Are you a Multi-Manufacturer Collector? (2 Viewers)

[HistoryfortheAges]

Hi there,

I thought it might be interesting to know how many collectors out there collect their figures from different manufacturers. Do you buy every era available from one manufacturer or different eras from different manufacturers? Do you mix and match? Do you mix painted plastic with metal in your dioramas? Which eras do you collect from a particular company?

Best regards,
Steve

 

[maddadicus]

Hi there,

I thought it might be interesting to know how many collectors out there collect their figures from different manufacturers. Do you buy every era available from one manufacturer or different eras from different manufacturers? Do you mix and match? Do you mix painted plastic with metal in your dioramas? Which eras do you collect from a particular company?

Best regards,
Steve

Mulberry Miniatures......Napoleonics matte

Fogt Miniatures...........WW1 glossy

King and Country/NMA vehicles and armor only...

Wessex,Steadfast,Britains,Dorset...Zulu,Sudan glossy

Edmunds...................ACW glossy

Ron Wall ..................Custer and Indians

As a rule...these are absolute collecting habits for me..Michael

 

[wadepat]

Hi there,

I thought it might be interesting to know how many collectors out there collect their figures from different manufacturers. Do you buy every era available from one manufacturer or different eras from different manufacturers? Do you mix and match? Do you mix painted plastic with metal in your dioramas? Which eras do you collect from a particular company?

Best regards,
Steve

Hi Steve,

You ask lots of questions in a single posting! However, I will attempt to answer them as best I can. Firstly, you should find below the list of what I generally collect organized by manufacturer:

Britains: Delhi Durbar, Armies of India, American Civil War, World War II, Crimean War, Alamo, Zulu Wars.

King and Country: Ancient Egyptians, Battle of the Bulge, Napoleonics

Conte: American Civil War

Trophy: Mexican-American War, Boxer Rebellion

Beau Geste: Delhi Durbar, Military Bands

Tedtoy: American Civil War

Monarch Regalia: Samurai

Medallion Miniatures: Connoisseur Knights

Marlborough: Delhi Durbar

Tradition: American Civil War

Vintage Figures/Sets: Britains, Crescent, JoHillCo, Minikins, Post-War Japanese figures, Dimestores

Generally speaking, I do not collect plastic figures.

In most cases, I do not mix and match. However, I do freely mix Britains and Marlborough Delhi Durbar figures.

As you can see, I prize diversity in a collection. For me to only collect a single era or a single manufacturer quickly becomes boring to me. I have a high appreciation for many manufacturers and I think my collection reflects that fact.

You have asked some interesting questions and I hope other forum members will respond. I am also interested in how you would answer the questions you have posed. I look forward the all the postings on this thread.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[HistoryfortheAges]

That's great! This is my collecting habits thus far...

Britains - ACW, Napoleonics, AWI, Zulu (Soon!)
Conte - ACW, Alamo
K&C - AWI, Napoleonics, Crusaders and Saracens (Soon!), Alamo (Soon!)
East of India - Greeks and Persians
Tradition - Napoleonics (Glossy)
Tedtoy - ACW (Glossy)
St. Petersburg - selected Medieval and Ancients

I use painted plastics such as (TSSD, AIP, CTA, Italeria, etc.) to enhance my dioramas. Isn't it great to have all these manufacturers working diligently to please all the eclectic tastes out there... thanks guys for all that you do!

Steve

 

[HistoryfortheAges]

Pat,

I feel the same way. I appreciate the diversity in my collection. Different eras, sculpting styles, painting styles (glossy versus matte or a combination of both), in some cases different scales also, makes a colection interesting. Although, as a rule, I only colect between 54mm and 65mm. I forgot to mention the following in my collection:

John Jenkins Design: FIW
Monarch Regalia: Samurai (Glossy)

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Steve,

I am glad someone asked this question. I have different manufacturers on display.

Britains: Delhi Durbar, Cerimonial and Jubilee Sets, Hollowcast and WWI & ACW.

Marlborough: Delhi Durbar

Frontline Glossy: Zulu War, Sudan and NWF.

Fusilier: Napoleonic & WWI

Tradition of London: WWI and Napoleonics.

