Eichhörnchen's Armies
 

Expanding on an album in my Profile page, this thread is for anyone interested in old or new plastic toy soldiers and figures (including animals)

Since I hit retirement I've more time to devote to my hobbies - without feelings of guilt - one of which is collecting vintage plastic figures then, if desired, stripping & repainting them. Sometimes in faithful imitation of their original finish and other times devoting much more time and care than the average piece-worker could in the 1960s

My 'Swoppet Knight' figures from that time did not require much more than a clean up, restoration of some missing parts and some silver-grey paint on the armour before they were ready to go to war again

https://i.imgur.com/hgcHK2O.jpg

Playing with toys at your age....
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img923/7321/ltcbcq.jpg

When grown-ups play with tin soldiers or soldiers made of plastic/other material they usually put them up in certain pattern to demonstrate a famous battle.

I try to remember what I saw when I was around 3-5 years old. A friend to my father-I think he was, had his entire basement arranged with fields mini trees mini hills mini trench.

If I remember correctly he had build in some scale the last battle of sonderburg 1864.

On tv I have seen some American making a true copy of some famous civil war battle.

Edit
In Denmark it is called slaget ved dybbøl-Eng the second Schleswig war

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Schleswig_War

End edit

Markus

I have a friend with the same hobby; he's created a huge diorama of Rorke's Drift (Zulu Wars) with toy soldiers - not model soldiers but toys. He was a high-flying shares dealer in the City but, like me, never lost his love for his little plastic men

My father and his friends destroyed entire armies of this!

But he still keep a few figures for collection. :D

Hey Eich, you know about this

https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/forumdisplay.php?f=325

right? :D

C'mon in and grab a beer. :Kaleun_Cheers:

I've a fair few 25mm Napoleonic Russian Army up in the loft but only ever got round to painting about 10%

Cool little army there, big E. :Kaleun_Thumbs_Up:

Cheers, mate... I just posted on your thread

I found these interesting homepage

https://royalarmouries.org/stories/b...t-battlefield/

Here is a story of making US most known battle in the civil war

https://www.gettysburgbattlefieldtou...-for-everyone/

Markus

Thanks for those, Markus

Here are some Norman soldiers by the Spanish maker JECSAN, which I got from eBay recently. First photo shows them as they were... the seller (in Florida) didn't know who they were made by and neither did I at first. Second photo shows how much better they look after a lick of paint and in the right setting. I'd stress that these are toy soldiers, not models, so I don't always go to work on facial features

https://i.imgur.com/zgrOikO.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/hiZW6My.jpg

I had a collection of maybe 20 medieval knight figurines by Britains Deetail, those with the rectangular light green metal stands , maybe ca. 7-12cm high (on foot or on horse), I do not exactly remember. Those were my pride and joy when I was a boy, because they were pretty detailed compared to figures like that made by other manufacturers, and they were not cheap either, and my pocket money was limited.

Its strange that things from that era, over 40 years ago, can appear to be just a short time ago, are vivid memories feelign very alive, while events form last week already are forgotten and seem two or three lifetimes away. Maybe I simply was happy back then. I certainly was, i really had the biggest luck of my lifetime with my family, parents, home. It was not all perfect, but nevertheless it was so absolutely alright.

^ Yes our toys remind us of a carefree life - mine certainly was too


https://i.imgur.com/vh9aZRo.jpg

Some more 'before & after' photos on a similar theme but this time the figures are by ELASTOLIN of Germany

The bareheaded swordsman I've seen described both as a Norman prince and as a Saxon nobleman

https://i.imgur.com/WYNjoBg.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/D4ZqCFV.jpg

Try to remember what they are called- They would pay a lot of money for old figures if they are in perfect stand.

Markus

Wow, great timing, I am getting ready to start painting tiny little figures for my model subs.

Sir, would you be ok if I move this worthy thread to the scale models section? We've been waiting for someone like you. :shucks: