Armies in Plastic Figure News August 2017 we are getting reports that they are coming back. Today it was reported over on the Hobby Bunker forum of their return. The poster stated that the figures would be made in the United States instead of China. At the moment no word on what figures they would be doing so we wait for further news.
This is not a surprise as I had seen an earlier hint on Steve Weston’s site . He hinted that a company was coming back into production. I had two companies in mind which Armies in Plastic was my main thought.
We will keep you as we get more news. Armies in Plastic also stated on their web site that they have moved all their mold back from China and will be doing everything here.
Check the AIP website. AIP will indeed be made in the USA as soon as current stock runs
out. Thanks, Ed Bearnson 8-22-17.
I believe the post is base in what AIP main page post .That suggest as they sale their old inventory !? Don’t know when that will be done .
The post says this .
ARMIES IN PLASTIC, Inc. WILL BE MADE IN AMERICA
Armies in Plastic, Inc. has brought all of its molds back from China.
In the future, as we sell out our current inventory, all new figures will be made in the U.S.A. by American workers.
Thank you,
God Bless America
https://www.armiesinplastic.com/
So let’s hope x the best in future …for over 4 years not seen any from AIP and they were only producer of more sets ever in last 30 years in 1.32 the made more than AIRFIX , Matchbox and ACT combined in amount sets made not counting the color variation.
Yet the quality is not top match ,their prices and amount poses figures per set were of great value .
my thoughts..
best..
Well if you read it like a Lawyer(Putuey) it says new figures will be “Made in America” but not that new sets of figures that haven’t been done yet eg:Top hat 1914 Belgians will be produced.So fingers crossed AIP will be doing NEW sets.
I wonder what that means for the F&I War figures. In my opinion, his best line are the NorthEastern Indians, because they were not AIP sculpts. They were done by John Jenkins, I believe, who is a far better sculptor than the guy Tony uses. I think that the Jenkins metal figures are made in China.
Anyway, good luck Tony. I hope things work out for you and AIP. Whether you’re a fan of the figures or not, Tony broke a lot of new ground and took chances on periods that went ignored by other makers. He deserves support.
F&I Indeed stand for French and Indian wars .The name given the part of Europe and colonies 7 years war in Northern America.
I agree indians were one of best…
Some of the Jen figutes were cast pour made here in US.
The modern US soldiers were very well done but from a third artist party.
Tony had many JEN prototypes sames he uses to show as future release but at the end used the cheap art made figure x most.It was a common practice x him always to show all fhose beautiful Jen figures in red box w rubber band to enlight you .He had wonders of designed figures from ancient medieval samurai to napoleonic wars that none were made.
Bringing mold using any carrier most has cost a lot as too heavy and many many molds as he is the top ever producer .
His warehouse last time I went were till cealing and are two huge warehouse factory type.This was in 2014.
Hope he had reduce inventory In order to produce here.
Best.
This is great news that AIP might be coming back into production – and that the figures will be made in the US. I have picked up a number of these sets over the years and admired the quality and value. Tony really made it possible for people to wargame or do dioramas in certain neglected periods.
This along with the return of the Lanard Corps Elite figures to Walmart in a different format has me a bit more optimistic about the state of inexpensive plastic figures for the near future.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/ARMY-PLAYSET-104PCS/703995749
The Lanard is just a repack.
My store has then in tha pack case since spring
Yet a new remodeling ( Planogram) in walmart store come in late September.
Usually the discontinue items and set bew. Same x most big box retail store as around same time.
Best .
Tony’s AIP French & Indian War sets truly were outstanding.
But I also thought his extensive WWI line of Americans, Germans, French, British, Commonwealth, and Russians was also great, and a welcome addition at a time when this period was highly under-represented.
Additionally, Tony’s British Colonial Period under Queen Victoria (Sudan, Egypt, Afghanistan, Dervishes, Fuzzie-Wuzzies, Mahdi Riflemen, and Zulus) was also very well-done, and was then highlighted by the British Sudan Camel Corps Gordon/Khartoum Expeditionary Force, which was extremely well-done, with excellently sculpted camels.
AIP’s French Foreign Legion and Arab sets were also impressive, in my opinion, with 10 different poses going with each set, and each set being produced in 3 different colors for the Foreign Legion, and 4 different colored sets for the Arabs.
