Plastic Toy Soldiers 2015 Year Review
This year was a tough year for plastic toy soldiers. We saw a draw back in American production while foreign production increase but at much higher prices than collector were accustom to in the past. Old plastic figure market was also tougher. We had other negative news with the passing of various collectors and other with ongoing health issues. Also several toy soldier shows changed hands, which will make people wonder if these shows will survive in this changing environment.
New production
New production of plastic toy soldiers took a step back in 2015. Several companies Armies in Plastic, Toy Soldiers of San Diego and Barzso Collectibles did not make any new figures in 2015. There were some bright spots LOD Enterprises came with four Trojan and four Greeks to be part of their proposed Trojan War series. They also came out with some foam wall pieces. In 2016 they will have out chariots to go with their sets. Paragon did a set of four Civil War figures with changeable heads. This year Paragon will have four more Civil War Figures. CTS did Chinese Communist for their proposed Korean War series. Sell Toy came out with his Jagdpanzer L 70 tank also introducing Amex from Mexico. This year Sell Toy will have out another tank. Action casting a new company by John Stengel JR. came out with Vietnam figures, but saw only a very limited production due to ongoing production problems. In 2016 will Action Casting will get on track or not is a major question.
In the mass market plastic toy soldiers saw a retreat as well. Blue Box was slated to have two sets a pirate and a fantasy sets in Target in the fall of 2015. This fell through due to the demand for shelf space by major makers. Collectors had to find these sets through other sources. The dollar stores saw 54mm copies of the BMC Marines; otherwise it was the same old stuff.
Foreign production saw an increase from three companies Engineer Bassevitch, Pvblivs and Expeditionary Force. These companies came up with many interesting figures; the problem for collectors was cost of the figures. Expeditionary force was charging $29.00 for nine foot figures or five mounted. Engineer Bassevitch and Pvblivs charged even higher for their figures. In 2016, these companies have hinted that they will be charging higher forcing collector to decide if they willing to continue buying these figures with the higher cost. Also Replicants produced a set of smugglers that can be used as pirates and a thirtieth anniversary figure of Plastic Warrior magazine that was a minstrel for Robin Hood.
Old Production
The toy soldier shows, toy shows and flea markets have found things rougher. You could go to a flea market and find nothing or very little. The shows found less people coming through the door and if they did come they were tighter with their money. Some show promoters tried to find ways to bring more people in while other promoters left things as they were hoping things will turn around. The problem is with the internet getting more dominant more people are staying home. The internet is also having down turns as people do not have money to spend on their hobby.
Passing
Sadly in 2015 we lost several collectors from the hobby. We also have had collectors drop out due to age and health. We also saw two toy soldier shows OTSN and Indy being sold to other people to take on the mantle. Will these people be able to keep up these shows only time will tell?
In 2016 Plastic toy soldiers will have to deal with these ongoing problems and try to overcome. Toy Soldiers of San Diego will have two figure sets related to the Vietnam War available for OTSN. Engineer Bassevitch, Pvblivs and Expeditionary Force are talking of making new sets. CTS will be releasing their North Koreans. As the year progresses who know what else will be produced.
The year 2016 will be one of challenge, we will have to wait and see what happens.
Good report, Paul. Nice, concise, realistic summary of the state of the hobby. Basically, I’m enthusiastic about LOD’s War on Troy, CTS’s Korean War sets, and TSSD’s two new Vietnam sets, but find little else to really cheer about.
I view the Russian sets as nice, but unrealistically expensive. And I was initially quite impressed with Expeditionary Force, but found their mounted Medieval knight sets to be too much like model kits —- that is, after laboriously gluing all the pieces together, if you drop them (or put them in a jumbled pile), parts tend to fall off and constantly have to be re-glued.
I’m unhappy that AIP, Conte, and Barzsos all seem to have either ceased (Conte) or are in the process of ceasing or severely curtailing production.
Still, I appreciate what we’ve got —- including Playset Magazine, websites like this one, and the shows which still carry on.
I had forgotton to mention Paragon, which is another bright spot in our dimming world of toy soldiers. But even Paragon has gone from it’s strong start of issuing at least two sets of 8 figures each per annum, down to one set of 4 figures per annum. But this is what happens when sales aren’t strong enough to support Paragon’s excellent figures.
We shouldn’t forget Austin Miniatures either, with their outstanding Western figures and equally outstanding WWII Marines. Once again, however, you have the thorn which goes with the rose: Slow sales result in a very delayed release of the follow-on Japanese.
Don,
AIP made Egyptian camel Corps and camel mounted British naval brigade in 2015. Using the camels from the previous sets with new riders.
