Starlux Makover (1 Viewer)

[Obee]

I bought these 4 Napoleonic Starlux figures in the Sunday Market in Brugge on my holiday to Europe in 2010 for 10 eu the lot.



They are a Chasseurs à cheval à la Garde, 2e régiment (Hollandais) Chevau-légers lanciers, Trooper 14e Régiment de Cuirassiers and Tambour - major du 67ème régiment.

They have been sitting in my worshop/studio looking at all of the other painting jobs that have been happening over the past 2 years, and have finally 'cried out' for thier turn to be spruced up and get a new makeover.

As the paint finish was chipped and i sure didn't like the faces on these troops, I have decided to strip and repaint them, so I'll keep posting the steps as i go to show you how to restore and revive old toy soldiers.

Somtimes what looks like junk can be brought back to life... so here goes......

John

 

[Obee]

First task is to strip the layers of paint off to reveal the original castings.

I use a commercial paint stripper thats brushed on, the left for about 15 minutes and under running water I use an old toothbrush to remove the gel and blistered paint.



You can now see the details of the castings (as they now are) and I also file down any mould joins that are visible.

the Dutch Lancer didn't clean up as well as the others, so it must have beena different sort of paint.

 

[johnnybach]

I'm looking forward to watching you do these John. Nice to see some of the older metal Starlux figures on parade again, as it usually surprises most folks that they were once made in that material, before they concentrated on plastics. . Must say - the "castings" that you now have look pretty good to me. Are these around the 70mm size? johnnybach

 

[Obee]

Part 3

I have now sprayed the figures with White Undercoat which shows the deatils that were masked by the original paintwork.



I use white for these sort of figures as the white base brings out the vibrant colours of the Napoleonic era, but I also use a grey primers for dull uniforms such as blue, grey or brown and for horses and guns.

More tomorrow.

Oh yes, these are 60mm figures as suggested by JB.

John

 

[theBaron]

Quite the transformation, John, just by removing the original paint. What a lousy job the original was, when you see the sculpted detail! It's a shame it was hidden.

I'm looking forward to seeing your progress on these.

Prost!
Brad

 

[aujj65]

Well, I was one of those that didn't realise that these Starlux figures were metal castings, but then I'm not as old as some of you! :tongue::wink2:^&grin

John, looking forward to seeing your painting progress on these. :smile2:

Jeff

 

[Obee]

I've added the first of the paint.

I like painting the faces fristly, as they then have some character that I will look at while doing the rest of their uniform.
Other facial deatils such as lips and shading will come later today.



I start with the biggest part of light colour first, so in theis case the buff trousers for the Chasseur and Curassier, the white trousers and waistcoat for the Drum Major and the red coat and trousers for the Lancer.

When they are dry its the next closest colour, so coats and the blue for the lancer, and black boots.

More to follow by the end of today (it's Friday and the last day of my 2 weeks leave)

John

 

[theBaron]

Well, I was one of those that didn't realise that these Starlux figures were metal castings, but then I'm not as old as some of you! :tongue::wink2:^&grin

John, looking forward to seeing your painting progress on these. :smile2:

Jeff

I didn't know Starlux made metal castings, either, Jeff. Johnnybach had a post recently with a boot sale find, I think it was, and that's where I learned of them. My reference source for Starlux, Richard O'Brien's "Collecting Toy Soldiers" made no mention of them. I'm thinking of following up with the gang at "Old Toy Soldier" to find more details and maybe print the info somewhere.

Prost!
Brad

 

[johnnybach]

Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a lot of information around about the Starlux brand (sadly - no longer in business) - which is quite surprising really, when you consider that to many, it was known as "the Britains of France". I have lived, part-time in France for a while - and am still looking around for information about Starlux and their products in metal - and I can report - it isn't easy. One of the best sources of the few metal ones that I have found, oddly enough, is e-bay - where I have seen pictures of metal Starlux figures, and sometimes gathered a few crumbs of information from the vendors' descriptions. But if you look for more information on the Internet - you peer into a big, black hole.

