Set 73 - We can re-build you (2 Viewers)

[octavedoctor]

As I cannot imagine ever being able to afford to buy an original boxed example in reasonable condition I am in the process of re-creating a pre-war Britains Set 73. I have gathered together 'wounded' and damaged examples of nearly all the many elements needed - to restore, renovate, repaint and all the other 're's'.

What I don't have are the exact internal and external dimensions of Set 73's actual box so I can build one. I always carry a tape measure when I go to the various London Shows I am able to attend hoping to come across an original box to measure up, but this has been unsuccessful to date. I also need to get a high-res picture or scan of a Set 73 label.

I also have 3 complete sets, and various parts of couple more, of the pre-war Mountain Artillery (Set 28) which I would also like to house in newly constructed boxes. Boxes of Set 28 are reasonably often seen at shows, so gathering their details is more achievable, but if anyone happens to have their dimensions to hand I would be most grateful to receive them. And once again I need a good quality picture or scan of that set's wonderful label. Perhaps I should invest in a hand-held scanner to take to shows?

I know all of this a bit of long shot, but any help or suggestions of other avenues to follow would be very welcome. I'm in deepest Somerset.

Another plan, time and work permitting, is to scan, tidy-up and turn into black and white PDF templates using Photoshop what Whisstock and pre-Whisstock labels I have so I can house some parts of my collection that are unboxed. I don't know what the image copy-right situation would be in making such scans available for people to download to print their own copies on their own choice of paper. It's probably not a problem as long as they were free. Of course if one were printing at home an A3 printer would be needed and the success of the final result would be dictated by the type of paper used. Getting hold of very acceptable approximations of the standard Britains label paper stock colours is not too difficult, although box building straw-board is another matter altogether.

I know you can find boxed sets of Britains out there with replica labels, often photocopied, but it always seems to me that the quality is generally not up to what could be achieved with the technology and software available these days - so I'll have a go this Winter.

Watched a pretty good Set 73 sell for over £1800 on e-bay the other day - sigh!

 

[Arnhemjim]

Hello Octavedoctor,
You may be addressing a bit of a challenge, but certainly not overwhelming or impossible. I have replicated smaller odd sized Britains boxes (complete with tie cards/inserts), drawing upon my experience as an engineer and architectural education. Finding red paper is a chore, eventually ended up just painting the finished box with the correct color of spray enamel. It works very well. If you search art supply stores you can eventually find the correct weight and color illustration board for internal parts. You can use semi-gloss clear acrylic spray to achieve correct finished surface. You are correct that stationary shops can either copy an existing label from a smaller box or even have the capability to copy an image off a CD-Rom. I've had it done, specifically for the correct post-war 'Regiments of all Nations' label. Now for the 'fun' part. Have attached several photographs of the box(es) in question, in order that you know what the finished product should look like. In order that you can have accurate measurements on all the dimensions recommend you use the spacing between the tie holes in the photographs (both horses and individual figures) as a guide in developing a scale. I am assuming that you have, or can get access to an original Britains box for cavalry and one for infantry. By a simple scale proportioning of the dimensions in the photos of the actual box you should be able to develop an accurate set of dimensions. They, i.e. tie holes, were of a standard dimension and configuration in all Britains boxes regardless of size. Also might mention that you can purchase a leather punch with a correct size cutting die to facilitate nice clean tie holes in the tie cards/inserts. Although not as easy to come by this day and age, feel certain that either a model railroad of general hobby shop will prove a good source for the wood portion. Hope I have provided some encouragement along with limited guidance. Hope this helps and good luck, it sounds like a great project! If you find time, or want to take a break, you might want to glance at my blog page; http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com.
Yours aye,
Jim (aka Arnhem Jim)
Arizona Territory

 

[damian]