Further, Tony’s American Civil War heavy seige cannon were very good, with excellent artillery crews. All his cannon and gatling guns were historically correct and very well-designed, for all periods (Civil War, American Revolution, and British Colonial). The artillery pieces all came in easy, snap-together sturdy soft-plastic.
All in all, AIP has made a real contribution, always reasonably priced, and, in my opinion, under-appreciated for how extensive its line of releases was — always in a good, high-quality soft plastic, and across a full infantry, artillery, and cavalry range in nearly every time period.
But I would see little point in re-releasing the same sets. Nearly everything AIP did is currently available from its website at bargain-reduced prices.
I know from talking to Tony by phone over the years that he has made up prototypes and in some cases molds for figures and time periods he hasn’t yet released (like British Napoleonic Highlanders, and Battle of Hastings Normans and Saxons), and I’m hoping it’s this new stuff he’s now considering starting up with again.
I know the AIP figures were also well-received in Europe, and if Tony would actually release his long-contemplated Battle of Hastings Normans and Saxons (also good for the ever-popular Robin Hood period) that they would be so popular and such good sellers in Britain they would probably erect a monument to him on the grounds of the Battle of Hastings National Battlefield Park.
This is great news! I’ve just been getting back into AIP after a few years because I thought they would soon become unavailable, and I am very glad to hear otherwise. I hope they remake their forts, as they are kind of expensive right now due to being out of production. Also looking forward to new output. American made figures are a definite plus!
Kudos to AIP’s resurrection! I’ve not always been a fan of their stuff but have to recognize their contribution to the hobby by their tremendous output. I bought up their WWI figures when they first came out for the very Reason Don stated – there was practically nothing representing one of the world’s most significant conflicts – think about it, there still isn’t much in the 1/32 – 60mm realm.
I got really excited when the deal was struck with John Jenkins and their FIW and contemporary Afghan/Iraq conflict figures stand up to many higher priced figures IMHO – I can only hope this is a trend that continues.
I am with the rest of you, much looking forward to seeing what they come up with next. Like others, I would like to get my paws on their FFL fort.
I don’t get the resurrection comment, AIP has not stopped selling their plastic ranges since they got into the business. They may have been temporarily out of stock but nothing, as far as I can tell is, out of production. I’m talking actual figures sets and not the varies colours of them.
The FIW figures are not ‘JOHN JENKINS DESIGNS’ figures they are from ‘FRONTLINE TOY SOLDIERS’ sculpts and the Modern US Troops sets are from ‘FIGARTI TOY SOLDIERS’ sculpts both under agreement with these companies.
I think the FFL fort is currently in stock, is it the cost that is holding you back from getting one ? I don’t go onto their website often but I have noted that they have many SALES, have the forts not been on sale at some point ?
The Fort had been in sale with hooks (other bonus set ) many times.
Both version forts had been in sale at many shows by collectors and on ebay very cheap included shipping as not that heavy.
Also from other dealers as well …
The one who says some of the figures were by JJ design was Tony himself often to people when ask in general thus giving impression all are made by ..
Tony had many samples set in red cases sets mold from JJ That he shows as that when personally visit his house and warehouse as i had done many times in years since 2001.
Same he had since his now long close West point store.
The idea may had gone roll as that in word to be given to all sets cast samples he has.
Regardless none of those in samples that are far superior to most simple (2d – style poses dynamism figures made by AIP) are being done in plastic.
Because he need JJ ownership permission license he has not been able to produce them as not in agreement complete,according to him.
best.
best.
Erwin,
The ‘FRONTLINE’ Indians were sculpted by John Jenkins for them as a commission ,so Tony is correct. However John Jenkins stopped working for others and started up as ‘JOHN JENKINS DESIGNS’, with similar but differently sculpted figures, he couldn’t use the ones he made for ‘FRONTLINE’ as they would be their copyright.
Les
The thing was AIP stopped producing new figures staying with what they had made. The blurbs that been posted have not been clear as to the confusion. Hopefully it will be cleared up if Tony is doing anything new or not. What we know right now is the old molds have been brought back from China.
I don’t see any confusion. The statement on his website is pretty clear that his moulds are now back in the USA.
Any further production runs will be ‘Made in America’.
The moulds are not Old but Current moulds as no sets have been discontinued.
AIP doesn’t normally tell collectors in advance if a NEW set is coming due to possible delays in manufacture. So I don’t expect that has changed.
Although they haven’t produced anything new sculpting wise in a couple of years they have offered NEW combined sets and re-configured sets. Plus the ‘Dollar Bag’ range. Which presumably is a way to clear any overstocks and build up funds to create more sets in the future. This is simply good business practice.