Below is an example of a Starlux metal figure that I found advertised on e-bay - still in a blister pack and marked "soldat de Plomb" - literally, Soldier of Lead, or as we more familiarly know it - Lead Soldier.

What I do know is - there are metal toy-soldiers around with the name Starlux embossed on them - and I DO know that because I have some - in fact - some of these (more picture finds from an e-bay sale). [Note: I have the centre figure in the top row - and the second one in and farthest right figures in the bottom row. They were advertised as a set of "Les Glorieux Cavaliers de Napoleon". So, I now know there are more somewhere "out there", from this set or collection.

Front view:

and rear view:

I have opened a computer file on this marque - and will "collect" any further Metal Starlux pictures that I find anywhere - in the hope I can somehow assemble a number of them - which may lead me to hopefully, aquiring a few more.

Lastly - if this helps you Brad with your enquiries - here's one of mine (the Trumpeter shown above again) - with a measure behind - to give an idea of size. I estimate he would be about 70mm scale if stood on his feet, (soles of feet to top of head). Nicely cast and painted in Toy Soldier style - and quite heavy in the hand.

I for one, will be looking out for some more of them - as I think they are quite nice. I also have a feeling that I may encounter some competitors, as after John, (Obee) has finished with his little beauties - they may get a few more fans too. johnnybach

 

[theBaron]

Yep, those are the ones, an intriguing find. We should compare notes, as we find any details about them.

Prost!
Brad

 

[johnnybach]

Hi Brad - I have just found something which has given me a big clue to this puzzle. I was searching through old e-bay stuff again - and found a picture of another figure that I have - but in a bubble pack - this one in fact.

As can clearly be seen - this is the same as my three figures - that I found in a boot sale in Rennes, 12 years ago. (stamped Starlux on the back of the base).

Now, that boxed figure pic from e-bay, had a description by the seller underneath it which read as follows:

"This figure was made by Starlux on a special consignment to Atlas Subscription Services. Starlux did a vast range of these figures in metal, which are very similar, and some exact to their plastic line of Napoleonic figures. Approximately 60mm in size in metal with original factory paint. The figure is sealed in a bubble pack with cardboard backing."

Now then Brad, I have a friend who collects Dinky Toys. He told me a while ago about a subscription service company called Atlas, who bought the rights to reproduce Dinky Toy vehicles - and were apparently upsetting some of the collecting fraternity with the quality and prices of their "new" models.

I'm wondering, whether this Atlas company is either the same one - or an offshoot of it. Looks like the metal Starlux models were probably made by them alright - but maybe for this company to market - or I might be barking up the wrong tree altogether??? Either way, they are nice solid models - and John's examples MAY be more of this range????

I'll continue digging - and may be back. How interesting..................johnnybach

 

[theBaron]

Excellent sleuthing, John!

 

[Obee]

JB,

thanks for the investigation into the metal STARLUX figures, and yes, I forgot about the mounted ones, I also have Napoleon and an Empress Dragoon Officer too, but they are in mint condition, so I'm not repainting them

Here is Friday's work,



and as you can see more work done on the finer deatils, weapons and the hats. The Curassier is almost completed, so I hope to have them finished today, or on Sunday.

John

 

[johnnybach]

They are coming along beautifully John. Just shows what a lick of paint can do eh? (in the hands of an expert!).

Further to my last - on the mounted versions - I have started to input "Starlux-Atlas Editions" into the Goggle search-engine - and am now getting loads more pics and associated information about figures. One advert on e-bay led me to this figure - with the following rather surprising information.(see below pic.)

This one had under Description - "Starlux Collection "Les Gloriux Cavaliers Napoleon" (Collection of 100 pieces) Trumpeter 1st Cavalry Lancer, No.94.

