Overview Atlantic Part Three Revolution Other Figures Great Revolutions
Atlantic decided to release four sets based on various revolutions of 20th Century. They were Facist (Italy), Nazi (Germany), Russian and Chinese. The figures were done in HO scale as well 1/32 scale. The 1/32 scale figures were sold painted and unpainted. The set would contain a personality figure or two related to the event. The set would also have figures related to the event and accessories. some of the accessories made such as the cannon seen above from the Russian Revolution. Others such as rickshaw and sampan in Chinese Revolution set do not.
The unpainted sets or Maxi are numbered 8007 through 8010. Painted sets are numbered 7507 through 7510. They also issued small figures packs. the figures were first issued in 1972 and canceled in 1975.
Overview Atlantic Part Three Revolution Other Figures Different Sets
Overview Atlantic Part Three Revolution Other Figures Part Two
The poses in the set are
- Mao
- Holding red book
- Carrying something
- Clubbing with Rifle over head
- Standing firing rifle
- marching with rifle
- Having submachine gun at waist
- Grenade thrower
- Sampan boat with man with paddle
- Ricksaw woman passenger and Rickshaw Driver
Overview Atlantic Part Three Revolution Other Figures Comments
This series is one you want to why was it made? Even the Atlantic site which I got some of my information had the same feeling. The major purchasers of these sets were children and I am sure there was lot of parents to see them. I had a dificult getting the sets. I had to get my sets with some exceptions outside of the country. Others have said they found them here. A very interesting series.
Overview Atlantic Part Three Revolution Other Figures Other Sets
There are two other 1/32 scale sets I had to get from outside of the country. Italian police and Carabrineri Band. The figures were available in 1/72 scale. When I get a chance we look at these two sets again.
How did the Nazi set even enter West Germany in the 1980s? Did they have to accept it because of EU commerce agreements? I have always understood that anything Nazi, swastika, and Hitler was/is completely verboten.
Also, I know Atlantic was an Italian company, but is Mussolini and the Fascisti movement imagery limited or banned in any parts of Italy? Just curious with these interesting historical “toys.”
I don’t know if the Italians were as ashamed of Mussolini as the Germans are of Hitler. I know I taught a couple German exchange students who had very little idea of who Hitler was or had much knowledge about the war other than it happened and didn’t turn out well for them.
When I was stationed in Germany in the 70s there was a resurgence of the Neo-Nazis among the youth; the government determined it was because of the fact there had been a veil of secrecy about the Nazis and the entire era so they set about doing an education about the Nazis. I’ve described elsewhere about sitting in a German Kino (movie theater) watching a documentary on the Nazis and getting the weird impression that some of the older folks – who’d lived through the horrors of the war (the city I was stationed in was totally destroyed by British bombers who thought they were bombing nearby Frankfurt) would have followed Hitler again had he come into the theater and said, “Come on!”
It was about that time I noticed the Atlantic sets in the hobby shop I used to go to (there was a real cute girl I eventually got to go out with me) – I wonder if there had been a temporary lifting of the ban due to that move by the government? I know they sold World War 2 German Infantry sets from all the major companies there.
As for Italy, I was over in Germany as a dependent in 1974 when the 30th Anniversary of the War was being observed. “The Stars and Stripes” the US Armed Forces newspaper did an article on Mussolini on the anniversary of his death. The reporter went around Vicenza (where we have a base) and interviewed Italians about their thoughts on Mussolini. They tried to get all age groups, young people had mixed feelings, but the older folks, who’d lived through the War and the Fascists were interesting. One fellow said Mussolini was all right until he got up with that Hitler character. There were things like that. But the most telling, that sums it up for me (and I’ve used this over the years), was an old fellow who thought about it for a moment, then said, “Mussolini… he made the trains run on time…”
Says it all.
So, I don’t imagine there would be a ban.
They label the sets as Revolution but neither Nazi or Fascism come to power as that.
If notice well they made the sets using Pre WW2 era uniforms that help soft more the thematic and the name were black shirt and brown shirt which also easy more as not very direct whilw communist set were more clear named.
Indication of more later know ..
The sets were sold in many countries and in Germany enter way later as part of minor hobby stores .Not big large retailer.
Any set sold In Germany was sold w label and any political symbols cover or erase complete even in WW 2 German sets
In italy were sold massive amount.
I have been trying to get one each of the Russian Revolution soldier with the Maxim gun and the Russian soldier with the Mauser pistol for years. I want to use them for Mexican Revolution characters. Kent Sprecher used to have them as loose figures, but they are long gone and most eBay lots have too many other figures I don’t need which rack up the price. I doubt I will ever find them now. The moral of this story is, buy it when you see it.
Ebay o ternational undee italy plastic figures or toy soldiers.
Add Atlantic.
I had see then loose in pairs or few fugures.But price do not go cheap .
Best.
I wish I had all 4 sets, because I think they are all well-done, creative, and original.
I used to have the Hitler/Nazi set, and made the mistake of selling it years ago at Rick Berry’s Michigan Toy Soldier Show. I regret it. The moral (to take a cue from Mark T) is that if you have a rare set, don’t ever sell it, just because you’re temporarily bored with it. You will live to regret your decision.
Because, as Mark T. correctly points out, few of us are likely to encounter these sets anymore — maybe occasionally at OTSN, or Plastic Warrior in London, but probably at prohibitivly expensive prices. I doubt many owners are going to discount them very much.
Hi,
just some short information on ban of swastika on toys and models in Germany.
April 25th 1979 German High Court decided its illegal to display swastika on sales goods (model kits, toy soldiers, decals..) and to display models with swastika for the public.
So to sell the Atlantic Hitler Set with full box art was illegal from that day on. Can still recall all the model kits in the shops had to be censored. Decals cut out. Box art blacked out. Funny enough for Mao and Stalin its no problem. Anyway think the four historical character sets never came out in real big numbers. At least Duce and Fuehrer sets had no action poses at all and Mao and Lenin/Stalin no real opponents. Still the Kuebelwagen and motorcycles are kind of unique but a big Mercedes would have made it to the real top.
There was a big discussion on the swastika ban among model kit builders.
Modell-Fan magazine headed its article on that point …Total denazification after 34 years for model kit builders…
Thanks for clearing that up Markus – I know there was a bunch of the stuff when I was over there – but I left in January 78. I always thought I’d make it back…
Well, with the political situation over there right now, we can see what a bang-up job their policy did in crushing Neo-Nazism.