I like Timpo figures as you can change the figure without major work. An example I did recently is with the a Timpo cavalry figure. I had bought a bag of Timpo cavalry figures at the Delaware Toy Show minus weapons. When I was putting weapons on the figures, I realized this figure would look better with whip than a gun or sword. With the whip I imagine the figure with a wagon.
The best in Timpo is Alfred Plath of Germany. You can see his conversions at the link below.
Amazing! Some people are just totally creative. I especially liked the train with cavalry figures firing out of the individual windows.
This was the body and whip used on the Timpo Gun Limber.
I always wanted the Mexican version
Peter
I did not realize the upper body was from the caisson set. I agree with you I like Mexican caisson too. I have only seen it a few times. I had to pass on it due to the price. It is interesting that they did that version.
I have included a link for people to see the cavalry Version from Timpo Artist. You need to scroll down to the bottom.
http://www.timpo-artist.de/Serien/wildwest/nordstaaten/nordstaaten.html
Timpos were always my favorite figures when I was a little boy in the 70s. With all the interest in Pecos recasts lately I really wish someone would get inspired to recast some Timpo figures or better yet, make entirely new ones. I recall reading somewhere that the overmolding process used by Norman Tooth to create the later Timpo figures has been lost to history, but I have seem many examples of overmolding used in household articles in recent years. I wonder how much a Timpo figure would cost today. I seem to recall getting them for less than a dollar each in the early 70s. A couple of years ago I sold my Timpo white gloves Confederate officer on eBay to a german ophthalmologist for 2K.
I meant to say I wonder how much a NEW Timpo figure would cost today if production began again.
Yeah why do the Germans go so NUTS over Timpo?!?LOL.
Because they had two companies that did swap figures and match with timpo.sot the timpo figures are an add on to their line.plus Germans love western toy.the largest set of timpo
Brian
Ally Gee who founded Timpo had great contacts to the toy buyers in Germany. The Timpo figures were so successful that Elastolin and Plasty of Germany did swoppet figures. The Timpo were cheaper than the Elastolin 70mm so more people could afford them. Add to that the trains and buildings.
The Timpo are great color fanatics. An odd color on a figure can triple the price. Also some Timpo figures were never imported into Germany. Timpo did green berets for the U.S. which were in demand in Germany.
Mark:White gloves civil war are a$$$$ money for those looking with money ;specially Europeans and Australians. Glad you make good out on those sales. Funny it was to a (ophthalmologist) I bet he used white gloves too all time.
In another side I had found several scam seller(most no collectors at all) making money out of painted over non white gloves figures and selling as original white gloves confederates too. I had seen it on eBay too. So we have to be careful in this world as how far some low people go in doing this, specially for some of us looking to resale figures.
In US there is the only ONE person who had produced swap type figures in limited run but well done and nice, I had bough many from him in years.
link is http://heritagetoyfigures.leadhoster.com/
He is been doing it for years but in a very slow profit way and sale very slow because his price has to be high to cover production cost. In fact the plastic he uses is much better than Timpo early fragile ones did that crack with time and color fade too at light sun exposure.
To match same old color skin in romans or old vintage is hard as in fact same Timpo figures some time came with different shade tone color variation in production series because different plastic tint chemical component during years. I had several same roman pose from same seller coming to me with 3 different tone of arms colors in skin.
Also will need to be short run limited produced as not many collector have Romans else Timpo other than the most-more sold and distributed(cowboys,ww2 and knights)
US buyers are more pro solid colors(US is the biggest market per capita/retail profit)
In Europe there several mold clones of Timpo parts.
So I will say is a good non profit idea if any with extra money want to expend it do it using regular mold system again.
Erwin
On white gloves it is the confederates that command the high price and silly money. The blue cavalry with white gloves will sell around $10.00 depending on the pose. Yes there are some scam artist out there on these figures so a buy has to be careful.
I’m struggling to understand why this is a conversion, as this is what could be done with Timpo swoppets and I would suggest that they were designed for, to be able to change weapons.
