Trophy of Wales (4 Viewers)

[The Lt.]

The following is another vintage figure of Lance-Sergeant Thomas Williams 1395 also engraved under the base of the figure......The Lt.

 

[The Lt.]

The following are vintage figures of Coporal Ferdnand Christian Schiess and Private Robert Jones 716 both awarded The Victoria Cross. Their names are also engraved under the base of the figures.....The Lt.

 

[The Lt.]

Vintage figures of Coporal William Allan 1240 and Private William Roy 1542. Allan was awarded The VC and Roy The Distinguished Conduct Medal....The Lt.

 

[The Lt.]

The following are also vintage figures of John Williams 1395, Surgeon Major James Reynolds and Private Frederick Hitch 1362 all all awarded the VC....The Lt.

 

[Louis Badolato]

Trophy always made some of the best glossy figures. I think the great time to collect glossy figures was between 1980 and 1995, when Trophy, Imperial, William Hocker, King & Country, Frontline, Guard Corps, Sommerset, Beau Geste and so many other great little companies were all producing fun, action glossy figures so much more interesting than the earlier Britains and Mignot type figures of the past. Perhaps I will post a few shots of my early glossy K&C figures on this thread. Maybe we can convert a few of the matt guys into glossy afficionados, at least when it comes to the Victorian Era stuff.

 

[The Lt.]

These are photos of single vintage figures of Trophy's award winners that I purchased at the time from Jim Holland of Soldiers of Fortune a while back at The Dedham Show. It's when I first started my collection of Trophy Figures. What's unique about these figures that under their base is listed their name enlistment number and rank. You'll note they are on a lifted base. I beleive they come from an an older set of Storehouse with Reynolds Hitch, & William being the forerunner of Hookie Leads them out. The first photo pictures Private William Jone 593 awarded the VC, Gunner Jon Cantwell 2076 awarded the DCM, Private James Chick, Lt. James Adendorff, Second Coporal Francis Attwood 24692 and Trooper Sydney H. Hunter. I'm sure you'll regonize the figures for they've been defending The Drift.......The Lt.

 

[maddadicus]

I started collecting Trophy back in 1997, having discovered them at a soldier shop in Gettysburg. They are what got me back into collecting again. My first sets were Sudan and Zulu ( Gatling Guns and Artillery ), then Napoleonics. At one time I had some 35 sets, but got tired of them, as I became interested in trains and other mfg. Sold them all ,but 2 ACW artillery sets and Union horse limber and caisson set. No real regrets under than the memories. ....Michael

 

[Louis Badolato]

Trophy was one of the three companies I focused on after I got a bit tired of Imperial figures being so "clean", along with K&C and Frontline (both of whom made primarily glossy figures then [circa 1995]). I bought up everything Trophy I could get my hands on, from Napoleonics through the Boer War, but the problem was actually getting your hands on the figures here in the U.S. I actually went to London to go to the Guards Museum Toy Soldier Shop to get Trophy stuff, as well as to go to the St. James Armory to buy Frontline (which was also hard to get here in the U.S.).

As my first wife was driving me nuts about my collection (hence the fact that she is my first wife) I agreed to focus on one company, and chose K&C because it was the easiest to get: I just went to Tony Chiccariello's Toy Soldier Gallery, and if he didn't have it, he ordered it and it came pretty quickly.

I recently gave most of my old Trophy stuff away to my good buddy Hans Hedrich, but I still have a few treasured sets, like my two big Trophy Boats the Nile River Steamer Victoria and the Union Civil War gunboat Eagle, which I just couldn't part with. The boats Trophy made over the years, which also include the Confederate gunboat Leopard, the British Crimean War gunboat Lion, a small nile river steam Gunboat and an egyptian "Dow" sailboat, were all works of art which stand up to anything else I've ever seen produced in the toy soldier industry. Just amazing wood, metal, cloth and rope works of art. For example, the guns on the decks of the gunboats are really rigged with tiny ropes and block and tackle, and if you move the sailor holding the rope, the gun moves accordingly. They are the equivalent in detail and accuracy of the Figarti Tiger tanks and the new K&C special aircraft. I couldn't praise them more highly!

 

[jrsteel]

You can still get Trophy from Trophy Of Texas. Seems like they have a lot of sets available. Louis you mentioned Imperial being too clean. I prefer that look with traditional soldiers. I don't like too many folds and wrinkles in the uniform with gloss stuff, but that's just me.

 

[The Lt.]

Louis I agree with you with not wanting to part with the Gun Boats there is no way I'd part with them. As for Trophy of Texas he has very little for sale list on his site The Zulu line as well as others. He was selling a collection of a client of his which he's no longer doing and has annouced that he's decide not to sell a portion of his collection which he had offered for sale. He has a no return cash only policy the last few times I checked the site and has been charging extra of items he's had to repack for sales along with price increase of items remaining. He's been quite active for a period of time on e-bay but I've seen nothing from him list on it recently....The Lt.

