Why Did Toy Soldiers Grow? (1 Viewer)

[katana]

Toy Soldiers have a long history and appeard in many sizes over the centuries. When Britains established the 54 mm size many Toy Soldier manufacturers adopted this standard; but many did not. Lineol and Hausser produced 70 and 75mm figures. Several Spanish and Italian manufacturers produced 60mm figures. Many sizes existed but in the post WWII period 54mm had become the standard for metal figures until about 2006. 60mm became the new standard at that time for reasons that remain obscure. Several companies changed to the new standard and advertised the change like Figarti. Other companies gradually phased in the new size over time. Why did this change occur over a relativly short span of time?

 

[jazzeum]

This has been extensively discussed before so perhaps you want to do a search. However, much of the change is due to K & C, starting with the Arnhem range in 1995. They didn't pioneer it but in WW II, they used it extensively and it became the norm. Collectors came to expect it and Figarti followed suit when they came to realize that was what collectors wanted and what they needed to do to compete.

 

[Arnhemjim]

Hello Katana,
For what it may be worth this is an assessment I made a few years ago; "Having studied architecture at university, worked as an engineer for over four decades, and collected toy soldiers for seven decades, I would cite the selection of scale, i.e. size, as a very important, if not critical parameter. It allows makers to execute proportion, anatomical reality, and detail (particularly facial expression, armament, insignia and accouterments) not possible in smaller sized figures, yet still small enough to build fairly extensive displays/dioramas in a reasonable amount of space".

Arnhem Jim
Arizona Territory

 

[Phantom Warrior]

A few years ago I did some surveys to find out what WWII collectors wanted. The result was surprising. Collectors at that time preferred AFVs in 1:32 or 1:30 but not in 1:28 as they felt they were too large taking up too much space. Collectors also preferred the figures to be large at 1:28 scale (K&C size) to show more detail. And impossibly collectors wanted the 1:30 AFVs and the 1:28 figures to be the same scale so they would work together. :rolleyes2:^&confuse Recently, some of the K&C AFVs are coming out at larger than 1:30 about 1:28 to match their approximate 1:28 scale

Terry

 

[katana]

I agree that the increase in size allows for greater detail in figures. I think that the 21st Century Toy 1/18 scale 100mm figures and armor that came on the market in about 2000 created a desire for more detail and larger size. The high quality painted plastic historical figures by Papo, BBI, Scheleich etc. contributed to this desire for greater detail and realism in figures. BBI Roman and Medieval figures set a high standard for detail in 100mm figures. The weight of polystone and peweter set an upper limit for the scale of Toy Soldiers in those media. 1/28 scale seems to be exceeding that limit.

 

[larso]

I imagine the basic size was 2 inches, rather than 54mm. The other common size was 1 inch (1/72) not surprisingly as it was the basic unit of measurement. Most manufacturers would've been happy to standardise with these, as they were clearly popular.

 

[PanzerAce1944]

Seems the 1/35 scale plastic "Airfix" and plastic Tamiya Kits etc..... were the norm back in the 60's & 70's

Wayne

 

[Martin Tabony]

Seems the 1/35 scale plastic "Airfix" and plastic Tamiya Kits etc..... were the norm back in the 60's & 70's

Wayne

Airfix were still making plastic kits and figures in the traditional scale of 1/32.

As I understand it, 1/35th came about by chance, as it just happened to be the correct scale to fit the available moulding machines. It has taken over for military model kits because Tamiya were producing more. Other companies then had to match in with the popular scale. Aircraft kits are still 1/32nd ( or 1/48th) though.

Martin

 

[katana]

The late 1960's seems to be a period where plastic model scales were consolidated. I am currently building some 1/30 scale Bandai models from that period. A Hummel and a Jagdpanzer IV L70. Bandai also produced 4 seminal models in 1/15 scale; a Panzer IV, a Stug IV, a Hummel and a Tiger I. The first large scale Armor suitable for radiocontrol and nicely done for the period with individual link snap together tracks! I still have them today; they preceded and probably inspired the Tamiya 1/16 scale RC Armor. Tamiya introduced 1/25 scale Armor in about 1968 leading with a decent Tiger I with interior detail and a working tortion bar suspension, followed by a Panther A, late Jagdpanther, T34-85, SU-100, and a Centurion. They have been reintroduced about 3 times to date and are still available new today on Amazon and Ebay. The 1/25 scale works very well with the large 68mm figures from K&C, TCS, Figarti and Thomas Gunn. The figures that come with the models are very well done also and standing next to a K&C figure you cannot tell the difference in size or proportions if they are well painted. 4 figures came with the German Armor. Plastic models have a facinating history considering they have only been available for 65 years and I have been building them for that long! My first Armor models were the Aurora 1/48 scale Panther, Pershing and JS-3 circa 1955!