Mike Tarantino's Toy Soldier Collection (2 Viewers)

[ucla1967]

My wife and I recently returned from a 16 day tour (June 4th - June 20th) of Finland, Russia, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. In Saint Petersburg's Yusupov Palace, where Rasputin was murdered, I bought these Palace Guard Grenadier toy soldiers. They were established by Tsar Nicholas II in 1827 from veterans of the War of 1812; all of the officers and most of the other ranks had received the Order of Saint George for their actions at the Battle of Borodino. These grenadiers stood guard duty at the Winter Palace and in front of the rooms of the Imperial family. They manned 36 posts at the Winter Palace and also acted as a Honor Guard. They were know as the Gold Company due to the amount of gold in their uniforms.

The figures were sculpted by Vyacheslav Zhitomorsky and were not boxed. They cost less than $200.

 

[ucla1967]

Some close ups.

 

[ucla1967]

Continuing with my recent Philippine mahogany warbird acquisitions, here is a 1/32 scale World War II Focke-Wulf FW-190A with a 12 3/4 inch wingspan from Motion Models.

 

[ucla1967]

The World War II North American Aviation B-25 medium bomber has always been one of my favorites. FDR built about two dozen new air bases prior to the US entre into World War II. One of them was in my hometown, Pendleton, Oregon, which is about 250 miles inland from the Pacific ocean. After Pearle Harbor on December 7th, 1941, a B-25 wing was sent from March Field in Riverside, California to Pendleton Field. This unit was one of the best prepared, combat ready B-25 units in the Army Air Corps. In fact, Col. Doolittle flew into Pendleton in January 1942 to pick crews for his raid on Japan. The crews so chosen were transferred to Florida for specialized training in carrier take offs.

The Wings TV channel which became the Military channel, and now is called the American Heroes channel, had a series on World War II warplanes, including the B-25. I especially was impressed with the B-25 low altitude attack version which had a solid nose with eight fixed, forward firing .50 caliber machine guns plus four blisters, two on each side, each of which had one additional .50 caliber machine gun. The fire power of the 12 forward firing .50 caliber machine guns was devastating to ground targets. These attack versions also dropped parachute bombs from treetop altitudes.

I don't know who made the B-25 I picked up on eBay, but its finish is not as glossy as the other mahogany warbirds I have from Toys & Model Corporation. However, I wanted this attack version; I believe the scale is 1/48.

As an aside, my first job after I graduated from high school was with North American Aviation in Downey, California. I worked my way through college as a Utility Man General, Assembler Electric & Electronic, and finally as a Precision Assembler on the Minuteman ICBM's inertial navigation system for three summers and full time on the graveyard shift my freshman year of college when I was also a full time student during the day. I don't recommend that to anyone.

I do remember the North American Aviation logo, as seen on the B-25's base, as also being on my paychecks.

 

[lancer]

B-25's rule! That particular B-25 is from the 345th BG, the Air Apaches. I used to own the very cool squadron patch, ie., the emblem on the tail. Very nice. -- Al

 

[ucla1967]

Thanks Al, I agree. You are absolutely correct, this B-25J served with the 5th Air Force's 345th BG in the Southwest Pacific theater and were know as the Air Apaches. This B-25J had an amazing total of 18 .50 caliber machine guns. I forgot to mention that its wingspan is 18 1/2 inches. I have attached several more better quality photos from the seller which are not slightly out of focus like mine were.

 

[lancer]

Thanks Al, I agree. You are absolutely correct, this B-25J served with the 5th Air Force's 345th BG in the Southwest Pacific theater and were know as the Air Apaches. This B-25J had an amazing total of 18 .50 caliber machine guns. I forgot to mention that its wingspan is 18 1/2 inches. I have attached several more better quality photos from the seller which are not slightly out of focus like mine were.

That's a lot of lead to throw out. 12 of those guns faced forward and some models of the B-25 carried a cannon in the nose as well. These marauding B-25's decimated Japanese shipping. -- Al

 

[ucla1967]

That's a lot of lead to throw out. 12 of those guns faced forward and some models of the B-25 carried a cannon in the nose as well. These marauding B-25's decimated Japanese shipping. -- Al

I believe that the cannon used was a modified pack 75mm. Apparently the recoil was something else again which seemed to noticeably slow down the B-25's forward air speed when fired. Not only Japanese shipping, but also Japanese air bases were attacked to great effect.

Mike

 

[ucla1967]

The last World War II mahogany warbird that I recently picked up was an Italian Savoia-Marchetti SM-84 three engine torpedo bomber. It was not a successful design, but 329 were built for the Regia Aeronautica anyway. It was lightly armed; I noticed that the top turret has two machine guns firing forward and two firing back which is an arrangement that I don't remember seeing before on any other WWII aircraft.

