Trophy Sets That Never Were (But Should Have Been!) (2 Viewers)

[boerboy]

Have you ever found yourself thinking, “If only Trophy had made this set…”?
Maybe a Napoleonic balloon corps, French Foreign Legion Highland Volunteers, Sahara Detachment, or a Boer War Staff car? This is the place to let your imagination take the field!


This thread is dedicated to all the brilliant, bizarre, and beautiful Trophy Miniatures sets that were never produced—but should have been. Whether you're envisioning historical battles, ceremonial parades, or forgotten regiments, we want to hear your ideas.


Share your dream set concepts
Include sketches, figure ideas, or regimental references
Tell us why it should have been made
Bonus points for humor, obscure units, or "what-if" scenarios


Let’s have some fun imagining what the Great Trophy Army might have included—if only Len had a few more years and a few more molds.


Post your ideas below—and let the collecting wishful thinking begin!

 

[boerboy]

Well I guess I have to start imagining:

Boer War (1899–1902)​

1. "Captured Boer Wagon and British Escort"
   Ox-drawn Boer wagon with looted supplies, guarded by mounted and foot British infantry.
2. "Boer Commandos at Church"
   Unusual civilian moment — Boer fighters with slouch hats standing outside a veldt church, some kneeling with rifles.
3. "Kitchener’s Intelligence Scouts"
   British scouts in ragged khaki, with binoculars, sketchbooks, and disguised attire — inspired by Burnham and his scouts.
4. "Railway Sabotage Team – Boers at Night"
   A diorama with a Boer demolition squad planting explosives on a trestle bridge under moonlight.

---

Boxer Rebellion (1900)​

1. "Chinese Imperial Bannermen Cavalry"
   Colorful Qing cavalry with polearms and banners — never done by Trophy.
2. "Mission Station Under Siege"
   Western missionaries and Chinese converts barricading windows, with flaming arrows stuck in the roof.
3. "Eight Nation Alliance Parade"
   Mini parade set with a soldier from each major power: Britain, France, Japan, Russia, U.S., Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary.
4. "Boxer Magic Ritual Before Battle"
   Boxer fighters in a trance, leader invoking spirit protection — very atmospheric.
5. "British Marines Storming the Taku Forts"
   Royal Navy landing party with scaling ladders, cannon, and sailors clambering over Chinese fortifications.

---

🏔 Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878–1880)​

1. "Afghan Tribal Council Planning Ambush"
   Seated tribal elders with weapons, maps, and teacups in a rocky setting.
2. "92nd Highlanders Counterattack at Charasiab"
   Highlanders with fixed bayonets charging uphill under fire — unusual dynamic scene.
3. "Camel Corps Recon in a Snowstorm"
   British Camel Corps troops cloaked in blankets in a bleak high-altitude setting.

NAPOLEONIC RANGE – UNUSUAL & IMAGINED SETS​

1. French Army Balloon Corps – "L'Entreprenant" Observation Team​

• Tethered hydrogen balloon with rigging.
• 2 officers in bicornes with telescopes and notebooks.
• Ground crew with hoses, gas cylinders, and sandbags.
• Optional add-on: horse-drawn gas wagon or portable forge.

2. Napoleon Visiting a Field Hospital​

• Napoleon standing solemnly with surgeon and staff.
• Wounded infantrymen on stretchers, field nurse with tray.
• Very human and rarely depicted moment.

---

​

---

3. Battlefield Musicians – Drum & Fife Corps​

• Line of French musicians marching.
• Optional wounded drummer boy being assisted off field.

---

4. British Rocket Troop – Congreve Rocket Battery​

• Rocket launcher tripod with fuse-lighter crew.
• Ammo box with spare rockets.
• British officer with spyglass nervously observing the wild trajectory.

---

5. French Sappers Clearing Obstacles​

• Sappers with axes, saws, and fascines.
• Officer with engineering plans on a clipboard.
• Good for use in siege dioramas.

---

6. Empress Josephine’s Imperial Garden Procession​

• Josephine in a light carriage with parasol.
• Guard escort in ceremonial dress.
• Civilian figures with flower baskets and small dog.

---

7. Duel at Dawn – French and British Officers​

• 2 officers preparing for a sword duel.
• Seconds and doctor included.
• Foggy terrain base with small ruin or hedge.

 

[Louis Badolato]

World War I:

German and Austrian Artillery (here are some photos of some casting painted for me by Obee to use with my Trophy WWI set up):


German, British, French and American Aircraft, pilots and ground crew (these are by Heco Tinplate Models):






German and Allied Armor (these are by Heco Tinplate Models as well):

 

[Louis Badolato]

Boer War:

How about an armored train (Here's one produced by the late great Hicks Atwell:

 

[boerboy]

Louis, I am tottaly agree but I doubt that Len would ever made tanks or airplains Artillery yes, this my list.

Austro-Hungarian (Austrian) Artillery:​

1. Skoda 30.5 cm Mörser M.11 (30.5 cm Siege Howitzer)
   • Nickname: "Barbara"
   • Role: Heavy siege howitzer
   • Notable Use: Battles of Przemyśl, Verdun, and the Serbian Campaign
   • Manufacturer: Škoda Works
   • Fame: One of the most effective fortress-busting guns of WWI.
2. Skoda 10 cm Feldhaubitze M.14
   • Type: Standard Austro-Hungarian field howitzer
   • Role: Medium field artillery
   • Widespread use: Throughout all Austro-Hungarian fronts
3. Skoda 15 cm schwere Feldhaubitze M.14
   • Type: Heavy field howitzer
   • Upgraded version: M.14/16 with extended range
   • Role: Counter-battery and fortified position bombardment
4. Skoda 24 cm Mörser M.98 / M.16
   • Type: Super-heavy siege howitzer
   • Use: Fortress reduction, particularly in the Balkans

---

Imperial German Artillery:​

1. 15 cm sFH 13 (schwere Feldhaubitze 13)
   • Role: Heavy field howitzer
   • Most common German heavy artillery piece of the war
2. 10.5 cm leFH 16 (leichte Feldhaubitze 16)
   • Type: Light field howitzer
   • Main artillery piece of German infantry divisions
   • Successor to the leFH 98/09
3. 21 cm Mörser 16
   • Heavy howitzer, used for long-range bombardments
   • Transportable in two loads, with improved range
4. 42 cm Gamma Mörser & 42 cm M-Gerät ("Big Bertha")
   • Big Bertha was the most famous German siege artillery piece
   • Use: Destroying Belgian and French fortresses (e.g., Liège)
   • Gamma version: Rail-mounted version of the same caliber
5. 7.7 cm FK 96 n.A. (Feldkanone 96 neuer Art)
   • Standard German field gun
   • Updated version of the 1896 design
6. 38 cm SK L/45 "Max" (Naval Gun adapted for land use)
   • Also known as Paris Gun (though different design)
   • Massive long-range shelling of Paris in 1918

 

[boerboy]

Boer War:

How about an armored train (Here's one produced by the late great Hicks Atwell:
View attachment 353205
View attachment 353206
View attachment 353207

Absolutely — an armored train with a young Winston Churchill as a war correspondent would make a fantastic and historically rich addition to the Trophy-style Boer War range. Here's a brief story that could inspire such a set:

Winston Churchill and the Armored Train: A Daring Escape in the Boer War​

In November 1899, during the early months of the Second Boer War, Winston Churchill, then just 25 years old, was working as a war correspondent for the Morning Post. He was embedded with a British armored train near Frere, Natal Colony, when the train was ambushed by Boer commandos.


The train, equipped with improvised armor and a small gun emplacement, was derailed under fire. With chaos erupting and Boers targeting the wreckage, Churchill sprang into action — not as a soldier, but with the instincts of one. He helped organize the defense, freed trapped men, and assisted the wounded under heavy fire.


