Memories of Christmas passed (3 Viewers)

[NZGary]

Hi all

I returned from a long day in work and 3 hour train journey back to the South West of England. I was full of cold (man flu!) but waiting for me was a loving wife, home cooked meal and a parcel from TG. I got a load of the new British Napoleonic's, German Mountain troops and a couple of the new French FL releases.

I can remember back to the late 1970's and getting the four boxes of AirFix 1/32 scale Waterloo infantry for Christmas. I loved them and they were my favorite AirFix toy soldiers but what a step up we have nowadays. TG's offerings are just brilliant and would go well with K&C or WB Napoleonic figures. Then there are the mountain troops. At some point in the late 1970's I bought a 1/32 scale AirFix set with 'new' plastered all over the box. The box art looked exciting and promised a lot from the contents inside but the figures were so disappointing with very few action of realistic poses. These TG figures are very special and with the previous released figures you can create some superb dioramas. Such a step up from 1978.

Lastly who remembers the William Britain Deetail FFL figures with that strange light blue painting I still loved playing with them as a boy. But bring on TG's versions painted in the appropriate shade of blue. I like these so much more!

Apologies for the poor photos but I wanted to share as these are mightily impressive toy soldiers.

Happy holidays everyone.

 

[WesternOutlaw]

Hi Gary, Happy Holidays. Always enjoy reading about your adventures. I remenber Britain Deetail (BD) figures very well. I was into the Knights as a kid which I still own.
Before I started collecting 1:30 scale, I discovered some BD Civil War figures in a hobby shop while on vacation. Bought the whole lot.
Here's a pic:

Appreciate the early pic of the new TG Mountain Troops. They look great and are on my Christmas wish list. Looking forward to creating a a small dio with these new figures.

Take care!

 

[Mike97]

Great shots, oh the memories this brings up

 

[villagehorse]

Certainly shows how the additions of Toy Soldiers in one’s life, can bring such joy, especially at this time of the year. Robin.

 

[mestell]

My favorite Christmas, as a youth, always included a new MARX playset under the tree. I had many of them . . . wish I still did.
Mike

 

[Warrior]

What a great subject for a thread.

As a young Boy, I loved toy soldiers, I had Marx playsets, W. Britain Swoppets and Deetail figures, Timpo Swoppets among others.

I loved the W. Britain Deetail and Swoppet ACW and the Timpo Romans and Crusaders.

My favorite soldiers were the Airfix ho/oo sets, I had just about all of them (still do, all in their original boxes).

One Christmas, my Aunt and Uncle got me the Swoppet ACW Union and Confederate gun and crew sets and both caissons, they also got me a presentation box of ACW Confederate cavalry and infantry, on another Christmas, they got me the Sons of Liberty Marx set.

My Dad used to take me to downtown Boston for my birthday every year, it falls on December 28th, so I was lucky to get both Christmas and birthday toy soldier gifts. There would always be snow on the ground and the Christmas decorations in the city and in all the stores, very festive. We used to go to two large hobby shops, Woolworths, Grants and Jordan Marsh department stores.

One year he got me a number of Airfix Napoleonic sets and the WWII pontoon bridge playset, another time, the MPC tank battle at El Alamein, Breakout from Normandy and Guns of Normandy, then we'd have lunch and see a movie at a downtown theatre.

Another year for my birthday, another Aunt of mine got me the Airfix La Haye Sainte farmhouse and several boxes of Napoleonics, including my holy grail, French Infantry, that is my all time favorite Airfix set.

My parents and my Aunts and Uncles always made Christmas/my birthday so special, it was great as a kid to have a whole week off for the holidays so I could enjoy my gifts.

I started a tradition a number of years ago to put a present under the tree from my parents and my aunts and uncles to me, toy soldier related, here is this years, it's a large painted 20mm commission from my painter in the UK, I'll open it on Christmas morning, it will take me back to simpler times, back to my youth, my parents and all my aunts and uncles are gone now, but their memories will live in my heart for as long as I'm on this side of the grass.

Merry Christmas everyone, I hope all of you enjoy the holiday with your families, may your tree have toy soldiers under it for you to open on the 25th.

 

[Go for Broke]

What a great subject for a thread.

As a young Boy, I loved toy soldiers, I had Marx playsets, W. Britain Swoppets and Deetail figures, Timpo Swoppets among others.

I loved the W. Britain Deetail and Swoppet ACW and the Timpo Romans and Crusaders.

My favorite soldiers were the Airfix ho/oo sets, I had just about all of them (still do, all in their original boxes).

One Christmas, my Aunt and Uncle got me the Swoppet ACW Union and Confederate gun and crew sets and both caissons, they also got me a presentation box of ACW Confederate cavalry and infantry, on another Christmas, they got me the Sons of Liberty Marx set.

My Dad used to take me to downtown Boston for my birthday every year, it falls on December 28th, so I was lucky to get both Christmas and birthday toy soldier gifts. There would always be snow on the ground and the Christmas decorations in the city and in all the stores, very festive. We used to go to two large hobby shops, Woolworths, Grants and Jordan Marsh department stores.

One year he got me a number of Airfix Napoleonic sets and the WWII pontoon bridge playset, another time, the MPC tank battle at El Alamein, Breakout from Normandy and Guns of Normandy, then we'd have lunch and see a movie at a downtown theatre.

Another year for my birthday, another Aunt of mine got me the Airfix La Haye Sainte farmhouse and several boxes of Napoleonics, including my holy grail, French Infantry, that is my all time favorite Airfix set.

My parents and my Aunts and Uncles always made Christmas/my birthday so special, it was great as a kid to have a whole week off for the holidays so I could enjoy my gifts.

I started a tradition a number of years ago to put a present under the tree from my parents and my aunts and uncles to me, toy soldier related, here is this years, it's a large painted 20mm commission from my painter in the UK, I'll open it on Christmas morning, it will take me back to simpler times, back to my youth, my parents and all my aunts and uncles are gone now, but their memories will live in my heart for as long as I'm on this side of the grass.

Merry Christmas everyone, I hope all of you enjoy the holiday with your families, may your tree have toy soldiers under it for you to open on the 25th.

You guys were lucky kids. All I had was green army men. When I first saw Marx soldiers I was blown away by the sculpts. I had to trade hard to get some of those soldiers. I first saw Airfix when I was 13-years old and bought them under a guise that it was for my little brother. I did have a Mattel Thompson machine gun and a bazooka that shot spring loaded rockets. We'd get a refrigerator box, cut ports as our tank and use the bazooka to blow it up.

 

[paxtoysoldier]

Greetings All from Pat Sr. for the Pats: LOVE this thread. It did us good to hear that so many think so fondly of collecting and in reference to our beloved parents & relatives. I remember how I got each gift of Britains, SAE, Marx playset and Castles from Germany. I've told Paddy many times of the joy that I experienced especially at Christmas. Back in the 1950s, a high point of the day after Thanksgiving, was to travel to Downtown Chicago and feast on the 4th Floor of Vaughn's and the 4th Floor of Marshall Fields. My Mother, Aunt & oldest brother took us. I've kept this tradition going with my son to this day.
Merry Christmas!
Pat Sr for Pats

 

[Panzer ace]

Great post.