raise their profile a little bit more then. From what I've seen - they certainly deserve it!

I am going to try to get hold of some of those castings mentioned - and do a paint job on 'em - if they are still available. A soldier is still a Soldier in my book, and from what I've been reading - these guys certainly were. Here's another pic I found -to be used as a painting guide - I hope.

Thanks for the lead into this group of interesting and extra-ordinary American Soldiers of a by-gone era. johnnybach

 

[PolarBear]

When Ted made this Union Navy Minstrel Band for me I asked that one of the men be African American since during the Civil War the Union navy unlike the Union Army was integrated:


During the Civil War the Union Army was segregated, but Union naval ships had integrated crews. A large number of these men were slaves who had been freed in Mississippi and many ended up serving on vessels that were part of the Mississippi River Squadron. Over 18,000 African Americans served in the Union navy during the Civil War.The integration makes sense since it was typical of American whaling ships in the 19th C, nicely captured by the ethnically mixed crew of the Pequod in Melville's Moby Dick. As I understand it, such naval integration on U.S. ships extends back to the Revolution. Unfortunately a large part of the American population is unaware of this fact and believes that the earliest integration in the U.S. military did not take place until the Korean War and the presidency of Harry S Truman.

 

[johnnybach]

Lovely scene - but you are teasing me again with this lovely little band of matelots!

Ted Toys don't do castings, as I recall - and I REALLY do like the look of this little band - and as you may know - bands are a real favourite of mine.

Glad to hear that such integration has a long history in the USA - as indeed it has in the UK too. All too often we just get the problems being blown up into News stories - and rarely the good news, I suppose. Two of my best friends in the Army when I was in - were brothers - and the son of a man, originally from Jamaica - who became a Brit, by residency and working in Wales. Lovely pair of lads they were - both with VERY Welsh accents AND have remained good friends for all of my life.

Are you SURE you can't convince Ted-Toys to do some of their range as castings? What I have seen from your offerings here - are just superb - and JUST my cup of tea.^&grin^&grin^&grin

Nice to see parts of your collection like these - well done and thanks for showing us. johnnybach

 

[PolarBear]

Wm. Hocker Buffalo Soldiers

Set 418 Plains Indian Wars
Set 430 9th Cavalry Spanish American War

See: http://wmhocker.com/

 

[GICOP]

TROPHY MINIATURES OF WALES

Straight from the set of the movie "GLORY"

Set# ACW29 - 54th MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT

Cheers

Martyn

 

[johnnybach]

More nice Buffalo Soldiers to see from Mr. Wm. Hocker, this time - but unfortunately - once again - a Toy Soldier producer who doesn't supply them as castings - for hobbyists whose hobby is Painting! I too - really like the style of Wm. - so reminiscent of the early Britains hollowcast glossies. Indeed - I have consciously tried to make my style ( hope that doesn't sound too pretentious - for an old duffer like me), more or less like his - and a few others I admire.

But - I'm afraid its the same old story of much that I like the look of in some glossy lines. If you don't want it painted - sorry old chum - you can't have it (not from us, anyway).

Now that's when I start looking around in earnest. There is SOMETIMES a way. ^&grin

However - thanks for another great illustration here - always good to get ideas for poses and tips from others on how to paint them. I particularly like the rather battered upturned brim on the stetsons of these and some other examples we've seen. I'll try and get some replacement heads like that from somewhere - and maybe adapt some ACW figures to look a bit more like them too. With a head change - some bits and pieces of weapons etc, a bit of milliput and paint - it might not be too difficult to produce something that looks a bit similar.

Might have something to show next Spring - I do like a bit of a challenge occasionally............johnnybach

 

[jazzeum]

There were many African American units during the Civil War, although the 54th is the best known today, perhaphs thanks to Glory. They were an invaluable addition to the war effort and possibly the war couldn't have been without them. If captured, they were dealt with rather harshly, e.g., the massacre at Fort Pillow.

Also, as pointed out in a separate thread in the historical section, there were a good number of African Americans who fought on the Confederate side.

 

[johnnybach]

Yo Martyn - a little bit earlier than the Buffalo Soldiers these beauties. They would have to run a bit - to catch up with the Stagecoach scenario I have in mind to produce. I think that I may have tracked down some mounted American Native Indians to chase my Wells Fargo coach - but I will be after some MOUNTED Buffalo Soldiers to be chasing them! Looks like I will have to make these up too - as "painted only" seems to be the order of the day for these.^&grin

Nice set though - from the maestro of South Wales - Len, of course. ^&grin jb

 

[GICOP]

Yo Martyn - a little bit earlier than the Buffalo Soldiers these beauties. They would have to run a bit - to catch up with the Stagecoach scenario I have in mind to produce. I think that I may have tracked down some mounted American Native Indians to chase my Wells Fargo coach - but I will be after some MOUNTED Buffalo Soldiers to be chasing them! Looks like I will have to make these up too - as "painted only" seems to be the order of the day for these.^&grin

Nice set though - from the maestro of South Wales - Len, of course. ^&grin jb

Thought you would like them jb ^&grin and from the other Welsh maestro indeed:wink2:

Cheers

Martyn

 

[PolarBear]

JB

Some more glossy Buffalo Soldiers-these from Regal Enterprises of New Zealand. They will sell singles so you might ask if they will sell you castings.

http://regaltoysoldiers.com/

Boxer Rebellion 1900 US 9th Cavalry

 

[johnnybach]

Hi again Randy - Thanks for your continuing efforts to suggest suppliers of castings of Buffalo Soldiers. I have tried Regal in NZ before (albeit for different soldiers) - by emailed them - asking if they sold any of their products unpainted. Unfortunately, I didn't get a response. I always DO ask - because SOME will do them as castings - if asked. Some ( such as ATS in the UK) will do castings - though their web-site doesn't say so. Others just say no - whilst others just don't reply.

Heigh-ho, that's just the way it is. I can't say that I understand it though - as one supplier (Giles Browne of Dorset Soldiers), that I buy from on a regular basis - just because he WILL sell anything as a casting - has told me that he actually makes MORE profit from castings, than his painted examples of the same thing. Apparently, when you have to organise delivery to painters - painting costs - and recovery from his painters - then boxing up and the extra postal charges involved - he makes more from simply casting and posting them off unpainted. That's precisely why he gets a LOT of business from me!

I have been in touch with said Giles - and am going to collect an order from him at the end of this month actually, and will be looking at some castings he has of the US 7th Cavalry - and some ACW mounted figures, which might provide a basis for some conversions. After all, a horse is a horse - and the basic US cavalry trooper is not a very complicated figure - so SHOULD be relatively easy to produce something that looks similar to some of the painted offerings we have seen in this thread. So - watch out for what I may be able to produce after Xmas???

Will be a bit of fun finding out - and working out how to do it too. For such as me - whose hobby is painting - it can sometimes be more satisfying to have to put in a bit more work in adapting some figures - than just buying them off the shelf. Having said that - I do find it irritating and difficult to understand just why some manufacturers won't sell them unpainted. One producer told me that he was afraid that some might do re-casts from them, and sell off copies. My reply was - "What's to stop someone from buying a PAINTED version from you - and doing the same thing?" I feel that argument - just doesn't hold water.

Going back to your original thought though, Randy, - I am actually going to NZ next year, to see some of my family - including my lovely grandchildren - so intend to visit Regal Enterprises - which I believe is based in Greytown - on the South Island. Maybe I can then ask them face-to-face??? If I get a result - I will tell everyone.


Regards - and thanks for thinking about me anyway....................johnnybach

 

[johnnybach]

Sorry Randy - forgot to mention it - but I did try emailing Nick Albanese to ask about castings - as you suggested - but haven't had any reply as yet. johnnybach

 

[PolarBear]

At last a casting

Wilson Edward sells all their figures as casting as well as painted. Here is a US Army Buffalo Soldier from their Boxer Rebellion series that can also be used for the Spanish American War. They have other American soldiers from this era in their catalog. Heads are switchable and they do sell an African American head that could be used with other figures of Americans. Here is a link to their site where you can obtain a pdf version of their color catalog by email. Craig Pearse who runs WE with his brother Jason is great to deal with and will sculpt custom figures for you.

http://www.wilsonedward.com/

 

[johnnybach]

Hey Randy - thanks for the information regarding Wilson Edwards selling castings. I will certainly file that little snippet of information away for some possible figures at some future date. I have also had a little "result" regarding Regal in NZ. I tried another email to them yesterday - and this time - had a reply. They told me that they don't normally sell castings - but as I asked nicely - they would be prepared to let a hobbyist like me have some in unpainted form.

Looks like the folks "down under" have a somewhat different attitude from SOME in the Nothern Hemisphere.

Snag is though - Im really after some Mounted Western Buffalo Soldiers from the time around just after the ACW ended - and they were helping to pacify the American West ( 1870 ish). I don't think either manufacturer from the land down under, makes examples of those type of Cavalry Soldier at present.

However, I am greatly encouraged by that positive response - and will be looking again at Regal's catalogue with renewed interest.

Looks like "If at first you don't suceed - (get a bigger hammer)- NO - try, try again!"

RESULT!!! - johnnybach^&grin

 

[johnnybach]

Further to my last post concerning the availability of Regal Toy Soldiers (NZ based) as castings, I have had an email from them advising that Regal's "Soldiers of the World " complete range ARE available as castings from Stockade miniatures in Stroudsberg PA (USA) who have an online facility run by Mike Rosso.

So - if like me, you would love to paint your own Regals - you can get them from there - and I think they will post them World-wide.

Good news eh? johnnybach

 

[johnnybach]

Latest bit of news regarding "Buffalo Soldiers" - is that I have managed, with Randy's (Polar Bear) help, to make contact with Nick Albanese - who is the owner of the molds that make up some "campfire scenes" involving some of these Soldiers. We have agreed in principle, for me to buy some castings - just have to work out the details of paying/delivery now. This is a third scene below that I will have. Nick advises that with a change of head - they will look just the thing! (have a look at the others Randy showed earlier in this thread). jb