The death of the toy soldier (1 Viewer)

VIRIATO

Command Sergeant Major
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It's probably just a matter of terminology that has already been debated here, but I would submit that toy soldiers, when it comes to collectors, no longer exist, because:

1-Collectors don't play with their figures, they display them, make dioramas, take photos, but don't throw them around or have them shoot each other making strange noises like if they were small children^&grin^&grin (which they are, but of a bigger variety)^&grin.

2-The toy soldier died when Trophy, K&C and others brought up the New Toy Soldiers, very unlike the early meant to play Britains, and figures are now getting more and more detailed and realistic, whether in matte of gloss.

So I would say that we now have model figures (and get more respect when receiving or sending their packages^&grin^&grin^&grin)

Any thoughts?
Paulo
 
It's probably just a matter of terminology that has already been debated here, but I would submit that toy soldiers, when it comes to collectors, no longer exist, because:

1-Collectors don't play with their figures, they display them, make dioramas, take photos, but don't throw them around or have them shoot each other making strange noises like if they were small children^&grin^&grin (which they are, but of a bigger variety)^&grin.

2-The toy soldier died when Trophy, K&C and others brought up the New Toy Soldiers, very unlike the early meant to play Britains, and figures are now getting more and more detailed and realistic, whether in matte of gloss.

So I would say that we now have model figures (and get more respect when receiving or sending their packages^&grin^&grin^&grin)

Any thoughts?
Paulo

Good idea Paulo, I'll ask the wife and see what she says, I've a feeling I know what she'll say!:wink2:^&grin

Rob
 
It's probably just a matter of terminology that has already been debated here, but I would submit that toy soldiers, when it comes to collectors, no longer exist, because:

1-Collectors don't play with their figures, they display them, make dioramas, take photos, but don't throw them around or have them shoot each other making strange noises like if they were small children^&grin^&grin (which they are, but of a bigger variety)^&grin.

2-The toy soldier died when Trophy, K&C and others brought up the New Toy Soldiers, very unlike the early meant to play Britains, and figures are now getting more and more detailed and realistic, whether in matte of gloss.

So I would say that we now have model figures (and get more respect when receiving or sending their packages^&grin^&grin^&grin)

Any thoughts?
Paulo

Nope :) How is arranging a display, making dioramas not for permanent display but creating different scenarios, and photographic them and sharing the photos, not playing with them. Only the noises are missing (and maybe not from everyone). Collectors are using the figures to play war games with.

And as for the improvement in the figures, it's no different than going from a rotary phone, to a push button phone to a cell phone - they are still phones and toy soldiers are still toy soldiers.

Terry
 
I recently loaded up My pre war Britain's Heavy Howitzer( the one with lead shells) and blew away a K and C WW2 German tank. It was fun and the "toys" won over the military miniature. Is this not play ?
 
Gone are the days when my friends and I would build a fort out of "American Bricks", set our Marx 60mm soldiers up in strategic positions and send in 2 Remco Bulldog Tanks to do damage. There is nothing like the sound of the tank firing those big plastic shells and the brass hitting the floor... Fond memories...
 
I'm 58 years old and I make all kinds of noises (some on purpose) when I play with my toy soldiers and fly my model airplanes.^&grin -- Al
 
I would still call them toy soldiers , even when I was a kid I had toy soldiers
that I considered to good or expensive to play with [ so they where displayed
on a shelf] , britains detail and airfix though where fair game and got blown
up with double happys etc.
Unfortunaly [or fortunatly as I now have kids ] miniature explosives are no longer
available so blowing stuff up isnt an option :wink2:.
 
Back in the day toy soldiers were made in bulk by large companies for children and were painted in gloss. Model soldiers were made by individuals or small companies and were more detailed and painted in matt. After the ban on lead the toy industry switched to plastic, but there was an increasing demand for the old style figures and the prices of old Britains and Johilco started climbing. This demand started the production of toy style figures by some of the model companies who incorporated their standards into the subject. Thus was born the present day figure which is in fact a hybrid.Most companies realise the versatility and produce castings which incorporate the detail required to produce a connoiseur model for those who wish to paint their own, and also supply their product finished in either gloss or matt according to the customer's requirements. What to call these figures has been the subject of much debate, and will no doubt continue to be debated for a long time to come. As to display and noises off, well that is down to the individual. One thing is for sure, unless you are very,very rich you won't be unlimbering the old BB gun on them. Trooper
 
Trooper mentioned "What to call these figures has been the subject of much debate"

and this is clearly shown by Paulo who started this thread with

"It's probably just a matter of terminology that has already been debated here, but I would submit that toy soldiers, when it comes to collectors, no longer exist"

when less than 24 hours earlier in another thread, which he also started (in FL area), he said :

"In my view, K&C, Britains, Little Legion and others are making toy soldiers".

