Mike Tarantino's Toy Soldier Collection (5 Viewers)

[ucla1967]

I recently removed my collection of 1/50th scale Solido armored fighting vehicles from one self of my book case so that I could display 24 sets from nine different toy soldier manufactures which previously had not been displayed. They include, from left to right, sets from Tradition, Britains Collectors Club, Saint George's Cross, Trophy Boxer Rebellion, an unknown Russian maker, Dopel Adler Soldaten, and Beau Geste. After I took these photos, I removed the Tradition Sierra Leone Artillery set and replaced it with Kingcast's U.S. Infantry in China set, so there are now ten different manufactures represented. The raised tier in the back has sets from Toy Soldiers of Scandinavia and Frontline Figures.

 

[ucla1967]

A close up of two early Frontline Figures glossy sets of World War I Aces and Generals.

 

[ucla1967]

I recently bought from a dealer a couple of sets made by Langley Models' Boys of the Old Brigade. The first is BRITISH LINE INFANTRY, FSO, 1800-1900.

 

[ucla1967]

The second Langley Models' Boys of the Old Brigade set I bought was POST OFFICE RIFLES, FSO, 1800s.

 

[ucla1967]

A third set I purchased from the same dealer was Tradition Set GR1 GOVERNOR'S GUARD, THE GIBRALTAR REGIMENT. You rarely see this set for sale these days. There is also a second Gibraltar Regiment set, GR2, which I don't have yet.

 

[DMNamiot]

Mike

Who are the soldiers just to the left (center) of the frontline glossy pilots and generals? They appear to be a Danish unit but I am not sure. Very cool looking action set.

Dave

 

[lancer]

A third set I purchased from the same dealer was Tradition Set GR1 GOVERNOR'S GUARD, THE GIBRALTAR REGIMENT. You rarely see this set for sale these days. There is also a second Gibraltar Regiment set, GR2, which I don't have yet.

Attractive set, very crisply painted. -- Al

 

[ucla1967]

Mike

Who are the soldiers just to the left (center) of the frontline glossy pilots and generals? They appear to be a Danish unit but I am not sure. Very cool looking action set.

Dave

Dave,

They are from Toy Soldiers of Scandinavia in Denmark and are specific Danish and Prussian Regiments from the 1864 Prussian-Danish War. They recently had them and other sets from that conflict on sale at about 50% off under specials.

Mike

 

[ucla1967]

I originally saw these W. Britains 17th Lancers from the Zulu War on display in Ed Ruby's office three or four years ago. I recently came across an opportunity to buy the officer and three men, all boxed and sold as single figures. I subsequently bought a fourth trooper on eBay after I took these photos. They are from W. Britains Redcoats Collection and are Set 44031 OFFICER, 17TH LANCERS, MOUNTED, 1879 and Sets 44043 TROOPER, 17TH LANCERS, MOUNTED, 1879.

 

[ucla1967]

Last week, I found two more of the Tradition sets numbered in the 80s on eBay. They were both Buy-It-Now auctions. These sets are, in my opinion, much superior in sculpting, detail, and paint than the earlier, lower numbered Tradition sets. This is Tradition Set No. 84 THE CAMERONIANS, 1895.

 

[ucla1967]

The second Tradition set is No. 85 ROYAL SCOTS, 1895.

 

[ucla1967]

On an earlier post, I commented that the Tradition sets numbered in the 80s were superior in sculpting, paint, and detail to earlier numbered sets. Here is an example comparing single figures from early sets Nos. 8 - 15th BENGAL INFANTRY, 1890; 16b FRENCH COLONIAL INFANTRY, 1916; and 31 SIERRA LEONE ROYAL ARTILLERY, 1900 with Sets Nos. 85 ROYAL SCOTS, 1895 and 86 KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERS, 1895.