Hello Octavedoctor,
You may be addressing a bit of a challenge, but certainly not overwhelming or impossible. I have replicated smaller odd sized Britains boxes (complete with tie cards/inserts), drawing upon my experience as an engineer and architectural education. Finding red paper is a chore, eventually ended up just painting the finished box with the correct color of spray enamel. It works very well. If you search art supply stores you can eventually find the correct weight and color illustration board for internal parts. You can use semi-gloss clear acrylic spray to achieve correct finished surface. You are correct that stationary shops can either copy an existing label from a smaller box or even have the capability to copy an image off a CD-Rom. I've had it done, specifically for the correct post-war 'Regiments of all Nations' label. Now for the 'fun' part. Have attached several photographs of the box(es) in question, in order that you know what the finished product should look like. In order that you can have accurate measurements on all the dimensions recommend you use the spacing between the tie holes in the photographs (both horses and individual figures) as a guide in developing a scale. I am assuming that you have, or can get access to an original Britains box for cavalry and one for infantry. By a simple scale proportioning of the dimensions in the photos of the actual box you should be able to develop an accurate set of dimensions. They, i.e. tie holes, were of a standard dimension and configuration in all Britains boxes regardless of size. Also might mention that you can purchase a leather punch with a correct size cutting die to facilitate nice clean tie holes in the tie cards/inserts. Although not as easy to come by this day and age, feel certain that either a model railroad of general hobby shop will prove a good source for the wood portion. Hope I have provided some encouragement along with limited guidance. Hope this helps and good luck, it sounds like a great project! If you find time, or want to take a break, you might want to glance at my blog page; http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com.
Yours aye,
Jim (aka Arnhem Jim)
Arizona Territory

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Jim
Thank you for posting this very informative post.
Octavedoctor good luck and may the force be with you.

 

[octavedoctor]

Hello Octavedoctor,
You may be addressing a bit of a challenge, but certainly not overwhelming or impossible. I have replicated smaller odd sized Britains boxes (complete with tie cards/inserts), drawing upon my experience as an engineer and architectural education. Finding red paper is a chore, eventually ended up just painting the finished box with the correct color of spray enamel. It works very well. If you search art supply stores you can eventually find the correct weight and color illustration board for internal parts. You can use semi-gloss clear acrylic spray to achieve correct finished surface. You are correct that stationary shops can either copy an existing label from a smaller box or even have the capability to copy an image off a CD-Rom. I've had it done, specifically for the correct post-war 'Regiments of all Nations' label. Now for the 'fun' part. Have attached several photographs of the box(es) in question, in order that you know what the finished product should look like. In order that you can have accurate measurements on all the dimensions recommend you use the spacing between the tie holes in the photographs (both horses and individual figures) as a guide in developing a scale. I am assuming that you have, or can get access to an original Britains box for cavalry and one for infantry. By a simple scale proportioning of the dimensions in the photos of the actual box you should be able to develop an accurate set of dimensions. They, i.e. tie holes, were of a standard dimension and configuration in all Britains boxes regardless of size. Also might mention that you can purchase a leather punch with a correct size cutting die to facilitate nice clean tie holes in the tie cards/inserts. Although not as easy to come by this day and age, feel certain that either a model railroad of general hobby shop will prove a good source for the wood portion. Hope I have provided some encouragement along with limited guidance. Hope this helps and good luck, it sounds like a great project! If you find time, or want to take a break, you might want to glance at my blog page; http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com.
Yours aye,
Jim (aka Arnhem Jim)
Arizona Territory

Many, many thanks Jim for taking the time to post those photographs and for the words of advice and encouragement, most helpful indeed. Yes I have plenty of inserts to use as templates, although the majority of my cavalry ones are of the shaped cut-out variety. I have found the best source of both card and paper are the long established, specialist art shops near some of the well known art collages in London and a couple of wonderful book binding suppliers, again long established. As you right say red paper of the right kind of hues is a problem, but I intend to continue working on that - it's out there somewhere.

The idea of recreating a mid to late 1930's pre-war Set 73 came to be as I sorted the wheat from the chaff in my collection one day and realised that I had most of the elements needed, and I mean real odds and headless ends. The kind of stuff you end up with when buying job lots to achieve a good desired figure or three. A largely legless and limberless RFA team and two sets of headless and as terribly re-painted (in a sort of matt mud colour) lancers were my lightbulb moment as far as recreating a Set 73. Regular line infantry or fusiliers, armless line infantry bandsmen and any number of household cavalry were never going to be a problem- I have those. I do need a few more marching highlanders, which have never really been my thing, but they shouldn't be a problem to find.

Although I now work in the music industry I did do a degree in Ceramics many years ago and look forward to establishing paint mixing charts to attain the desired finish and getting down to precise work schedule. I am aware of James Opie's thoughts about the stripping and embellishing of figures, I think he advises not touching anything with 25% of it original paintwork left. Very few of the soldiers I will be using fall into that category.

