Mike Tarantino's Toy Soldier Collection (2 Viewers)

[ucla1967]

This is the third Tradition set that I picked up at a recent auction: Set No. 86 KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS 1895. Again, like the Royal Scots Fusilers set posted above, the sculpting and painting quality is first-rate.

 

[ucla1967]

This is the fourth Tradition set that I picked up at a recent auction: Set No. 88 SCOTS GUARDS 1895. Again, another fine example of a traditional, glossy, 54mm set from Tradition.

 

[ucla1967]

I picked up this Bastion Models Set No. A.1 ROYAL ENGINEERS HOME SERVICE at auction recently.

 

[ucla1967]

I continue to add to my World War II Philippine mahogany warbird collection with three recent additions. The first is the Russian Petlyakov PE-2 twin engine bomber in 1/32nd scale with a wingspan of 21 inches and a length of 16 inches. The PE-2 was powered by two Kimov M.105R, 12 cylinder V, liquid-cooled engines each generating 1,100 HP. Its maximum speed was 335 MPH with a ceiling of almost 29,000 feet. Its range was 816 miles and it could carry a 2,200 pound bomb load . This was the Russian's standard bomber during the war with about 11,500 being built.

 

[ucla1967]

Two more views.

 

[ucla1967]

My second Philippine mahogany World War II warbird is this Luftwaffe Focke Wulf FW-190 A-1 in 1/32nd scale with a wingspan of about 13 inches and a length of about 10 inches. I actually have another FW-190 on display, but it is in 1/34 scale and has a different paint scheme and unit markings. The Focke-Wulf 190 A-1 was powered by a BMW 801C-1, 14-cylinder radial, air-cooled engine with 1,600 HP. Its top speed was 389 MPH and it had a range of almost 500 miles. The FW-190 A-1 was armed with four machine guns, two of which fired through the propeller hub. In all, more than 20,000 Focke-Wulfs were built during the war, of which 13,400 were interceptors and the balance were fighter-bombers. Kurt Tank's design was considered by many to be the best German fighter of World War II.

 

[ucla1967]

This is the third Philippine mahogany World War II warbird that I recently picked up on eBay. It is an Italian Regia Aeronautica Macchi MC-200 Saetta (Arrow) single engine fighter. I am not sure about the scale, but I believe that it is 1/24th. It has a wingspan of more than 17 inches and a length of 14 inches. It was powered by a Fiat A.74 RC.38, 14-cylinder radial, air-cooled engine generating 870 HP. Its maximum speed was 312 MPH, its service ceiling was more than 29,000 feet, and it had a range of 540 miles. It was Italy's front line fighter from 1939 through 1941 when it was replaced by the Macchi MC-202, but continued in service as a fighter-bomber which could carry 660 pounds of bombs, as an escort fighter, and as an interceptor over Italian territory. It was relatively lightly armed with two 12.7 mm machine guns which were synchronized to fire through the propeller. It served on all fronts except the English Channel. A total of 1,150 MC-200 Arrows were produced by Macchi, Breda, and SAI Ambrosini.

 

[ucla1967]

I recently acquired this set made by Doppel Adler Soldaten on eBay: Set No. 2A BOSNIAN INFANTRY, OFFICER AND FIVE MEN.

 

[ucla1967]

Another recent eBay pick up is Bastion Models Set No. CW.1 UNION INFANTRY. Interestingly, it was in a Bastion box, but with different labels than usual. The new label was from The Cottage Shop located in Stamford, CT. Hmm, I worked for Hilti Fastening Systems for three years in Stamford from 1976 to 1979 as the Assistant to the Vice President of Sales and then as a project manager developing new products for the Hilti line. I wonder if this shop was there then? If so, I wish I had known about it.

 

[ucla1967]

I have about 30 Steadfast Soldiers sets, not displayed, squirreled away in my overflow linen closet or in my garage. Since I have some room left on my Steadfast display shelf, I pulled these sets out to display. They include the British RHA in dress uniforms with cannon and limber, Boers manning a one pounder Maxim gun, and an off-catalog set of 20th century Swiss Infantry.

 

[ucla1967]

I have moved all my Hiriart and other Artillery Gun Teams from curio display cabinets or from storage to my library book shelves. They took up a lot of space on the curio shelves which has now opened up space to display other sets. I also have moved several mounted sets with them to the book shelves. The first one is Hiriart Set 1246 WORLD WAR II GERMAN ARTILLERY GUN TEAM to which I added two non-catalog sets: WORLD WAR II GERMAN CAVALRY and WORLD WAR II KUBAN COSSACKS IN GERMAN SERVICE.

 

[ucla1967]

This is Hiriart artillery gun team Set 1247 ARTIGLIERI A CAVALLO "LE VOLORIE" ITALIA with four escorts plus Sets 1228 LANCIERI, 1891 and 1227 DRAGONI, 1891.

 

[ucla1967]

This is a Hiriart ZULU WAR ARTILLERY GUN TEAM set with two escorts that I commissioned displayed with a non-catalog set of THE NATAL CARABINIERS.

 

[ucla1967]

I have two Hiriart artillery gun teams displayed on this book case shelf: Sets 1114 ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY and 1124 ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY with four escorts.

 

[ucla1967]

This book shelf in my library has Hiriart's Set 1259 WORLD WAR I ARTILLERY GUN TEAM escorted by Set 1330 WORLD WAR I TURKISH LANCERS.

 

[ucla1967]

On another library book shelf I have displayed Kingcast artillery gun team Set P10 ROYAL CANADIAN ARTILLERY, 1890. It have also been sold as Set WC4.

 

[ucla1967]

On another library book shelf I have displayed Kingcast artillery gun team Set P10 ROYAL CANADIAN ARTILLERY, 1890. It have also been sold as Set WC4.

I meant to say "It has also been sold as Set WC4" which is part of Kingcast's World Conflicts (WC) series.

 

[ucla1967]

I meant to say "It has also been sold as Set WC4" which is part of Kingcast's World Conflicts (WC) series.

This is a Lancer copy of the famous pre-war Britain's Boer War City Imperial Volunteers Supply Column set displayed on a library book case shelf. I believe that the Britains set has been sold for around $15,000 at auction.

 

[ROUGH RIDER]

Excellent sets Mike once again I appreciate your posting of them.

 

[ucla1967]

Excellent sets Mike once again I appreciate your posting of them.

Thank you for your kind comments.