Highlander figure--Britain's or someone else? (1 Viewer)

[theBaron]

Hi, all,

I ran across this auction on eBay, for a Highland clansman:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/182468681974?ul_noapp=true

It's listed as a Britain's figure. I asked the seller if there are markings, and he sent a reply, "Britians 1989 England".

I'm curious because the paint job doesn't look like Britain's, whether from the toy soldier lines or from the matte lines. It looks very much in the "Chinese style", to me, like King-White/Reeves, early K&C, Frontline. Reeves International was a Britain's agent, though, and it's possible that this was produced and finished in that style but sold under Britain's label. I'm not as up on Britain's figures from 1989 as I am on some other subjects.

Thanks in advance for any info about the figure!

Prost!
Brad

 

[thebritfarmer]

I don't think he is Britains, can't say I have seen him in any of the books I have. I find people attach the name of Britains as it pretty much a household name (at least in the UK)

 

[4th Hussar]

It is Britains. Part of a small series of Clansmen. I believe they were about 90 mm in size.

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Brad,

These guys came out in 1990 and there were four figures in the series they only ran for one year. The figures were called the Clansmen and were initially numbered 8250 MacDonald, 8251 Stewart, 8252 Gordon, 8253 MacGregor. They were withdrawn from sale and remarketed the following year on a wooden plinth. In 1991 they were renumbered as 8260, 8261, 8262, 8263 (same order for name) Yours appears to be from the first batch and I believe its a Stewart pattern kilt.

Hope this helps

Dave

 

[theBaron]

Thanks for the replies, guys! What caught my eye was the painting style, as I mentioned before. It's really different from everything else Britain's has produced. I don't think I've seen any other series from them, that was finished in this style.

Prost!
Brad

 

[thebritfarmer]

Learn something new everyday. Will have to go through my books now to see the others.

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Scott,

They are in the Great Book of Britains pages 585 and 587.

Hope this helps there isnt a lot of information on them, at least as far as I could see in a quick search of my books and catalogues.

Dave

 

[thebritfarmer]

Thanks Dave, that is one book I don't have. Hopefully they will reissue it at some point.

 

[blaster]

I had one of these figures many years ago. I exchanged it for a stash of Historex figures because it was about 80mm, too big to fit into my 54-60mm world.

Rgds
Victor

 

[theBaron]

I'm still struck by the "non-Britain's" style of painting. It really is in the "Chinese style".

Prost!
Brad

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Brad,

I know they were painted at a much higher standard than normal line figures. Unfortunately there is or seems to be very little printed information on them and while I found another reference to them it only said they were sold as souvenirs at tourist sites like Edinburgh Castle(a guess here) and as such were not likely for sale via the normal catalogue. They were also scaled at 90mm so these must have been something they special contracted for from one of their sub contractors. Very nice figures to be sure.


Dave

 

[Oberstinhaber]

Hi Brad,

I know they were painted at a much higher standard than normal line figures. Unfortunately there is or seems to be very little printed information on them and while I found another reference to them it only said they were sold as souvenirs at tourist sites like Edinburgh Castle(a guess here) and as such were not likely for sale via the normal catalogue. They were also scaled at 90mm so these must have been something they special contracted for from one of their sub contractors. Very nice figures to be sure.


Dave

I have had all four figures for a long time (early 90's?) I regard them as "nice". Personally, I don't think that the painting is anything special. I think that the illusion is that it is on a bigger canvas, ie, 90mm. If these figures were taken in hand by someone who could really paint, one might see something really worthwhile.

I regard these figures as part of the then "Britain's Malaise" : an interesting concept that was never really delivered. [now, there's the title of an interesting thread!]As I recall, the talk around the hobby (not necessarily coming from Britain's) was that this could be the start of something big!

I, and the guys in my Figure Club were pretty disappointed, and a little miffed, when we saw the figures. We all felt a bit "cheated" There is only one body, two right arms and two heads!! I am no maths scholar, but I recall that four "combinations" is the maximum one can make from this number of variables? We felt that it had been "done on the cheap" Frugality carried to the extreme!

Interestingly, they seem to come on eBay in "waves", mostly at reasonable prices. For a number of years, I used to buy one every year to donate as a Raffle prize at the AGM of my Pipe Band, I stopped when I figured that everyone needed a change. So, I can confirm that they make great Raffle Prizes!

If I had more skills, I would endeavour to post pictures of all four figures, I will have to leave that to someone younger.

Happy Collecting!

Oberstinhaber