Danish Guards? (1 Viewer)
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Also; may I ask your advice as to whether it is better to leave vintage figures with paint loss as is, or to restore them? I plan to give the flag bearer a Danish flag mounted on a lance or pike, and the other figure a rifle, but am undecided as whether I should touch up the paint loss areas; do people feel that it destroys their "original" status?
DMNamiot
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Hi there,
These gents are not Danish, close, they are Royal Dutch Foot Guards wearing the uniform they currently wear for really formal events. They red cuff and collars with the blue trousers are a give away. My opinion is they would look great repainted. I am not sure of the maker. Maybe a company like Riesler but I am not up on the plastic makers out there. Hope the ID helps you narrow down who made these beauties.
Dave
These gents are not Danish, close, they are Royal Dutch Foot Guards wearing the uniform they currently wear for really formal events. They red cuff and collars with the blue trousers are a give away. My opinion is they would look great repainted. I am not sure of the maker. Maybe a company like Riesler but I am not up on the plastic makers out there. Hope the ID helps you narrow down who made these beauties.
Dave
Thanks Dave! Most helpful!
DMNamiot
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Anytime. I found some photos of them on line after a very quick search so you can see a good painting guide. If you figure out who made them I would love to know since I have some friends over there who could look and see if they are still available. Dont forget to post photos if you restore them.
Dave
Dave
Yes; you were spot on; the badge on the bearskins is definitely Dutch; I will certainly post a photo after restoration in which I will try to keep as much of the surviving paint job as possible; they were done very well. They don't look typical of the Reisler images I've been able to find. If I can identify a maker I will certainly let you know.Thanks for your help!
Thank you; I would be very interested to know more
"The more uncontrolled and rapacious the corporation, the more impoverished the society"
DMNamiot
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Hi Brad
I was thinking the same only I dont know if Durso or Krolyn made plastic I am leaning more towards Durso because as far as I know Krolyn only made a very limited run of figures made out of aluminum, I doubt they are Reisler as well but it is a Belgian maker so it is some place to start that is close by geographically speaking. What do you think?
Dave
PS, just had a thought and wonder if they were done by Malleable Moldings or Kentoy. I have a very small photo of a Guardsman done by Kentoy in a James Opie pamphlet that looks a lot like the one here but I dont have any info on that company.
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Following up your very much appreciated suggestions; haven't spotted our boys yet but stylistically Durso would be closest.
theBaron
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Bingo! Found 'em, in Andrew Rose's "The Collector's All-Colour Guide to Toy Soldiers" (Tiger Books Int'l, London, 1989). On pages 124-125, Rose shows a large selection of plastic figures, and our Dutch grenadiers are among them. They were made by Walter Merten in West Berlin. Rose has pictures of the ensign and a grenadier marching with rifle at the slope.
It's a sign of the changes in collectors' interests, that in Rose's book published in 1989, there are just those two pages dedicated to plastic figures, and they consist of images indexed to captions, whereas he devotes a whole chapter of text, with photos, to Britain's and its history, and much of the rest of the book deals with metal figures.
Anyway, next, I looked for Merten in John Garratt's "World Encyclopedia"; Garratt included the following article:
An interesting find, your pair. I don't think I've ever seen Merten's figures, outside of Rose's book.
Hope that all helps, prosit!
Brad
It's a sign of the changes in collectors' interests, that in Rose's book published in 1989, there are just those two pages dedicated to plastic figures, and they consist of images indexed to captions, whereas he devotes a whole chapter of text, with photos, to Britain's and its history, and much of the rest of the book deals with metal figures.
Anyway, next, I looked for Merten in John Garratt's "World Encyclopedia"; Garratt included the following article:
"Berliner-Miniatur-Plastiken (Walter Merten), Berlin (c. 1940- ). Manufacturer of solids (20-40mm) of Indians, cowboys, gauchos (in all 94 on foot, 24 mounted, riders detachable), railway staff, civilians and wild animals (all probably no longer obtainable). In plastic composition in the same size, a remarkable collection of troops of the Middle Ages, the action of some excellent, of others execrable, those of the mounted troops appalling. On the other hand the archers are excellent, even though one or two are shooting off the wrong foot. Some of the knights have detachable cloaks, and there are scaling ladders, pavisses and mantlets. A brilliantly coloured set of Landschnechts (sic) on foot and mounted, the riders again detachable, were among the first of this period to be obtainable, the weapons being interchangeable, and variety on basic figures given by changes in headwear. The design of the horses again is poor. Further sets include Westerners, Bedouins, German and United States Second World War, Centaurs, a riding school, a bathing party, medieval ladies going hawking, and delightful civilians and children of the same period. Pirated (very badly) by a number of makers, especially Fairylite (20mm) and Reamsa (60mm)"
An interesting find, your pair. I don't think I've ever seen Merten's figures, outside of Rose's book.
Hope that all helps, prosit!
Brad
thebritfarmer
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I didn't know Merten made figures that large. They made figures for model railroads, I think they were bought out by Preiser though.
theBaron
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A followup, regarding the ensign, which you have--the original flag is molded furled, it's basically a wedge or spearhead of plastic. I don't have access to a working scanner or I'd scan the image for you. In any case, I think it would make a nice replacement depicting the unfurled flag, flying on the staff. I'd add a flag of paper, or made from thinly-rolled 2-part epoxy putty. It would preserve the look and style of the original, and really look better than the original, I think.
Prost!
Brad
Prost!
Brad
Impressive detective work by all concerned! Thank you; painting job well advanced and will give you a decko soon.
Thanks, Brad; I'll take that on board; so far my efforts to print out a flag have not been a glorious success so I may well go the putty route. Thank you and I'll display my restoration efforts asap.
Yes! I have a copy of that book in my shop (I'm a book dealer of 30 years plus standing) and I may also have a copy at home; and I've spotted them thanks to your tip; it looks like the 2 figs would be a complete set; I should live so long as to get more of the guard with rifle at slope to make up a colour party !
And in fact as we see from the attached image the full set also had officer(s) with drawn swords.