Plastic Figures From Around the World February 2017 this time we are looking at several interesting figures. First we have some interesting space figures that Peter Evans found in spain. Next Erwin Sells gives more information on a figure is found last year in a flea amrket. Erwin follows that up with some Homg Kong copies of the Elastolin Romans that I have never seen. Finally I show a few items from my collection.
Plastic Figures From Around the World February 2017 Spacemen
Peter Evans found these figures in a tobacco shop in 1985. We checked with our Spanish expert Erwin Sell and gave the following information. These figures were sold in Spain, Portugal and Italy. In Spain they were sold with the deregent Pipero. Other companies also used them. They were done painted but not as food premiums. The Spain maker was Montaplex. A brand from Portugal called Cosmos als sold them in bags. The figures were by someone in Germany in the 1980’s.
Plastic Figures From Around the World February 2017 Journey to the West
Last year I found at a local flea market a mounted Chinese in white. Erwin identified in as monk of from a famous Chinese story. Erwin found in his collection a card of the Monk and other figures.
The card has four figures. The set has monk Tang with three of his followers Monkey King Sun Wu Kong. Pig monk Zhu Wu Nebg and river orge Sha Wuijing. They are part of a famous Chinese story Journey to the West.
The figures were made by a company called Vita. The figures were sold and other s places in the 60’s to the 70’s
Plastic Figures From Around the World February 2017 Hong Kong Romans
Erwin shares with an early Hong Kong set of Elastolin Romans copies.
What makes these copies of Elastolin they are 54mm and they are painted.
They did three foot and two mounted figures. These are different than the later figures most collectors have seen as those are unpainted and more than 60mm.
Plastic Figures From Around the World February 2017 Stad’s Collection
We start off with an Italian Bersaglieri officer with sword. It was very likely made by Cane of Italy.
Here is a Kinder Egg pirate. This figure could be used as a pioneer.
Two more Texas of Italy western poses. The Indian pose was base on another figure that I have gotten from Europe. The cowboy has to be the dumbest westen pose ever done.
Finally we have a 60mm Starlux medical figure. It is surprising other than stretcher bearers only Atlantic went did an extensive medical group. Starlux did this and a few other figures. The medical corp was an important aspect of the World War II.
Plastic Figures From Around the World February 2017 Update 2/3/17
Peter Evans got these Elastolin Romans in France. They were made in Macau. Notice they have a different paint scheme that the ones Erwin has.
I agree in odd pose of cowboy,I’m wonder what was in the mine of maker. TEXAS brand did 12 poses cowboys and 12 poses Indians I think. All are generally base in poses from British,German and US brands, but with some variation. This one is unique!.
The best TEXAS production are the spacemen and aliens ,24 poses total. I got then after years locating pose by pose this year.
They are unique original design.
The BERSAGLIERI is indeed from CANE first set #1310 by artist Elio Simonetti that did most original CANE sets not copies .He did work for two other main Italian firms too.
I got the Dulcop Stretcher team with wounded, never got that one. The set is not market as Dulcop in bases as the ZOO figures either.
The Kinder Ferrero some times sale high on eBay ,I agree too could well be use x many others.
best…
The Dulcop medic looks like a copy of the Starlux medic. I have the Dulcop WW2 Germans and G.I.’s and the strecher team. Nice figures. They were among the first “New” WW2 figures that I got when I started recollecting toy soldiers in 1989. I call them “New” because I had Marx figures growing up and when I recollected them, they were familiar to me. I got them in a bulk lot, 50 G.I.’s and 50 Germans from the Toy Soldier Company. While detail wise, they don’t compare to TSSD or Conte, but they are still among my favorite figures. My favorite poses are the G.I.’s with thompsons throwing grenade and advancing firing from waist. Also the German advancing firing the MP44.
BOBBYGMOORE
I forgot TEXAS also known as APS did the line of African 8 warriors and 8 poses of pygmy ,that only Fontanini and GAMA had done as far I remember.
I only have one pygmy from TEXAS and few Africans, from Fontanini I got all as well GAMA.The TEXAS are unique as plug in shields and weapons but hard to find specially in one lot and complete.
best…
I did not find photos of APS 8 African fighters so far – but they produced these types of figures in Hungary. These were Lone Star copies. What were the APS figurines?
