Mike Tarantino's Toy Soldier Collection (1 Viewer)

[ucla1967]

In the January shipment, I received Hiriart non-catalog set ARTIGLIERIA ITALIANA A CAVALLO "LE VOLOIRE," 1895 escorts to go with the catalog set 1247 artillery gun team.

 

[ucla1967]

When Bob W. and I made our recent purchase of Dopplel Adler Soldaten sets from Bob Hume in Australia, he was kind enough to include three extra figures. The first photo shows two figures (one for Bob and one for me) of Emperor Franz Joseph from Sarum which he modified by removing epaulets on the original castings. The third figure in the second and third photo are a DAS Hungarian officer wearing different headgear than in the other DAS sets.

 

[ucla1967]

This is a Hiriart German Artillery Gun Team non-catalog set that I picked up on eBay some years ago which was based on catalog set 1154 WORLD WAR I GERMAN INFANTRY, 1914.

 

[ucla1967]

I recently have been posting Latin American military academies and schools under a new Hiriart thread and realized that I had not posted several of those sets that I have in my collection on this thread. This is a stock photo (my set is still tied into its original box) of set 1001 FORZA AREA ARGENTINA ESCUELA MILITAR DE AVIACION which is, of course, the Argentine Air Force School.

 

[ucla1967]

From my South American collection, this is a stock photo of Hiriart set 1061 COLEGIO MILITAR DE LA NACION (CABALLERIA), ARGENTINA. I really like their red, white, and blue uniforms.

 

[ucla1967]

Continuing with my South American collection, this is a stock photo of Hiriart set 1300 ESCOLA NAVAL - VERANO, BRASIL which I picked up several years ago. It is currently the only Brazilian set in my collection.

 

[Al Fisher]

Interesting . . . the cadets look younger when compared to those of the armed forces. Well done!

Bosun Al

 

[ucla1967]

Interesting . . . the cadets look younger when compared to those of the armed forces. Well done!

Bosun Al

I hate to admit it Al, but at my age, they all look younger.

Mike

 

[cem]

I received three Bastion Models sets today from Australia; all are various Austro-Hungarian units. The first set is A.48 BOSNIAN INFANTRY, 1910. Ironically, I had this set in my collection until about five years ago until I sold it at the West Coaster. I paid about twice as much for it as I received when I sold it. This isn't the first time I have done this and I am sure it won't be the last. Oh, well.

Dear Mike,
Shame on me i became Jeoluos about your Hiriart collection..just so lucky only collecting Turkish, Alas had lost a fortune to have a collection like yours.Bastion makes any new sets?still open for business?any contact name or mail adress..regards Cem

 

[ucla1967]

Dear Mike,
Shame on me i became Jeoluos about your Hiriart collection..just so lucky only collecting Turkish, Alas had lost a fortune to have a collection like yours.Bastion makes any new sets?still open for business?any contact name or mail adress..regards Cem

Dear Cem,

You shouldn't be jealous; you can enjoy my Hiriart collection vicariously. You are correct, collecting only Turkish figures would be less expensive. Unfortunately, Andrew Rose's Bastion Models has not been in business for about 20 years---possibly the mid-1990s when he last was a vendor at the London Show. That being said, I have about 18 duplicate Bastion sets which I am willing to sell, if you or anyone else is interested. They are all in maroon Bastion Models boxes with eight figures for $125 per set (plus shipping) which is just a little over $15 per figure.

Here is a list of my duplicate Bastion Models sets:

A.8 Spanish Infantry 1900

A.9 Fusiliers Marin 1900

A.18 Belgian Infantry 1914

A.22 British Infantry, at the ready, 1914

A.31 Australian Infantry, standing firing, 1915

A.33 Turkish Infantry, standing firing, 1915

BOXER REBELLION 1900

B.1 U.S. Marines

B.2 German Marines

B.3 French Marines

B.5 Russian Infantry

B.7 Austro-Hungarian Sailors

B.8 French Sailors

B.9 German Sailors

B.11 1st Sikh Infantry

B.13 Royal Welsh Fusiliers

B.14 Imperial Chinese Infantry

B.19 Italian Sailors

If anyone is interested, please email me direct at matara42@roadrunner.com.

