What Toy Soldier items Have You Acquired in The Last 2 Weeks ? (6 Viewers)

[johnnybach]

I completed assembling and painting a lookalike Britains Set 101 Mounted Life Guard Band this week. First made by Britains in the 1890's, I painted my band in the Victorian Period - which will allow me to use other figures from that long period of time, when Victoria was on the throne.

My first pic, shows the 21 Piece band with two "Travellers" - which were really Escorts to the Kettledrummer - which was done at the time. This is pre - 1842, as they changed uniform and headgear to the "Albert" style helmet thereafter, and it is still used to this day. My travellers for both periods, are repaired and modified original Hollowcast pieces - from my existing collection - but the band is brand-new from castings

The Band was made by Replica Metal Model Soldiers, a Company resurrected by Andrew Stevenson, who is also a Treefrogger (Sandringham39). I have wanted this band since I was a kid - and have finally got one - that at least looks similar - and I'm now in my seventies. It has now become the centre of my collection.

Note that I have set them up in ranks of five in my first two pics - and in fours in the last two. Hope you like it half as much as I do.:salute:: jb

Pics attached

 

[bradleyl30]

Planned on going to Chicago but that plan fell through when I got sent out of town for training on a base in the middle of no where. So it was a joy to walk in the door around midnight to find a package full of awesomeness.

That is definitely a package of awesomeness. Congrats!

 

[tsukaiban]

Nice looking samurai and foot soldiers from the Monarch Regalia Miniatures.

More

 

[ccdc11]

Nice looking samurai and foot soldiers from the Monarch Regalia Miniatures.

Thank you,
I bought a few sets every year at OTSN from Ted D and they are some of my favorites.

 

[Louis Badolato]

I completed assembling and painting a lookalike Britains Set 101 Mounted Life Guard Band this week. First made by Britains in the 1890's, I painted my band in the Victorian Period - which will allow me to use other figures from that long period of time, when Victoria was on the throne.

My first pic, shows the 21 Piece band with two "Travellers" - which were really Escorts to the Kettledrummer - which was done at the time. This is pre - 1842, as they changed uniform and headgear to the "Albert" style helmet thereafter, and it is still used to this day. My travellers for both periods, are repaired and modified original Hollowcast pieces - from my existing collection - but the band is brand-new from castings

The Band was made by Replica Metal Model Soldiers, a Company resurrected by Andrew Stevenson, who is also a Treefrogger (Sandringham39). I have wanted this band since I was a kid - and have finally got one - that at least looks similar - and I'm now in my seventies. It has now become the centre of my collection.

Note that I have set them up in ranks of five in my first two pics - and in fours in the last two. Hope you like it half as much as I do.:salute:: jb

Pics attached

View attachment 238235View attachment 238236View attachment 238237View attachment 238238

Fantistic Work!!^&cool^&cool^&cool^&cool^&cool This is what I would call a "Holy Grail" piece, as you have been after it since you were a kid!:salute::

 

[johnnybach]

Fantistic Work!!^&cool^&cool^&cool^&cool^&cool This is what I would call a "Holy Grail" piece, as you have been after it since you were a kid!:salute::

Thanks Louis, glad you like them too.

When I was a kid - call it 1950's - I first saw a picture of this set - and fell in love with it. BUT -in those days, we were just getting over the War - and my Dad was still recovering in hospital from injuries sustained when his ship was sunk in the Pacific by Japanese warplanes.

So............spare cash wasn't around - and I remember me trying to start saving up! Impossible - as sweets ( candy) then came off ration!!!!

Then - as I grew up - other things began to take over as my wishlist grew. Motor-bikes and Girls and Rugby started to edge out Toy Soldiers.

Then marriage and children came along - and their wants and needs dominated - so Toy Soldiers receded more to the back of my mind.

BUT - they eventually grew up - and got married themselves - and so - my collecting began once again - about 45 years or so later, when I was in my early fifties.

However, I soon found that the old buy 'em and collect 'em habit just wasn't enough anymore - so I began painting kits, castings and also began repairing things too - which really did float my boat.

Eventually, I started looking for this set once again - only to find that in the intervening years it had got rarer and much harder to find. I'm also not all that good at e-bay buying - and whenever I found figures - I was always beaten by more savvy buyers. It had also become more expensive - so I started looking around for alternatives. I did find a few - but mostly in Regimental Dress, so I never pulled the trigger on a purchase.

And then! I found ONE figure on e-bay - in a pretty sorry state, with multiple coats of paint applied since it was manufactured - I estimate probably around the 1930's. It was so bad - that nobody else bid - and I won!!! But after a clean-up and a repaint - it looked perfect.

I then decided to set myself the task of looking out for more individuals like him - and maybe build up a band that way. However, in the meantime I met Andrew Stevenson, who had just become the owner of Replica Metal Models & Soldiers - and whilst chatting about various TS's - I mentioned my sole bandsman - and my objective.