My thought would be call them what you like, buy what you like. Certainly the fairer sex are going to call them toy soldiers now matter how expensive or well painted they are.

Regards
Brett
 
Trooper mentioned "What to call these figures has been the subject of much debate"

and this is clearly shown by Paulo who started this thread with

"It's probably just a matter of terminology that has already been debated here, but I would submit that toy soldiers, when it comes to collectors, no longer exist"

when less than 24 hours earlier in another thread, which he also started (in FL area), he said :

"In my view, K&C, Britains, Little Legion and others are making toy soldiers".

My thought would be call them what you like, buy what you like. Certainly the fairer sex are going to call them toy soldiers now matter how expensive or well painted they are.

Regards
Brett

Yes, one shouldn't take what I say too seriously, after all when it comes to toy soldiers I change my mind every 5 minutes^&grin. That said we can always have some theoretical fun:

Model figures comprise: Connoisseur figures and Ordinary/non connoisseur or simple matt or gloss figures.

How about that?^&grin. I do prefer using «model figures» when I am at the post office^&grin...
I know you are a K&C dealer, I don't mean to offend anyone when I say FL and K&C are different things, in my view they are and to each its own, period. Also believe K&C are the industry leaders at the moment, although presently I have chosen to collect other brands, can't have it all:p.


Regards,
Paulo
 
How does the old refrain go, "a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." :wink2:
 
Gone are the days when my friends and I would build a fort out of "American Bricks", set our Marx 60mm soldiers up in strategic positions and send in 2 Remco Bulldog Tanks to do damage. There is nothing like the sound of the tank firing those big plastic shells and the brass hitting the floor... Fond memories...

Thanks for the flood of memories your post brought back. I still have my American Bricks and my REMCO Bulldog tank (one of the coolest toys ever - despite being out of scale) preserved for the next generation. My neighbor and I would spend Saturday afternoon building fortifications and Saturday night and Sunday having battles. Oh what days they were. %^V
 
At Treefrog we like to cover all the bases by calling ourselves "Treefrog Treasures Toy Soldiers & Military Miniatures" :cool:.
 
Thanks for the flood of memories your post brought back. I still have my American Bricks and my REMCO Bulldog tank (one of the coolest toys ever - despite being out of scale) preserved for the next generation. My neighbor and I would spend Saturday afternoon building fortifications and Saturday night and Sunday having battles. Oh what days they were. %^V
Is the REMCO Bulldog tank the one that ran on batteries with rubber treads and could shoot shells? If it is, that must be the one that my brother and I had in the early 60's. Long gone now but that tank won many a battle and could take a real beating. Great toy. -- Al
 
As we get older our "toys " tend to get more expensive .The local Harley Davidson dealership is called "Toys for Big Boys " which I think sums it up
Kirk
 
It's probably just a matter of terminology that has already been debated here, but I would submit that toy soldiers, when it comes to collectors, no longer exist, because:

1-Collectors don't play with their figures, they display them, make dioramas, take photos, but don't throw them around or have them shoot each other making strange noises like if they were small children^&grin^&grin (which they are, but of a bigger variety)^&grin.

2-The toy soldier died when Trophy, K&C and others brought up the New Toy Soldiers, very unlike the early meant to play Britains, and figures are now getting more and more detailed and realistic, whether in matte of gloss.

So I would say that we now have model figures (and get more respect when receiving or sending their packages^&grin^&grin^&grin)

Any thoughts?
Paulo

Dear Paulo:

I agree, especially the figures produced since 2003 by King & Country as well as most others are mostly very realistic looking and really should be called "ilitary miniatures" or "miniature models" of whatever. But, "toy soldiers" seems to be a term most everyone uses normally as a leftover term from decades past.

"Iron Brigade"
 
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Always have been and always will be toy soldiers for me. I just play with them more carefully these days :)
 

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