Need help (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Fat Boy
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DMNamiot
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Hi There,
They look to be from a Spanish Company called Almiral not totally sure of the spelling but they look just like one I picked up in Italy a few years ago. I will see if I can find the one I have since he is in a packing box and will get back to you.
Dave
They look to be from a Spanish Company called Almiral not totally sure of the spelling but they look just like one I picked up in Italy a few years ago. I will see if I can find the one I have since he is in a packing box and will get back to you.
Dave
theBaron
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Hi, Dave, I second your ID, I believe they are by Almiral. If I remember correctly, Almiral was the brand produced and sold by Jose Alarcon, but I'd have to confirm that. I think that his figures were available mounted on bases like these, and I think they were also available in kit form. I will check my resources when I get home tonight to make sure.
Brad, thanks for the endorsement
and you can help me with the name--is "Almiral" Spanish for "Admiral"? The word comes to us from Arabic, if I remember correctly. In any case, I thought of that, because of the similar figures by Soldat, Spanish/French/German for "soldier", and it strikes me now as interesting, if I'm right about "admiral", that two Spanish makers with figures in similar style, both chose names like that.Fat Boy, I'll check my references and let you know if I can confirm the ID, or if I find a different one.
Prost!
Brad
theBaron
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Thanks, Brad! I've clarified it for myself, in the meantime.
Almiral is actually Almirall, and the brand is also the name of the maker, Jose Almirall. I confused him by first name with Jose Alarçon, who is the owner of Soldat. And these are indeed Soldat figures.
I checked in Garratt's World Encyclopedia of Model Soldiers, and on page 156, he has a black-and-white photo of three Soldat pieces, all WWII German, a side drummer and an officer in parade march, and an officer of an SS Croatian unit. The bases and labels are the same as with 2 of Fat Boy's examples, the MP and member of the Afrika Korps--a solid block, attached to the figure's tinplate base. And as I thought, his standard-bearer is the same as the kit figures I've seen at shows (Gene Bagnoli has a small stash of Soldat kits, that he brings to the shows). The kit figures were sold in blister packs on a red cardboard backing with white and black lettering.
Soldat figures have a chunkiness to them, but they paint up nicely, and you can assemble quite a display, especially with the bands.
I hope that all helps, Fat Boy!
Prost!
Brad
Oberstinhaber
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Dear Colleagues,
These figures are definitely SOLDAT, made in Spain.
My oponion is that these are all "Factory Painted", brcause they are on the "plinth" bases. The "wooden" bases represent "old" production (ie in the 1970's), whilst the "plastic" bases are of more recent production.
SOLDAT has been through a number of reincarnations. I have a number of their catalogs, and each has a different name and address on it. To the best of my knowledge and belief, they are no longer in production, and have not been for some time.
Their range was huge! Every conceivable Spanish military or para military organisation was represented, as well has a huge range of WWII Germans, Brit Guards, FFL, WWII Italians on parade, personalities, even Napoleonics, etc etc.
As Brad says, the bands are really something. I have 8 full bands, which is only a drop in the ocean!
Someone should start a thread on SOLDAT.
Regards,
Bob
theBaron
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I agree, Bob, and thanks for the additional details. Your observation about the bases is a good help in judging their age.
Yes, definitely factory paint. I think that a good painter (a collector who paints his own) can do much better with them.
I have only several of the WWII Kriegsmarine officer kits in my collection, because they can be finished basically as officers of the Kaiser's navy, too. I've always passed on picking up more of them, but this post makes me think that maybe I should get more of them.
Prost!
Brad