Dear Erwin,
Was this 8 APS African Warrior Lone Star Copy?
No,they are orinal.
All new poses.
Out of the 24 poses western,few may be base in UK brands while others are new or base even in Marx poses
I have full collection poses and can post photo.
There several copies of TEXAS APS western made by two lesser italian makers who often show off Hungary, Bulgaria and Rumanía as well .
I have made photos comparing original APS versus their copiers.
Rumanía communism was separated from Soviet satélite system. They often imports toys from Italy and Greece as frontier and separated not soviet controlled.
I have several rumanian collectors that explain to me.
Best regards
It looks like the crazy cowboy pose was originally a prone figure placed on a stand. Otherwise I was unaware that Indians or desperados had airborne troops. Perhaps shooting from the bottom of the Grand Canyon? I’m thinking I could go all night…
Some really Great figures here, The Red Indian figure looks more like an Aztec to me. The Kinder pirate looks cool, Im surprised by how many figures Kinder produced, I have a few of them.
I bought a load of the TEXAS figures over 30 years ago in what was then Yugoslavia (now Croatia), as a Communist country trade with the west was very controlled but some enterprising soul must have slipped across to Italy and bought up a stash that he packed and sold unofficially in the weekly town market. I bought them in poly bags that had printed header cards which said “Cowboyji” and “Indianici” but no makers name or country of origin which is what leads me to believe they were a “home industry”. I backpacked all over Yugoslavia but these were the only toy figures I ever found.
I thought that medic looked like Starlux?
Very Interesting find Brian!!!
It looks like you got bags printed with head card made in either Rumania or former Yugoslavia indeed . In Italian the card would had said(Indiani and Cowboy).
Indianici sound more like close Rumanian or Croatian .
So apparently were products sold under PRB an distributor of TEXAS-APS in Easter Europe ,most Rumania, Greece and Balkans region, even Turkey.
ITALY was a brand that took over APS mold and sold stamping the figures bellow as that(ITALY) only.
TEXAS or APS are stamp with it bellow .
C.R.O was another that took the molds from APS and add few other more poses but in different bases(not marked) as TEXAS ,often confused with TEXAS and ITALY brands but are less detailed or more crude made.
Will be great to see what your figures says below base.
My thoughts..
Best regards.
Dear Erwin! You can give more info that when and how to distribute these games in the Balkans and Eastern Europe. There are also many copies in Hungary – and other Italian brands (Nardi, Atlantic). That’s why I’m thinking about whether it was the legal export from Italy.? (For example, but in Romania it was particularly a strict communist dictatorship.)
Dear Erwin,
“C.R.O was another that took the molds from APS and add few other more poses but in different bases(not marked) as TEXAS ,often confused with TEXAS and ITALY brands ”
Can you even add information about this modified C.R.O series?
Hello Janos.
I did post about C.R.O few years back in this blog .But there is another company that copied the TEXAS .It was PRB (Plastic Rastignano Bologna)
Yes I have some of the C.R.O company poses as well.
Now the PRB brand are the figures looks a bit less detail than TEXAS and the bases are less high plus they rework the former TEXAS poses with some obvios changes but definitely base in same TEXAS poses .
I received two blister card with PRB logo with them and is the reason why I categorize under PRB ,but I do not know for certain if that was the actual mold maker company .I had contacted several of my Italian friends and unfortunately there discrepancy in information plus some speculation .Because PRB and CRO both sold originals and others brands under license there may be an issue in identification till further updated.
I have done several poses compare TEXAS versus PRB brand
Texas figures were either mark TEXAS or just Italy bellow base and often both TEXAS and made in Italy bellow as well engraved as if were hand written the letters .
TEXAS figures were generally mounted in royal blues,grey,silver ,bright yellow,forest bright green and bright red color bases .However as sold as surprise figures in later production other colors were used too .
TEXAS was just the line used for the figures made toys line of the company that complete name was APS POLITOYS .Also known as APS Polistil from Milan and operated from 1955 till 1993-95.
APS-TEXAS figures and toys often used ITALY engraved in the toys So in this case TEXAS and made in Italy are same figures .The nice DUKW amphibian 1/30 Vehicles done have the APS logo bellow and word ITALY as well. It may create confusion as there other figures definitely not done by APS ,C.R.O and PRB with only ITALY name in box and also engraved in figure that let to a brand name under such country name as categorization goes. But it is still questionable .