So, this is what I think. Starlux did metal castings, sometime before they ceased production of their plastic soldiers ranges, for Atlas Editions. ( Atlas have repro Dinky Toys made and painted in China). Atlas may have marketed them in the blister packs already shown - I have read elsewhere that they were supplied at fortnightly intervals by subscription - and now find from this latest information, that the collection was of 100 figures. I strongly believe that this may be the same for the foot figures - so I will continue to look around for more information on those too.

Sound like a familiar sales model - of someone we know about?

Looks like these will continue to turn up - so maybe time to get some new brushes in John.

Lastly - I'm amassing quite a bit of info about Starlux - and their association with Atlas - so might start a new thread on this - when I get enough to fill in a lot of blanks at the moment. jb

 

[Obee]

Here you are.... the finished troops.



As you can see, they are finished in gloss, as the toy finish is most appropriate with the form of scupting of these figures.

thanks for the lead about the figures, I have found one site selling them for 6eu, so thats not bad?

This is a link to a listing of 140 foot figures !!!
http://genieminiature.com/Atlas%20%20Figurines.htm

Hope you like the makeover, and keep a lookout for any more lost and forgotten soldiers in markets, they may relish as new uniform

John

 

[johnnybach]

Well - I think they look fabulous John. Just goes to show what can be done with second hand flea market purchases.

Your link has also put the last piece in the puzzle for me. The two "Starlux" sets we have been talking about - were made in metal from the original ( or original modified) moulds used by that company to make their plastic figures for these so-called " Starlux-Atlas Editions". I have found examples of the foot figures going up to number 160 (and not as your listing shows to 140), so they also probably increased the issue, as I also have some pictures of some of these figures - from another e-bay site. As an example, this is number 160 - below; [He's a Sous-Officier, Chevau-Leger Lancier, 4eme Regiment, by the way].

As your link explains - they were sold via newsagents or by subscription - which is a model most of us know well as used by Delprado/Osprey for booklets and figures.

I have also found pictures of examples of four booklets to accompany the foot figure issue, which show pictures of the 160 pieces on offer. Here's the first one below - which gives a picture of numbers 1 - 41of the issue, with an open page showing more below that: (Note that the figure that I have three of - is shown as the second one on the cover, and is a Chasseur of the Guard); I also have similar pics of the other three booklets.

The title of the Foot Soldier issue (though one of the figures shown is Napoleon on horseback!) is given on the cover of the booklets: "Soldats du Plomb de la Grand Armee de Napoleon." (Note that your four figures appear on the pages above John - so must be within the 1-41 numbering range).

Doubtless, this is why many of these metal Starlux branded figures turn up regularly at flea markets, all over France. There must be thousands of them - once owned by schoolboys everywhere - and still turning up for a couple of euros apiece. Once cleaned up, or stripped and repainted they look charming.

As you say John, I'll be keeping my eyes open for more, from now on. Glad we solved that mystery of the metal figures stamped Starlux too. jb

 

[aujj65]

Here you are.... the finished troops.

View attachment 91682

As you can see, they are finished in gloss, as the toy finish is most appropriate with the form of scupting of these figures.

thanks for the lead about the figures, I have found one site selling them for 6eu, so thats not bad?

This is a link to a listing of 140 foot figures !!!
http://genieminiature.com/Atlas%20%20Figurines.htm

Hope you like the makeover, and keep a lookout for any more lost and forgotten soldiers in markets, they may relish as new uniform

John

Hi John,

Nice repaint, makes them look so much better!

Jeff

 

[theBaron]

...Your link has also put the last piece in the puzzle for me...

John, I think you have an article here. You should put your notes together and send it to Toy Soldier & Model Figure or Toy Soldier Collector. I'd bet there are a lot of collectors who thought as we did, that Starlux only made plastic figures.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Hazebrouck]

Nice work on these John. The colours and faces look great.

You and JohnnyB might start a bit of a demand for these old figures!

Scott

 

[Obee]

This project of mine is now "IN PRINT"

Its just been published in the latest TOY SOLDIER COLLECTOR Issue 47

Read all about it AND a followup areticle by johnnybach about these figures and thier history.

John