Andrew just casually mentioned that he might have a figure that he could supply as castings - that could NEARLY replicate the figure that Britains first made in 1893 - just arms and instruments were not all EXACTLY the same - as some were from other sets. Did I want some???

Yikes!

I accepted Andrew's offer, in a heartbeat. Then I thought, almost immediately - why stick at the twelve figures of that set - so sat down with a bit of paper and worked out my bigger Band.

And that's what you see now Louis. It took me almost seventy years to get it - and I've been re-arranging them almost ever day since I got 'em! I have also asked Andrew to make me up some more "specials" - which will comprise four State Trumpeters ( the ones with longer trumpets and banners hanging from them), which will use the same basic figure as the rest of the Band - but also have the instruments described. ( I don't think Britains ever made them that way). These will become the new rear rank of my band. I'm also collecting more Troopers from e-bay purchases again - so that a Troop of them can eventually follow the Band as well.

Yup - you're absolutely correct Louis - it is my "Holy Grail" piece - and only goes to show that the desire for something NEVER really goes away - BUT - there's often more than one way of skinning a cat!

So glad you like it too. :salute:: jb

 

[BHogan]

Just added this piece to my First World War collection. I really like the dynamism of the sculpting and painting.

Brendan

 

[Major Busgen]

Netherlands Artillery Train officer and men bringing up ammunition (1815) by VID Soldiers

 

[kogu]

Today I received the John Jenkins Designs CQH-03 Spanish Cavalryman from his Conquest of America Line.
A very nice figure, and in my opinion a couple notches up in sculpting and painting quality.
The best mounted figure I have yet seen from John.
So very happy with the purchase and, of course, anxiously looking forward to the future releases.

Top job by JJD {bravo}}

Konrad

 

[ccdc11]

Another few bits of everything this week
JJD, TG greeks New war park loaders and a few K&C special edition Marines ( there is one more marine charging with Bar but he arrived damaged)

 

[Dragoon]

Today I received the John Jenkins Designs CQH-03 Spanish Cavalryman from his Conquest of America Line.
A very nice figure, and in my opinion a couple notches up in sculpting and painting quality.
The best mounted figure I have yet seen from John.
So very happy with the purchase and, of course, anxiously looking forward to the future releases.

Top job by JJD {bravo}}

Konrad

He came dancing across the water
With his galleons and guns
Looking for the new world
In that palace in the sun.
- Neil Young

Cool figure Konrad ^&cool
​

 

[ivanmoe]

Another few bits of everything this week
JJD, TG greeks New war park loaders and a few K&C special edition Marines ( there is one more marine charging with Bar but he arrived damaged)

Was admiring your new acquisitions and thought about the irony attendant to collectors going on about “the good old days” of the hobby. In viewing your new sets, it really does appear to me that what’s available for purchase just keeps getting better. True, things are more expensive. IMO, however, that reality has to be juxtaposed with the improvements that we see in many of these treasures. Just wanted to share the sentiment.

-Moe

 

[ccdc11]

Was admiring your new acquisitions and thought about the irony attendant to collectors going on about “the good old days” of the hobby. In viewing your new sets, it really does appear to me that what’s available for purchase just keeps getting better. True, things are more expensive. IMO, however, that reality has to be juxtaposed with the improvements that we see in many of these treasures. Just wanted to share the sentiment.

-Moe

Moe,
I agree , its stunning how different toy soldiers have become from when I first started to collect metal in 1999 and now.
I have to cull some of my collection due to downsizing and I just don't have room to buy anything without getting rid of some.
I was looking at the vikings from conte and while nice the quality/detail compared to what is being produce now is shocking.
And while I also wonder about the pricing, the whole hobby has improved as a whole. You can tell just how good they have really gotten when guys are mixing first legion Greeks with Russian connoisseur stuff and it's hard to tell.
chuck

 

[ivanmoe]

Jenkins's new Spitfire Model:

-Moe

 

[TomNT]

Perfect scene Moe and another beautiful bird made by John!

Tom

 

[cnq]

Beautiful shot Moe of the Spitfire in sunset. It looks like JJD is currently the king of 1/30 war birds in terms of detail and cost.

 

[Ivanhoe]

Jenkins's new Spitfire Model:


-Moe

The 'perspective' on the photo is excellent !

Thank you.

 

[Dragoon]

New JJD fighting Romans of the Late-Republic vs. JJD Gauls.

 

[nysoldiers]

New JJD fighting Romans of the Late-Republic vs. JJD Gauls.

Great figures and many more to come......this is the "golden age" for Ancient Roman toy soldiers and their enemies!
Punic Wars, Caesar's Wars and Imperial Roman Wars........

 

[Louis Badolato]

Just picked up these two cool Edmund's sets, the 7th Michigan Volunteer Cavalry from the Civil War and the 1st Volunteer U.S. Cavalry (Rough Riders). Edmund also agreed to do a special order for me, the 14th New York Volunteer Infantry WWI Color Party, which I wanted because the actual WWI Regimental Standard hangs in my collection.