What glue are you using for the EXforce figures, if superglue doesn’t work on the knights have you tried simple model kit glue. I don’t have any of these figures myself but find that the harder plastic sometimes glues with the glue for model kits better than that used for softer plastic.
You are absolutely correct about AIP’s great contribution of the Sudan Camel Corps, which included the 2015 update with the British Naval Brigade riders. But I still think Tony is in the process of either ceasing or severely curtailing AIP’s production.
I’ve probably tried every type of glue on soft plastic figures, with the exception of trying the “simple model kit glue” you recommend. I’ll try that.
These are certainly not great days for plastic toy soldiers, but I am a bit more upbeat about the mass market end of things. A lot of sets of figures came and went – but at least they were here for a time and some may reappear. In 2015 for a while I could still find the Imperial zombies and armymen, cavemen and armymen, and ninjas vs. pirates in some Walmarts and a local Krogers. The Blip robots vs ninjas and armymen vs. monsters were in Target for a time. Also in Target we had the Blue Box armymen bucket and very briefly here the pirate bucket. When they disappeared from Target they reappeared in my part of the Midwest at Meijers. The Lanard Corps Elite bucket of somewhat futuristic armymen showed up later in the year at Walmart, and they are still plentiful around here. ToysRUs are still marketing their various buckets of figures. You had some odd sets like the reworked Toysmith pirates that appeared in a bag at Cracker Barrel. The only dollar stores we have around here are Dollar Tree, so I never saw the 54mm BMC clones. And of course you had the Star Wars Command figures, a line that failed, but that was very nice while it lasted. So in sheer numbers of figures acquired, 2015 was actually kind of a banner for me as a down market toy soldier collector. Sadly a lot of these figures are gone. The Blue Box buckets sold out at my Meijer, but I hope that they reappear there and/or at Target along with the promised fantasy warrior bucket and pirate ship. If they do we will have decent buckets of plastic soldiers available at ToysRUs, Target and Walmart – which is better than our situation a couple of years ago. Even Kmart currently has a bucket of not completely awful Matchbox German clones and some passable tanks, planes, ships etc. There is a lot of junk out there – the Dollar Tree soldiers, the Imperial TimMee/PP clones that seem to get rougher and more indistinct in their details every year, and those super-skinny virtual flats Matchbox clones that you can find in bags at ToysRUs and in a tube at Target. So a mixed situation – but we had some nice figures available over the last year. I hope the Blue Box and Lanard figures will still be around through 2016 – and with a bit of luck maybe we will have some more pleasant surprises in the coming year!
29.00 for 9 foot figures is absurd. However, it’s your money and if that’s what pleases you, then be my guest. I’m not paying it.
My collecting interests (American History F&I War —Wild West) saw very little to get excited about. Paragon released some new foot figures for the ACW. For me, the sculpting was sub par but again, it’s your money.
I saw some TOOB figures today in Micheal’s. AWI and ACW, which were not too bad.
With the current 50% off coupon, you can get 6 figures for 5 bucks. There are 2 sets of both Union and CSA and 1 set each of Brits and Patriots.
I’m thinking that the Civil War figures would look pretty good mixed in with Britains ACW swops. Especially if I drill holes in the feet and place them on those green bases, like the Britains swops. I did that with some Deetail ACW figures and they came out really well.
Years ago, I commissioned Don Durant of HTF to make 2 different Britains Swopett replacement bases for me. I had come across a collection of several hundred Britains ACW Swopetts without bases. So, I made my own. I also used them with Deetail figures and for the AWI, the Men of ’76 figures. One day, I’ll take some photos of how they look.
As a devoted 1:32 WWII collector, I thought 2015 was a good year.
For me, Russia is the hot spot right now, creating the most exciting stuff.
Their prices are too high, but for now I’ll endure.
Ex-Force’s oversized figures were the biggest dissapointment of the year for me.
I hope they fix this problem for the new year.
A honest view of the moment and reality. Live has increase in cost .Hobby had increase as well-demand had been less, desires and wishes many. If well Europe had some good increase I will said barely east Europe(with the high price special and unique price sets).I had heard that even those sets had not sold that fast in Europe as well.
Even in the new producers such Steve Weston that had done many in last years did nothing last year, neither Hat, italeri ,waterloo. I think A call to arms come again with the 4 poses set with Normans(nothing impressive).Poses and detail was poor in my opinion.
The 4 poses sets come to cost /saving issue in order to speed production release with a new sets, but again reduce the amount poses.
A 4 poses set mold/casting cost half an 8 ,yet a new set is done. So that is the mentality with it.
So base in all Europeans factories that were making figures and did not last year I think we should said Europe is too very hurt in production.
Even Chinese sets/figures often come more in quantities with exception of few nice and most cheap ,this year was not that impress.