 

[maddadicus]

Trophy was one of the three companies I focused on after I got a bit tired of Imperial figures being so "clean", along with K&C and Frontline (both of whom made primarily glossy figures then [circa 1995]). I bought up everything Trophy I could get my hands on, from Napoleonics through the Boer War, but the problem was actually getting your hands on the figures here in the U.S. I actually went to London to go to the Guards Museum Toy Soldier Shop to get Trophy stuff, as well as to go to the St. James Armory to buy Frontline (which was also hard to get here in the U.S.).

As my first wife was driving me nuts about my collection (hence the fact that she is my first wife) I agreed to focus on one company, and chose K&C because it was the easiest to get: I just went to Tony Chiccariello's Toy Soldier Gallery, and if he didn't have it, he ordered it and it came pretty quickly.

I recently gave most of my old Trophy stuff away to my good buddy Hans Hedrich, but I still have a few treasured sets, like my two big Trophy Boats the Nile River Steamer Victoria and the Union Civil War gunboat Eagle, which I just couldn't part with. The boats Trophy made over the years, which also include the Confederate gunboat Leopard, the British Crimean War gunboat Lion, a small nile river steam Gunboat and an egyptian "Dow" sailboat, were all works of art which stand up to anything else I've ever seen produced in the toy soldier industry. Just amazing wood, metal, cloth and rope works of art. For example, the guns on the decks of the gunboats are really rigged with tiny ropes and block and tackle, and if you move the sailor holding the rope, the gun moves accordingly. They are the equivalent in detail and accuracy of the Figarti Tiger tanks and the new K&C special aircraft. I couldn't praise them more highly!

Louis, I never could afford their ships and me ,a naval nut.......Could you post photos of these ships sometime. I would love to save the images before they disappear into peoples closets....Michael

 

[jazzeum]

Michael, take a look at post 45 on the Badolato Collection thread, http://www.treefrogtreasures.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3308&page=5

 

[Louis Badolato]

Michael, take a look at post 45 on the Badolato Collection thread, http://www.treefrogtreasures.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3308&page=5

Those are shots of the boats without some or all of the crew, and in the case of the Union gunboat, without the two lifeboats suspended off the rear deck. I have to dig the crew/lifeboats out of storage, assemble the boats completely, remove the plexiglass covers, and take some shots for you.

Hans and Larry also have the smaller Sudan steam gunboat, and I will try to get them to take some shots of it as well.

I know Jim Hillestad has the big and small nile steamers and the Dow, but I am not sure if he was the Lion or the Leopard.

 

[The Lt.]

The attached photos will reflect some of minor changes made to sets over the years. In the first photo the bases along with the changing of the arms and adding a helmet offered the new figures as part of Trophy's Hookie Leads Them Out. The second photo shows a new Coporal Schiess and appears and is included in The Storhouse Set as well as being sold at a later date as one of the single figures of Trophy's Hero of Rorke's Drift. The thrid photo shows Trophy Hand to Hand Set HZ10 with a change of colors to the helmet. The last two photos are of figures by both Trophy and Little Legion. I'm sure you'll note the difference and I'm awaiting a reply from Louis on them.......The Lt.

 

[kilted vampire]

I want a gunboat too! Quess I will just have to make one

 

[Louis Badolato]

The last two photos are of figures by both Trophy and Little Legion. I'm sure you'll note the difference and I'm awaiting a reply from Louis on them.......The Lt.

I just like the Little Legion figures a bit more. First of all, I love Len's work, and I am not trying to knock him. There is just something about the faces of the Little Legion figures, and the natural poses, which I prefer. For example, in the bottom photo, the figure on the right, which is the Little Legion figure, has a more natural feel to it, and I like the face better. Its only one man's opinion. For the record, at one point I had about 1,200 Trophy figures (I probably still have between 100-200), and I have never purchased a Little Legion figure, so my money has gone to Len, if not my heart.

 

[The Lt.]

I just like the Little Legion figures a bit more. First of all, I love Len's work, and I am not trying to knock him. There is just something about the faces of the Little Legion figures, and the natural poses, which I prefer. For example, in the bottom photo, the figure on the right, which is the Little Legion figure, has a more natural feel to it, and I like the face better. Its only one man's opinion. For the record, at one point I had about 1,200 Trophy figures (I probably still have between 100-200), and I have never purchased a Little Legion figure, so my money has gone to Len, if not my heart.

Louis I respect your opinion and taste and must agree that Mike has done a very nice job with his facial expections on his figures. My Trophy collection at this is a little over 160 along with a little over 50 of Little Legion. So it's possible your still ahead of me with Trophy. Love those boat...Best Regards...Joe

 

[damian]

Personally I think that the Trophy figures are alittle bit more full bodied than the Little Legion ones. Mike Norris learnt his trade from Len. I still think Trophy is ahead by a littel bit but they are both great figures. Mike is taking Little Legion in new directions which Len Taylor never took Trophy.
Regards
Damian

 

[kilted vampire]

I have a few sets of LL. They are very nice. And they are big on Napoleonics as well.

 

[jrsteel]

Is Little Legion still in business? Their website is gone.