 

[ucla1967]

I continue to add to my World War II Philippine mahogany warbird collection with three recent pickups on eBay. This now brings me to 36 of these warbirds. Although to the naked eye, it doesn't look dusty, the photos using the camera's close up setting and flash, show every tiny dust particle on its black paint job.

The first new warbird is a Northrup P-61B Black Widow in 1/48th scale with a 16 inch wing span and a length of 12 inches. This was a purpose built night fighter of which 700 were produced in three versions. The photo reconnaissance version remained in active service until 1952. This version with upgraded engines rated at 2,839 HP could reach a speed of 440 MPH and with a range of almost 4,000 miles.

The P-61B night fighter version was powered by two Pratt & Whitney R-2800-64 Double Wasp, 18-cylinder radial, air cooled engines, each developing 2,000 HP. It could reach a maximum speed of 365 MPH with a range of almost 3,000 miles. Its development started in 1940, but it didn't enter service until 1945 due to issues regarding the radar apparatus in the B model's elongated nose.

Northrup produced 450 of the B model which were armed with four 20 mm cannons in a fixed belly pod and four .50 caliber machine guns in a remote-controlled dorsal turret. It could also carry four 1,600 pound bombs under its wings. It was manned by a crew of three.

 

[ucla1967]

I am falling behind in posting new additions to my collection. I have about 100 new figures from King & Country, John Jenkins, Tradition, and East of India that I have recently acquired and have not photographed yet for the most part. Here is King & Country's set DD305 "Saving Private Ryan" which I bought more for the accuracy in the G.I. uniforms than the personalities. These represent some of the best examples of the 1944 ETO U.S Army combat uniforms in the toy soldier world, in my opinion.

 

[ucla1967]

I also recently picked up eight more King & Country Battle of the Bulge Germans to go with the two casualties that I already have. At the same time, I bought Hudson & Allen's snow mat and winter backdrop scene number 2. I am going to make a small Battle of the Bulge vignette using these items with my two existing U.S. Infantry sets and John Gittens bases.

 

[ucla1967]

I love King & Country's new U.S. Marines at Tarawa sets---the action poses, the uniforms, etc. I recently bough 17 figures from this series. I am hoping that K&C, John Gittens or Hudson and Allen will make a seawall for them.

 

[ucla1967]

This is another World War II Philippine mahogany warbird that I have added to my collection. It is a Douglas A-26C Invader twin engine ground attack and tactical bomber in 1/48 scale with a wingspan of 18 inches and a length of 12 1/2 inches. The Invader was considered the best American ground attack and tactical bomber in World War II; in fact, it served on with the U.S. Air Force in both the Korean and Vietnam wars. Its top speed was 353 MPH with a range of 1,400 miles.

The B version had a solid nose with six fixed .50 caliber machine guns plus four more .50 caliber machine guns installed in pairs in two remote control turrets on the back and belly of the fuselage. For special missions, an additional 10 machine guns could be added with eight on the wings in four containers and two in external installations on the sides of the fuselage. In this configuration, it had 16 forward firing .50 caliber machine guns. It also could carry 4,000 pounds of bombs. The C version had a glazed nose and was used as a horizontal bomber. A total of 1,091 A-26Cs were built while the B version had a production run of 1,355.

Again, my model looks perfectly okay in normal light, but the camera's flash shows every spec of dust on the black paint.

 

[joesgis]

I love King & Country's new U.S. Marines at Tarawa sets---the action poses, the uniforms, etc. I recently bough 17 figures from this series. I am hoping that K&C, John Gittens or Hudson and Allen will make a seawall for them.

I really like the new K & C Marines too Mike! Man, you have a lot of them! I gotta catch up! Have a good week and thanks for sharing.

Joe

 

[ucla1967]

This a recent eBay purchase of East of India's Set ACG05 ANCIENT GREEKS HEAVY INFANTRY.

 

[ucla1967]

I recently bought nine different John Jenkins Designs "Raid on Saint Francis" sets from the French & India War series. The first is 12 figures in three sets of the New Jersey Provincial Regiment.