Do You Choose Sides ? (2 Viewers)

[maddadicus]

When collecting, do you have "good guys" and "bad guys" for the different eras and choose accordingly......for example, as for me:
1)Napoleonics....French - good British - bad
So my french outnumber my English 5 to 1
2)ACW.............Union - good Confederates - bad
my union outnumber my Rebs 10 to 1
3)Wild West......U.S.Cavalry - good Indians - bad
my cavalry outnumber my indians 3 to 1
4)WW2............Americans ..good Germans - bad
my U.S. and allies outnumber my Germans 5 to 1
Ever since I was a kid, I could never force myself to spend my money on the bad guys. I always thought that I was wasting my money ,if I did so..If I got the bad guys as a gift, that was OK. My whole collection is set up that way and even today, I am hard pressed to ever decide to buy a bad guy, if given a choice...Am I the only one, and am I nuts? Michael

 

[Leadmen]

When I was a kid I divided my guys into good and bad by the figure's pose. If I liked the pose it was a good guy. I had a blue grey Iron dimestore guy and a Beton plastic Indian Chief who were always good guys and in charge.I did have some permanent bad guys like a Marx pirate and those sneaky prone guys. I always had a secret reserve force that would surprise the bad guys.
Nowdays I seem to have more Germans then Americans in armor and troops. I have more confederates than yankees. More French then English. My home front troops are for parade duty in glossy coats guarding the Queen.I still assign bad guys to the back of cabinets.ie: Conte Pirates. I have more English Rev and F/Indian war figures then colonials or French. I still go by poses on who stands in the front row of cabinets. My guys vary in sizes from 72mm-90mm. I guess we all have our style and sometimes I wish I was more focused on one theme. Now the new Jenkins, Patriot etc. All over the collecting themes. Britain's new Redcoats and Bluecoats are now in my sight. I like it all. Leadmen

 

[Currahee Chris]

Good topic-

When I started back into this hobby, I collected WW2 figures exclusively, and of that, Americans only. When I had built up a couple dozen figs and vehicles, I had to ask myself- how does this work?? My first German piece was the WS23 Panther tank -seeing that thing sitting in the store left me in a quandry- I must have hung out at the dealers store for like and hour before I took the plunge- haven't looked back since.

So it got me to thinking- why do I do this?? And the answer was simple- I enjoy reading all I can about Military History- the minis seem to compliment that understanding- so it made sense to buy the figures at a balance between sides.

Plus, when I first started back in 99/00, it was Waffen SS and DDay figures and there were like 1-2 dozen sets on each side so it was pretty easy to pick all of them up so I guess after awhile, I needed to buy something new simply because I wanted to buy something. Now, with all the sets out there, I think it is easier to collect Allies or Axis, Good or Bad.

 

[modwalls]

I would just add this,if I lived in the UK, I would probably have more brit than french. If I grew up int the South, I would probably have more Confeds., than Union. It is like everything else in this hobby, we buy what we like. I have the same amount of Zulu than brit 24ths. That does not make to much sense. It is most likely a common theme with most of us collectors. If I were a German boy whose grandfather served in WWII and was a well decorated soldier, I would probably want my German setups to favor the Germans. The good thing is, there toys and this is a hobby, we all enjoy them in our own ways. With our minds and imaginations, we can change the outcomes of any battles we want. Hobby On, Mike

 

[kilted vampire]

I have always had good guys and bad guys. Always tried to be the good guys. Funny thing about "cowboys and Indians" No one ever really wanted to be the Indians. So we usually blad good guys and bad guys like cops and robbers. We never did the Civil War though. That would have been interesting to see how that would have gone. Maybe with the Wind I guess.

I still try to have both sides of the conflict present.

 

[wellington]

I think you have it all mixed up...


BRITISH GOOD FRENCH BAD



WELLINGTON

 

[Capitolron]

I really try to think about the diorama in mind and collect around that vision - with both sides - while I am writing this I also remember that I collect all of AK and Winter Germans and have not started getting the Allies......so I guess I do both?

 

[Robert E. Lee]

Clearly the French have cooler Cavalry French better Infantry. Confederates are way cooler than the static union troops. I think the Afrika Corps looks cooler than the 8th army. The saracens are more colorful but the crusaders hold a certain charm for me

 

[maloyalo]

I have tended to be attracted to heroic historical events where 'bad' guys are much more numerous, and try to build the armies accordingly. But it does depend on the era. Although a Yank, I have smaller confederate forces vs large union armies that make large suicidal (yet heroic) charges.

However, I almost always develop liking, or respect at least, for both sides. I think the Zulu Regiments were awesome soldiers, the American Indians the fierce underdogs. I think WWII Germans (regular armed forces, not gestapo & such) a remarkablely agile and effective force.

I do admit I fell under the spell of Napoleon for a long time. I think it was Shelby Foote that said that a southerner can still read about Picketts Charge and somehow hope, that this time, they will win the crest. Its still like that for me every time I read as the Guard heads up that slope at Waterloo. But I know the British forces there were in the right, and how they (and the allied contingents) stood on that ridge all day in one of the most murderous envirionments ever, is a great feat in history. I forget who said it (maybe Kennedy) but it was something like 'I wondered if there had ever been a battle where everyone was killed, because it looked like it was going to happen here'.

