Expeditionary Force Royal Marines Future Release we are now aware of the next series of figures for Zulu Range. Expeditionary Forces is going to do Royal Marines. They are doing Royal Marines forces and Gatling gun team.
Expeditionary Force Royal Marines Future Release Information
First set is set of Royal marines. Royal marines were landed first used as skrimishers. The other set is a gatling gun team. As we get more information we will let you know.
Not a period I collect, but those are some nice sculpts.
Well done.
If I may be a pedant, these are Royal Navy not Royal marines. The RM wore the same uniform as the army, with its own distinctions, and was not IIRC involved in the Zulu War.
As has bee said, nice sculpts, I particularly like the opening ammo box lids and the magazines waiting inside. As RN bluejackets, these figures could be used as Landing parties for a number of conflicts, bot before and after the ZW.
I think XForce’s approach, of through coverage of the period, with all the elements needed for both side is both amazing and commendable. To my knowledge no one has ever done this so well.
There has been criticism of the price of the XForce figures. It seems that people want to be able to have their cake and eat it. They want well sculpted, historically accurate figures that cover all arms for a period, but want them at mass produced green army men prices. A set of XForce here in the UK is around £25GBP. This is about 3 packets of cigarettes, or 7 pints of beer, or some combination of the two. Both are gone for ever the same day – the XForce figures will still be giving pleasure 25 years later. Total cost of ownership = £1GBP per year!
MIKE.
Your very correct. Sorry.It was me the one when wrote to admin pass the wrong description .
I mess up…
Best
The colours in the pics are test shots. The actual production colour will be dark Blue for the sailors. Don’t know the colour that the gatling gun will be but probably near the actual carriage colour.
The Royal marines will be basically the Zulu War British in Dark Blue plastic.
Xforce also have another set coming out of Zulu War British Infantry with kneeling and other poses not done in the first set.
I had seen the other coming set already in same color up there, may be the photo image not clear .
The artillery sets were done in two colors, blue and grey blue already as one above pretty much.
Artillery previews pieces had been done in blue ,grey or same color matching artillery figures poses . Same with ancient machinery and crews; so I will think here is same .
Will have wait till the show ready or appear in other blogs …
best.
Paul, I also meant to say how much I enjoy you Blog, and how I continue to learn so much about this wonderful hobby of ours. I just wish I had as much luck at car boots and jumble sales as others seem to do!
Mike I used to go to many carboot sales and Jumble sales here in England and I hardly ever found any different or rare figures. The best places to get toy soldiers of all sorts is at Toy Soldier shows or on ebay in my experience, But looking mate you never know.
Me and my brother have been collecting the expeditionary force figures from the start it is great you can get a complete army in one go we always buy double sets. It’s funny how other firms are stopping making figures as these are pumping them out regularly. There is hat, imex & italeri, barzso, conte also armies in plastic who have stopped so far. How do they expect to make money if they wont produce any new or old figures which people want this reminds me of what happened to airfix which in it’s time was a leading maker and as for the price either you are a collector or not when we was kids these figures were toys but now they are works of art with the detail in them they are brilliant. We have a collection of over eleven thousand figures and as for the money we don’t regret it at all we love collecting the figures and buildings.
Reason.
With respect please….
Because there are been wasting more than recoup in long way, that is why they stop.EXF owner is millionaire and have plenty plus uses low cost production from area he is from and just too.
This hobby not longer support that much companies producing in long run.
Short run is only future.
Airfix demise was chapter after loss in era when toy soldiers fell down, then over bough many times over to try reissued their sets x worst than best as quality plastic is so bad now.
HO is still profit as can do so much with so few and proof is HAT,IMEX and many others still produce that scale in long run, yet it will soon go down.
So far east European are only left ahead with Chinese/Asians.
My thoughts..
My opinion.
Best regards.
Here is just simple data about the Airfix history, deep not much published info are better known between certain collectors who knows better.
But so far this indicate the troubles since Humbrol took over and else that made had affect the production .
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airfix
I was struck by Erwin’s comment about Airfix and the plastic on their most recent reissued 1/32 figures. These are classic poses, beloved certainly by many older British and also other collectors who had them as kids. Yet reading some of the reviews when they appeared, many folks were distressed at the brittle plastic – with some figures in the boxes already broken. This made them unsuitable to pass on to kids. My impression is that Airfix, and also Imex, went for the harder, more brittle plastic to make their figures better for painting – hence privileging folks who want to paint and display figures over people who want to “play” with them. Yet it seems to me that HAT and other companies have shown that you can have a softer, more robust plastic that is still suitable for painting. So I wonder, why choose plastic that limits your possible market? I am no chemist and know nothing about plastics. Is the harder material Airfix and Imex are using cheaper than softer plastics, and so they are economizing enough there to make up for loss of sales to people who want less brittle figures?
Andy it was not Airfix but those who owned after the one using cheap plastic.
Airfix mold had change hand many time.
Also the gloss color used is not good too.
Best…
Sorry .forgot. ..
Yes hard plastic are cheap x mass production.Soft cost more per volume.
They may be using recycle plastic granulated that is the most economical.
this post suppose to go bellow,sorry
I mention something above about ESCI.
Let me clear this up for further reference .
As extracted from Italian blog.
ESCI molds after close in 1991 and liquidate went in many direction, some(many HO )and kits went to South America and MEXICO(As off now most are been bought back by ITALERI and others but under negotiation pending!?
