Mike Tarantino's Toy Soldier Collection (2 Viewers)

[ucla1967]

Here are the photos.

 

[ucla1967]

The Trophy of Wales sets on display on the second shelf.

 

[ucla1967]

You may have noticed that some of the Trophy sets are incomplete. Actually, they aren't, but Brad (Jazzeum) was kind enough to facilitate the use of Mike DeMarco's repair services for me. I sent not only figures missing bayonets, but also the correct figure with a bayonet so he would see what it was suppose to look like. Thank you Brad, I am looking forward to seeing Mike's work. Here is what I sent Brad to pass on to Mike for repair: First photo Trophy figures. Second photo figures from Bastion, HM of Great Briton, Frontline, Imperial, and Americans in Miniature. BTW, most of the broken bayonets and swords were the result of poor packing by the eBay seller that I bought them from. However, I must admit that I broke the Frontline Dervish flag bearer off from its base by trying to bent him so he wouldn't keep continually falling over.

 

[ucla1967]

This is the third curio shelf which has no tiers/steps, but that includes three Indian building facades from JG (John Gittins) Miniatures. You can purchase them through Treefrog for $65 a piece. The building facades set numbers are, from left to right, JGN06, JGN08, and JGN05. The Indian Army sets in front of the facades are, from left to right, Nicholson I-30 Deoli Irregulars, I-45 the 12th Pioneers, I-28 the Queen's Own Corps of Guides, and I-13 Cureton's Multaniis Dismounted Cavalry. Then Hiriart set 1204 the Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers and Kingcast set K6 the 8th Rajputs.

You can clearly see the difference in sculpting styles from these three manufactures in these photos. Another difference is that the Nicholson sets have six figures, the Kingcast sets have eight, while the Hiriart sets have nine. This shelf is also an example of how relatively inexpensive backdrops can enhance a display.

 

[ucla1967]

This is the completed second phase in setting up the Indian Army display which has marching sets from Nicholson, Somerset, Kingcast, and Hiriart. The Nicholson sets in this photo are, from left to right, I-2 Deoli Irregulars, I-3 the 22nd Punjabi Infantry, I-5 the 22nd Bengal Native Infantry, I-6 the 11th Bengal Infantry, I-7 the 5th Bombay Light Infantry, I-8 Napier's Rifles, I-10 the 1st Punjabi Infantry (Coke's Rifles), I-24 the 75th Carnatic Infantry, and I-49 the 40th Pathan Infantry.

 

[ucla1967]

The Indian Army display continues with an unknown set (in blue uniforms) from Somerset and then the following Kingcast sets: K5 the 14th Ferozepore Sikhs, K7 the 30th Punjabis, K8 the 34th Sikh Pioneers, and K19 the 20th Madras Native Infantry. I bought the Somerset set on eBay which was advertised as being from either Nicholson or Kingcast, I can't remember which one, but I knew the seller was wrong and picked it up anyway since Somerset rarely shows up on eBay, at auctions, or at shows.

 

[ucla1967]

The Indian Army display continues with Kingcast sets K22 the 6th JAT Light Infantry and K30 the 19th Punjabi Infantry. Then Hiriart sets 1081 Bengal Native Infantry, 1214 the Madras Light Cavalry, and 1243 the Imperial Cadet Corps. The open space on the right is reserved for two of the three other Hiriart mounted sets that I have on order: 1080 the Governor General's Body Guard, 1109 the Queens Own Corps of Guides, or 1203 the 1st Bengal Lancers (Skinner's Horse). Which would you choose?

 

[thebritfarmer]

Have you tried a bit of tacky wax under the hoofs?

 

[ucla1967]

Have you tried a bit of tacky wax under the hoofs?

I did use tacky wax on my Blenheim cavalry sets a few years ago, but I don't recall how they faired during the last earthquake since there were several thousand figures down. I am not overly optimistic about it, but when I have completed my makeover, I will go back and tacky wax the hoofs since I don't have anything to loose. I have also made sure that all the mounted figures are on the bottom (main) shelf so they don't have far to fall.

 

[jazzeum]

Mike, I received the box and will get it to Mike this weekend.