Since creating their first plastic set AIP has been open for business and selling their products worldwide for the last 20 years or so. I would consider them to be a current manufacturer.
Tony.Does often say to some us what and when approx set will come.
I was part of those knowing ahead in many occasions.
Generally those who see him in person.
He also informed few main dealers in person of future releases and often way ahead regardless of production delays.
It is just a happy way to spread and advertise he had.
As soon he stop producing of course not since.
In the Spanish American War and Japanese he got my advise x uniforms, colors and banner to which I supplied him direct with materials and info.
Again it depend how close you live from him and connection of course.
I was not only one knowing often about their coming sets.
Best
I can’t imagine how expensive it was to ship his molds from China – and frankly, from what I’ve heard from others who have their molds in China, I’m surprised it was possible. Hopefully, with the molds already made, perhaps he has a deal with a small injection molding outfit that can run off small amounts of sets without the prohibitive high cost of labor. However, I would be (joyously!) surprised if they came out with new stuff, unless the new molds are already made. One of the major reasons for toy soldier production in China is the cost of getting the mold made – China could do it for far less, so I can’t see any new molds made here. Also, my understanding for some manufacturers, is that an important component in the mold making bargaining package, was that running them off would only take place in China.
That being said, I’d love to see their Indians and other figures run in a nice FLAT plastic. If that happened, I’d repurchase many sets.
This is great news! AIP makes genuine toy soldiers at a price that doesn’t leave you feeling like just maybe you got taken. I have no arguments with the quality of plastic and the detail of the sculptures. I love the accuracy. I thought it was perfectly in tune with the collectors to make figure sets in different colors, often well chosen on good historically based grounds. The poses were all credible, useful ones that you could have multiples of. The 54mm figures are very versatile. They are thicker and seem to fit in with 60mm figures just as well as 54mm. I’ve purchased loads of AIP figures; ACW, AWI, 7 Years War, FFL, and a ton of Cossacks that converted for WWII use quite readily. So, I’m getting ready to crack open my wallet in support of their new Made in USA venture!
In my opinion is just speculation.
If AIP brough all molds back That along cost a fortune.The last time i was in warehouse. About two years back all overstock was to ski high,millions.
I doubt he had sold out half of it by now.
Cost of producing in US would be Insane too much x mass producing plus licenses, factory fees, labor , packing, require Industry location.
That is why not a single mass producer are made here but in CHINA since 1980s.
Even MARX reissues are run in mexico by Mexicans not americans.
Even most metal are made in CHINA.
No even action figures that sale today way more are done in US because of those reason.
So unless he is willing waste a lot ahead he will not invest x long making new figures.
I think the news is a bit overreacted in my opinion.
However I wish I could be wrong but I’m not dreaming …
My thoughts.
Best.
The only Marx molds in the past twenty years that have been run in the United States have been by Glencoe Models and Hobby Bunker.
New Marx did some as well for their playsets
The Marx molds in Mecico are owned by Dinamicos who been running them for years.
I’m inclined to agree with Erwin’s analysis. I usually talk by phone to Tony 2 or 3 times a year, and I think the next time I speak to him, if the mystery hasn’t yet been cleared up, I’m going to ask him what’s up. But sometimes Tony shares information, and other times he quitely takes his own counsel (at least with me).
I can’t make any informed comments about plastic production in the US. It will be interesting to hear more about this from AIP. Another producer of made in the US toy soldiers is Jeff Imel at Victorybuy, who has been working with J. Lloyd to reissue Timmee/Processed Plastic/Lido figures.
Above reference above I was refering to .Single producer of new figures x our market or hobby. I mean those are not made in US in the long run thousands batch.
Those running few batch using old mold here are just reissue using the old mold and figures sculpted/created long ago.Nothing new .Just running the mold in any machine for few weeks that many factories rent space x short time per hours and pile thousans figures to be sold in years as that what take any long run to be sold in our hobby.
There no enough buyers per yeas tu support that amount.
Of old molds no only PP/TM are bein run here.
I think the IDEAL and ANDY Gurad sets plus few MPC molds were run too.
But any one intersting in doing figures new molds have to go what huge big company does in US since 80s.
Have then made in CHINA and many other countries.
Tony does have person who runs machines.
But he told me even back then were costly here.
He may use then x same molds he had if feel like and profit once he clear his huge overstock.
Best.