Plastic Toy Soldier News November 2016 we have several bits of news on figures. Several of these items have gotten missed in the past weeks. We have news from Expeditionary Force and Paragon. We also look at some items our very good friend Erwin Sell found at Michael’s.
Plastic Toy Soldier News November 2016 Expeditionary Force
Expeditionary Force has added three more sets to their Zulu range. The sets are Auxiliary Frontier Light Horse (Dismounted), Natal/Boer Volunteers (Foot & Mounted) and Zulu with rifles (include Zulu Officers).
The two foot sets have nine figures each. The Boer Volunteers has eight figures two mounted and six foot.
The other set that Expeditionary Force has done is Immortals in robes. These will be a welcome addition to your ancient forces. The Immortals in robes have nine figures. You can see more photos at their site.
Plastic Toy Soldier News November 2016 Paragon Toy Soldiers
Our very good friend Ed Borris let us know that Paragon was showing on their site Their plans for 2017. First up are more Mexican regulars. Paragon is showing two poses a Mexican grenadier and Mexican climbing a ladder. The Mexican grenadier will be a first for your Alamo scenes. They will have swappable and swivel heads
Next up are Plains Indians, Paragon has three poses up. The first pose is Indian with a tomahawk and knife. Second pose is with pistol and rifle. The last pose is firing bow.
The last set of figures that Paragon is hoping to come out in 2017 is Alamo defenders. Paragon is showing three firing poses. One is a Tejano manning the wall. Once again we have a overlook figure who fought at the Alamo. This is a figure I will pick up for my collection.
You can see the photos of these figures here.
Plastic Toy Soldier News November 2016 Michaels and AC Moore
Our very good friend Erwin Sell stopped in ACMoore and Michaels two different craft shops. Some of the items he found were a cannon done by Safari.
He feels that the cannon will be great for 18th and 19th battles.
For your anicent figures Safari has several Greek Mythlogical figure that are 3 to 3 1/2 inches tall. They will work well with 60 or 70mm figures.
Another Item that Erwin found was this train. This is plain but has several carriages.
Expeditionary Force is making a real contribution with this latest Natal Horse unit in tan, as well as the “robed” Zulus, which look quite a bit different than other Zulu figures which have been done in the past. The ExForce Zulu War Caribineer unit in dark blue (shown on the CTS website) is also a very original contribution to Zulu War set-ups, since it takes us beyond just the 24th Foot in their typical red color.
Those Greek mythilogical figures Erwin found at Michael’s Hobby Shop are pretty neat, too, and will go very well in LOD’s War at Troy scenes. It allows you to set up Trojan War scenes which look just like they did in the Classics Illustrated comic book on the Trojan War, where the pictures showed the Greek era gods always floating in the background.
Billy Hirn has sent some photos showing these figures in action. I will have them up in a few days as I am jammed with other work.
Some nice sets by Ex Force. I really like the Immortal robed Persians. Hope to see Ex Force’s next Medieval set soon!
EXF as promised is running fast to sets, they had kept word and consistency in amount sets done so far.Their figures are getting better too.
I can use some of soldiers as Boers too, also for one war I had x years try represent .
New Zeeland Maori wars of late period, I know they were small but interesting in the way these small bands tribes of warriors defy for so long the British empire and their wood/earth fortification style was able to stand very modern bombardment for month years. Call (Pa)https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/war-in-tauranga/gate-pa
Later many of WW1 modern trench system will copy designs take from then. Japanese and Vietnamese tunnel trenches defenses are base a lot in the way those fortification were done.
I had convert Zulus using Britain Hawaii figures head in to Maori warriors .Will show one day.
I have that train set as well. I picked it up at Toys R Us last year after the holidays were over. It is a nice little set and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a quick and easy train set to put up and take down.
It is slightly small for 54mm figures but it can work. You can see it in action on my blog:
https://toddstoysoldiers.wordpress.com
https://toddstoysoldiers.wordpress.com/2016/05/08/a-very-space-marine-christmas/
^^Direct Link to the pictures
Nice lay out, a lot fun Todd.
Yes I think train looks great and good price, I saw others around too this year as well in other stores that match with this as add on and rails else. There few other finds I did as well .The Safari figures and cannon I got then in discount half off as often craft stores do that with many toys they carry. I think they work good in any Mythology scenes too .There more creatures as well.
