Star Toys Romans was one of several swoppet like figure groups done by until now a little known company Star Toys. Star Toys emulated Timpo in doing swoppet style figures. Our very good friend Erwin Sell is working on a series of articles on Star Toys figures which this is the first one.
When copies are better than original.
Not quite Timpo.
I consider Timpo to be one of finest makers of plastic toy soldiers and their idea of multiple colored molded pieces was a great idea. I have many of them in my collection and love the colorful taste given to these figures on top of other things.
But few things have always bothered me.
First and this is the most important aspect is the fragility of the plastic. Because of this weakness many figures tend to break and snap in your hands very easily if you do not handle them with care.
Second is that the multi pieces parts did not create or allow you to do a multi pose or fully articulated pose that you can change a lot more if desired .Most have arms and legs are attached and do not move. The modern army sets have very few firing or shooting poses making them very limited in true battle action scenes and with some odd looking poses.
Knights, Romans and Vikings are the best in my opinion.
Base on the above Timpo negative observations of mine I decided to share a rarely mentioned toy figure line from Hong Kong; Star Toys.
Star Toys Romans
In early 70’s to early 80’s these swapped Romans were made in Hong Kong by a company called Star Toys with a (white 5 point star symbol). It was the first main copier of Timpo after Transogram from US that produced figures in Hong Kong also. Unlike Transogram, Star Toys was owned by Chinese from Hong Kong.
Star toys went farther than Transogram. They create much more figures and differ from Transogram in many figures, design and variety/quantity. Later other companies in Hong Kong copied Star Toy figures and produced very bad quality copies of some of the figures. These companies cheated by not using as many multi parts like Star Toy Company did.
While they (Star toys) copied from Herald, Britain, Airfix, Plasty and Timpo often with a “mixing=blending” design of all those brands. They came with some better figures than the original figures in many cases in my opinion.
A good example is these Romans that I consider better in scale, body, feel and more importantly amount of swap pieces that you can swap and rotate much more than Timpo, Britains and Transogram.
Also the plastic used is far much better than Timpo fragile plastic used.
I had play with these figures as child. I had a total 24 figures foot poses. I still have 22 of these figures. They have remained almost intact after changing and swap the parts for over a thousand times, even the shield rings remain intact in all. An issue you can hardly keep with original Timpo Romans.
Star Toys Romans my observation and compare details.
So far as I know they came in two main armor chest plate variations. They are legionaries and officer-full brass plate done in gold and silver. The mounted Roman was with officer chest plate.
Skirts were in a six color configuration with six different colors type belts. They had short boots contrary to Timpo sandals .Weapons were same as Timpo just a bit longer and thicker.
The shield interior does not have the rivet detail as Timpo whoever the ring were more bigger in radius and thickness given better play strength.
The outside design in shield was of similar but not identical design. The faces used in shield are different. They used three heads that had different faces. Leg positions come in 4 different types. The leg could be changed too by moving the independent removable legs in few different directions
The mounted pose has only one set legs.
Body parts are more muscular and body anatomical more defined than Timpo.
Scale and Helmets
Scale in height still was same or a bit taller (2-3m) perhaps?
Plastic is actually more flexible and you can still bend better. the weapons and even legs/arms without braking at all.
Helmets were two types. Here show only one. Mounted figure’s helmet was a Greek rare type with very long crest. The helmet is removable too as foot pose helmet.
The figure base was done in green and dark tan. The company did a chariot. I do not have it and I am still looking for it. On the four different mounted figures. I have only one left.
A catapult and Large siege cross bow were also included with the Romans. The Catapult and siege cross bow came in a box window small or long size rectangular size. I have seen a few later 80’s in blister type case, but have never own them.
Star Toys Romans Photo and Descriptions
Erwin has sent us photos of the Star Toys Romans with comparisons to the Timpo Romans. I am sure you will find this interesting.
Interesting figures. Thanks for sharing. Did they make any World War 2 or military figures?
BOBBYGMOORE
Yes they did and they will be covered in a future article.
Yes plenty ,I working on that part x much later as they did western and Huron Indians,carriage,wagons, knights, Greeks ,modern and WW2 with vehicles ,cannons else…They interesting part if they blend many brands together and come with nice ideas/poses design.
Bad part few were imported to western countries .NZ,Australia,S Korea,Japan and south America got the most.
In 80′ WELO distributed some of their set in redesigned sets and some wasted mold ,but not much to Europe and UK/US
Ive heard of these Star Toy Romans for years but ive very rarely seen any around and i dont own any, Where as ive got some Timpo Romans and they are easy to get hold of, So are these figures quite rare?
They are Darren.
I notice few even showed in PW
review no long ago w few info about them.
That is why I’m bringing then up.
Thanks for all the Info Erwin !
Not a fan of swoppets, but they look good.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I have always been fascinated by Timpo Romans & one of my deep regrets is getting rid of the few I had. Can you tell us about the Star Toys company? How rare are these figures?
Thanks for sharing your pictures.
Thanks Michael.
The star toy (symbol in case was or is white five point star with a T inside or with out.
As far I know abut is they are indigenous Chinese as BB and stablish in late 60′(1968?)- active till 1981/82.By then the molds in most parts were storage, some sold or rented else. WELO company distributed some of their set by 80’s in repacked configuration but often more sloppy job and start messing around.
Star toy did few large playset like a (CASTLE playset ) I did work on those for future.
Their WW2 line was using airfix and matchbox poses in swopped style ,modern post WW2 they use the plasty and cherilea brands mix poses.
Indias are base in Herald swapped huron type ,not the later more common copies od Timpo Hong Kong cheap knock off.
I got plenty each ,some in boxes and else ,again because to where distributed. I notice by most British and central European sellers that ST brand are not common there wile later WELO few reused few molds/set were.
In Australia and NZ as well Mexico, Caribbean and Spain/Portugal were sold more. The boxes sets were considered deluxe even been a product from HK as well done figures and designed, not like later knock off cheap HK swopped.
Also the fact they were around barely 12 years or least as a company make them less abundant too.
I red in PW magazine from UK they knew of two poses only recently ,once I saw that it give me idea to share more specially about romans. Sad I lost most my roman rider ,one figure left suffer a burn ,so I’m trying to get another to repair it as they carry an odd helmet-non roman style.
Knights were better than transogram and Timpo as more multipart and same exact scale plus few different helmets and horses/harness as well.
I show these Romans in the PW Roman Special
They are exactly the same as the ones marketed under the Transogram brand.
I have compared the two