Pure Nostalgia (1 Viewer)

[blaster]

Hi All,

Although this site is devoted to toy soldiers, I don't see any thread on older books, magazines or articles that was inspirational to some of us. In fact, such older literature, long out of print, may prove inspirational to attracting new collectors in this grand hobby. Sometimes when I search on the web, I come across such second-hand books but at best, only the front cover is shown, without any hint as to the actual inside contents, much less the buried treasure trove of pictures. Here's a start and I hope that collectors will also chip in.

I think my first book was this from Orbis. A great introductory survey of what was available then during the 60s. My copy was published in 1972. It mentions Tradition, Stadden, Mignot, Imrie-Risley, Britains, Historex (surprisingly, no Airfix!). There are also paper soldiers, flats and semi-ronde figures as well. As the author is Italian, some unique hand-made pieces on Italian soldiers are featured. The best pictures that stick in my mind are these three:-

Rgds Victor


Massimo Alberini, 1972


Superb diorama made by M Josaine DesFontaine


Poilu figure with great character


Rose Models Chariot

 

[Mirof]

Yes, it's the kind of book I bought in those years ( the 70ies), always amazed by the work of Mrs Desfontaines
She used no glue, all is soldered, clothings made of lead sheets, she is the most proeminent "artisan" of her time and still today a source of inspiration
But in the same book, by comparison, there is "that" poilu . Always asking myself if I had to laugh or to cry .
More books of that ime at : http://www.mirofsoft.com/books-livres/

More about J Desfontaines work ( Knights) : http://www.knightsofavalon.com/desfontaines.htm
Thanks for reminding

 

[blaster]

This article was taken from Mil Modelling Annual 1 and is for JB and all knight fanciers.

 

[blaster]

Yes, it's the kind of book I bought in those years ( the 70ies), always amazed by the work of Mrs Desfontaines
She used no glue, all is soldered, clothings made of lead sheets, she is the most proeminent "artisan" of her time and still today a source of inspiration
But in the same book, by comparison, there is "that" poilu . Always asking myself if I had to laugh or to cry .
More books of that ime at : http://www.mirofsoft.com/books-livres/

More about J Desfontaines work ( Knights) : http://www.knightsofavalon.com/desfontaines.htm
Thanks for reminding

Hello Mirof,

Thanks for those two links, esp the DesFontaine's link. Her work was fabulous.

I presume that you didn't like the "poilu" figure. I posted that picture because I thought it was an excellent piece, capturing the character of the figure. Granted it lacked detail and the finish was a bit rough, it was still a unique figure and it had very good balance and pose, in my opinion. I believe that this piece was made by a Marcel Baldet, one of the pioneers of figure collecting and making who had also written his own book on the subject.

http://www.amazon.com/Lead-soldiers-figurines-Marcel-Baldet/dp/B0007DZDIY


Rgds Victor

 

[blaster]

These two additional pictures were taken from the same Model soldier book by Alberini, and shows the work of two of the best makers then: Ray Lamb with his Historex conversion which is one of the most iconic models ever, and another great piece by DesFontaine.

 

[blaster]

I scanned this article for Brad and all Lace wars fanciers from Mil Mod Annual 1. Enjoy!

 

[blaster]

I attach this small hardcover booklet, one of the earliest publications (1964) in colour on toy soldiers. It contains many identical pictures to the Alberini book but also includes these rather nice models made by the great desFontaine and also some nice Napoleonic cavalry. Pictures are a bit small, though.

 

[blaster]

The Napoleonic cavalry from the Peter Blum booklet.

 

[blaster]

Here's an early book on modelling (1978). I bought it second hand from Abebooks but I wouldn't recommend it. There are some line drawings on simple modelling techniques but the photos of the finished models are dreary.

 

[blaster]

The venerable Airfix guide by Martin Windrow and Gerry Embleton. A nice primer to modelling soldiers but the text is really too lengthy for each piece. However, the accompanying pictures give some inspiration for starting off on modelling miniatures to doing simple conversions, all based on Airfix figures.

 

[Hazebrouck]

Victor,

You're teasing now! I had that Airfix guide and the Afrika Korps, Eighth Army and Foreign Legion ones. They were great and they don't make them like that anymore!

I only have the Airfix RAF camouflage and Luftwaffe fighters guides in my collection now.

Scott

 

[blaster]

Victor,

You're teasing now! I had that Airfix guide and the Afrika Korps, Eighth Army and Foreign Legion ones. They were great and they don't make them like that anymore!

I only have the Airfix RAF camouflage and Luftwaffe fighters guides in my collection now.

Scott

Hello Scott,

Me a tease? You have no idea......

See this next attachment. I really enjoyed this excellent booklet, a brilliant guide to making dioramas by R Dilley and B Fosten. It has lots of nice line drawings and this great looking Napoleonic diorama.

Rgds Victor

 

[Mirof]

Hello Scott,

Me a tease? You have no idea......

See this next attachment. I really enjoyed this excellent booklet, a brilliant guide to making dioramas by R Dilley and B Fosten. It has lots of nice line drawings and this great looking Napoleonic diorama.

Rgds Victor


Center picture
Those figures were made by Mr John Ciuffo, always a unique figure or set of figure, made in plasticine of different coulours, a figure, plus base plus perspex case was sold at 3,70£ early seventies ( I was stupid enough not to buy one, well 3,70£, circa 12US$ at that time, was a lot of money at that time ) . in 1996 at an auction block, single figures, reached 800 - 900£ each

Advert in Military Modelling 1974 :


Best

 

[blaster]

Hi Mirof and all,

Yes, Ciuffo was one of those names whose work occasionally appeared in the older model soldier books.

Here's one of these books. This nice look Blandford book by Roy Dilley and Phillip O'Stearns has really nice pics, unfortunate, most of them are too small. However, the blown-up pics do look better on this thread.


David Catley, an imaginative Historex modeller whose work can be seen now and then in Mililtary Modelling Mag.


Sid Horton's converted Airfix figures, featured in old Airfix articles



Bill Hearne's Esci 1/9 scale motorcycle conversion


Shep Paine's excellent Historex Scots Grey

 

[blaster]

I also have the Mil Mod Annual 2. Similar to Mil Mod Annual 1, there are quite a number of figure modelling and uniform articles. I've reproduced the most interesting article, in my opinion, on Custer's Last stand by Norman Abbey. I hope this gets those creative juices going...

 

[blaster]

rest of the MM Annual 2 article.

 

[Mirof]

And some old magazine


Please note, the full collection of Campaign still available on a CD at http://campaignsmagazine.com/wp/
and some Tradition ( England ) still available at : http://traditionoflondonshop.com/index.php?cPath=181&osCsid=5adc4feeb2d722a869025aaf39126930

 

[blaster]

Hello Mirof.

I have those specific Mil Modeller and Campaigns issues. I am not familiar with Model Soldier magazine. Any chance to get a peek at the Dioramas Stage 3 article inside?

Rgds Victor

 

[Al Fisher]

Would that Tradition would be republished . . . perhaps on a CD!

Bosun Al

 

[beating retreat]

Would that Tradition would be republished . . . perhaps on a CD!

Bosun Al

Tradition have reprinted both Indian army specials, see their website

Regards