June Plastic Figure Showcase, we take a look at a number of items. First, we share a link to Mike Predergast’s interview with Sergey Zabashta, owner of Mars figures. Second, we some various figures including one of the Matchbox 8th Army.
June Plastic Figure Showcase Mars Figures
Mike Pendergast of Warhorse Miniatures has another great interview from the Russian makers. This time it is with Sergey Zabashta of Mars figures. It is a very interesting interview. Sergey gives insight on his figures and talks about doing mounted conquistadors. You can see the interview here.
PlasticFigure Time
I love the Matchbox 1/32 scale figure. Here we have one British 8th Army figures. He is one of the 13 figures that Matchbox did for the series. He is standing firing a Bren gun. I like him wearing the Tam hat instead of a helmet. Kent Sprecher on his web site stated that the figures were done in dark tan and then in light tan.One thing you discover when you collect figures from foreign countries, you discover how many companies copied other figures. Usually, they are direct copies or downsize from larger figures. This figure is a difference it upscale from a smaller figure. This figure is based on the Britains 54mm swoppet civil war officer. He has been increased to 70mm.Werner was an interesting company. While most of their figures were copies of Timmee for the western and Ideal for the army figures, they did some original poses. This one of them, an Indian with right arm raised and left hand holding a rifle. We have little information on this company.
Dollar Tree Find
We have a local Dollar Tree store, which I like to check out. This past week, I found they had four Toy Story Four PVC figures. Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Little Bo Peep, and Rex. Of the four, I got the Rex the dinosaur for Laurie as she collects dinosaurs. I will go back and get two Little Bo Peeps. I will keep on and will send the other to Peter Evans to do a conversion.
The USCW figure is by CANE from Bologna. first set not by E.Simonnetti designed.
Full set has 6 poses cloned from Britain swoppet as admin says.
Later CANE introduced a new original designed set of Custer 7cavalry also sold in grey an blue version as norm of most makers .
Typical European made figures in the 60/75 mm scale made is reason x it size
The more common down scale copies were made by HK before HK start making it own designed figures.
I thought Matchbox’s 8th Army and Commandoes were their best (I know that covers most of their series, but…) – their other sets had great detail and some excellent poses, but were somewhat flat – though still pretty good. I think the sculptor of those sets managed the limitations better for the most part.
I’d also add the Matchbox Afrika Korps to their ‘best’ list. I’ve always wished they did 1/32 sets of their Japanese and Australians as well. These 1/72 sets are just as well-sculpted as the 8th Army, Afrika Korps and Commando sets. They also did Falklands War British that I used for ‘Wild Geese” style mercenaries. The first 3 Matchbox sets, German Infantry, Americans and British have a couple of good poses,. especially the officers, but nowhere near the detail of the later sets. Aside from the flatness of the poses the later matchbox figures are just as good as almost anything being made today. There was one Russian 1/72 figure made in hard plastic for their t-34 kit. I wish they had done a full set of Russians as well.
Matchbox did quite nice sets .Overall better than most Airfix but also is my understanding same sculptor was involved w both companies and reason many poses were almost copies or alike Airfix..The company had a short production life in 1/32 and unfortunately many HO set were never made in larger.
The very early made in flat colors are the best as later gloss plastic rest some detail.
Their scale not quite 54mm as Airfix yet blend with it.
Montgomery pose and other officers such Rommel resembling are quite impressive in detail.
The bazooka pose and flamethrower too.
The 30 ca machine gun poses made in 2D are odd.
The introduction of Scottish poses was a plus for the first time .
my thought.
best
I REALLY wish they had up-scaled the “Falkland” figures.Are the moulds around anywhere?Maybe some nice rich Russian could do some of the Matchbox 1/72s in 1/32.One can dream eh.
I agree, it be nice to see Cold War era soldiers. Brits, Canadians, French (NATO) and more AK carrying Soviets of the 1960’s- are needed. Eng. Basevich did a nice 1970’s Soviet set and TSSD, Mars and Plastic Platoon has done Americans in Vietnam.
There was a photo, or several, i found online years ago.
It showed the sculpter creating the models for the Matchbox figure line.
They were quite large compared to the finished figures.
Wish I could see that again.
And I wish I knew who the sculptor was.
No one has outdone him since.
