WBritain
Master Sergeant
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2005
- Messages
- 1,307
Hi Everyone:
Just back today from two weeks in Spain for family R&R. Missed seeing a lot of you at the Westcoaster this year - I'll see you next year!
Anyway, it would not be a vacation without a toy soldier shop (my wife is used to the blurring of business and pleasure...though I see it as all pleasure). I had the great fortune to call on El Infante in Madrid and met Mr. Rafael Barreira, the manager, a collector and extremely talented painter to boot! This was a GREAT shop. Now do not get me wrong, I love WB and have lots, and have significant space in my collection for everything from Imperial to K&C and Little Legion to John Jenkins, I even have some Collector's Showcase (smile Brian)!!...but the thing I love most in a toy soldier shop is the UNIQUE. And this one had it in SPADES (they carry WB and K&C too)!
Mr. Barreira and others paint a wide variety of figures for the shop, some unique sculpts just for them and others kits or flats. They do an entire collection of Spanish Civil War Flags - off beat - and really cool - I ended up with an Abraham Lincoln brigade figure and a Nationalist (Franco's troops - for those looking for some mainstream yet offbeat figs check out their communist -Republican- flags and German Condor Legion infantry and flags that fought with Franco), then moved onto a Spanish flagbearer and drummer from the 17th Century that were simply superb. My son Ricky ended up with a stunning 19th Century Spanish Cavalry flat. They were all painted in an engaging matte style, and really look good together.
I went on our second day there and the night before we returned I had to go back and get more! You know the feeling.
Contact infor is:
El Infante
Calle Alcantara 35
28002 Madrid
Tel 0034 91 402 0718
www.elinfante-toysoldier.com
Enjoy!
Richard
Just back today from two weeks in Spain for family R&R. Missed seeing a lot of you at the Westcoaster this year - I'll see you next year!
Anyway, it would not be a vacation without a toy soldier shop (my wife is used to the blurring of business and pleasure...though I see it as all pleasure). I had the great fortune to call on El Infante in Madrid and met Mr. Rafael Barreira, the manager, a collector and extremely talented painter to boot! This was a GREAT shop. Now do not get me wrong, I love WB and have lots, and have significant space in my collection for everything from Imperial to K&C and Little Legion to John Jenkins, I even have some Collector's Showcase (smile Brian)!!...but the thing I love most in a toy soldier shop is the UNIQUE. And this one had it in SPADES (they carry WB and K&C too)!
Mr. Barreira and others paint a wide variety of figures for the shop, some unique sculpts just for them and others kits or flats. They do an entire collection of Spanish Civil War Flags - off beat - and really cool - I ended up with an Abraham Lincoln brigade figure and a Nationalist (Franco's troops - for those looking for some mainstream yet offbeat figs check out their communist -Republican- flags and German Condor Legion infantry and flags that fought with Franco), then moved onto a Spanish flagbearer and drummer from the 17th Century that were simply superb. My son Ricky ended up with a stunning 19th Century Spanish Cavalry flat. They were all painted in an engaging matte style, and really look good together.
I went on our second day there and the night before we returned I had to go back and get more! You know the feeling.
Contact infor is:
El Infante
Calle Alcantara 35
28002 Madrid
Tel 0034 91 402 0718
www.elinfante-toysoldier.com
Enjoy!
Richard
