Arnhemjim
Corporal
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2009
- Messages
- 404
Have had the good fortune to be able to collect militaria, including “toy soldiers”, for almost six decades commencing in the late 1940’s. College major was in architecture, however my work in the real world, for over four of those decades, was in defense systems engineering /threat analysis, and as a naval intelligence officer. Suffices that I’m also an amateur historian. From that vantage point and perspective I would like to venture some limited observations, and my personal perspective, on the evolved hobby of the collection of toy soldiers/military miniatures. Recently I started a review of my library, for my own re-education, of the hobby/industry. In an attempt to maintain objectivity, any multiple listing or reference will be in alphabetical order. This review, while far from inclusive, included the following representative sample of makers and manufacturers:
W. Britains ( from perspective of casting detail vs painting)*
Carman
Courtenay
Elastiolin
Gamage
Greenwood and Ball*
Historex
Imrie-Risley*
Lineol
Lucotte
Metayer
Minot
Rousselot
Rose*
Stadden*
Willetts*
I then turned the review to again a representative sample of what have been defined by some as “new toy soldiers”, and their makers/manufacturers. In both lists my advanced apologies for any individual favorites that I may have excluded, it was due solely out of my ignorance, or not having observed their significant presence in forums and auctions. Have also indicated by asterisk, those makers that I presently have within my collection. The vast majority of the collection being “nominally” 1:32 Scale (~ 54mm) or “nominally” 1:30 Scale (~60mm).
All the Queen’s Men*
Aero St Petersburg*
Asset*
Battlezone*
Ballantynes of Walkerburn (Not really “toys”, due to size)*
Beau Geste
Blenheim*
British Bulldog*
Chota Sahib*
Collector’s Showcase
Conte
Edwards
Figarti
First Legion
Gunn
Hocker*
Honour Bound
Hiriart
Imperial*
Jenkins
King & Country*
Kingcast*
Marktime*
Monarch Regalia*
Militia*
New Britains*
Oz Made*
PNF Figurines*
Steadfast*
Tommy Atkins*
Toy Army Workshop*
Trophy
Although present in my collection, I have not included makers of principally armored fighting vehicles (Forces of Valor, Corgi, et.al.), or aircraft (Corgi, Franklin Mint, Showcase, Skymax, et. al.).
Having hopefully defined the “playing field”, I will attempt in following installments, to convey my personal observations in detail, with the Forum’s kind indulgence. As pictures speak better than words, I would invite those interested to visit http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com for an additional look at the "playing field". More specifically; http://www.arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/06/less-we-forget-past-glories-remembrance.html.
Arnhem Jim
W. Britains ( from perspective of casting detail vs painting)*
Carman
Courtenay
Elastiolin
Gamage
Greenwood and Ball*
Historex
Imrie-Risley*
Lineol
Lucotte
Metayer
Minot
Rousselot
Rose*
Stadden*
Willetts*
I then turned the review to again a representative sample of what have been defined by some as “new toy soldiers”, and their makers/manufacturers. In both lists my advanced apologies for any individual favorites that I may have excluded, it was due solely out of my ignorance, or not having observed their significant presence in forums and auctions. Have also indicated by asterisk, those makers that I presently have within my collection. The vast majority of the collection being “nominally” 1:32 Scale (~ 54mm) or “nominally” 1:30 Scale (~60mm).
All the Queen’s Men*
Aero St Petersburg*
Asset*
Battlezone*
Ballantynes of Walkerburn (Not really “toys”, due to size)*
Beau Geste
Blenheim*
British Bulldog*
Chota Sahib*
Collector’s Showcase
Conte
Edwards
Figarti
First Legion
Gunn
Hocker*
Honour Bound
Hiriart
Imperial*
Jenkins
King & Country*
Kingcast*
Marktime*
Monarch Regalia*
Militia*
New Britains*
Oz Made*
PNF Figurines*
Steadfast*
Tommy Atkins*
Toy Army Workshop*
Trophy
Although present in my collection, I have not included makers of principally armored fighting vehicles (Forces of Valor, Corgi, et.al.), or aircraft (Corgi, Franklin Mint, Showcase, Skymax, et. al.).
Having hopefully defined the “playing field”, I will attempt in following installments, to convey my personal observations in detail, with the Forum’s kind indulgence. As pictures speak better than words, I would invite those interested to visit http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com for an additional look at the "playing field". More specifically; http://www.arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/06/less-we-forget-past-glories-remembrance.html.
Arnhem Jim
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