Trophy of Wales (2 Viewers)

[ucla1967]

A heads up for all of you Trophy fans. Toy Soldier & Model Figure magazine's December issue is going to have an article on Len Taylor's Trophy Miniatures of Wales.

 

[The Lt.]

A heads up for all of you Trophy fans. Toy Soldier & Model Figure magazine's December issue is going to have an article on Len Taylor's Trophy Miniatures of Wales.

Mike do you know whose writting the article.......The Lt.

 

[kilted vampire]

A heads up for all of you Trophy fans. Toy Soldier & Model Figure magazine's December issue is going to have an article on Len Taylor's Trophy Miniatures of Wales.

OH boy oh boy

 

[ucla1967]

Mike do you know whose writting the article.......The Lt.

Yes, Jim Hillestad, who has the Toy Soldier Museum in Cresco, PA.

 

[The Lt.]

Yes, Jim Hillestad, who has the Toy Soldier Museum in Cresco, PA.

Thanks Mike, looking forward to it.....Joe

 

[Capitolron]

Back in 2002 - I actually tracked down the Trophy of Wales Shop in the UK.

It took forever to find the industrial park where they are located - when I got there I was sad to see that it was a British Holiday and they were CLOSED !

I really wanted to meet everyone and see their place. Oh well, next time I guess?

 

[kilted vampire]

Yes, Jim Hillestad, who has the Toy Soldier Museum in Cresco, PA.

I met him and bought some Sarum and Eden sets. He seemed very likeable.

 

[ucla1967]

Those of you who were bidding on Trophy sets at the last Phillip Weiss auction might still have a chance to get them. A Mr. Fanatic, who was the apparent winner, is now selling them on eBay

 

[damian]

Here is a Trophy ox wagon circa 1879 in Zululand
Regards
Damian

 

[The Lt.]

Damian I see that the troops arrived safetly in North Africa. Hopefully they're part of the relief headed to Rorke's Drift. Nice addition to your collection.....The Lt.

 

[kilted vampire]

Neat! That one chappie in the cart looks depressed though.

 

[damian]

You would also look depressed in the back of an Ox wagon travelling through Zulu land before they built the N2 allthe way up the North Coast.
Regards
Damian

 

[kilted vampire]

You would also look depressed in the back of an Ox wagon travelling through Zulu land before they built the N2 allthe way up the North Coast.
Regards
Damian

It looks like his rifle is aimed at his head! Hope he does not hit a bump!

 

[The Lt.]

They been resting to long so thought I'd wake them up....The Lt.

 

[damian]

Lt
The Zulus were not the only ones capable of giving Tommy Atkins a nasty surprise. Ex Africa sempe aliquot nove.
Damian

 

[kilted vampire]

MAHDISTS!!!

I don't care who makes them I want more!

 

[romilly]

I dont know why I got on to Googling for Trophy Minatures - oh, I know, I was browsing a favourite 1/6 scale online store, and found they were selling 1/32nd lead miniatures now. Anyway, I'm posting here as I used to work for Trophy Minatures, back in 78-80 or so -- I forget exact dates now.

It was in Len's back shed in Penarth, and every week or so I'd get a bag of grey undercoated soldiers, and spend countless hours in the late night religiously painting them from top down, in the glossy primary Humbrol enamels we used.

I'd always been into wargaming and painting minatures, which was how I got the job. Looking back on it, I was probably horribly under compensated and am probably brain damaged from all the lead in em, but I loved this job. I'd often get to keep a few special ones for myself, and I also remember making a custom Green Jackets Regiment (well the Napoleonic predecessors) set for my dad's birthday once.

My favourite job was the faces - embelleshing with sideburns, mustaches etc. I hated Kilts the most. Do you know how hard it is to paint tiny thin straight vertical lines on sloping uneven metal...

From the research I did today, it looks like Len grew it into a biggish business - a report he did said he was employing 50+ outworkers after the internet took off. Seems like he retired finally, and may have sold the business to a Texas company?

Thought you might like to hear from an Alumni Think this was my first ever paid job.

Winton Davies

 

[Louis Badolato]

Welcome Winton! I bet I have some of your work in my collection.

 

[damian]

Welcome to the forum
That is quite a story. I met Len in 1997 when my wife and I caught a train to Cardiff and a bus out to his factory in Penarth. By that stage he had a big factory by toy soldier standards. I think Trophy is still my all time favourite toy soldier manufacturer. Thanks for being part of so many wonderful memories.
Regards
Damian Clarke

 

[kilted vampire]

Welcome Romilly. Actually I do know how hard it is to paint kilts. I will post some later. I have done some nice ones in the past.