Larry Patterson’s Western Character Figures, we had a reader asked if Larry had done a Palladin and a Hey Boy. I contacted Larry and he said that he had done both. I asked him for photos of them and other western character figures he had done. He gracious has supplied some photos of the figures he has done.
Larry Patterson’s Western Character Figures Photos
First up we have the figures from Wild Wild West. Larry did James West, Artemis Gordon and Doctor Lovelace. I see that Larry based Doctor Lovelace on Marx small person in the circus set.
Next we have the cast of the movie Shane. We had to read the book in school did you?
Calvera from the Magnificent Seven, I like the pose that Larry did.
This set represent Rawhide. In the photo Larry has over ten different figures. Then you have al the different accessories what a nice layout.
Here is Hey Boy from Have Gun Will Travel. He is looking for the Palladin figure. this figure could have been used in various scenes.
Larry created the extremely rare Marx Mark McCain with the rifle. We will have an article coming up talking about this and another extrenely rare Marx figure.
The characters from Lonesome Dove. There are some very nice poses in there.
John Wayne figure from Rio Bravo. I like how Larry did the pose.
Larry Patterson’s Western Character Figures Non-Western
When Larry sent me this photo he lised it as mounted cavalry in dress uniform. He could not tell what it was as it would not open for him. It was not what he thought it was. The photo is Tarzan swinging on a vine from a tree. This is really nice.
I hope you enjoyed this look at these photos from Larry’s former company. We hope he can find more to share with us.
A while ago I asked Larry to do a “Calvera” pose for for “The Magnificent Seven”, I’ m happy to say that’s the one in Larry’s photo, and as a “bonus” he did a Calvera on foot for me! And I bought an ” Egyptian Explorers Set “of figures from him some years ago: a mummy, ” explorers”, misc, and a figure wearing a Fedora holding a pistol in right hand and has a coiled whip on his left side. Hmmm, wonder who he can be…
Thanks again for everything, Larry, hope you’re enjoying your retirement!
Mike K
P.S. Did everyone see the “War Wagon” and character figures he did for Rusty Kern? it’s in one of the back issues of PM.
That mounted “Calvera” figure is OUTSTANDING!
And that “Egyptian Explorers Set” you had P&P create for you may be the closest any of us ever get to Richard Conte’s long-awaited “Archeological Digs With the Foreign Legion in Morocco” set.
And Paul —- No we didn’t “read the book” (Shane) in high school. Our high school history class had us “watch the movie” in the auditorium in a combined showing of all the history classes together. That’s the MODERN way of learning history! LOL!
WayneW — take note!
I hear you Don.
I used to do a “History vs. Hollywood” thing in my classes – showing a documentary was asking for headaches – either sleep or mischief, so I would show a Hollywood movie and then award points according to how well the kids would take the movie apart by showing either where it was right or where it got it wrong.
We read “Shane” – loved it.
I have a bunch (30 or so) of his western town figures. I love ’em. I spoke to him a couple of times when I was think of trying resin in some of the molds that I had. He was gracious and very helpful.
I wish he was still in business.
Not sure why and I’m probably in the minority, but Larry’s figures never appealed to me. I guess it’s just a matter of personal tastes. I have some and I’ve seen a lot of different figures, just not overly impressed.
I actually haven’t ever held or seen (in person) one of the P&P figures. I’ve just seen photos of them. But from the pictures, I always thought they looked pretty good. Look at that John Wayne Rio Bravo photo above — it captures a perfect likeness.
Are the P&P figures made of resin?
Yes, they are. Some look very nice, I was just over at a buddy’s house and he probably had over 1oo of the cavalry figures, most of them custom, just didn’t like the poses and the detail. I think it just be me that doesn’t find them appealing. I have a custom Travis and Bowie, but they are just so so to me. I like Plastic Underground figures and they don’t appeal to everyone either. I guess it’s just personal preferences.
Hey Don, if you saw any of my western or Tarzan dioramas at OTSN, you’ve seen Larry’s figures in person. This includes the Gary Cooper figure from High Noon, as seen on Joe Baker’s website. I have used his figures, going back to our Shane diorama over 10 years ago. His ingenuity was (is) not limited to figures. One of my favorites was the wagon loads of buffalo hides that fit perfectly in Marx wagons.
Len, I definitely saw your High Noon Gary Cooper figure, so I have in fact looked directly at at least one P&P figure.
I guess since I didn’t take the liberty of reaching over and picking it up from your diorama, it would more correct for me to say I don’t think I’ve ever held one in my hand where I could examine it real closely.
I also had the pleasure of seeing your Tarzan/Jungle Jim display a few years back
Great job.
My preferred figure out all great done is Calvera.Look s like extrated from a film part photo.
I love the old film.
Congrstd:-):-)
So he’s not in business anymore? Can he be persuaded?
I particularly like Calvera, the Shane set and the figures marked as Lonesome Dove characters. However, they don’t look like Lonesome Dove figures to me. From left to right, they look like a Clanton or McLaury from the OK Corral, Wyatt Earp, Yul Brynner from The Magnificent Seven and Gary Cooper from High Noon.
The Glory Guys diorama is spectacular. I wish there were more detailed photos or a huge one we could zoom in on.
I remember thinking of buying some Indians from P&P but by the time I decided on it they were no longer available.
Calvera seems to be an adaption of a metal 54mm TRADITION of LONDON Mexican Officer . Wyatt Earp is a direct copy of a metal figure by VALIANT MINIATURES and Yul Bryner and Gary Cooper are from ANDREAS MINIATURES figure range.