The DGN WW2 and Civil War sets were a surprise for 2014,we did not see any new or other brand this past year-2015.
Hope to see more ,Chinese have the better opportunity but unfortunately retailers ask x other items and those are where money interest play the best.
I think the key to the future of our hobby is to have decent quality toy soldiers consistently in the big retailers. This will expose generations of kids to the joys of toy soldiers, inspire some historical interests, and hopefully down the line collecting more specialized figures. This is why I think the Blue Box and Lanard buckets are so important. If they stay in the stores for a while – a big if – they might begin to have an effect. To give ToysRUs credit, they have had various buckets of figures on sale for several years. Though of variable quality, they obviously sell. They have some larger sets, in a tub and a bag, of the old Toysmith TimMee clone armymen with various accessories. I’m not the greatest fan of these armymen, but they are decent, and some of the accessories in the larger sets are nice. These are basically small playsets – not the great Marx sets of the past to be sure – but something at an accessible price. Aside from ToysRUs we have not had real consistency in selling good toy soldiers at the big box stores. If we were lucky enough to get it for some years it might make a difference. Armymen still sell. I’m always amazed to see shipments of the junk at Dollar Tree gradually disappear. So acknowledging the real problems out there, and with my eyes open, I’ll still keep my fingers crossed!
At big retailer level that will never happen. That era long past.
Retailer era is x block,electronic,games and any but toy soldiers. BMC try that and did nit work.This hobby is in our level and arena only.Cheap production will appear as made by cheap companies x some times and will be sold to 2nd type retailers change as larger every year give space to others more profit toys they know will sale faster.Media and Tv commercials are focused in advertise all type toys but toy soldiers.(when was last time a toy soldiers set was advertised in TV?).I t won’t happen.Unfortunately we have to be realistic.
Umpainted figures no and long ago do not attract kids.Figures that move articulated are.Action figures are what kids want. LOTR aeomer figures sold and not that good.Large retailers move then out quick and replace w others.Even historical 3″ figures such plastoy and sleightz are less in space and see at big stores retailers because not interest and not advertised at all.They are considered educational toy.
Erwin,
Where can you buy the Plastoy figures? I remember seeing a Plastoy gladiator tube somewhere, and regret not picking up the figures. Also, were you referring to Schleich, or is that another figure maker? Thanks.
I had only see plastoy tubes at school stores supply.No all.Also plastoy tubes are some times see on eBay from french sellers.
Check their web site and ask for a distributors or seller writing a direct email.Yes I was referring to the German brand.Sorry
Plastoys tubes did samurai and pirates in 2015.scale is 45/50mm
Sorry I do not recall seen the gladiators. I know that did in the 35-50 mm tubes knights,fantasy,monsters/horror,dragons, modern army,pirates,samurais w ninjas ,mythology that has two Greek figure I think;.
Also asterix ,princes,and few more cartoon European base character sets.
In large tall 3″ figures they had done a lot of course. Some craft stores carry them but safari LTD tubes set had replace Plastoy in most.
Just found on ebay: Japanese History Collection
European Import
Historically Accurate Sculpts.
Plastoy Designer Action Figures.
Rare.
5 Figure lot
Far East Figurines:
Samourai / Samurai
Armor / Armour
Historic Regalia / Dress
Historic gender and social roles
History holds rich culture of social, economic, religion, military, familial factors specific to Far East people. Particularly concept of chivalry and honor rooted in Bushido lifestyle.
“Bushidō (武士道?), literally “military scholar road”
1- Samurai figure
Japanese Father, husband, family, chief, warrior, aristocrat, general, honorable, stoic, strict. Samurai ranks traditional Aristocratic Feudal Lords often battling with peasant class ninja nemesis. Figure miniature green and yellow armor regalia and accouterments. Equisite armor of extreme strength and flexibility. Weapons sword, katana, blade. Bushido code of ethics, chivalry, deference. The figures can stand or ride.
Additional information:
Samurais their armies and their Footsoldiers usually finding battle on the honorable battle field but occasionally plagued by the other class of Elite Special Forces- shadow Warrior ninja ninjas like the ferocious Iga Mountain Ninjas. Ninja trained not only in swordsmanship and all Samourai weaponry but also, Espionage, arson, chemistry, heathy odorless food diet, assassination, sabotage, impersonation, spying, chemistry, psychology, tracking but most important, working on shadows, at night in the dark. A very controversial methodology compared to the open battle preferred by samurai.
2- Shogun Wife. Geisha figure
Japanese Mother, wife, family. Espionage. Submissive. Cultural high feminine restrictions for female and women. Geisha servant of males. Primary role/purpose of providing decorum, ritual, emotional and physical comforts.