Under C.R.O the were few new poses base in Dulcop and other with very few base in poses from TEXAS .Also CRO bases or pedestal are very different in shape versus TEXAS or PRB copies of TEXAS
I have a repeated lot with almost all western poses off my eBay listing sales where you may be able see them.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/224284335206
Hello Paul,
your medic is a Starlux.
Your Indian pose is base on a german Koho figure (I think).
The bersaglieri is a Cane.
Best from Francee
You right Mathias.
The APS TEXAS pose is base in German brand KO HO.
Best….
Yes you are right it is Starlux. I usually do these articles late at night and I forgot to have figures here where I produce Stadsstuf. I have correct it.
Wow I had the space figures back in the day,,some really weird stuff,,,
The Elastolin Romans copies look really good. Can you give us more information, please. I am impressed that you kept them in the packaging. I would have opened them as soon as possible & regretted the action later, maybe.
Michael,not long ago I post two tartars Mongols copies of ELASTOLIN made in HK,painted ,they are same scales as these -54 mm ,I will not open pack unless I decide set a diorama.For now they are in mint condition .
The HK variation of Elastolin were also done in not painted about 60 mm too very close to original but with plug in weapons and in my opinion are copies of the CANE version first set that has 3 poses of Elastolin copied with minor variation in armor.
There other Elastolin HK painted and not painted and more crude variation copies in what I call 45 mm .
I think Kent site has some of them.
Bill not long ago post here few of the Elastolin HK 60 mm if I’m not mistaken.
These are not often see as others .
Best regards.
I have the Elastolin Roman copies but unpainted in various colours.
The Romans were also made as 40mm painted PVC and unpainted in Silver and gold polythene in Macau.
The Kinder pirate is by RES Plastics who had a licence to produce items for Kinder.
Res also made Robin Hood, DC Super Heroes and Gladiators.
They used the same designer as ATLANTIC and their product is often mistaken for this firm
The pirate was done in 1985. There are several color variations of the figure.
I have put Peter’s Roman picture in the article at the bottom under update.
According to books
Soldatini Italina 1930-1970 ,edition 1994 by F.Paoletti O.Di Mauro
The 2002 Soldatini 1970 post by same author.
And
Soldatini Atlantic! Un mito degli anni ’70” , by Salvatore Miraglia
RES known as RES PLASTIC – S.P.A.
Produced -made toys for FERRERO (Known as KINDER-German counter part) and DULCOP toys ,the entire color multi pose series were specific produced for Germany and is shown in several commercial catalog as “Tedesca RES production”(Production RES x Germany) .Their toys were insert and sold with kinder egg surprises during many years.They sign several contract from 1969 till 1988 with FERRROR-KINDER to produce toys for then.
They also produced a solid series of Robin Hood ,Superman and other cartoons 1.32 figures .These LAST molds end in South America.
Dulcop in last years(1981-1986) also commission few toy series and sets from RES (among then the Zorro,Tarzan set_not be confused with DULCOP original Tarzan) in multi part variation.
Another Italian company (Giopi) also produced swoppet multiparts poses figures but they are more 60 mm scale and more alike Plasty figures swappet.
There is a minor Italian GIO brand that also made multipary figures x surprises chocolate Egg.
There is not reference at all about any artist from ATLANTIC working for them.
However one of last artist from Atlantic did work and produced a rare series set of historical last decades of Italian military personalities 1860-1900 ,often sold in case/pack to be paint. Figures are solid pieces.
These figures were sold under Italian brand (FORMAPLAST) and also under Heller.
See pack of series with two brands on it.
The artist involved was the one who did for ATLANTIC the carabineri music band parade set and military police set.
If you compare the RES Robin Hood figures with the ATLANTIC Nurse and Nun from the Medical set you will see that it is the same designer / sculptor.
The main giveaway are the faces. All artists have a distinct signature / style both with drawing and sculpting
With respect.
That is not proof.There plenty similarity in sculpures around these toy figures to assume because some apperance. Many artist copied others or follow same line to adjust…tha is way too vague idea.
Sorry. I follow facts .