Finally I had a quick look at your blog which looks excellent, I certainly intend to return to it. Being a very early user of the net (ah I remember the wide open spaces) and web-site builder with my Mac Classic back in the day I thought over the years I had discovered the majority of the helpful and inspiring site with old Wm. Britains elements - but I'd missed yours which certainly falls into both categories. I still believe there is much work to be done on the net viz-a-viz information on old Britains.

Once again thank you for your time and help. I may try and keep some kind of record of my Set 73 re-building efforts to post.

Jonny

 

[churchmouse1]

I may try and keep some kind of record of my Set 73 re-building efforts to post.

Jonny

Please. There are many here, including myself, who would enjoy watching the transformation.

Dave

 

[Dickbuttons]

If you are still interested in crafting your own set 73 -- there's a 73 box (in not bad condition) on ebay right now. You could probably get it at a decent price and either use it in whole or use those parts that are up to your standards, and craft the rest.

Paste in the following for further info:


http://www.ebay.com/itm/BRITAINS-LA...802523837?pt=Toy_Soldiers&hash=item3f0d1696bd

 

[theBaron]

What a great idea! I'll be following your progress, Jonny. I'd like to do something similar, as far as putting boxes and generating labels go, for my collection. Since they're all mixed-and-matched Staddens, Imrie-Risleys, Rose's, etc, they never came in any formal boxes as such. I'll be curious to see how you do, too.

Prost!
Brad

 

[johnnybach]

As the non-owner of ANY boxed sets - I too will be an interested spectator in "How it's done", jonny. I love old Britains - though I quite purposefully do not try to make them look like they are old - as I don't want anybody thinking that I am attempting to deceive. I would love to see you create a set that looks "brand new" - to fill a new looking box. Now that would be a FUN thing to do. Best of luck with the project - will await developments with interest. Johnnybach

 

[johnnybach]

Sorry Jonny - I meant to add this - just in case you don't know.

If you are ever looking for an odd head - leg - arm - horse part etcetera for ANY Britains figure you might be putting back together again - Have a word by e-mail to Giles Browne at Dorset Soldiers. He has an extensive collection of most Britains figures bits and pieces - and can supply them almost by return.

You may know already - but just in case you don't. Johnnybach

 

[octavedoctor]

Yes it seems as if Set 73 is 'in the air', that is the third example of one, or part of one listed on e-bay in the past couple of weeks. I will certainly watch it although I imagine it will go way beyond my current means. At present I hope to revive my carpentry skills and construct the main box.

Sorting through the most distressed and damaged soldiers and begun putting them aside to go towards the set. There are some decisions to be made as from the Set 73s I've seen there were a quite few variations of the contents over time. Mine will certainly have to be based around the damaged elements of Royal Field Artillery team I have, I wouldn't want to consign perfectly good RHA teams to the box. And I want to restore the lancers as Ulundi ones as these have always been favourites of mine. This is to be a fun project making the most of what would otherwise be considered junk, slowly getting back into soldering and painting after far too long a gap (it took a lot of time raising the brood but they're nearly all gone now).

When I have the basic elements gathered (next couple of weeks) I'll post some 'before' photographs - they will be quite drastic.

 

[octavedoctor]

Sorry Jonny - I meant to add this - just in case you don't know.

If you are ever looking for an odd head - leg - arm - horse part etcetera for ANY Britains figure you might be putting back together again - Have a word by e-mail to Giles Browne at Dorset Soldiers. He has an extensive collection of most Britains figures bits and pieces - and can supply them almost by return.

You may know already - but just in case you don't. Johnnybach

Oh yes I will be calling on him (again) when I have a list of what is needed, I don't think it will be too much though. I know I need heads for all the lancers (there were some terrible recasts on them before), some arms for bandsmen and the odd horse leg. I do have quite a supply of most of the parts required and some judicious cannibalization of crushed horses, torso-less troops, etc, should provide the rest. The exercise has to be a study in looking after the pennies as much as anything else.

 

[theBaron]

I've been tinkering with boxes made of finish-quality luan plywood, but haven't been happy with the results yet. I've also been using old candy boxes made of stiff cardboard--salt water taffy boxes from Ocean City, NJ--which I covered with foil, but you can only get a couple of figures in them.

Prost!

Brad