Russian Figures: Polish Winged Hussars mounted and foot.

Imperial: Crimean War, WWI and Individuals Ie King Edward VII and George V mounted

Beau Geste: Delhi Durbar

NMA: WWII

South Seas Soldiers: WWI and Maoris

Errol John: NWF Christmas Vignette

King and Country 1 and only Joan of Arc Paris Figure.

Vintage Figures a small Mix of Crescent and Britains Individuals from Highland and Mounted Regiments (Lancers Hussars and some Life Guards)

I have some others but you can see the trend. I have a pretty extensive collection of Durbar figures and then I pop around to other eras.
I mix my Durbar sets together so I have a rather large display I especially enjoy the Elephnats and Bands.

Thanks for the great question

All the best

Dave

 

[Bob]

I don’t collect different periods. The bulk of my collection is the beginning of the British Army from the Restoration to the end of the 17th century .
I use every manufacturer who makes figures in my period. I have commissioned figures and I have several special pieces - for example one sculptor made a special figure, sent me the only painted figure and the only casting then had a accident with the mould – so I have the only two. I have conversions done for me by manufacturers and special paint finishes. I have many unique pieces which have never been available on the open market

I also convert figures – e.g. bought the new Del Prado Marlburian trooper and am converting two of them. I paint castings and. my conversions – both metal and plastic

It is my aim to have a figure of every regiment in the British Army of the period, plus Scots, Irish Dutch and Danish, although no interest in the French.

British soldiers are normally in red however during this period there are different coloured uniforms, such as yellow, purple, white and blue. By specialising in a particular period I can gain knowledge and have a good background to the regiments and figures. It means I can concentrate on obtaining a decent reference library

The bulk of the figures are 54mm/60mm however I have a few 75mm.

I also have a small collection of medieval Russians, all from Russian companies. Again some exclusive pieces

 

[REVWARBUFF]

I think that is a very good question as well.

I've only been collecting for about 2+ years and I concentrate mostly in the American Revolutionary War. My collection is mixed. I have mostly Britains and K&C along with some Conte's. I plan on adding some Frontline pieces in the near future.

 

[ucla1967]

I started out collecting Victorian Age military figures, especially Scottish Regiments. That lasted about 10 minutes as I started buying anything I liked irrespective of era or manufacturer.

FRONTLINE: Matte - Napoleonics, ACW, Zulu Wars, Ancients, & WWI. Glossy: Sudan, Crimean War, & Parade Dress.

TROPHY: Boxer Rebellion, Zulu Wars, Sudan, & Indian Army.

IMPERIAL: All early sets (i.e., thru set No. 28), Zulu Wars, Sudan, & Crimean War.

HIRIART: WWI, WWII, Imperial Germans, & others.

BRITAINS: The first two dozen Limited Edition sets that started in 1983 & the 8900 Premier series by Charles Biggs.

BASTION: Boxer Rebellion.

EDMUND'S: ACW.

ALYMER: AWI.

BLENHEIM: About 40 various sets.

KING & COUNTRY: The original LAH series.

QUALITY MODEL SOLDIERS: The Franco-Prussian War.

NICKOLSON: Indian Army.

KINGCAST: Indian Army.

OTHERS: Marin Ritchie, Tradition, Nostalgia, & Steadfast.

I do not mix and match . I also collect Airfix (but don't display) plastic WWII 1/32 scale in the French boxes.

 

[Alexdakar]

Yes.

 

[jazzeum]

Yes.

Alex,

Tell us how you really feel. Please don't beat around the bush.

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

I don't know Brad...that answer seems to cover it pretty well...

 

[The Lt.]

By now I'm sure you all know what my collection of toy soldiers is made up of but not to get scolded by Brad the list is as follows.

ANI The Zulu War Gloss

WBritain The Zulu War Gloss, Matte as they become available

Conte The Zulu War Matte Metal and Plastics

Frontline The Zulu War Matte

Kingcast The Zulu War Gloss

Little Legion The Zulu War Gloss

Trophy of Wales The Zulu War Gloss


Zulu War Kit Figures from Hinchliffe, MINI MEN,Greenwood and Ball, Monarch, New Hope Design, and Tradition of London which I've painted in Matte and Gloss.

