new sets of 1/32nd Airfix 2012 (1 Viewer)

[9thHussar]

Hi

same question again as I always ask - does anyone now if Airfix will be re-issuing any further sets of figures in 1/32nd scale - maybe the Napoleonics or the Gurkhas for 2012 ?

 

[Ragnar]

I know they have a BRAND NEW set of 1/72 WW2 british infantry comming soon...There first new set in 30 odd years!.
Who knows they might end up doing those in 1/32?

 

[steve weston]

Hi

same question again as I always ask - does anyone now if Airfix will be re-issuing any further sets of figures in 1/32nd scale - maybe the Napoleonics or the Gurkhas for 2012 ?

There is nothing new advertised for release in 1/32 either on their site or in the catalogue for 2012. Just as well as they are still producing in cheap quality plastic regardless of the high level of breakage that we keep reporting to them. Quality is obviously not a concern for Hornby-Airfix.

 

[larso]

Yes, I don't really like the new plastic. I read (probably here somewhere) it's to make it easier to paint the figures but they've lost the 'feel' that they had. It's interesting to learn that a brand new set (1/72) has been done, as it seemed that whoever owned the brand was always content to just crank out product from the 'glory' days. I wrote to them once suggesting they produce a US halftrack, to match their wonderful 1/251 but they replied they had no plans for anything like that. Ever changing ownership makes things difficult but they've missed some opportunities in the 'second golden age' of plastic figures.

 

[binder001]

Larzo got it right, I think. The ever changing fortunes of Airfix as a company has certainly reduced their investment in new tooling. Hornby has at least put some "classic" stuff back out, but there hasn't been much in the way of NEW items for a long time. For military, the 1/72-1/76 line has had some additions. A British Bedford truck and the new WW2 British infantry (the first new Airfix figures in an entire generation!). It looks like 2012 will bring out some new stuff, but the bad news for "toy soldier" collectors is that the new vehicles and figures are a) 1/48th scale, and b) modern British Army items. I think that 1/32nd scale will remain purely an afterthought to Airfix.

Gary B.

 

[9thHussar]

hi - yes the new plastic has its drawbacks especially when sending the kits in the post as any knock can lead to broken rifle ends etc...Its ok if you keep them safe once painted, but they aint for playing with which does defeat the object for attracting kids to them as we did years ago. They are easy to animate though and legs/arms/heads can bend easily and they dont need undercoating but despite all this yes Steve is correct with his comments.
9thHussar

 

[Jack]

Yes, I don't really like the new plastic. I read (probably here somewhere) it's to make it easier to paint the figures but they've lost the 'feel' that they had. It's interesting to learn that a brand new set (1/72) has been done, as it seemed that whoever owned the brand was always content to just crank out product from the 'glory' days. I wrote to them once suggesting they produce a US halftrack, to match their wonderful 1/251 but they replied they had no plans for anything like that. Ever changing ownership makes things difficult but they've missed some opportunities in the 'second golden age' of plastic figures.

Some years ago I had a friend in South Africa who collected 'Dinky' cars - he had them all, every model, every colour. His view was that once the people who had played with them as children died out, the interest in collecting them would wane. I have no way of knowing whether his view was accurate, but I wonder if Airfix might run the risk of a comparable fate. Almost all of my plastic soldiers as a child were 1/32nd or 1/72nd Airfix. I am not sure if I was even aware of other brands. If I could paint I would still collect Airfix. Though tradition is great - and even more so in toy soldiers which are steeped in both our national story and our own memories of childhood - but you do need to compete in the modern world.

 

[Angusprune]

Some years ago I had a friend in South Africa who collected 'Dinky' cars - he had them all, every model, every colour. His view was that once the people who had played with them as children died out, the interest in collecting them would wane. I have no way of knowing whether his view was accurate, but I wonder if Airfix might run the risk of a comparable fate. Almost all of my plastic soldiers as a child were 1/32nd or 1/72nd Airfix. I am not sure if I was even aware of other brands. If I could paint I would still collect Airfix. Though tradition is great - and even more so in toy soldiers which are steeped in both our national story and our own memories of childhood - but you do need to compete in the modern world.