Brad

 

[ucla1967]

Mike, I received the box and will get it to Mike this weekend.

Brad

Thank you Brad, much appreciated.

Mike

 

[Wolfgang_UK]

You can clearly see the difference in sculpting styles from these three manufactures in these photos. Another difference is that the Nicholson sets have six figures, the Kingcast sets have eight, while the Hiriart sets have nine. This shelf is also an example of how relatively inexpensive backdrops can enhance a display.[/QUOTE]


They certainly enhance your display. Wonderful scene, great figures a true joy to look at.
Thank you for sharing
Wolfgang

 

[ucla1967]

You can clearly see the difference in sculpting styles from these three manufactures in these photos. Another difference is that the Nicholson sets have six figures, the Kingcast sets have eight, while the Hiriart sets have nine. This shelf is also an example of how relatively inexpensive backdrops can enhance a display.

They certainly enhance your display. Wonderful scene, great figures a true joy to look at.
Thank you for sharing
Wolfgang[/QUOTE]


Thanks Wolfgang, I am glad you like it.

Mike

 

[ucla1967]

This is the fourth shelf in the curio which is being completely made over from before. It has a three step raised tier with Imperial on the bottom shelf, Beau Geste on the first raised tier, Saint Georges Cross and Frontline glossies on the second raised tier, and the third tier will have Kingcast artillery sets.

 

[ucla1967]

In the third row, from the Russian Civil War are Saint George's Cross officer sets number 3941 Alekseevsky Regiment White Guards Infantry, 1919-1921 and number 3941 Kornilovsky Regiment White Guards Infantry, 1919-1921. Also, from Saint George's Cross is a set of Russian World War I Infantry or possibly Red Army Civil War Infantry in winter uniforms. Then from Frontline Figures glossy 1914 Parade Dress Range are multiple sets of the Austrian Hoch and Deutschmeister Regiment. After I took this photo, I subsequently added two sets of French Foreign Legion from Frontline's 1914 Parade Dress Range in the open space to the right.

 

[ucla1967]

In the second row, first photo, are Beau Geste set number 235 Fusiliers of the Albanese Regiment, 1808 and set number 288 World War I Bulgarian Reservists. Second photo, are Beau Geste set number 127 Strelets, 1st "Blue Coat" Division of Secheviye Streltsi, Ukraine, 1918 and set number 177 Russian Navy Corps, Boxer Rebellion. Third photo is Beau Geste set number 144 German Line Infantry, Saxon, Full Dress, 1893. The fourth and fifth photos are Beau Geste set numbers 170 Belgian Infantry, 1897 and 273 World War I Royal Sussex Regiment, Sinai. 1916, respectively.

 

[jazzeum]

You have got quite an amazing collection Mike.

I love that 1893 Saxon set by BG.

Brad

 

[ucla1967]

The bottom shelf has on display Imperial Productions sets numbers 35 and 36 the 1st Dragoon Guards, 1897. Then multiple sets, with 36 figures, from Imperial's Crimean War Range set numbers 65, 65A, 67, and 68 Coldstream Guards, 1854. Finally, from Imperial's Zulu War Range are set numbers 39 and 40 the 17th Lancers, 1879 and set number 34 the Natal Native Horse.

 

[ucla1967]

You have got quite an amazing collection Mike.

I love that 1893 Saxon set by BG.

Brad

Thank you Brad, I don't know if it is amazing or just eclectic. That is a neat Beau Geste Saxon set. I bought most of the BG sets from Treefrog several years ago.

Mike

 

[ucla1967]

I got out all of my Kingcast artillery sets, most of which were stored in a linen cabinet, to see what I had. I am going to pick the sets to put on that last tier. The ones I can't fit on the shelf, I'll put up for sale in the Treefrog classified section along with extra sets from Nickolson, Kingcast Indian Army, Beau Geste, Saint George's Cross, and others.

That brown artillery piece in the back is a mystery to me; it was in a box labeled WC11 which stands for World Conflicts, but it didn't include any artillerymen and I don't really have a Kingcast catalog just a partial price list. In fact, I don't know if there ever was a Kingcast catalog, but I would like to buy it if you have one.