Regards,

Mike

 

[Peter 3V]

Dear Mike,
As a new member I had some catching up to do in reading all the threads of your collection of toy soldiers. It took me more then a week to do this but it was worthy every second. All those photos giving me a smile of recognition, a gasp of surprise and above all lots of admiration for a beautiful, colorful and vivid collection! Your way of presenting your toy soldiers with or without a backdrop has inspired me to do something similar with my collection. So your collection is inspiring as well! My compliments and many thanks for sharing your wonderful collection with me and all the other collectors of glossy painted toy soldiers.
Note 1: It’s a long time ago but I sincerely hope that far out the majority of your collection has survived the quake! I have a rather expensive collection of my own that I have insured separately next to the In Germany normal fire and theft insurance. Maybe you have done this as well. But of course your own collection is priceless and whatever the insurance company may pay you, will not make up for the loss because of the emotional value your collection has.
Note 2: The backdrop you described as “Guards place” and “birdcage walk” is actually Wellington Barracks. It’s the barracks were the new guard prepares for guard duty at Buckingham Palace which is very close by. Wellington Barracks is also the place of the Guards Museum and the Guards Toy Soldier Centre. When in London a visit to this Toy Soldier Centre is a must for toy soldier collectors! The street in front of Wellington Barracks is called Birdcage Walk.
Note 3: I would love to have some information of the vendor where you bought the backdrops. Could you give that to me?
With kind regards
Peter

 

[ucla1967]

Dear Mike,
As a new member I had some catching up to do in reading all the threads of your collection of toy soldiers. It took me more then a week to do this but it was worthy every second. All those photos giving me a smile of recognition, a gasp of surprise and above all lots of admiration for a beautiful, colorful and vivid collection! Your way of presenting your toy soldiers with or without a backdrop has inspired me to do something similar with my collection. So your collection is inspiring as well! My compliments and many thanks for sharing your wonderful collection with me and all the other collectors of glossy painted toy soldiers.
Note 1: It’s a long time ago but I sincerely hope that far out the majority of your collection has survived the quake! I have a rather expensive collection of my own that I have insured separately next to the In Germany normal fire and theft insurance. Maybe you have done this as well. But of course your own collection is priceless and whatever the insurance company may pay you, will not make up for the loss because of the emotional value your collection has.
Note 2: The backdrop you described as “Guards place” and “birdcage walk” is actually Wellington Barracks. It’s the barracks were the new guard prepares for guard duty at Buckingham Palace which is very close by. Wellington Barracks is also the place of the Guards Museum and the Guards Toy Soldier Centre. When in London a visit to this Toy Soldier Centre is a must for toy soldier collectors! The street in front of Wellington Barracks is called Birdcage Walk.
Note 3: I would love to have some information of the vendor where you bought the backdrops. Could you give that to me?
With kind regards
Peter

Hi Peter,

We just returned from a 18 day escorted tour on nine Balkan countries, so I am just now catching up on the forum and getting over my jet lag. Thank you for your kind words regarding my collection. I am glad that I may have given you some ideas regarding the way you display your collection.

My collection survived the earthquake with some damaged/broken figures, but all in all, it could have been much worse.

Unfortunately, I did not get a business card from the vendor selling the backdrops at the 2014 West Coaster. I just noticed him as we were packing up after the show was over and was able to buy two backdrops at the last minute. He did not attend the 2015 West Coaster; I was hoping to buy some more backdrops from him if he returned.

Mike

 

[ucla1967]

I finally received the first part of my 2015 Hiriart order from Montevideo on October 2nd. It had 66 sets including 15 for me. This is my Hiriart non-catalog set WWI TURKISH INFANTRY (IN KHAKI) ATTACK. Previously, I had received another version of this set with the figures wearing their 1910 blue uniforms with red fezzes.

 

[nmrocks]

Great stuff Mike, I like it!
Ray

 

[ucla1967]

Great stuff Mike, I like it!
Ray

Thanks Ray. I am glad you like it.

Mike

 

[ucla1967]

Another addition to my collection this month is Hiriart catalog set 1118 ESCOLA NAVAL, BRASIL. I also ordered it with three extra standing sailors shown in the last attachment with some other extras figures from other sets. This represents only the second Brazilian set in my collection, the first one was also this naval school, but in white summer uniforms with three flags. In 2016, I have two more Brazilian sets on order representing their air force and military academies or schools.

 

[ucla1967]

Continuing with the October Hiriart shipment, this is my new catalog set 1354 KING'S AFRICAN RIFLES, 1914 which includes one extra man.

 

[ucla1967]

This is my new Hiriart catalog set 1243 IMPERIAL CADET CORPS, BRITISH INDIA.

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Mike,

The Imperial Cadets are lovely! It is on my list to get along with the Tiger Hunting sets. Always enjoy opening this thread to see what you have picked up. Thanks for sharing.

Dave

 

[lancer]

Hi Mike,

The Imperial Cadets are lovely! It is on my list to get along with the Tiger Hunting sets. Always enjoy opening this thread to see what you have picked up. Thanks for sharing.

Dave

I second that. The Imperial Cadets is a really sharp looking set. Great color combo. -- Al