Best regards.
The problem is we do not know scupltors for many of the figures made. Only one or two are known on Marx. Britains we know who scuplted due the documentation done by various people most notable Peter Cole in his An Authorised History of Herald British and Plastic Figures. The Italian market that is very weak. Will have to wait and see if any documentation comes forth.
With respect please!!!
Sorry.
Not.
Italian brands have very well documented who are the artist .more than any other indeef.
For following.
Coma
Cane
Nardi
Atlantic
DULCOP
formaplast
Xiloplasto also known as Cromoplasto.
Depose and Fontanini
Aps.polistoy Texas figure line and others. With name and years working and even set s done w numerical sequences.
Two books I have cover it very well and even pictures of artist wile wiirkingvin many to up where the artist studied and come from .
It looks to me the English speaking collector world has not very well update in it.
I will do full copy books page work to publish it with permission of both writter who are in blog chat with me.
In Spain as well in main brands there is plenty data of this too.
Not minors brands.
Best regards
If Peter or I had those books we would know more about the Italian figure market and who scuplted the figures. In the days before the internet, we had a hard time getting information. We would question collectors from other countries. They would either would not know or want to share the information. At that time it was discovering figures we never heard because they were not imported into the country. The internet opened it more but some times finding these sites becomes a shot in the dark. I put the last name of the artist you mention wiirkingvin in Google and got nothing.
I have book from Europe to my collection sitting near me that is the French book on figures as premiums. I also have Juan’s book on Spanish figures. If I had seen a book on Italian figures I would have purchased it.
Finally you have another article or articles to write on Italian scupltors. I know I want it and I am sure PW would be interested in it.
Admin the name in artist is a spelling disparate from my phone self corrections. .sorry
Wait few and i send some.
Books need to be photograph the pages w data to translate correct in to english.I will ask permission x it and I’m sure as only few pages there will be not issues
Spaniards are 4 books .
Herminas two books and juan martin two books.
Two were limited edited in english and post in PW.
SPAIN has a montly subscription in toys thst cover toy soldiers among other constants updated.
The hobby world need to be updated x posterity.
I will help on this with all my sourses and books.
Languages barriers are very bad.
My advance is I can read then easy. Same in Italian and Spanish or portugese blogs.
My goal is pass info….
Hello everybody, I’m Giovanni “tempoestoria” from Italy, The discussion is very interesting also because I never knew the sculptor of CO.MA (Cortesi & Mauri), Atlantic, Dulcop, APS Politoys (Texas series) or Fontanini. I was a good friend of Paolo Canè from Canè Giocattoli and I knew about the collaboration of Elio Simonetti with Canè Giocattoli directly by Paolo Canè. Of course if there is some book with this information should be very interesting.
Thank you and kind regards
Giovanni welcome you will find a fun group here. I like foreign figures soyou will see many figures from your country as well as others
Dear Erwin,
Thank you very much for the quick information. I am a Hungarian collector and difficult to distinguish local products from foreign countries: On the same Texas basis, Lone Star Zulu also produced copies. (Romanian collectors have not seen such a figure – which is why I asked) Each photo is very glad that illuminates the details!
Hello Janos .
Lone Star African natives(I’m not sure the Lone Star are quite Zulus as they were made for their Tarzan set unless originally plan as Zulus , more likely are just African regular warriors ,but their shields very alike Zulus indeed )
In any case . Hong Kong many makers did plenty of Lone Star African copies as well Tarzan pose copies .They even paint sold them as Indians(Mohawk/Hurons maybe!?)
The APS TEXAS brand African can be seen in this link bellow and you will noticed are not copies of Lone Star brand as far I recall but I may be wrong as not done quite compare them .The did regular warriors and pygmy set
The western Indians and cowboys poses figures of APS-TEXAS more likely are base in other brands such Crescent ,Koho,TM and others .The modern soldiers ,some poses are base in TIM MEE, a US brand .
Please note that the Italian link has no all poses represented but most of them .
https://soldatini-ado.blogspot.com/2012/12/quelli-del-tide.html
Thank you vey much for the rich answer!
Thank you, I saw the package – very good compilation. Now I’m going to investigate after the small differences – and unfortunately I have not yet found the blog search engine for your post from C. R. O..