Odds Ends Miscellaneous Items New Figures start of our latest post. We note some upcoming figures. We next have information on West Coaster. Brian Johnson shares a photo.
Odds Ends Miscellaneous Items New Figures
Rahway and Erwin have alert me to Mars next offering German Naval Infantry. This set has been out before in 1/72 scale.
The set will have 15 figures in 8 poses. The poses are as follows
- Walking ammo box and rifle
- Standing firing Schmeiser
- Kneeling on left knee firing Schmeiser
- Laying firing machine gun
- Standing with a rifle at waist
- Advancing with bayonet rifle
- Officer loading his automatic weapon at waist
- Rifle at waist walking
There is a concern that the heads are too small. We have no date when they will be out. Mars has a lot on its plate.
Roman Gurochkin share some interesting flat figures from a company called Warriors and Battles
the set will have ten figures. It will be divided into 5 border guards and 5 spies/infiltrators
Odds Ends Miscellaneous Items West Coaster
Greg Urbach reported on Facebook that there is a rumor that West Coaster has a new owner and the show will be on for 2020. As we get more information we will let you know.
Odds Ends Miscellaneous Items Brian Johnson
Brian Johnson set a cute photo with the caption You are sure there are no mines? The mine detector is Timmee and crew man is Palmer. I do not recognize the tank.
Interesting last month Brian had alert me to an Ebay listing where someone had tried to sell the Palmer figure for $300.00! The figure is worth $5.00 at best. He contacted the person, but I did not hear the result.
Odds Ends Miscellaneous Items Playsets
A friend of mine went to an auction where they had some Marx playsets for sale. The main item of the show was a Custer Last Stand playset. It went for $1300.00. A pet shop playset went for $400.00. Jungle sets went for $650. Castle fort playsets when for $175 without any figures or accessories.
That is funny in figure x that price.
the tank is a crude bad done made german Panzer I variant made of metal possible
The crew officer looks interesting.
the caption is funny.
best
The figures in Mars box art painted photo only as I had not seen the figures, looks like simple done as usual and barely depicting Kriegsmarine sailor personnel but rather coastal defense unit as many have not the Sailor service uniform and wearing generic German hat/helmets. Not the Cocked Zweispitz naval dress hat. No many have the inner or outer navy Shirt, the officer hat neither looks as German navy hat, not standard HERR hat either and more likely looks as a British hat. Head are way too small in some poses no all and weapons are way too thick as super caliber rifles. Again, typical many actions pose with LSMG that were never used in that level in Germans corps at all, but I take that as mythical depiction thanks to movies. Not a single has a life jacket used by many and that could be great to use then boat, ships s, ports, coastal defenses.
The legs and body in some look disproportionately to me as far I see.
And again, I’m not alone at all, if red plenty other blog there many that say horrors about them. I’m very easy given best words I could, and I even post it with out remarks in other blogs.
If want to add cheap plenty action poses set figures and like go for, they are good as that. Me another one that bite the dust.
They keep making poor wasted plastic sculpted figures, too sad as thematic and poses choices in this set would had be a great addition.
My thoughts -opinions. Please !!!!
best
The tank is a GAMA No.70,The seller lowered the price to $13 which had 1 bidder(Not me) that bought it.Seller was a female who had no idea about what she had and said she had contacted a few other Ebay dealers she knew that did Military toys and no one knew what the Palmer figure was!!Anyway she said she just thought she might have a special figure so started with the $300 price to see what would happen but after I contacted her she lowered it to $13 which still seemed too much to me but she sold it.
I will never tell a person a value of what is worth or should be sold.
if a seller sale it x insane price .good x him her.
I will some times correct in brand name or age of toy.
Other way i think is plenty people outhere that pay insane silly prices x figures even knowing the price is too high.Yet as far help a seller is ok with me.
best
Here’s a link to the review of the 1/72 Naval Troops Set on PSR – as feared, the 1/72 set started out as a noble idea realized as pretty much a waste of plastic. Sad, as Erwin said, they have some great ideas but always seem to fall short of the vision somehow. I keep pulling for them to improve. As I’ve commented elsewhere, Strelets-R has managed to do a complete turn-around in their sculpting style in 1/72 – hopefully, Mars will get it together in both scales. It would be good for the hobby.
http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=2541
Kent Sprecher you are not God please
You like say I’m wrong because maker told you the he bases his figures in Osprey.
