November Figure News Two Mars Paratroopers, Mars Toys has shown another future set. This time it is World War Two German paratrooper in tropical uniforms. Next, we have an update for the Waterloo 1815 Seventh Cavalry which showcase earlier this year.
November Figure News Two Mars Paratroopers in Tropical Uniforms
1.Running an automatic weapon.
2. Laying firing rifle.
3.Standing reaching for ammo from his vest to reload his rifle.
4. German paratrooper getting ready to throw a grenade bundle. This should be the single figure in the set.
5.Kneeling firing a heavy machine gun.
6. Standing firing an automatic rifle.
7. German paratroo[er firing an automatic weapon at the waist.
8.Standing firing Schmeiser.
It will be interesting if people will combine these figures with Mars other set German paratroopers in winter uniforms.
Waterloo 1815 Seventh Cavalry
Waterloo1815 posted photos of revised figures for Custer set 1.
“Here are the poses for our Set #1 of Custer in 1/32
The rifles have been corrected and are no longer these on repeat but Springfields as in Little Big Horn.
The resins are already ready, so the process of making steel molds will start soon. The set should be out by February.
The figures will be light blue, similar to Paragon miniatures. Or medium/dark blue; still to be decided.”
Let me know what you think of the revisions.
The revolvers still look like cap & ball instead of the Colt 1873 Peacemaker.
In my view ..
The MARS had improved some definitely .
Cons .
1-Again paint advertise image help a lot too ,the real finish product and MARS extensive issues with plastic excess and overmolded halve defect is always a problem.Hope it had improved.
I saw last japanese figures in hand and the mold issue is still gross showing unfortunately ,i had not seen other last .
2-The historical accuracy of a single german unit in war -even late period armed with such array of last modern weapons was equivalent of winning mega lottery twice in one month .Not way ,neither possible .
Yet out of wanted i can deal with it and may be able inter mix blend with others figures such Airfix,21 century and Pegasus sets to split the concentration of so many semi-full automatic weapons per unit .
Pros..
The set poses and choices of then is great .
The type uniform and gear weapons depicted is correct .
The bases are a plus versus the specifically one type not generic bases terrain made by other makers.As figures can be removed from bases in these Mars and used inside vehicles/planes else .
I see possibilities of conversion easy here too
Waterloo did fix the carbine , I personnel request review of it and send owner the links with right samples immediately after many here comment about it.
I did same with revolver ,even using copy paste comments from other collectors opinion regarding it from this blog and direct post of this blog to his FB page .
The maker ask me for data that i supply via US and Museum images info ,even a pdf file about weapons used during such campaign
Yet not idea why that other weapon not corrected.Unfortunately as i ask him today ,he mention ,it is too late by now .
Figures will likely been available later than mentioned above .
hope they are .Personally i can deal with the small issue .
PP sale more expensive figures doing errors already mention here and still many buy then still.
my thoughts .
is there a sence of producing laying figures with a base?
Agree,but not first time done .
From the picture, it looks like the prone figure is not attached to the base. I hope not, so we can ignore the base if we choose.
I seen figures prototype.looks like base and figures molded separated and then glue together.
We will have to wait and see.
I really hope Waterloo 1815 does the cavalry in medium-dark blue to match Marx and Airfix recasts. If they come in sky-blue I am definitely painting them darker blue to match. I hope I don’t have to waste my time that way.
Probably of all here on this forum I’m most qualified to make comment on the Waterloo U S Cavalry. I did sculpt and produce the Artefacts range in the 1980’s.
If we are to pick fault then it’s virtually everything of dress or equipment from braces, shirts, carbines, carbine strap, yellow trouser stripe etc.etc.
All information now easily researched on the internet.
But again these are the ‘hollywood’ stereo typical cavalry.
Not the 100% accurate metal miniature or plastic ..
These are meant to be played with..
Will I buy them. ??
Definitely yes because these are still the figures of my childhood.
Like with the Conte Romans I’m very excited for next year.
Good luck to Waterloo.
Stay safe
Alan
In my opinion .The problems goes that there two collectors views.
Those who play as “children” and those who play like adult with adult toy figures or to represent history using well done not cheap toy soldiers figures .Many producer today claim they made “historical “model figures or historical accurate toy soldiers as Airfix did advertise in 70s in their figures packing ,not quite intended as typical toy soldier for children but more likely toy model soldiers-figures to be paint historical,same asMatchbox,ESCI .Yet they fail often with many errors and a lot too do so today .
Also many charge prices way above logic and buyers collectors expect the best x that price.examples PP,Publius,EXF and few others .
The prices in many plastic figures had become equal or even higher than many well done metal cast figures produced today.Publius in particular barely copy and or clone already made mini statues in metal to plastic reissues.the russian maker-Not known brand selling sets more cheap does same coping direct made poses figures from metal cast figures.
In some cases some collectors of plastic buy the unpainted metal cast same figures versus plastic clones as cost less.
PP,Publius and many others what they do are not typical toy soldiers but rather mini statues art figurines in plastic,soft plastic or resin.Their sculpt ,limited production and inflated price can not be considered ‘toy soldiers” as we know them.A price of one PP set cost the price of 4 sets of many other brand with 10 times more figures .