I bought this SM-84 from the same individual that sold me the B-25. Like the B-25, it is matte painted and was from some source other than Toys & Model Corporation. I am not sure what scale it is, but it has a 16 inch wing span. T&MC had an Italian Macci MC-202 Folgore fighter in its catalog which I really would have liked to have had, but it was in 1/24 scale with a 17 inch wingspan.

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for sharing your collection with us! I really enjoy the vast array of figures and vehicles that you have shown us. I would say that you have to have one of the most interesting collections, at least from my perspective, in the states! Cant wait to see what you post next

All the best

Dave

 

[ucla1967]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for sharing your collection with us! I really enjoy the vast array of figures and vehicles that you have shown us. I would say that you have to have one of the most interesting collections, at least from my perspective, in the states! Cant wait to see what you post next

All the best

Dave

Hi Dave,

Your more than welcome. I am glad you like it. Actually, the truth be known, I am more of an accumulator than a collector, which was pointed out to me years ago by Ed Ruby. I am undisciplined and buy what I like rather than following some specific collecting focus.

Best regards,

Mike

 

[ucla1967]

Although I didn't pick this World War II mahogany warbird up recently (it has been in the garage in its box for several years), I decided to break it out and add it to the other warbirds I have on display. This is a 1/52 scale Luftwaffe Junkers JU-52 "Auntie Ju" tri-motor transport with a 20 inch wingspan.

 

[ucla1967]

Here is my World War II Philippine mahogany warbird collection as displayed. I have room for a few more on top of the curios. First on my want list is the Luftwaffe Junkers JU-88A-1; there are several versions in 1/36 scale, but I am looking specifically for the Toys & Model Corporation's ESFN008W. I also want a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat, and Ilyushin IL-2M3 Sturmovik, all in 1/32 scale; plus a Japanese Mitsubishi G4M3 Betty twin engine bomber in 1/48 scale. I may even break down and get the Macchi MC.202 Folgore Italian fighter although it is in 1/24 scale.

 

[lancer]

Fantastic collection, Mike. My favorite is the P-38, 'Putt Putt Maru' of 27 kill ace Charles MacDonald, CO of the 475th FG. Beautiful aircraft.:salute:: -- Al

 

[ucla1967]

Fantastic collection, Mike. My favorite is the P-38, 'Putt Putt Maru' of 27 kill ace Charles MacDonald, CO of the 475th FG. Beautiful aircraft.:salute:: -- Al

Thank you Al, much appreciated. The P-38 has always been one of my favorite WWII fighters. I also have Richard Bong's "Marge" in 1/40 scale in storage. As you probably know, he had 40 kills and was the number one ace of WWII.

Mike

 

[lancer]

Thank you Al, much appreciated. The P-38 has always been one of my favorite WWII fighters. I also have Richard Bong's "Marge" in 1/40 scale in storage. As you probably know, he had 40 kills and was the number one ace of WWII.

Mike

Mike, at one time I had the P-38's of MacDonald, Bong, and McGuire in 1/48 scale made by Armour. These are beautiful die-cast planes. I still have the Bong and McGuire aircraft but foolishly traded the MacDonald. Wish I had kept it as it was a gorgeous trio of silver Lightnings. Always have loved that big ol' Lightning. -- Al

 

[ucla1967]

In addition to the 11 warbirds on top of the curios, I have five others on display mixed in with my AFV collection that are in the one bookcase I have in my toy soldier room. The AFVs are 1/32 scale Forces of Valor, 1/50 scale Solido, and 1/72 scale Dragoon.

 

[ucla1967]

I have long admired John Jenkins Designs toy soldiers from afar since I don't usually collect 60mm matte figures. That being said, I liked his Seven Years War "Battle of Leuthen, 1757" diorama so much that I decided to acquire it anyway. This series came out in 2012 and some of the sets are no longer available. I was able to pick up the out of stock LEUT-100 Base on eBay MIB for less than the suggested retail price. I also found an Australian eBay seller who offered free shipping and had six MIB sets (nine figures) for less than the retail price.

Here is the start of John Jenkins Designs Battle of Leuthen with the LEUT-100 Base and the sets from Australia: LEUT-01 Advancing No. 1, LEUT-02 Advancing No. 2, LEUT-03 Advancing No. 3, LEUT-05 Casualties No. 2, LEUT-06 Advancing No. 4, and LEUT-08 Firing. I am putting this diorama together with my eight year old granddaughter, Chloe. I let her open the boxes, remove the figures, and place them on the base in their proper places.

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Mike,

I totally understand your dilemma I find myself having that issue too. For me its militaria mainly related to tanks and cavalry, book again mainly on tanks and tank development from WWI through the modern era and every now and again a baseball card or two will sneak in the door...

But it is better to have a wide range of interests rather than be so focused on some aspect of a collection that you miss something interesting. I like the Jenkins figures you just posted too!:salute::

Thanks again for the great photos

Dave

 

[wayne556517]

WOW Mike some great stuff there,you have opened a pandoras box now mate he come the 60mm matte figures foot sloggers.