Another Look at Some Other Plastic Soldier Flats we look at some flat toy soldiers. These flats come from our very good friend Erwin Sell. Erwin is sharing metal flats from Mexico. He then shows some plastic flats that were made in Cuba. Erwin told me he uses to trade his lunch for figures in Cuba. Here is what he had to say about these figures.
Another Look at Some Other Plastic Soldier Flats Mexico
The first set is a typical generic set of band figures. The figures are in typical late XIX century German/Prussian style marching band uniforms. These uniforms were adopted around the world by many nations a standard. The helmet with decoration was even used by the U.S. Army.
The particular set was produced in lead/metal in Mexico. The figures are painted in Mexican army colors. You can see almost same poses and uniform as the plastic figures. The one difference is the head gear. They were being done generally in two scale65/70 mm =Big or 45/50 mm -small as far I have seen. Note that the horse mounted pose with spear in yellow plastic is extracted from a Ulan Prussian lancer pose made in flat too. they are not hard to find these figures in lead. They come painted or unpainted. They are very rare in plastic.
Another Look at Some Other Plastic Soldier Flats Cuba
The antique or vintage toy soldier molds for these type of figures are very collectable. You can see them quite often for sale on Ebay. You can cast lead or pewter figures from them, it may be possible to adapt them for plastic injection. I have tin figures that look identical to the two shooters pictured above.
Yes.Molds were commercialised after 40 and sold in mass.
Were mass produced molds repeated x any business want to buy it.
The molds were just hand pressed
Using cheap recycled soft plastic was done.I saw it x been done.
I walk with the makers and they show me the process .
Very simple.
The figures molds were actually sold by German firm. Many bought the molds .They were comercialized to be sold x small makers around world.
Any amateur could cast tin and lead figures out it.
I have lead, alloy metal and plastic done from exact same mold.
All done from same mold.
The mold was not varied x plastic.
It was the injection part the one
varied and not much ….
It could be done because the small space to be feel as very flat…
Best…:-) 🙂
I enjoy looking at any kind of soldiers that anyone has, … including flats. I just find it interesting.
Before I retired, I taught at a large Canadian University for almost 40 years. Because my colleagues and friends knew I collected, they would find soldiers for me when they traveled the world to conferences etc. Actually my friends still do hunt down stuff wherever they travel (Mongolia most recently). I even have received some from Monaco, Peru, Iceland … over 40 countries. One fellow went to Columbia and brought back a 20 piece, 65 mm size band like the one you show in photo #1. They are metal, semi flat, do not look particularly old or worn, and, as you indicate, were painted the Columbian Army colours. The flag is, of course Columbia colours as well.
Thanks for sharing.
Brian interesting and great you got so good many friends-former students that bring you goodies.I wish I have that!!
Yes ,I think the tall(65/70mm) figures were more sold painted as collectible or more expensive, later as souvenirs, the smaller 45/50 m I had seen in many places and here at some Toy soldier shows several dealers had brought then in lead/meta format not painted, never see in plastic in US least by my eyes.
The molds were sold by a German manufactures and any person could buy then to produce it, today they are spread all over world.
The original early XX century designer was German firm Schneider.
I had only travel to Mongolia once and border twice from China as I had travel x 15 years to China.
Only two rare sets I got from Mongolia, one are more Chinese figures in plastic but found Mongolia. Other are 4 historical Mongolian Khans done in hard plastic of unknown brand or maker.
I got from Monaco that I know most are former French or Italian products copies.
From South America plenty as travel and connections, blogs else.
But I had never got any from Iceland in plastic figures.Wonder what you had got from there.!?
My only metal/pewter/lead figures are most flat or semi flat, I keep as rarity and personal childhood nostalgic.
the plastic version fell to easy as too light.
I end always using sand to deep then in ..I like as historical accurate.
Of above I also got in plastic reproduced Boers and Zulu of early Boers/Zulu wars, British ,sailors and WW1 figures all in the smaller range scale only.
Nice !