In the latest PLASTIC WARRIOR Peter Evans has written a really well thought out and considered article on the above matter. Worth reading.
It's a sad fact that the toy soldier that we knew in our childhood just does not exist anymore

 

[Jack]

In the latest PLASTIC WARRIOR Peter Evans has written a really well thought out and considered article on the above matter. Worth reading.
It's a sad fact that the toy soldier that we knew in our childhood just does not exist anymore

Thanks for the reference - I will try to track down a copy of the article.

I know that it has probably been discussed to death already, but it just doesn't seem likely that many children receive toy soldiers for Christmas any more. The virtual world has changed that. I work in education and I doubt whether many teachers of my circle would see a student collecting toy soldiers as a healthy pursuit. To be honest, I think that most would see it, at best, as an odd character trait and at worst, a subconscious, naive political statement.

Its a shame because it led me to a life long interest in a very broad range of historical periods and at a practical level, a career.

 

[Hazebrouck]

I know that it has probably been discussed to death already, but it just doesn't seem likely that many children receive toy soldiers for Christmas any more. The virtual world has changed that. I work in education and I doubt whether many teachers of my circle would see a student collecting toy soldiers as a healthy pursuit. To be honest, I think that most would see it, at best, as an odd character trait and at worst, a subconscious, naive political statement.

As someone who grew up on Airfix staples (they were cheap and available) I echo your thoughts Jack. I think one thing that has changed down the generations is the link to the subject matter. If I was given an Airfix Spitfire or Australian Infantry set I would also be given the talk about seeing the occasional Spit flying over Sydney during the war years or have the merits of the Bren gun versus the Owen gun explained thoroughly.

My dad grew up in the war years and had a link to the subject, as did grandad and uncles. Sadly those direct reminisces are disappearing quickly. Maybe they need to bring out more modern figures in their catalogue to reflect that. Who knows?

Bring back the good old days!

Scott

 

[Jack]

As someone who grew up on Airfix staples (they were cheap and available) I echo your thoughts Jack. I think one thing that has changed down the generations is the link to the subject matter. If I was given an Airfix Spitfire or Australian Infantry set I would also be given the talk about seeing the occasional Spit flying over Sydney during the war years or have the merits of the Bren gun versus the Owen gun explained thoroughly.

My dad grew up in the war years and had a link to the subject, as did grandad and uncles. Sadly those direct reminisces are disappearing quickly. Maybe they need to bring out more modern figures in their catalogue to reflect that. Who knows?

Bring back the good old days!

Scott

Yes - the first hand influence is an important factor.

Years ago I remember reading somewhere that during the 1920s there was a loss of interest in military toys as part of a wider reaction to the carnage on the Western Front. Perhaps the soil is no longer fertile - I once suggested at a history departmental meeting at a school I taught at that we should hang an Australian Flag in each classroom. I don't want to start a thread on the virtue or otherwise of patriotism, but the reaction I got made me feel as though I had suggested hanging a swastika from the ceiling.

 

[larso]

Several years ago I tried to bring out a range of plastic Anzacs and Turks. For various reasons I ended up doing only the Anzacs in metal in the end. I was very much aware that the age of the toy soldier had gone (the late 70s was when Timpo and others fell over, partly due to anti-war toy sentiments stemming from Vietnam apparently), so my target audience was less the boys but their grandfathers and uncles who'd (hopefully) buy them as presents for them. It is a different world of course. History for instance is not taught in the same way. My school certainly makes a bit of Anzac Day and even covers the Western Front in SOSE but it's no longer done in a way that makes boys eager to 'refight' the battles with toys.

 

[Scott]

Gents I saw an old comic print from just after WW I of American kids crowding around their new hero, a "doughboy" while the old Civil War vet looks on. He's mad because he lost his "place"as the town hero. The influence of WW II in my childhood was really strong but most are gone and my one kids have 50 +more years of history to learn in school than I did. My son has lived though three recent wars SO FAR in his 23 years so history before he was born is just some folktale. I tried giving him toy soldiers but he's a car and truck kid and though he does know his history, he's just not directly connected as we were. I really don't think that more World War II toys are going to bring back our good old days. Airfix surely couldn't bring back their old football/soccer set with the all white players in the 1970s haircuts to connect to kids today. (The heads DO make good bare heads for plastic Napoleonic figures with those sideburns.)


