We have been told by a source that AIP will be redoing their WWI figures with gas masks. When I asked how this possible, I was told that most AIP figures have one head type , occasionally two. The molds are done with a separate head that has a plug in pin. The figures are assembled and glued at the factory before being packed into bags. Because of this the figures can be redone with new heads using the same poses that we have seen in previous offerings from AIP for WWI. Also Tony will be doing WWI French and British with 1914-15 hats and kepi heads.
Before that Tony wants to finish a few small add on colonial sets which we figure for now is British colonial wars. Please not that these future sets are suggest to change.
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Dreams do come true Dreams do come true!!!Really need the Short trouser/Fez Sudanese as well eh.
Any word on artillery or machine gun units? Sounds great.
John
No word on the artillery and machine guns, we will have to wait and see.
I have been told by Tony (Owner of AIP) and Steve Weston the Brit plastic guy that indeed AIP does have the prototypes for WW1 artillary. In fact he has a whole bunch of prototypes just waiting for time and money to get done.
Gary
this is always the problem not enough money and time to get all the projects done
No teaser photos?
HI Stad,
Your source is incorrect about the way the AIP plastic figures are produced, they are one piece castings in general, with a very few having plug-in arms.
The Master figures are metal castings with plug-in heads and arms. Some of these have variations of headgear and facial features. This may be where your source got confused.
I’ve cut enough of them up over the years to know that the heads are on the figure casting :))
So new figures would have to be re-sculpted to change only the head then a new mould would have to be made to produce a new set of plastic figures.
It certainly is possible to re-issue a set of WW1 brits in gasmasks after all they re-did the WW1 US army set. Less poses I would imagine, only 6 perhaps.
I can confirm however that AIP did have metal masters for WW1 Artillery pieces – French 75mm and the Krupp Gun, both with more than one uniformed 4 man crew.
Also metal masters of the German Maxim MG, French Hotchkiss MG and British Vickers MG with more than one uniformed 2 man crew for each. So you may see them in plastic eventually 🙂
For Teaser pics check out pics of the metal sets produced under the ‘SOLDIERS OF THE WORLD’ range.
Best Regards,
Les
Les, I have talked to my source and he gave the following response on the plug heads for Armies in Plastic figures.
The neck has a (V-neck shape tip end) that sink in the small hole between shoulders uniform collar. This gives a perfect connection which you can hardly notice
This process is done by a Chinese worker in the factory that does AIP figures; as the figure passes, the head is put in on the figure and small pressure is then applied with a machine as still a bit warm end of head end tip= neck goes inside body, creating a glue(without glue effect).I have seen it with my own eyes. You won’t even notice it. If you cut with a small craft knife in a transversal(side to side of the neck) cut you won’t notice it was inserted before, unless you know it. It is not the same way Timpo did its figures as you will see the small separation above collar line. The process is very similar to OWN figures system. Take a look at those figures and you what I am talking about
Stad again
Les masters for figures can be made from metal or plastic. In Tony’s case he would have metal masters that he did for his Soldiers of the World metal line that he did with Mike Russo of Stockade Miniatures. Mike is now the sole owner of the Soldiers of the World Line.
Yes Tony has been showing the metal pieces you mention, but nothing has come of them.
Which AIP sets have the plug-in heads ?
I just checked a few and none of them are constructed the way you describe. Maybe it is a new inovation for them . I don’t buy ever set now.
I have the OWN figs and their plug-in heads have the Chinese ‘L’ shaped plugs. I know that TSSD , Xforce and Paragon have factory glued heads and accesories.
My info maybe outdated now, of course, but the AIP Master figure I have in my collection is not metal or plastic and isn’t even 54mm tall 🙂 The original process for making an AIP figure was different than now, which would not surprise me as new processes are available.
Thanks for the info on the new owner of the ‘Soldiers of the World’ range. Although I don’t collect metal it is still interesting.
It is going to be interesting to see which figure bodies re-appear with new heads in the future :))
New WW1 Brits with Caps would need a different body from the 1916 helmeted ones as the gas mask wasn’t used then, but the gas mask helmeted heads would work with the original bodies.
Good to talk with you again.
Best regards.
Les
P.S. How do I send you some pics ?