Dollar general launch a series of modern army tanks armor, among some in different scales there is a M26 pershing(Korean war) in 1.35 scale approx and a MRAP truck in more 1.32 scale . I got hand on then ,but out 7 stores I check only 2 have one tank each and I spoke with managers finding out only one case with two inside per store received.So again bad distribution .Sad
Need pictures of the M26 & MRAP!
Brian I sent to you other day.
Reminds me when I was a child. We would put up a train display, but I was able to play with my figures and had great battles.
Some really Nice figures coming out next year, I especially like the Persian Immortals from Ex-Force and I will definately be getting a set or 2 of those. I hope Ex-Force keeps up the good work and keeps surprising us with exciting figures, Especially with Ancient and Medieval figures which is my preference.
Do you guys think XForce Natal Boer volunteers would work as ACW CSA guerillas? Or Western cowboys?
If it’s just your neighbors coming over to look at a big display you’ve set up (or your wife), I doubt they would notice anything out of order.
But if it’s a fellow toy soldier collector, I think the bandoleros of ammo that are hanging on each soldier would look out of place for ACW, even for Confederate guerillas. And I don’t think the short simple jackets look very Old Western.
But other than the ammunition bandoleros, it seems the two mounted figures look kind of Confederate-ish.
On the other hand, as Stad has previously said, if you have hundreds of figures set up, you can always slip in a few of something else.
And of course, they can always be slightly modified or converted, if you’re into that.
I’ve tried to stick a few of my AIP Boers in gray into my Confederate table-top armies, but to me (with my semi-trained historical eye) they always stand out like a sore thumb, so I don’t try to use them like that anymore.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm – this is NOT an easy decision, Don.
Have to Google & see if CSA Guerillas wore bandoleros… I do like the horses
and saddles but don’t have any other Boer War figures and don’t plan to start
to collect them any time soon.
I was thinking of using them in a western setting like the Wild Bunch
Andy, also remember these ExForce figures come out to nearly $4.00 per figure.
If you are looking for tan/butternut figures to use as Confederates, remember that the CTS original-sculpted Confederates are available in butternut, and CTS has also re-run the Marx Confederates in butternut. Both are still available through CTS at around not much more than $1.00 per figure.
The CTS original Confederates are 60mm, and are a perfect match for the TSSD Confederates (also in tan), as well as the Conte Confederates (only available in gray, however).
And for an even better price (if you’re still bound and determined to integrate new figures into your Civil War set-ups) don’t let my comments about AIPs Boers in gray prevent you from checking them out on the ATS website. Scalewise and colorwise they fit in quite well, and are less than $1.00 per figure. It may be only to my overly-fussy Civil War eye that I didn’t like their appearance next to real Confederates.
Don, I like the appearance and variety in the figures. Actually would prefer gray vs. tan, but I think I may get a set to integrate into Western towns & ACW. May have to paint a few gray? As far as paying $32 for a set of figures, I’ll recoup that by eating home two times instead of out. I’ll have the figures for years while the extra calories will only make me fat.
Good thinking. Being retired, I’ve already reduced the number of times we eat out. I’m still working on the extra calories, however.
I’m considering splurging on about 3 of the new ExForce sets myself — starting with those Natal Horse Volunteers. I think they will look good lined up adjacent to 24th Foot formations.
These ExForce sets are coming out so quickly that cost-wise I’m starting to feel like I did when Richard Conte started to release one great playset after another. It required quite a financial commitment to get them all, even after hoping all those years that some manufacturer would release all that stuff.
Just ordered one set from the company website for $34.80 total with shipping and I will learn to like them!! Also have an AIP short sleeve Gatling gun set that I converted to CSA with Conte heads. The binocular guy was tricky – I cut off his hat only to replace with floppy hat.
This is my CSA version of Steve Weston’s Logo Gatling gun crew.
That’s good, Andy. While I was mulling it over, you stepped up to the plate. A man of action.
Andy the figures above are with single leather I pocket ammo BANDOLEER or BANDOLIER British pattern 1870 issued. Not common in US .
US cavalry used more the cross double stile usually depicted on Mexicans
I will think confederated or rebels used anything they like and want. So if like to use one or two figures would not hurt.
Bandoliers had been use since early Muskets times in XVI century. Most musketeers used then in cross way, one with powder caps, other with balls .