Despite his bravery, Churchill was captured and became a Boer prisoner of war. But his story didn't end there.


In a dramatic twist, Churchill escaped from the prison camp in Pretoria, scaling a wall and traveling hundreds of miles to freedom, eventually returning to British lines a hero. His exploits made headlines and launched his public image as a man of daring — a key step on his long road to political greatness.

---

Suggested Trophy-Style Set:​

• Armored train car with improvised armor plating and mounted gun
• Figure of young Churchill in civilian coat with satchel and notebook (perhaps a pistol tucked under his coat)
• Captured and escaping Churchill variants
• Train crew under fire and Boer commandos on horseback
• Optional: a small diorama base of a derailed track

---

That Hicks armored train I had was a good one, but yes — if it wasn’t 54mm or scaled for Trophy integration, it would be hard to display properly so I sold it. A purpose-made armored train in Trophy scale, with Churchill’s dramatic moment captured in glossy paint, would be a true Holy Grail set.

 

[HAWKEYE]

World War I:

German and Austrian Artillery (here are some photos of some casting painted for me by Obee to use with my Trophy WWI set up):
View attachment 353194
View attachment 353195
German, British, French and American Aircraft, pilots and ground crew (these are by Heco Tinplate Models):
View attachment 353196
View attachment 353197
View attachment 353202
View attachment 353203


German and Allied Armor (these are by Heco Tinplate Models as well):
View attachment 353198
View attachment 353199
View attachment 353204

GREAT STUFF LOUIS, A BIG WOW

 

[HAWKEYE]

Well I guess I have to start imagining:

Boer War (1899–1902)​

1. "Captured Boer Wagon and British Escort"
   Ox-drawn Boer wagon with looted supplies, guarded by mounted and foot British infantry.
2. "Boer Commandos at Church"
   Unusual civilian moment — Boer fighters with slouch hats standing outside a veldt church, some kneeling with rifles.
3. "Kitchener’s Intelligence Scouts"
   British scouts in ragged khaki, with binoculars, sketchbooks, and disguised attire — inspired by Burnham and his scouts.
4. "Railway Sabotage Team – Boers at Night"
   A diorama with a Boer demolition squad planting explosives on a trestle bridge under moonlight.

---

Boxer Rebellion (1900)​

1. "Chinese Imperial Bannermen Cavalry"
   Colorful Qing cavalry with polearms and banners — never done by Trophy.
2. "Mission Station Under Siege"
   Western missionaries and Chinese converts barricading windows, with flaming arrows stuck in the roof.
3. "Eight Nation Alliance Parade"
   Mini parade set with a soldier from each major power: Britain, France, Japan, Russia, U.S., Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary.
4. "Boxer Magic Ritual Before Battle"
   Boxer fighters in a trance, leader invoking spirit protection — very atmospheric.
5. "British Marines Storming the Taku Forts"
   Royal Navy landing party with scaling ladders, cannon, and sailors clambering over Chinese fortifications.

---

🏔 Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878–1880)​

1. "Afghan Tribal Council Planning Ambush"
   Seated tribal elders with weapons, maps, and teacups in a rocky setting.
2. "92nd Highlanders Counterattack at Charasiab"
   Highlanders with fixed bayonets charging uphill under fire — unusual dynamic scene.
3. "Camel Corps Recon in a Snowstorm"
   British Camel Corps troops cloaked in blankets in a bleak high-altitude setting.

NAPOLEONIC RANGE – UNUSUAL & IMAGINED SETS​

1. French Army Balloon Corps – "L'Entreprenant" Observation Team​

• Tethered hydrogen balloon with rigging.
• 2 officers in bicornes with telescopes and notebooks.
• Ground crew with hoses, gas cylinders, and sandbags.
• Optional add-on: horse-drawn gas wagon or portable forge.