I remember a British comic talking about bringing back the good old days so he took an old lady's pension away and shoved her grandson up a chimney.

 

[Jack]

Several years ago I tried to bring out a range of plastic Anzacs and Turks. For various reasons I ended up doing only the Anzacs in metal in the end. I was very much aware that the age of the toy soldier had gone (the late 70s was when Timpo and others fell over, partly due to anti-war toy sentiments stemming from Vietnam apparently), so my target audience was less the boys but their grandfathers and uncles who'd (hopefully) buy them as presents for them. It is a different world of course. History for instance is not taught in the same way. My school certainly makes a bit of Anzac Day and even covers the Western Front in SOSE but it's no longer done in a way that makes boys eager to 'refight' the battles with toys.

Two points Larso:

SOSE (Study of Socity and Environment) is one of the key problems. It destroyed History as a discipline. One of my SOSE department heads once said to me 'So you are teaching the Bower War'. Took me a minute to realise that he meant Boer War.

I remember your toy soldiers. Good product, well painted and attractively boxed. And after 20 years of friendship you sold me some at the full retail price.

 

[larso]

"And after 20 years of friendship you sold me some at the full retail price."

This is not true! You got yours for $165, full price was $220. In retrospect, that seemed reasonable given other prices at the time but with the rise of the Australian dollar making many good figures available at times for less than $30, my stuff was too expensive. I've noticed that my figures have descended down the levels of your display case, as each Napoleonic set was added, to the point that they are now on the floor!

 

[larso]

And besides, haven't I bought all the books you've published on schools I never attended and have no religious affiliation with?

 

[Jack]

And besides, haven't I bought all the books you've published on schools I never attended and have no religious affiliation with?

Books are tax deductible - toy soldiers are not!

 

[Jack]

"And after 20 years of friendship you sold me some at the full retail price."

This is not true! You got yours for $165, full price was $220. In retrospect, that seemed reasonable given other prices at the time but with the rise of the Australian dollar making many good figures available at times for less than $30, my stuff was too expensive. I've noticed that my figures have descended down the levels of your display case, as each Napoleonic set was added, to the point that they are now on the floor!

Your son can see them better from there!

 

[larso]

"Your son can see them better from there!"

Well he is only 21 months old. To get slightly back on topic, I went into the City today and spent some time in Mr Toys (looking for things for my son of course). I picked up a set of reissued Airfix US Paras for $12.50 (I'm sure Ewan will love them!) but there was also a bunch of cheap stuff, which for less than $5, a vehicle or plane, several soldiers and various accessories could be had in mini-sets. Now the quality was poor (compared to my Airfix sculpts... Ewan's Airfix sculpt's I mean) but it does show that toy soldiers are at least available and priced to make it easy for kids to get them. They are very generic modern figures though, so no real historical angle. I half thought of getting a set to use the sandbags but they're pretty underwhelming otherwise. Looking around, movie related toys seem to be where it's at though.

 

[Jack]

"Your son can see them better from there!"

Well he is only 21 months old. To get slightly back on topic, I went into the City today and spent some time in Mr Toys (looking for things for my son of course). I picked up a set of reissued Airfix US Paras for $12.50 (I'm sure Ewan will love them!) but there was also a bunch of cheap stuff, which for less than $5, a vehicle or plane, several soldiers and various accessories could be had in mini-sets. Now the quality was poor (compared to my Airfix sculpts... Ewan's Airfix sculpt's I mean) but it does show that toy soldiers are at least available and priced to make it easy for kids to get them. They are very generic modern figures though, so no real historical angle. I half thought of getting a set to use the sandbags but they're pretty underwhelming otherwise. Looking around, movie related toys seem to be where it's at though.

Are they the 1/32 or 1/72? I am sure that a box of the 1/32 was 3.50 in 1977. Surely they were a cheap knock off in a plastic bag? Or were they in the box? It is times like this I wish I could paint because I would go the plastics if I could.