Was the sculptor who did the Matchbox 1/32 figures the same sculptor who did the Accurate 1/32 figures? I thought I had heard at some point that it was the same person.
Bill farmer with his company- family of B.N.F. Models had done figures sets work for Matchbox,Accurate,IMEX,A CALL TO ARMS,EMHAR and Revell.
As far I know he was working last for Ford Motor Company’s Small and Medium car Design Studio at Dunton Essex..
best
I thought that one of Airfix artist was involved with Matchbox and Britain as well -Ron Cameron.But i may have it mix up …
Definitely there similarities in Airfix/matchbox many poses as well some Britain in several sets .
…
The USCW figure is by CANE from Bologna. first set not by E.Simonnetti designed.
Full set has 6 poses cloned from Britain swoppet as admin says.
Later CANE introduced a new original designed set of Custer 7cavalry also sold in grey an blue version as norm of most makers .
Typical European made figures in the 60/75 mm scale made is reason x it size
The more common down scale copies were made by HK before HK start making it own designed figures.
Best
I thought Matchbox’s 8th Army and Commandoes were their best (I know that covers most of their series, but…) – their other sets had great detail and some excellent poses, but were somewhat flat – though still pretty good. I think the sculptor of those sets managed the limitations better for the most part.
I’d also add the Matchbox Afrika Korps to their ‘best’ list. I’ve always wished they did 1/32 sets of their Japanese and Australians as well. These 1/72 sets are just as well-sculpted as the 8th Army, Afrika Korps and Commando sets. They also did Falklands War British that I used for ‘Wild Geese” style mercenaries. The first 3 Matchbox sets, German Infantry, Americans and British have a couple of good poses,. especially the officers, but nowhere near the detail of the later sets. Aside from the flatness of the poses the later matchbox figures are just as good as almost anything being made today. There was one Russian 1/72 figure made in hard plastic for their t-34 kit. I wish they had done a full set of Russians as well.
Matchbox did quite nice sets .Overall better than most Airfix but also is my understanding same sculptor was involved w both companies and reason many poses were almost copies or alike Airfix..The company had a short production life in 1/32 and unfortunately many HO set were never made in larger.
The very early made in flat colors are the best as later gloss plastic rest some detail.
Their scale not quite 54mm as Airfix yet blend with it.
Montgomery pose and other officers such Rommel resembling are quite impressive in detail.
The bazooka pose and flamethrower too.
The 30 ca machine gun poses made in 2D are odd.
The introduction of Scottish poses was a plus for the first time .
my thought.
best
I REALLY wish they had up-scaled the “Falkland” figures.Are the moulds around anywhere?Maybe some nice rich Russian could do some of the Matchbox 1/72s in 1/32.One can dream eh.
I agree, it be nice to see Cold War era soldiers. Brits, Canadians, French (NATO) and more AK carrying Soviets of the 1960’s- are needed. Eng. Basevich did a nice 1970’s Soviet set and TSSD, Mars and Plastic Platoon has done Americans in Vietnam.
Tom, I have a post coming up with news from CTS on their Korean War set.
There was a photo, or several, i found online years ago.
It showed the sculpter creating the models for the Matchbox figure line.
They were quite large compared to the finished figures.
Wish I could see that again.
And I wish I knew who the sculptor was.
No one has outdone him since.
One of our English readers will supply the sculptor.
Was the sculptor who did the Matchbox 1/32 figures the same sculptor who did the Accurate 1/32 figures? I thought I had heard at some point that it was the same person.
His name is Bill Farmer. Until some years ago he had a website. I think he also did work for HaT. Here is a picture of one of his HaT sculpts and a link to the defunct website. http://rafa-pardo-almudi.blogspot.com/2007/08/bill-farmer-soldier-sculptor.html
Bill farmer with his company- family of B.N.F. Models had done figures sets work for Matchbox,Accurate,IMEX,A CALL TO ARMS,EMHAR and Revell.
As far I know he was working last for Ford Motor Company’s Small and Medium car Design Studio at Dunton Essex..
best
I thought that one of Airfix artist was involved with Matchbox and Britain as well -Ron Cameron.But i may have it mix up …
Definitely there similarities in Airfix/matchbox many poses as well some Britain in several sets .
…
I have the green Indian figure in dark brown. I guess they came in different colors. Nice pose.
Yes did other colors, I have seen in him in gray.