2. Napoleon Visiting a Field Hospital​

• Napoleon standing solemnly with surgeon and staff.
• Wounded infantrymen on stretchers, field nurse with tray.
• Very human and rarely depicted moment.

---

​

---

3. Battlefield Musicians – Drum & Fife Corps​

• Line of French musicians marching.
• Optional wounded drummer boy being assisted off field.

---

4. British Rocket Troop – Congreve Rocket Battery​

• Rocket launcher tripod with fuse-lighter crew.
• Ammo box with spare rockets.
• British officer with spyglass nervously observing the wild trajectory.

---

5. French Sappers Clearing Obstacles​

• Sappers with axes, saws, and fascines.
• Officer with engineering plans on a clipboard.
• Good for use in siege dioramas.

---

6. Empress Josephine’s Imperial Garden Procession​

• Josephine in a light carriage with parasol.
• Guard escort in ceremonial dress.
• Civilian figures with flower baskets and small dog.

---

7. Duel at Dawn – French and British Officers​

• 2 officers preparing for a sword duel.
• Seconds and doctor included.
• Foggy terrain base with small ruin or hedge.

GREAT LIST, I WOULD ADD SOME FRENCH LINE LANCERS AND SOME GARDE HORSE GRENIDIERS

 

[boerboy]

Totally agree, Len would make them look great!

 

[Louis Badolato]

Trophy made magnificent large gunboats like the Eagle, Leopard and Lion. How about a WWI German Gunboat like this one (by Heco Tinplate Models)?

 

[boerboy]

Trophy made magnificent large gunboats like the Eagle, Leopard and Lion. How about a WWI German Gunboat like this one (by Heco Tinplate Models)?

View attachment 353246

Great idea, Louis!
this my list:

Practical WWI German Gunboats for 54mm Scale Builds​

These vessels are small enough to be feasibly modeled at ~1:32 scale (about 1.5–3 feet long models):

1. SMS Iltis-class Gunboat​

• Length: ~66 meters (217 ft)
• Model length at 1:32: ~6.7 ft (possible in sections or as a waterline model)
• Use: East Asia Squadron, Boxer Rebellion roots, WWI patrol
• Notable ship: SMS Tiger

​

2. SMS Habicht (Aviso/Gunboat hybrid)​

• Length: ~60 meters (197 ft)
• Model at 1:32: ~6 ft
• Hybrid design: Gunboat with dispatch boat capability
• Ideal as a coastal defense or river patrol vessel

3. SMS Jaguar-class (similar to Iltis)​

• Length: ~65 meters (213 ft)
• Good for: German Pacific colonies
• **Can be modified to resemble others in the class: Panther, Luchs, etc.

​

4. Flat-bottomed River Gunboats – German East Africa​

• Use: Schutztruppe river patrols
• Design: Simplified shallow-draft launches with mounted machine guns or small cannons
• Great for modeling: Can be scratch-built under 3 ft in length
• Historical use: Lake Tanganyika campaign

5. Coastal Torpedo Boats (e.g., S-7 class)​

• Length: ~35–45 meters (~115–148 ft)
• Model at 1:32: ~3.5–4.5 ft
• Low profile, ideal for display alongside crew, officers, and artillery

---

 

[boerboy]

SMS Panther – The Most Famous​

• Class: Iltis-class gunboat
• Launched: 1901
• Length: ~66 meters (217 ft)
• Notable Event:
  • In 1911, Panther was sent to the port of Agadir, Morocco, supposedly to protect German interests during local unrest.
  • In reality, it was a show of force meant to challenge French expansion in Morocco.
  • This sparked an international crisis—the Agadir Crisis (also known as the Second Moroccan Crisis)—which increased tensions among the Great Powers and pushed Europe closer to WWI.

