The new American infantry is here !!!! (1 Viewer)

[binder001]

OK boys and girls, the new WW2 GIs are out from Classic Toy Soldiers and the modern US infantry from Armies In Plastic has arrived also.

Here's my initial opinions, we'll start with the CTS figures. My set just arrived in today's mail. On opening the box I found sixteen troops in a dark tan (they ar also available in green). There are two each of eight poses. As far as size they appear to fall close to the previous Cpnte/TSSD figures, a little "slimmer" but if they are painted the same color(s) it will be hard to tell the difference.

Weapons are a bit "clunky" but I am a gun nut, so I am picky. One can easily tell what they are supposed to be. The flamethrower is a late war M2-2, their is an M9 2.36in "bazooka" that captures the slim look of the original. The bazooka gunner has a slung M1 carbine that is kind of a mediocre sculpt. There are kneeling and standing riflemen with M1 rifles ("Garands"). The M1s are "OK" but not great, but again that is from a gun fancier's perspective. There is a kneeling tommy gunner, and a prone rifleman who apears to have an M1903A4 scoped sniper rifle. Lastly there is a neat action pose of a fellow holding an M1 carbine in his left hand, the carbine is either empty or jammed and he has drwan a .45 pistol to defend himself.

As far as equipment these guys can be painted up as late war Army troops in the Pacific, late Army troops in the ETO, or Marines. The figures have features of each but also lack certain details, so the owner can use them flexibly. The field gear is better than Marx figures but not nearly as crisp as found on Conte GI figures. Three guys have bare helmets, three have camo nets on their helmets and two have cloth covers (which the Army did not use, except for some homemade white covers in Europe in 1945)

Sixteen figures for $17.95 isn't too bad, especially since we aren't getting many new plastic figures lately. I recommend these to add to your collections or displays. I think they can be used with Marx or newer plastic figures. As a convertor I welcome these new guys. My first set came directly from CTS but I know that Minuteman Toy Soldiers will be carrying these also.

In the next post we will look at the modern US troops from AIP.

Gary B

 

[binder001]

The war in Afghanistan has been in progress since late 2001, and Operation Iraqi Freedom has been in progress since early 2003. Since these are currently still active combat theaters and since they are still highly politicized the toy soldier collector hasn't seen too many figures or vehicles from these conflicts. Figarti did some modern tanks and figures. Armies in Plastic reportedly took the poses from Figarti and adapted them to plastic which have just started to hit the market. There are two sets, each with six poses. By the way, AiP apprently had a problem with their Chinese plant putting tan "Set2" figures in "Set1" boxes. All the poses are available, you just won't be able to get all six poses in tan (at least for now). The sets I received have one group of poses in gray-green and the others in tan.

The figures are all one-piece castings as opposed to recent Conte/TSSD/CTS figures that are made up from two or more castings. One-piece molding keeps costs down, but limits the depth of some details. The figures appear to be 1/32nd scale. Since there aren't a lot of modern GIs for them to be displayed with, there isn't really a compatibility issue.

The troops carry mostly M16A2 rifles, several with M203 grenade launchers attached. A couple figures seem to have the M249 SAW - the current version with a shorter barrel, but IMHO these are pretty crude representations of the SAW. If these sell, perhaps we can get some different weapons in future sets.

Equipment seems to conform to modern web gear (I admit I don't know as much about this stuff as I do the WW2 versions) Some of the detail seems a bit soft. An interesting detail is that several of the figures are molded with eyeglasses/sun glasses, seen on the real troops but seldom on our "toy" versions.

The poses are a bit "stiff" probably from the one-piece molding.

All-in-all these are not bad, and certainly better than no new figures at all. AIP is to be congratulated for being brave enough to take on this unusual and mildly controversial topic. We have had vehicles from Forces of Valor, now one can add the troops to go with them.

I and GK5717 got our first batch of figures straight from AIP. They will also be available from other dealers, including some of our forum members.

Gary B.

 

[Wraith]

Thanks for the review Gary. Ordered and looking forward to getting both the GIs and the AIP Moderns from George.

Simon

 

[ketelone]

I purchased the AIP modern troops today. They are nice. Warning! AIP has released Operation Iraqi Freedom, set 1, Enduring Freedom Afghanistan, set 2 and US Peacekeeping forces. They are all fine but the Peacekeeping troops are the same figures but in a different color. I thought I was getting different figures in each box. The Peacekeeping forces are 'duplicates.' I am pleased I purchased these products from an establishment where I can return them.
Has anyone figured out how to paint them as best as possible to duplicate the current digital camo patterns?
I can't wait to see the WWII figures from CTS.

 

[Wraith]

Has anyone figured out how to paint them as best as possible to duplicate the current digital camo patterns?