The torso is the standard torso for the 1st series US Cavalry, it normally came with a sword and is shown with a sword in the first version of the Limber set on the website.
The second version with the kepi heads may be a different torso than you have but still is a standard item for the 2nd series US Cavalry set.
The problem with making overmoulded figures is the man hours needed, as the component has to be removed from one mould to be placed in the next, two to three times or more. I spoke with the company that actually produced the Timpo figures and was quoted a modern price of 1,000 UK pounds per 1/2 inch of height, so about 5,000 UK Pounds per pose !!!
What would be good is if someone produced the final mould in the set to create one colour figures that can be swapped around. This is especially good for the romans as the tops and legs were specific colours so swapped them round looked odd, if the tops and legs were the same colour all poses could be used. I know there are people with the original moulds around but they are not using them which is a pity, I’m pretty sure the Chinese could make them.
The current series of Kinder egg Barbie figures have elements of overmoulding and plug-in parts that look like overmoulding. So it certainly is currently possible. Economically is another story.
Chinese did then in late 70 and 80’s Honk Kong swap knights and romans were in fact-better with more arms swap moving parts than original Timpo .I had then and prefer than Timpo all time, not to count better plastic material, separated metal chain collar net in knights and more detail handle part in swords/weapons. I can provide pictures with compared detail difference to see the quality between both companies. Scale was in fact a bit taller in romans and about same in knights. Italian- Nardi swap roman,civil war and red shirt figures were well done too but lack the arms moving parts. I own those too and will probably set then next to Timpo in quality.
Later LOTR swap-applause-awesome 54 mm figures were of great detail and best swap ever done, but cost mold for those plus license went as far way over 5000 pound per pose. That is where the market/profit got a stop=warrant red banner. Even with huge advertise(new line cinema) and largest retailers carrying then by thousand their sale went down big time and ended in millions overstock in warehouse that still are being liquidated at minor stores. Web site and eBay and many toy shows in mint cases for a bargain price now.
A swap figure today will cost way more than any solid production for a so limited market of this hobby. Limited run parts may be and still sales are slow versus recovery.
Les
I call this a simple conversion because by changing the weapon from either a sword or pistol to whip you have a different figure. Yes Timpo were design for this, but how many would think to do my simple conversion. If you look at Alfred Plath conversion most done with the changing of parts. My conversion is for the person who does not have a steady hand.
Overmoulding has always been a problem, if you look at Elastolin, Plasty Hong Kong etc. they avoid the Overmoulding due to the cost. To do it today you would have to have the money to back high cost.
You know, I’d love to see someone expand upon the original Timpo plastic solid line. They were some of my favorites as a kid. Great sculpting, but the poses were sometimes a little odd. Wouldn’t it be great if someone were able to issue new poses that complimented the original solids? More FFL, more Arabs, more Civil War, etc? I’d get really excited for them.
Yes. I agree in part . I always wonder if some timpo set were that short of poses or in reality were more done and never released, like arabs,FFL,civil war with only 4 to 6 poses versus Napoleonic with so many…a curiosity that I had never got a good answer off. About poses and detail in my opinion they were not that good but definitely a great add on cheap figures back then.
Erwin and George
Perhaps Peter Evans can give some insight as he knew Norman Tooth the designer. Laurie and I got to meet Norman at several Plastic Warrior shows.
Hello
Pose numbers are down to tooling
In the UK the standard bolster for moulding dies meant that the dimension of the finished tool gave you approximately 6 poses in 54/60mm
That is why the Timpo Legion and Arabs are four foot poses and two mounted, making six poses.. The larger series – 8th Army and Waterloo would use two sets of bolsters.
Most of the Major UK makers made their figures in sets of six, Britains, Crescent, Cherilea, Charbens,etc. the exception being Timpo and Lone*Star who made several ranges of 8 – 10 poses
Thank you Peter a lot!!,that make a great sense and awesome response with logic.
Also perfect match versus real sets and molds done.
I appreciate your help and this(so long for me ,never explained mystery) as just to the 8 plus mold of American sets