 

[Alexdakar]

Alex,

Tell us how you really feel. Please don't beat around the bush.

Ok Brad without beating around the bush.

WWII about 90%
K&C
Britains
Conte
Honour Bound
ONWTC
Patriot
Frontline
Figarti
NMA
HJB
misc

Others
K&C Alamo
EOI Samurai
De Agostini Star Wars

 

[jazzeum]

I guess I better chime in too:

King and Country - 90 percent at least
Honour Bound
Figarti
Beau Geste
Britains

HB, Figarti and Britains are WW II.

King and Country is Seaforths, World World II glossy and matte (mostly matte, most of my collection), Warbirds, Camel Corps., Napoleonics (glossy only), Royal Navy, Nelson's Navy, Rough Riders, a couple of HK police, Elvis and some other miscellaneous figures. Collect anything K & C glossy except the Orient. Too late -- and expensive -- to get into that area.

 

[Boyer PFC]

Hi there,

I thought it might be interesting to know how many collectors out there collect their figures from different manufacturers. Do you buy every era available from one manufacturer or different eras from different manufacturers? Do you mix and match? Do you mix painted plastic with metal in your dioramas? Which eras do you collect from a particular company?

Best regards,
Steve

Great Question and answers have been interesting to read. Replies are not dominated by vocal WWII collectors. I do multi-manufactures, all lead/metal, except some plastics for the younger kids. K&C is currently my favorite manufacturer. Andy is a phenom for participating in this forum the way he does. My summary is something like this:

BRITAINS: Mostly Old Hollowcast -- ACW (plus new cavalry), WWII, Arabs/Foreign Legion, Cowboys and Indians (Love those Prairie Schooner Wagons) & ZOO collection.

K&C: The West, Alamo, Iwo Jima, ACW, Spec. Forces, Roman Fort, some Silk Road and NEXT will be Crusaders/Saracens (God Willing) Anyone have the Iwo Jima Mountain Base for sale send me a PM.

Johillco - ACW Anyone interested in buying about a 75-100 figure collection??

East of India - Samurai

ZOO/Wild Animal Hollowcasts- Numerous manufactures from English, France, German. which includes a buffalo hunt with over 60 buffalo.

Other Misc - Mignot,WmHocker,Conte,Frontline,etc.

 

[woodenwarriors]

I collect anything any manufacturer as long as i can afford them and if they fit into my WW 2 army somewhere close to scale. Old new thrift store trucks etc. modified. If it fits in my army I love it.
Charlie

 

[binder001]

Yes, multiple manufacturers, but right now the figures are limted to one era. As anyone on this board knows, I am a total "GI freak", so all my stuff is US. Mostly WW2. I'm not against any other eras of US history, I just don't have money, space or time. I would certainly add ACW if I could.

Anyway, I now have US WW2 troops or vehicles from;
Matchbox - 1/72nd
21C
FoV
K&C
HB
Conte
Frontline
Britains
Marx
Airfix
BMC
Valiant
Imrie-Risely

plus models in various scales from;
Roco
Dragon
Tamiya
Italeri
etc, etc, etc.

Gary

 

[Capitolron]

Yes for me too !!

King and Country makes 80% of my collection - with the following:

AWI , Civil War, WWII, WWI, NAPOLEONIC !, Romans, FoB, and Crusades !!

Britians

AWI and Civil War

Conte

Romans, Civil War (love my Rolling Thunder Set !!) and Spartans/Greeks

and Finally JOHN JENKINS DESIGN

QR1 Set and ALL of Braddock's Disaster-Battle on the Monogahela 1755 Sets

and still buying more !!


Oh, that should be interesting information for the critics of the "Rapid King and Country Supporter"

Like we say in the South - "Every Onion has many Peels"

 

[modwalls]

I would say plastics only, Conte,TSSD, Airfix, Marx, Barzo, MPC, I do wish the metal companies would do their figs in plastic. I wish the 21st, and FOV armour were just a tad larger, to scale with Conte and TSSD. I like all eras, but mainly WWII, then Civil War, Western Calvary, AWI, Zulu. No matter how many Toy Soldiers are produced, there will never be enough. Mike