I think somewhere I also have Larry’s “Rooster Cogburn” on horseback. I’ll see if I can find him and post a picture.”Fill your hand you son of a b…..h”!
I am lucky enough to own the “Shane” figures, The cattle drive set (The chuck wagon is out of this world), The John Wayne “Rio Bravo” figure. Calvera (mounted & foot) plus a host of other western & civil war figures. Larry was good enough to do some custom figures & accs too. A real gentleman & such a talent. I’m really sorry he has retired! but he deserves it.
Hi, can you possibly tell me where I can get the John Wayne “Rio Bravo” figure? Do you normally see these for sale e.g. on ebay or any other retailer? I love this figure and would love to have one. Thanks so much
I do not know off hand where you get it done as Larry retired. Maybe one the readers can help you
Ok. Thanks for your help
If you don’t mind a metal version, the John Wayne figure is made by ANDREAS MINIATURES of Spain, in their ‘Golden West’ range. It is in kit form and is possibly the original piece that was adapted by Larry. The pose is more iconic, he is holding his famous carbine with a choice of hat. The figure doesn’t have a badge on so could be painted up for any movie.
Other famous actors in iconic roles are also available including Gary Cooper in ‘High Noon’ ,as shown in the picture shown above. Steve McQueen from ‘Wanted Dead or Alive’, Clint Eastwood as ‘The man with no name’, Lee Marvin from the ‘Man who shot Liberty Valance’ plus much more.
One of their best kits is ‘STAGECOACH’ using the characters from the original John Wayne movie. You get the coach with interior detail – Driver, Shotgun guard, the Ringo kid on the roof, the whisky drummer, female passenger, gambler and cavalry officer as passengers. The 7 figures have recognisable faces as the actors .
So you can add famous faces to your western collection. They may have added more figures since I last looked at their catalogue as it’s been a few years.
That is a great suggestion and information. I will mos def check it out. Thank you again.
Bruce,
Check out the current range of Andreas Miniatures here at their USA Depot.
http://www.andreadepotusa.com/en/
Look down the left hand menu and choose ‘Golden West’.
There are a few versions of John Wayne at different times in his career, the one which you want is titled ‘The Duke’ . Also spotted Jack Palance from ‘Shane’, James Stewart from ‘Winchester 73’, Yul Bryner from ‘The Magnificent 7’ plus a few more that you will recognise. Even the ‘Chuck Wagon’ diorama.
All these are white metal kits, the facial detail on the castings is spot on for which ever actor they portray, however it takes a good painter to have an end result that still works.
If you want already painted figures check out their range under ‘BLACK HAWK TOY SOLDIERS’, on the left hand menu. I think you will be surprised at what they produce.
Most of the products are influenced by movies. The Gunfight at the O.K. corral figures are clearly taken from the movie ‘TOMBSTONE’ although the likenesses of the characters aren’t as good as the kits. There are quite a few western themes including –
The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid’, ‘Custers’ Last Stand’, ‘Billy the Kid’ plus more generic ‘Cowboys’, ‘Indians’ and great set of 7th Cavalry which if you buy all the poses make up a nice column of riders led by General Custer.
One of the Italian Magazine companies, Del Prado or maybe D’agostini, also produced a WILD WEST series of 1:30 scale metal pre-painted figures which have copies of quite a few Andreas figures but with a little less detail. As a part work magazine they also had issues with free extras which made up a stage coach with 4 horses if you got them all. Some of these figures turn upon Ebay in Italy. I know that their Sheriff is Gary Cooper from High Noon in a similar poses to Larry and Andreas one.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Les
….where we can find them? .. any possibility to reproduce them??
…who has the prototype ?
Larry Patterson stopped making these figures. You would have to watch Ebay for any of these figures.
Just pirate copies and conversions. For the people who make these figures it is extremely insulting to call these originals. Stolen patterns and recast if not labled as such just steal money and attention from the makers who put hours of work and large investment into making true originals. It would be better to list all the originals at the start of your article to credit the people and companies that are being ripped off by this person.
Matthew
This article is seven years old. At the time Larry had closed his company. I posted the photos to show people what he had done.
Lacks the information that these figures are pirate copies from companies like Sanderstead, Pheonix, Auraura and my own. It needs to be revised or removed. It is theft plain and simple. If someone copied your figures i would be sure you would want that to stop and when any historical or interest was made of the copies you would want that to be credited and their origins made clear.
With 3D printing becoming more available there is more possibility of cloning figures and remaking them in different scales than they were originally designed. I’m thinking something like 65mm Auburn figures re-created in 54mm scale. Since Auburn isn’t around anymore I don’t see an issue there.
With copyrighted sculpture there would be legal issues but if the design is somewhat modified from the original my understanding is that might be ok.
Any copyright experts care to weigh in on this subject?
To pirate a figure (by 3D printing) of a designer or business in current or recent production is obviously the very wrong thing to do. However, most of the figures we collect were designed and produced by companies long gone, molds long lost and men long dead. To scan, rescale and print figures which are now hard to find , and to nuance their designs through computer slicing is an ‘homage’ to the creativity of those men who came before us. I thinks it’s a great idea! Please let me know if any of you meet any clever young fellas who have the tech savvy and computer skills to do this. I’ll soon find a willing printer!
A local Bank has a larger than life bronze sculpture of a forty- niner panning for gold , his .44 caliber revolver in his belt. Great figure! I want to use a portable scanner and print the figure out in 54mm.