 

[Rob]

I have tended to be attracted to heroic historical events where 'bad' guys are much more numerous, and try to build the armies accordingly. But it does depend on the era. Although a Yank, I have smaller confederate forces vs large union armies that make large suicidal (yet heroic) charges.

However, I almost always develop liking, or respect at least, for both sides. I think the Zulu Regiments were awesome soldiers, the American Indians the fierce underdogs. I think WWII Germans (regular armed forces, not gestapo & such) a remarkablely agile and effective force.

I do admit I fell under the spell of Napoleon for a long time. I think it was Shelby Foote that said that a southerner can still read about Picketts Charge and somehow hope, that this time, they will win the crest. Its still like that for me every time I read as the Guard heads up that slope at Waterloo. But I know the British forces there were in the right, and how they (and the allied contingents) stood on that ridge all day in one of the most murderous envirionments ever, is a great feat in history. I forget who said it (maybe Kennedy) but it was something like 'I wondered if there had ever been a battle where everyone was killed, because it looked like it was going to happen here'.

I agree with you there,they must have had B*** of steel to stand there all day and take a lot of punishment.For me as a Brit the Brits are always the good guys and the rest are just the enemy.Its pretty obvious with WW1/2 but a bit different with other conflicts.I hope to start a Napoleonic collection at some point and that will be focused on the Wellingtons forces with the French as the bad guys.Whether its the Red coat or the Khaki i fly the flag.When it comes to the ACW i guess i must support the North as they were for abolishing slavery,but i do also admire the South for the fight they put up.

Rob

 

[maddadicus]

I want to add ,that my choosing sides, also decides how I will collect that era. I will always spend more on my good guys and almost ,in every instant, will not buy Zulus, Indians, English Napoleonics, Confederates, WW2 Germans, WW1 Germans, etc........It guarrentees that the cavalry will always save the day, and the guys in the white hats, will always get the girl......Michael

 

[Rob]

I want to add ,that my choosing sides, also decides how I will collect that era. I will always spend more on my good guys and almost ,in every instant, will not buy Zulus, Indians, English Napoleonics, Confederates, WW2 Germans, WW1 Germans, etc........It guarrentees that the cavalry will always save the day, and the guys in the white hats, will always get the girl......Michael

Well i guess when it comes to Waterloo someone has to be on the losing side!!!.And us Brits are used to being the bad guys,where would Hollywood be with out the nasty old Brits!!

Rob

 

[Robert E. Lee]

"Burn the church!!", said the British cavalry

 

[Rob]

Let me guess,was that from a Mel Gibson film?.

 

[Robert E. Lee]

LOL Mel Gibson taught me alot about your people

 

[Harrytheheid]

Let me guess,was that from a Mel Gibson film?.

Hmmmm (thinking hard), seem to remember some movie where the director made the Brits act like the SS. In reality, they would never have burned a church - too much money involved.

 

[eborris]

Good guys bad guys, it's all a matter of perception I guess.

When I was a kid, last year I think, the good guys always won, whether it was the Texans at the Alamo or Custer in his not quite last stand. The cowboys always thumped the nobel redmen, however the Lido Germans always stomped the Lido Americans, they looked cooler.

 

[Harrytheheid]

LOL Mel Gibson taught me alot about your people

Sorry Bobby Lee, Mel taught you nothing about UK people.
While I have no doubt that atrocities did happen during the AWI, "The Patriot" is a very good movie but its hollywood hokum and plays on sentiment and our collective bias towards the underdog. It would be interesting to see how Mr Gibson would direct a movie portraying people on the Loyalist side in the conflict.
There are good and bad (ordinary people) on all sides in every war. Unfortunately, its all too easy to get caught up in events. So whether history views you as a good guy or a bad guy really depends on whether your side won or lost.
I would except the upper echelons within the Nazi Party from the previous statement as they were without a shadow of a doubt, the scum of the earth.

These are just some of the reasons why IMO, Gods & Generals and Gettysburg are far superior as historical movies, as they show both sides of the story.

 

[Rob]

LOL Mel Gibson taught me alot about your people

Knowing about Mr Gibson,his father and some of their 'Believes' If its a choice between believing Mr Goebbels or Mr Gibson its the Dr everytime!

Just to save you money in going to see some of the effluent in his films i'll fill you in on his next three films.'Quake' a film about how the British caused the Great San Fran earthquake after drilling for oil there once they had murdered all the residents of said city.'The Fight' how Marvin Hagler lost to Sugar ray Leonard after the Royal family bribed Marvellous Marvin to throw the fight.'Eruption' How mount Etna exploded after years of being oppressed by the British'(when it explodes you can hear Etna shout FOOOOOOOOOOOOOR FREEEEEEEEEDOM'!!!)

Rob

 

[Harrytheheid]

I actually hope that Mel does a movie about how America won the Battle of El Alamein after Monty fouled it all up. That ought to be good for a snigger at the historical (hysterical) inaccuracies. Aye, Monty - the least fav Brit General on the other side of the pond of all time due that complete drivel of a movie "Patton" - the movie that DARED to suggest our women aren't bonnie....