Yet…for those who do not care about mistakes in these high prive figures or cheap line they are toys to “play” and if US cavalry can use a winchester 76 in any civil war play scene as far is dress like or as US cavalry for indians late wars it could be used for .For those looking accuracy any figures with errors won’t be good at all and they will with their right opinion criticise it .
As far i know todays children barrely play with toy soldiers.
So the eyes of adult collectors(Most of those buying todays these limited run figures) will be more picky than a child.
I personally let go unless very obvious mistakes.
For many is a big issues or depending in interest.
Same way many can not get along with scale disparities.
CONTE excel above most in accuracy unless doing a movie figures such the war lord that by the way the movie itself is not far from reality in many aspects.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_War_Lord
My thoughts.
Best
Hi Erwin,
I’m not sure if I upset you with my post. I’m sorry if I did. Even though I sculpted all my figures as accurately as I could do years ago I’m still a big kid at heart, even in my seventies, and am a sucker for U S Cavalry figures from most manufacturers.
On a pension I cannot afford most of the high range. Probably something most of us can relate to.
My point is I don’t think the majority of buyers care to much for 100% accuracy just preferring something that looks like and adds to the fantasy of the play.
Waterloo figure certainly satisfy that dream though, personally, I really dislike the spikey haired Custer..
TSSD still did the best Custer but again that’s my opinion.
Finally something I did discover years ago was the difference between the American and European markets.
Americans really demand authenticity.
The Europeans, especially the Germans, have a totally different idea of what U S Cavalry really looked like thanks to the Shatterhand?? films of the 50/60,s.
Not surprisingly the Waterloo figures , through their designer and origins, appear straight from that period.
Minor point I wish they had done some of the other positions, especially the two figure set first..
But that’s me.
Again apologies Erwin if you had trouble with my post.
Stay safe
Alan
I have to agree with you, Alan. My collecting philosophy is to use whatever figures and accessories I like, placed where I like them, in my dioramas. I have farmers working in Wild West stables, all kinds of periods, including pirates and Indians as CSA guerillas, converted German Mountain Troops as Western gold miners, and anything that works as Wild West civilians. I have converted Marx carpenters building coffins in my old West Coffin Factory made from a Britain’s stable and I even have an Elizabethan period gentleman in a top hat with a cane flirting with a Dulcop Maid Marian mounted side saddle on a white Britain’s horse in Dodge City, as “horrifying” as that might sound!! (Robin Hood would be terribly upset, but it would be TOO MUCH to have him there – I DO have some boundaries!!) Some of my favorite vignettes would probably fail the accuracy test, BUT that’s just fine with me. When I made my CSA Indian Troop conversions, I had NO idea what they were supposed to really look like, but I’m the only one in charge of the fantasy world inside my curio cabinets, and they make me happy, which is why I collect this junk to begin with!! I have control of almost NOTHING in the “real world”, but I have full authority over my toy displays!!!!
I’m not upset at allAlan
I post my opinion verssion only .
Not sure why you think I’m upsets x any of your comments
If note well i do not care much about small details. So partially i agree with some of your statements if look well.All i did explain is there two views in collectors world and my personal observation.I try mediate and understand both sides and like i say i personally not care much about small weapons issues.but if others does i understand and respect then also.
Hope u understood.
That all.
Stay well..
Best regards.
I still like the Custer set as Hollywood figures. Maybe even more than accurate figures. I do think Custer’s spiky hair is weird, though. He looks like one of those Celt warriors who would stiffen their hair with lime.
one of the first film made about ,can not well seen here unfortunately ..
Thank you Erwin.
Stay safe and good luck everyone.
Alan
Still can’t wait for the Conte Romans…when.when?.
Your welcome Alan ,yes ,those romans looks great .i think should be soon ,silver or bronze will be great in my personal flavor …
Always in the expectative for more.
best
Custer cut his hair before the campaign. My first thoughts upon looking at the figure was the sculptor was trying to convey movement and action by having his hair “flying” behind him. It would have to be his movement as all accounts I’ve read state it was a very hot, still day with no discernable breeze. Whether he achieved that or not I suppose is up to the beholder.
Any info on when the two new sets of Mars German paras are going to be for sale here in the U.S.? What about the new U.S. paras?
Bobby Moore
The new MARS set is available now from several sources .
Kent Sprecher with very low price and great shipping
https://www.ebay.com/itm/114785235612?hash=item1ab9bbb29c:g:AUUAAOSwrVJgibfN
And CTS also with close on price and shipping
https://www.classictoysoldiers.com/cgi-bin/ctsc6/rtl/phd.cgi?Autoincrement=008836&tag_rf=54mm%20Toy%20Soldiers+WWII%20Figures%20(54mm)%2054mm%20Toy%20Soldiers+WWII%20Figures%20(54mm)%2054mm%20Toy%20Soldiers+WWII%20Figures%20(54mm)%2054mm%20Toy%20Soldiers+WWII%20Figures%20(54mm)%20Manufacturers%2054mm+Mars
This set name does is not correct ,same way there not such thing as “Elite” German infantry ,a name given to avoid type Waffen SS the WW2 Finnish soldier set were label as WW1 I will think out of type error in box art .However this Mars German paras set and last coming with recoiless gun are the best so far from them ,I had made a review for it with the pros and bad in my view ..
best