 

[GICOP]

ANGLO ZULU WAR - DEATH OF THE PRINCE IMPERIAL

Cheers

Martyn

 

[boerboy]

Thank you, Martyn—what an excellent idea. Len would be proud of this set. For someone who doesn't know the story, I took the liberty of sharing a brief overview.​

​

The Death of the Prince Imperial (Napoléon Eugène Louis Jean Joseph Bonaparte)​

Date: June 1, 1879
Location: Near the Ityotyosi River, Zululand (modern-day South Africa)

Who Was He?​

The Prince Imperial was the only son of Napoleon III of France and Empress Eugénie, and the last serious Bonapartist heir to the French throne. After France's defeat in the Franco-Prussian War (1870), his family fled into exile in England, where they were warmly welcomed by Queen Victoria.


A close family friend, Victoria treated the young Louis-Napoléon like a godson. He was educated at Woolwich Military Academy (like Sandhurst) and was eager to prove himself militarily to restore the Bonaparte name.

How Did He End Up in Zululand?​

In 1879, Britain was at war with the Zulu Kingdom. Despite the war being of no concern to France, the Prince Imperial lobbied Queen Victoria and the British Army to allow him to serve unofficially as an observer with the British forces.


The British were reluctant but ultimately agreed—on the condition that he would not see direct combat. He was assigned to accompany scouting parties as a non-combatant, under the watch of Colonel Redvers Buller.

---

The Fatal Patrol​

On June 1, 1879, the Prince joined a small British recon patrol of six troopers and an officer. Despite warnings, they stopped to rest at an abandoned kraal (a Zulu homestead) in Zulu territory near the Ityotyosi River.


While dismounted and unprepared, they were suddenly ambushed by a group of about 40 Zulu warriors. The patrol panicked and fled on horseback. The Prince attempted to mount his horse but the saddle girth broke, and the horse bolted. He was left behind.

---

His Death​

The Prince tried to fight back with his revolver and sword but was quickly overwhelmed. He received at least 18 assegai (Zulu spear) wounds, most of them in the front—suggesting he died fighting bravely.


His body was later recovered by a British search party. The news shocked Britain and France. Queen Victoria was said to be devastated, and Empress Eugénie never recovered from the loss.

 

[boerboy]

King George V and Tsar Nicholas II looked so alike they were often mistaken for twins, and there’s rich WWI historical context that could inspire a Trophy-style set.

“Cousins at War – 1914”​

Theme: The tragic irony of two lookalike monarchs—once allies and family—leading empires now on divergent paths.


Figures:

• King George V in British field marshal uniform (1914 service dress, trench coat, binoculars).
• Tsar Nicholas II in Russian Imperial Army uniform (1914, long greatcoat, bearskin hat).
• Background diorama: diplomatic setting—perhaps set on a carpet with a tea table, as if from their 1913 meeting in Berlin.
• Optional: framed photo of Queen Victoria in the background as a symbolic maternal link.

Historical Note: Emphasizes that both monarchs were first cousins and part of Europe’s royal web—yet they couldn’t stop the war.


I enclosed real photo of King George V and Nicolas II and AI generated sketches to illustrate an idea.

 

[HAWKEYE]

THIS ALWAYS STRUCK ME AS VERY PECULIAR

 

[jazzeum]

King George and the Tsar were first cousins by virtue of their mothers who were sisters coming from the Danish monarchy.

George and Wilhelm were also first cousins. Wilhelm’s mother was Victoria, the daughter of Queen Victoria and Victoria’s brother was King Edward, the father of George.

 

[Wolfgang_UK]

Nice pics of the "Panther" where did you get it from and what boat does it actually show????

 

[boerboy]

The photo on the right is an actual photo of the boat; the sketch on the left was generated by my AI (artificial intelligence) program

 

[Louis Badolato]

The photo on the right is an actual photo of the boat; the sketch on the left was generated by my AI (artificial intelligence) program

Al,

Your AI sketch looks remarkably similar to the Heco Tinplate Models interpretation of the German Gunboat: