Newbie with ACW questions (1 Viewer)

[dahardy]

Hi Folks,
I just started diving into the toy soldier scene and being a Civil War buff, was immediately attracted to the Britains. Since I'm new to collecting, what are some strategies to build up a good collection without dropping huge sums of $$. Being a southerner, I hastily purchased a standard Confederate advancing figure--mainly to see a real Britain up close. Then I bought "The Last Meeting" and the "death of Cushing" (really was drawn to the drama in that particular set. Now I want to act more systematically to build up my figures. Do most of the ACW collectors buy figures related to specific battles to create dioramas or just pick what they like? Is it better to try to find retired figures before they disappear? Should I haunt the various retailers for the occasional discount?
Thanks for helping me on my journey!
David

 

[mestell]

Hi Folks,
I just started diving into the toy soldier scene and being a Civil War buff, was immediately attracted to the Britains. Since I'm new to collecting, what are some strategies to build up a good collection without dropping huge sums of $$. Being a southerner, I hastily purchased a standard Confederate advancing figure--mainly to see a real Britain up close. Then I bought "The Last Meeting" and the "death of Cushing" (really was drawn to the drama in that particular set. Now I want to act more systematically to build up my figures. Do most of the ACW collectors buy figures related to specific battles to create dioramas or just pick what they like? Is it better to try to find retired figures before they disappear? Should I haunt the various retailers for the occasional discount?
Thanks for helping me on my journey!
David

I have been a long time collector of W. Britain ACW figures and sets. I don't believe there is a right way or a wrong way to collecting . . . . . . acquire what you like. I concentrate mainly on figures that would nicely represent 1862-1863 with emphasis towards Gettysburg . . . . I am certainly not a completeist. I have passed up on figures representing 1st Bull Run and Fredericksburg. Liivng in Wisconsin and having been involved in the ACW re-enacting community as a member of the 2nd WI Iron Brigade ( I also had a Virginian impression) I have collected most of the Iron Brigade figures. I will say this, in my opinion and for the price point, W. Britain has the most historically accurate ACW figures available on the market today. All the best . . . . .
:smile2: Mike

 

[6th Wisconsin]

I have been buying Britains ACW figures for 14 years. I am far from just an ACW collector, as I dabble in a lot of periods and manufacturers, but Britains ACW line is popular for great reasons. One thing I like about them is that you get special sets like artillery and some of the recent groups involving Antietam, Gettysburg, and Bull Run. The medical line was top notch as well. But you also get a large number of more generic figures from both sides. Everyone has their own interests, but I have been slowly piecing together one big battle scene from The Angle at Gettysburg, which is 14 years in the making, while also putting together smaller groups of Iron Brigade at Gettysburg and Antietam (not a resident like Mike now, but I used to live in Wisconsin), medical, marching, and camp scenes. Britains line is fantastic for accuracy, variety, breadth, and depth. Since I can't buy everything, I tend to buy special pieces like wounded, special sets, structures, and personalities first and buy others as they fit into my displays.

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

My advice is just buy what you like. I'm a completist, but a friend off mine mainly concentrates on artillery and the figures to use on his artillery dios. I agree with Mike. You can't beat Britain's ACW for price, quality and historic accuracy.

 

[Lo1863]

Welcome to the hobby, David! It was Britains ACW line that started me into this great hobby as well (although I have since branched off to other companies for my main collecting focus for just personal taste). My advice for you is much the same as the one above, just buy what you like and don't worry about having every single item. If any of us really worried about purchasing every piece that came out we would all be broke. BUT before you buy make sure it's an item you truly want and not just a spur of the moment type of thing that caught your eye. I have done that myself and ended up placing the items on ebay or such. Mainly, have fun and spread your love of history with those around you.

 

[dahardy]

Thanks everyone for the great advice. Just finished several books about Shiloh, and some of the images of that battle would be great figures.

 

[mr colt 45]

Welcome to the forum and the great hobby of collecting toy soldiers. The people on the forum are very helpful and great to give anyone advice.. I collect only ACW. I have 5 shelf dios. They do not depict any battle of any kind. They are what I think life and fights might have been like during the ACW. Figure out what You want to do in the way of a dio and just do it. Britains is by far the best manufacture of ACW figures and the price is for the figures is just great. Ther are other manufactures out there that make good figures also but a little high on their prices. I have mixed in some other manufactures with My Britains figures and they look just great. Like me You can go it alone and do or make up what You might think it was like during the ACW. Good Luck and Happy Collecting: "Mr Colt 45"