How positive are you about it?
Check other than osprey books versus these figures, look more in to German navy uniforms other real war era photo and documentary before say so.
I notice you always jump out seat when I hit on these sets by this cheap maker.
Once again nothing personal but I understand your sale then and this may affect your sales in your opinion. Or so you believe.
Funny is I never intend rebate or argue any one here personal comment while you go ballistic towards me.
As I try explaining many times before in here and other blogs where you react pompous without hesitation that
It will not affect your sales. Same way BMC first horrible sets poses were and still are hot item sale all around. There like x everyone.
So, don’t take so patriotic. Is a set of plastic toy cheap figurines. They will sale as these Hobby is hungry for cheap production and these are that. I’m giving my dislike as many here had dislike other figures included posted by me or not and I take as personal preference.
But if like go other blogs and see for yourself what beautiful things they say about Mars.
About Osprey books
First Osprey have been re edited many times as carry some mistakes. And there even blog dedicated to correct Osprey many mistakes made in years with proof. Osprey re edit and update their books or made second volumes of same to add what they forgot or correct previuws mistakes
Also, Osprey books images show generally two or three different soldiers figures samples in one page mix, not exactly the way German units dress mix as that in one unit/platoon level, but rather a sample of many variation uniforms and gear used by troop or else in geeral. So here is probably the mix issue problem artist is doing all uniform used mix in one unit
Unfortunately, Osprey uses most painting, not actual photos or museum photos as well and this add to mainly focus in artist painting more likely
To know about the German marine forces, you need read more than just look or repeat what other just say to you. Osprey are not bible. They are good simple source same way Wikipedia is.
It is true the figures do have historical some partial gear/ uniform but not quite many of the standard more used navy sailors uniforms such the hats I mentioned and undershirt,sailor jumpsuit plus life jacket.
They (MARS)are wearing in most the two-bottom neck tunic jacket used by navy petitt officer and not the enlisted men
The sculpting is far to be good, very poor, the heads and helmets are poor done in some looking as mix America Italian helmet and smaller than body too much.Size weapons are oddin sme ,not all
I did not even say that ,is been saying by many other in other blogs, but I agree as well on those errors.
Maybe you don’t know what the German marine hat I refer to, here is sample of
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/300193131392695019/?lp=true
This was used mostly by sailors and marine fighting personal. None of figures appear to have it.
The officer marine hat I refer too is depicted is made wrong as far I see photo of painted figure in that angle only
The corrects can be see here.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/430867889344926079/
or from Osprey one of the book front cover war era photo
https://ospreypublishing.com/german-seaman-1939-45
or here
https://www.epicmilitaria.com/german-ww2-militaria/visor-caps/kriegsmarine-caps.html
The shirt I refer (kriegsmarine Matrosenhemde) Or uinternailaional know as sailor suit or jumper suit is depicted here
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kriegsmarine_uniforms_and_insignia.jpg
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matrosenanzug
The figures appear to have some or none, I can barely see it well.
They look like wearing kleiner Gesellschaftsanzug (froat coat)
Or grosser Gesellschaftsanzug
None wearing the kriegsmarine Matrosenhemde(sailor jumper)
They appear to be dress in mix confused uniforms hybrid in my view.
Correct historical data from books read as follow.
Chief petty officers wore a uniform very similar to the officer jacket, but with shoulder epaulets instead of sleeve stripes to denote rank. The service uniform for an enlisted sailor consisted of a jacket, a pair of trousers, a white and a blue shirt, matching collars edged with three stripes, a silk neckerchief, grey gloves and a cap with two ribbons. The enlisted cap was emblazoned with the script “Kriegsmarine”. The enlisted “dress service uniform” was worn with an open coat, buttoned in the center, with white dress shirt and embroidered gold sleeve buttons.
Several of above detail are missing in figures made.
Another Navy uniform according to book is following.
The Coastal marine troopers as those personnel permanently assigned to shore stations and include coastal artillery, wore a grey green Herr tunic uniform in the same style as the German Army. The uniform was worn with closed (not open) collar with collar tabs and shoulder rank epaulets.
Not depicted in the figures as far I see.
So, they are neither these
Also, I mentioned the lack of lifejacket that would had improve the sailors use as ship/boat crew and made then looks more navy far away. That was all as suggestion.
In fact, is error or issue made by most maker doing sailors not to do any or barely any pose with it.
Any navy in war time require sailors almost all time specially on board to ware it at all time in alert or combat situation.
Not to count panting is wrong as German uniform x winter is royal bright blue, not black or even navy blue as operantly depicted in box.
So yeah that too is wrong.
If that is what the artist copies from Osprey, he did its Wrong period.
Regarding the HO blog that ironical it was me first introduce in the post since I criticize the poor bad done early wrong titled set (German elite) set and I post as a sample in how this blogger categorize or talk about MARS.
Yet it is a personal review of the editor only and his observation of a HO set, not this one.
This blogger uses category 10 x historical in all many of his HO as you can barely distinguish any uniform detail, weapons else in such figures scale of course. Even after he say this about Japanese.
”
In the past Mars sculpting has been very poor and compared to that output this set is pretty good. Let’s not get too excited though, because that is not a great compliment, and these are still far from impressive sculptures by most standards. The proportions are not bad, although there are certainly several issues, like the incredibly small feet several have. The detail too is not too terrible, although when it comes to the weapons, we would still have to use the word poor. They all tend to be rather thick and chunky, and in the case of the machine guns this makes the weapon look far too short. In fact, it is the correct length, but with such fat barrels and features that they look wrong. Also, the officer’s pistol is so thick that it looks like a flare gun; perhaps not impossible, but probably not what was intended. The clothing is fair and the faces surprisingly good, but the hands are rather too small in some cases. There is a thick ridge of plastic around all the mold joins which occasionally expands into a serious piece of flash, and there are some issues with mound misalignment, so these will need a lot of work to make them look their best. However, what looks like a mess of plastic on the bayonet of the man throwing a grenade is actually a limp good-luck flag!”
Extracted from here of course.
http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=2644
Yet you Kent fail recognize apparently or been biased the fact that same exactly blogger did say this about previews set I mention before too, and I post as sample.
So, let see how accurate this blogger considers the (‘elite Germans”) set you defend so well before as accurate because extracted from Osprey book as well you mention before.??
Here is his comment and personal review. Read how same person considered the historical correctness of them among many other reviews points of course.
http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=2643
Again, all these reviews are base in one personal view and opinion and more importantly base in HO set only
The 1/32 sets in some cases are just simple copies of same HO poses while in other are variation.
In a 1/32 scale an artist has way much (up to 10 times more) margin space to be more accurate in detail carving and doing observing -respecting anatomical measures. Simple the Mars artist have some serious problems still as the one with HO set.
Till I see face to face near me hobby store the figures I will not try speculating no more as the paint as well now camouflage cover many error, poor detail and cover the good detail as well. I just echo the increasing disappointment of many other.
But apparently you and Don had taken in way too personal on me.
Let leave along the fury and take these as what they are. plastic toy figures .
Last but not least as you say i have a grind against Mars in other blog.That was hilarious.
Please if i had it i will have use my post all over .But i’m not.
So i can say something alike about you .
That Mars is paying you or giving you good discount to sale then and defend it !!.
You will sale then good,not worries .
best
I see both sides on this Mars debate. I am going to pick up probably two sets of the Japanese as Don said he was happy with them and I am desperately in need of some more troops (even filler) for my Japanese army. That said, these figures are not worth the $25 price tag that many dealers are selling them for.
I personally still cannot get over the fact that Kent suggested that the Mars sets are better than the early Armies in Plastic sets. I told my brother who is an avid collector himself and he laughed out loud at that assumption. I recently talked to Tony at Armies in Plastic and jokingly referred to the comment; we had a laugh and that was about it. For those who love the Mars figures and buy everything they make: keep supporting them. To say they are better than Armies in Plastic sets, however, is not only absurd but is also a horrible disservice to what Tony has done for the hobby. That would be like trying to minimize the importance of Richard Conte’s figures to the hobby; it just shouldn’t be done.
My thoughts~
-Alex
Alex, I realize you are trying to be open-minded and even-handed in the discussion of MARS figures, but permit me to clarify one point, specifically when you make reference to “… those who love the Mars figures…”. I actually have never, nor has Kent Sprecher or anyone else I’m aware of, said that we “love” MARS figures. I don’t, and I don’t think Kent Sprecher does either.
Rather, I think most of the MARS 1/32 scale figures are OK, and have some good features and choice of neglected historical eras. I thought the four different Vietnam War sets MARS released were pretty good. I thought their newly released WWII Japanese set was just fine, and fit in well as a supplement to my CTS Iwo Jima War in the Pacific playset. I’m looking forward to MARS release of its Pirate set, French Grenadier set, and now it’s German Naval Defense Force set, which I think looks interesting. As soon as Kent Sprecher’s Toy Soldier HQ announces their availability, I plan on immediately acquiring them.
And although I don’t “love” the MARS sets, I do find it unnecessary and objectionable for any collector to disparage the MARS sets as “trash” or “garbage”, or to use similarly extreme language. I don’t think such characterizations are true.
I think words like that are excessive, unfair, and unhelpful, especially considering the state of today’s hobby. Comments using the intemperate language quoted above are also unbalanced, and suggest an imability to make measured judgments, or having an ax to grind, or both.
And whereas I also think $25.00 for a set of sixteen MARS figures is somewhat high, I’m not aware of too much other NEW production on the market today being released at a significantly lower price.
As a seller I have to rely on what my customers buy and why or why not they buy. The general consensus was that the early AIP figures were stiffly posed and lacking in realistic animation. Customers also got confused and then angry about the AIP policy of making their figure sets in several different colors and giving them different names. I got blasted by several unhappy customers over this who thought they were buying different poses in each set only to find out that the only difference was the color. Tony & his wife worked hard to make their figure sets better and the wide range British colonial era “enemies” is outstanding and I highly recommend them. The field cannons AIP makes are in my opinion the best plastic examples on the market. They also price their sets cheaper than any other current maker of new sets which makes the consumer happy. So there is a lot to like about AIP.
Kent, I sold AIP in my list days and do not remember any customers complaining about their figures. I am not thrilled how they did the figures in different colors and figured you should carry them all. Some dealers like John Stengel JR stopped carrying their figures for various reasons. That being said the figures help fill in missing areas of history.
I myself liked it when AIP did their figures in multiple colors, just as I liked it when Marx did so many of it’s own figures in different colors for different sets. Tony explained to me once, in a phone conversation, that business considerations had to dictate much of what he produced, and how he produced it, and I can readily understand that.
Nevertheless, if AIP stopped producing right now, it would, like Conte, have made an immeasurable contribution to 1/32 scale plastic figures, particularly as follows:
1. AiP’s WWI line was something that was truly needed, and AIP made it comprehensive with different figures from all the major belligerent powers & armies (American Doughboys, U. S. Marines, Russians, Scots in kilts, French, Germans in spiked helmets, and Germans in pickelhaub helments). And each of these sets had unique poses and uniforms. Tony then added WWI lancer cavalry units from Germany, Russia, and Great Britain. The only thing AIP didn’t get to were WWI artillery and WWI machine gun units, both of which would have been useful. But Formtec gave us excellent WWI trench systems and Steve Weston provided two excellent WWI tanks which were completely compatible with AIP’s infantry and cavalry sets.
2. Likewise, as Kent Sprecher points out, AIP introduced a British Colonial line which no one in the U.S. had ever given us, and which English manufacturers had only nibbled on around the edges in a very limited way. Conte provided some excellent Zulu War sets, but AIP introduced Sudan, Afghanistan, Boer War, as well as Zulu War figures, with a vast range of British Colonial infantry as well as multiple sets of Afghan tribesmen, Fuzzi Wuzzies, Mahdi riflemen, Egyptian troops, Boer fighters, and Zulu warriors. I thought AIP’s Gordon Relief Expedition Camel Corps was the highlight of his Victorian Era/Colonial War line. AIP also introduced mounted sets for each of the British colonial wars, as well as both lancer and hussar cavalry sets for the Crimean War. Tony told me once (again, by phone, since I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting him in person) that he had very strong sales of his AIP sets in Britain and the rest of Europe — “selling like hotcakes” was the term he used.
3. And finally, also following what Kent Sprecher points out, the multiple AIP field artillery, seige guns, mortars, and gatling gun sets, across a whole range of wars, are unequalled by anyone for historical accuracy, superb sculpting, and sturdiness, with easy, well-designed snap-together assembly. The cannon crews which came with all these artillery sets were equally well done.
Tony, like others, always consulted the relevant Osprey volume for every set he made.
In any event, I’m afraid it will be a very long time before we get another manufacturer like AIP, with such a wide range combined with such reasonable prices.
Expeditionary Force also is releasing a steady stream of sets across a wide historical sprectrum, with superior sculpting, but also, alas, at substantially higher pricing. However, even ExForce artillery pieces do not surpass the artillery pieces which AIP gave us.
I agree entirely on the color choices for Armies in Plastic. As a collector who does not paint his figures, having multiple color choices (many that are suitable for different units or regiments) is exciting. It often just causes me to buy extra sets. Tony’s figures are also really great for army building. It goes without saying, but World War I would not even be a possibility to recreate without Tony’s efforts. I really enjoyed what he did with Sudan, the Northwest Frontier and Boxer Rebellion as well. Mars has offered some contributions to the hobby (I thought their Somalian insurgents and Delta Force were pretty good), I just don’t feel they have improved much over time and I know they certainly could. Here’s hoping they can do just that down the road. I will try to support them along the way
Alex, if I might ask, are you an English collector, or from here in the U.S.?
Don,
my brother and I are from southern Illinois (St. Louis metro area but on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River). I believe we have met at the Indiana toy show or possibly the Chicago one. We have been going to those two shows for the last three or so years and should have been going long before.
Again, if you don’t mind my asking, are you and your brother going to be in attendance at the Midwest Toy Soldier Show on April 7?
If so, will you be coming in on Saturday, or not till Sunday morning?
Remember, this year Mike Predergast will be there for room trading Saturday morning (spending Saturday night). Bill Skinner and I will also be arriving Saturday morning before checking into our room Saturday afternoon.
I wish I could say I knew other collectors down your way, but the only ones I know are Len Hardt & his wife (from the Springfield area), and then a gaggle of collectors (ha ha ha) from the Chicago area (Ed Borris, Mike Kutnick, Rich Egan).
But the show website says Ron Barzso & wife will also be in attendance again this year, as dealers.
Don,
We will be at Indy. We don’t usually go to room trading as we have nothing that we are willing to trade; we come to buy only. We usually come in for show day only as a result. We do have a massive list of items we are looking for, however. Charlie (my brother) and I are in the process of cataloging our entire collection of plastic soldiers in Excel and that will help us better know what we’re looking for. We are looking forward to seeing John Stengel Jr., Ron and Mary Ann, Ed, Mike, Rich, and all of the regulars. Hoping to see you there as well. We will be easy to spot because we are younger (I am 33 and my bro is 40) as collectors go and I will have my 7 year old son Liam with me. I believe my Dad is also going. He was the one who originally got us interested in toy soldiers.
Looking forward to it~
Alex, at your age with a 7-year old in tow you should stand out like a sore thumb. I’m sure we’ll have no difficulty spotting you and your clan.
Keep in mind that although it’s referred to as “room trading”, it’s actually nothing more than buying and selling, just like on the day of the show. The only difference is that instead of displaying their toy soldiers on tables, everything is displayed on dealers’ beds, nightstands, chest of drawers, the floor, and anywhere else the dealers can find space. Ed Borris is one who has repeatedly complained about how the use of the term “room trading” is so misleading, and ought to be changed.
But it sounds like you already know all the regulars there, and with three generations of your family there it will be nothing but fun.
I will expect a report on the show
And you shall have it, Admin.
At the very least, one from me as a buyer, and one from Ed Borris as a dealer.
But we now know that Mike Predergast and Alex Baldwin are both going as well, and I’m sure they will each post a few comments, observations, thoughts, critiques, etc.
Differing perspectives are always interesting.
Yes, room trading is misleading. You do not have to have anything to trade to arrive early and shop the rooms. While there may be some buying and trading between dealers prior to the show, it’s really more like early bird shopping. I can understand the people that run the shows reluctance to correct the misnomer as they make their money off the gate. If everyone arrived early bought from the dealers in their rooms and didn’t attend the show, the show attendance would be down and they would have no incentive to sponsor a show. Before I became a dealer I would go to OTSN for the room trading only and never attend the actual show.
Alex some of the best deals are done in the rooms. I have found items such as Blue box Duke of Marlborough in a room at OTSN. Another thing with going to the rooms you get to sit and talk with the people. at the show, you have limited numbers of hours so you rush through.