3- Footsoldier
Red Light armor pikeman spear. Anti-cavalry, footsoldier. Armed with lance and sword. katana blades.
4. Flag Bearer Herald with imperial colors. Can ride or stand.
5. Japanese Warhorse
These figurines are compatible with Plastoy replicas. And most miniatures/figures from Papo, Prestige Safari Ltd, Schleich, and CollectA.
FEATURES:
Designer high quality Toy figures
Diorama 1/20 scale
High detail
Hand painted
Ok,do you have a link!?
or eBay item number!?
thanks
Never mine,description tell me are the 3″ large plastoy figures/poses .Sorry
They did a small set 40 mm in tubes, different poses.
I am curious to see the effect 3D printers will have on the hobby this year and the coming years. If the prices go down on quality printers will this spur more start-up companies? Will eliminating the cost of a quality sculpter by using the 3D printer enable a Toy Soldier company to do the casting in the U.S and run short run figures like Engineer Bassevich but at a more reasonable price? The short runs would enable more risks in historical topics.
3D printing will play a future role in the hobby. Think more of one-of-a-kind character figures or specialty items (tanks for example), not mass produced armies. Even in 3D printing you need a skilled 3D sculptor to create the digital design, so no cost saved there. What ‘levels the field’ is use of a 3D scanner. You may scan an existing figure(say, a rare or expensive one), or a neat conversion figure, etc. Tweak the design a bit and print it out. Keep these for your own use or trade em with friends but don’t expect to sell thousands of them to a few hundred collectors.
The designs for many 3D figures in various scales will be available on-line, some for free and some for a small fee. You will just download the file and print out the figure. This is already happening but I don’t know of anyone yet specifically working with 54mm scale military figures.
The result is not quite detail.cost timing and material yet.Still will take some time x it.
Scanning do not capture any under 0.03 detail.The minimum required for a figure.Way back still.Not advanced.
I think in another two years or so, 3-D printing will become a reality for those of us who want to make our own figures. Right now it is still to pricey for most all of us and most all of the lower cost 3-D printers do not make things with the detail we would want as well as the speed to produce a figure as fast as we would want. The good news from what I am reading and hearing is that as time goes on, 3-D printing tech. is improving by leaps and bounds. The price for good desktop 3-D printers is getting more affordable, as well as them being able to print out objects with the detail that would enable us to do the type of figures we would want. The speed to print an object is improving as well. The 3-D scanners are also becoming more affordable and better at capturing finer details of the objects scanned.
I am excited about 3-D printing and what it will offer the hobby in the next few years. As a kid, I always dreamed of having my own toy soldier factory and making all kinds of toy soldier figures in poses I wanted. That dream may very well become real in the next few years.
BOBBYGMOORE
Spot on review!
Thanks Paul and everyone for posting your observations and thoughts. My highlight was the Exped Forces Greeks & Persians. The breadth of this range is astonishing in these times. They work brilliantly with my Conte Spartans and they all make for one of my best plastic displays. I’ve been collecting metal soldiers and many of these are at the $50 point, so the Exped price doesn’t seem so bad when compared to that. I will spend big when they start to issue their Roman range.
Erwin’s Jagd Pz is a great addition to my TSSD WW2 display. I’m really looking forward to finding out what his next tank is. I’m not into Vietnam so much, so I will probably pass on TSSD’s. I hope he does do more figures though. WW1 seemed a good idea to me given the anniversaries but German Paras might be a more profitable venture. A recon set featuring motorbikes, sidecars too.
I got a few of the Star Wars Command sets. Some figures were nice but the poses were generally uninspired and some really boring poses were way overdone in some sets. The 2 inch Battle-Pack sets of 4 from a few years ago were excellent.
I’m really keen on the Blue Box fantasy stuff but I’m not sure if these are available anywhere?
Everyone who’s looking forward to TSSD’s upcoming Vietnam sets should check the TSSD website. Nick is beginning to post more figure photos.
And John, with your interest in Greeks, Persians, and Romans, you should look carefully at LOD’s new Trojan gate, walls, and towers. I just received my set of the 3-piece gate/tower configuration, along with two wall sections and two end-towers. It really does make a beautiful display.
Once I set it up, I realized that even though Ken of LOD designed it for Troy, it makes a perfect display for many other periods in the Mediterranian Sea area —- the walls of Carthage, the walls of Constantinople, the cities of Antioch and Jerusalem during the Crusades as well as the Roman period, the fortresses conquered by Alexander the Great, including Thebes, as well as a fortified city in Gaul fighting the Romans. Right now, I’ve got 280 Conte Spartans (in red, gold, and silver) set up in front of it, and it looks great, like something I always wanted to set-up as a child, but never had quite enough figures to make the battle scenes as big as I wanted, or forts and castles big enough to work.