Nope. Not sure I even want to go there. ^&grin
The US Military obviously didn't have military miniature painters' best interests when they adopted this camo.
I'm thinking a reeeeeally iddy biddy brush and a couple of years of spare time

 

[binder001]

Try this;

http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=1333

 

[Ragnar]

Nope. Not sure I even want to go there. ^&grin
The US Military obviously didn't have military miniature painters' best interests when they adopted this camo.
I'm thinking a reeeeeally iddy biddy brush and a couple of years of spare time

Almost makes you want to go and paint something rather easy like.....Napoleonic Highlanders ^&grin

 

[Scott]

AIP sometimes makes the mistake of producing troops without anyone to fight them. I'm still waiting for the 1898 Spanish, 1905 Japanese, and the Crimean War Russians. AIP has also been retreading their WWI Germans as 1870-71 Prussians w/o French and Waterloo Royal Artillery as 1812 US w/o British or US regulars. They make a fine product but the series leaves many holes as in the US Civil War series and WW I.

What troops do you use to "fight" the new US Infantry?

 

[gk5717]

I just got my CTS GI,s, Gary B. was somewhat kind on the quality of these figures. My opinion is that they are pretty rough when compared to TSSD & Conte. In fact one figure looked as if it came from that BMC DDay playset, I,m sure you remember how bad those figures are.
They are ok as fill ins but I sure would not want to start a plastic collection as these troops as the anchor.
Gary

 

[steve weston]

AIP sometimes makes the mistake of producing troops without anyone to fight them. I'm still waiting for the 1898 Spanish, 1905 Japanese, and the Crimean War Russians. AIP has also been retreading their WWI Germans as 1870-71 Prussians w/o French and Waterloo Royal Artillery as 1812 US w/o British or US regulars. They make a fine product but the series leaves many holes as in the US Civil War series and WW I.

What troops do you use to "fight" the new US Infantry?

Scott,
patience is a virtue! There are 2 sets of insurgents and 1 set of British to come, so you can have someone to fight against/with! As for figures that are already out there - have you never bought any of the Taliban/Afghanistan sets that we were bringing in from Russia and also sold via CTS, Hobby Bunker, TSSD etc? We have now sold out, but we took these to Chicago 5 years on the trot and they still turn up on the 'net. How about making good use of the freely available Afghans from Lone Star/Toyway under the Timpo brand? Whilst the latter are not Modern figures as such, a little light conversion on their weapons and you are in business.

AIP WILL get around to all the sets you have listed, of which I am sure, but it all takes time and money. It also makes sense to re-launch figures in the manner to which you describe. Some guys who collect maybe just one period, may not have the same military knowledge as you, and may not realise that some uniforms (Napoleonic are a great example) were used the World over for many, many years and the very period that they wanted was actually already available - albeit under a different time-frame.

AIP now have around 60 sets in 183 options, so they are getting there.

 

[9thHussar]

Hi

just painting up the AIP sets of Zulus and British in shirt sleeves 1879 which I got from Steve Weston.

The Zulus in particular are very good figures and are a married regiment with plenty of ostrich feathers and animal skins.

Well recommended

Regards
9th

 

[Scott]

Scott,
patience is a virtue! ..........

.........AIP WILL get around to all the sets you have listed, of which I am sure, but it all takes time and money. It also makes sense to re-launch figures in the manner to which you describe. ............

.....AIP now have around 60 sets in 183 options, so they are getting there.

Thanks for the reply Steve. AIP's output of new sets per year is satisfying to all era collectors. It's a good product for the price. I REALLY would like early WW I French Infantry in blue to "play" 1870-71 and some good old fashioned Union US Infantry in the "sack coat" rather than the "frock coat".

 

[steve weston]

Hi Scott,
I was wondering what you thought was missing from all the various ACW sets available - after all, we have the Iron Brigade, regular Union and Confederate Infantries, Coloured Union troops, Berdan's Sharpshooters, Union in long coats, Artillery with and without crew in various uniforms, caissons, cavalry, Zouaves, reverse colors availble on most things, etc from most makes - all I good think of were maybe some Naval guys. With the exception of some cavalry, AIP have most of these covered, apart from the caissons, of course. So excuse my ignorance, but what is a sack coat? We might know it by a different name.
Have you got a picture?

Thanks,

Steve.

Steve.

 

[Scott]

Steve,

The AIP Union infantry doesn't have troops wearing what was called the fatigue blouse, a 4 button coat that was very common for Union troops. It was also referred to as a "sack coat" because it wasn't tailored like the dress "frock" coat and resembled the civilian "sack suit" again, with an untailored coat. I have sold off Union troops from other makers as not accurate enough. (for me)

Conte's Union troops wear sacks and frocks but I'd like to see AIP make a set to use with the 200 or so Frock coated soldiers I have. The frock coated figures make nice USMC, Iron Brigade of course, and with a head swap, Heavy Artillery troops used as infantry at the end of the war. I have to say that if AIP came out with a set wearing the common fatigue blouse, I'd get 10 or more sets as I like MASS. Field artillery would be nice as well and cavalry wouldn't hurt.