For cavalry men in run was easy load rifle extracting ammo from than style pouches band than at waist ,so any fast guerilla mounted man would love carry it.
These figures I would use as any Boers or else as very poor uniformed and different hats, so I would not think twice to use as confederated.
No they did not carry them
Andy,
I believe that the bandoliers are separate pieces that you can put on to the figure or not as with the Zulu riflemen, but you’ll find out shortly when you get your order.
Looking closely at the enlarged photo, I believe you may be correct, Les. I like what appear to be separate saddles & bandoliers, so will probably just leave them as is, if so. Will let you know when they arrive in CT from Singapore. $2.80 for shipping is cheaper than in-state rate for CT, so good deal, even if it takes a month to get here. Last thing I “need” is more toys, anyhow!! I can just hear good ol’ Mom now: “what do you need with MORE JUNK???” 😉
That’s what I did. After Les White’s post, I looked closely at the bandoliers, and I think I could see some light in between the figure and the bandolier, which makes me think they are separate parts. That makes sense for ExForce, which likes that kit-style format.
Of course, whether they are or aren’t, Bill Nevins’ idea of using putty to convert them into Confederate-style bedrolls would make them look even more like Southern Rebels.
Hi Les – got my order today. About 3 weeks from Singapore for $2.80 shipping. Figures are GREAT!! All individually sealed in cellophane. Heads and hats are separate, weapons, including bandoliers on 6 of 8 figures, and arms are separate, horses have separate saddles and one has two head options. AMAZING SET and well (to me) worth the $34.80 total. For my purposes they are good for many periods. Some may disagree but I’m not big on absolute historical accuracy.
Andy, I also got my box of ExForce Natal Volunteers today in the mail today, and agree with your assessment. Yes, the removable ammunition bandoliers on most of the figures make them highly suitable for ACW Confederates, especially the Missouri Ruffian/Bushwacking/Border Wars/Guerrilla/Quantrill or Morgan Raiders type, or even Nathan Bedford Forrest dismounted cavalry at Bryce Crossroads.
My own purposes, however, will be to have them fight the Zulus as Natal Volunteers, alongside British 24th Foot, or as Boers fighting British, a few years later.
I think ExForce has made a pretty good contribution here, and especially in it’s extensive line of Persians which finally give us a compatible opponent for Conte’s Spartans.
Aren’t they GREAT figures, Don. Wow!! These are my 1st ExForce figures and are WAY beyond my expectations. They are a dream for converting with all the separate parts.
I’m thinking the mounted guys will make really good Wild West gambler or gentleman rancher types with the suits and ties. Need to look through my loose parts for heads with derby hats or big Stetsons. Horse with two head options and separate saddle is also amazing. Only regret is that I only bought one set. Have to get at least one more!! Great figures!! Can’t beat $2.80 shipping. Just ordered some stuff from Argentina for $26 dollars (!!!!!) shipping. Hey, “needed” the stuff & I apply my “it’s the cost of 2 large pizzas and I’ll eat at home instead of going out twice” principle. I’ve almost never regretted things I’ve bought or money I spent on toys; it’s the rare vintage toys I DIDN’T BUY when I had the chance that I regret……..
Don, always a pleasure to chat or read your thoughts. Merry Christmas and best of New Years to you & family and everyone here!! If anyone doesn’t celebrate Christmas, MERRY CHRISTMAS anyhow!! 🙂
If you smooth some putty over those bandoleros you can make them into bedrolls and have some pretty good CSA bushwackers.
That’s what I would do, with them.
Botch Blake made some really cool Cowboy conversions out of Tony’s AIP Boers.
Some of the best I have ever seen.
Pix are on the Custom Conversions site.
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/CUSTOMCONVERSIONS/photos/albums/159264299
Don, I’m covered for my $34.80 once I skip two large sausage and pepper pizzas!!
Nice Erwin! You never know where you might find a good figure or accessory !
Late to the party, but to answer the bandolier question; No, they did not. The self contained cartridges (in brass or copper, etc) were not common in modern firearms yet and less seen in Confederate service than in Federal service. Without those types of sturdy cartridges you can’t use a bandolier. The Spencer Rifle was the first in US service to use such a cartridge. Even the Sharpes Rifle had a linen wrapped cartridge that constantly broke apart in the supply wagons. The first time the US issued bandoliers was in Feb of 1876. There is one on display in the FT Benning Museum.