The 1.32 AND 1.35 solid figures sets made went to Asia and so far had been a legal battle to get then ,some one run then illegal from 1993 till 1999 and distribute under AMT here in US,then disappear and still is an on going issue/battle there by ITALERI that wants them.
Two artist from ESCI did several molds in the 1.32 line solid sets x ITALERI.
One went to work for Waterloo1815 company after.(WATERLOO1815)own the last 27 remaining HO molds from Atlantic
I had not found no more yet…
Best…
Imex did those Presidio Hat Mexicans foot and mounted in what the around 2006 or 2007 and they were a horrible brittle hard plastic, red no less. You cut corners like that and everyone hates them and doesn’t buy them, so you take short cuts to save money and end up losing in the end. The instead of learning from your mistakes , you just quit due to poor sales, bit the best of business practices.
Hornby owns and sells the Airfix figures now. Even if they and Imex saved a bundle using cheaper (possibly recycled) plastic, I still suspect that they lost an opportunity by alienating a customer base. Curiously, I have bought some recent Hornby Airfix 1/72 kits and they were in the old soft plastic. Have they since switched the 1/72 Airfix to hard plastic? But then I don’t understand the business strategies of these companies. A couple years ago Revell reissued 1/32 Matchbox German, American, and British infantry. I found out about it and ordered several boxes of each from a local hobby shop. (I never saw them on the shelf.) The plastic was high quality soft plastic (made in Poland) and reviews online were glowing. But Revell never seemed to be able to find a place for them and to my knowledge did not reissue the other 1/32 sets.
As Horney took over Humbrol production it may be many sets stoch in warehouse and pack sold by then .
Once Horney move production elsewhere is when they start using the cheap plastic.
Matchbox early till 80s were done in good plastic and flat color.In 90s the german set come horrible done in overmoulded grey gloss color and I don’ t know why only that set was as that.
Revell release or lease the matchbox three sets to compliment and no need produce more after their German pioneers and AK plus British8th and paras plus modern they did own mold design in 90s.
Just to stop short after because poor sales.
I think they did the 8th too.
The problem w all go to money.Once they start saving all quality go to toilets.
My thoughts….
Love my self correct phone LOL.
Hornby not horney
I actually like those test shot colors — the medium light blue and the acqua-colored gatling gun give us a nice diversity/variety. Plus, I think the detail on a medium blue shows up a little better than it does on a dark blue.
I agree on all color point.
Too light or too dark rest first view detail.
Gloss colors too.
I think color in machine will follow same pattern done w prebiews set.Matching same crew colors as EXF rest sets.
Yet that combinatio looks touchy and cool.
Best…
Nice looking figures with great detail, but not what I collect. But those who do should be thrilled. Any news on when they might do their Pacific War U.S. Marines and Japanese or Winter G,I.’s and Germans?
BOBBYGMOORE
Nice figures once again from Ex-Force they really are churning them out arean’t they. I especially like the Gatling gun, I can’t remember a Gatling gun being made since Timpo made one in 70s, Correct me if im wrong. Not my era of collecting now but nice figures.
Darren, I also like the Gatling gun and will probably buy the set mainly for the gun & then convert figures to ACWs. AIP makes a decent Gatling gun as well, but Timpo is my favorite. Britains had a Gatling gun with a two man team that fired BBs and BMC has a small Gatling gun. Steve Weston’s Logo set of figures used the AIP gun with 2 other canisters made of resin by Steve.
https://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=aip+toy+soldier+gatling+gun+crew&hspart=att&hsimp=yhs-att_001
Darren I know is not u period .So may be not seen or else.
AIP did a pretty gatling gun very well done.
All AIP artillery are super well done.
BMC did one too very nice as well.
In old foreing Dulcop and Jecsan did one each as well the rare Atlantic.
I know there is others.I’m off my memory now.
Best regards…
Pencraft!? cast pencil sharper did too one small ,but not too good.
Durham made another that are more detailed and in scale ,they did other cannons too.
Britain looks a bit odd as tripod is from modern styled not tall stand tripod used.
There were many Gatling guns version made in various calibers barrels. If research well you will find out the ATLANTIC one after all is not wrong ,is base in one model as well.
The problems goes as to what exact model was used in what moment and action/battle if want to be accurate .
Well extracted from previews post direct send from owner of EXF it read in part as this.
((The major periods planned for 2016 are Colonial Wars (Zulu-Boxer),60mm
Napoleonic Wars (1812-1815), and Wars of the Roman Empire.60mm
The Zulu War is in production phase and should be available by May 2016.
Supplementary sets for existing ranges for 2016 includes Persian Scythed
Chariots (just released, in late-March 2016), Persian Immortals in Robes
(prototypes done), Ancient Greek Artillery, Medieval Peasant’s War, ACW
Infantry in sack coat + rolled blanket, and WW2 late war Germans.)))
So because they still doing to ZULU-BOXER war colonial period with Ancient from 2016 projected plan. Then if they are done with those what follow according to then are ACW and medieval with WW2 late war Germans last.
Base in amount set per years and still back in 2016 sets I think is a long road ahead still for any WW2 sets to pup, unless they cut short and jump next.
The extract above was from this old post.
http://www.stadsstuff.com/?p=6256
Thanks for the info Andy and Erwin, You know your stuff and I didn’t realise there were so many Gatling guns around. One thing I want to say is although I now only collect Ancient Medieval and Fantasy figures, When I was young I collected figures from all eras and enjoyed battles right up to WW2. I don’t have a real reason as to why I don’t collect other periods now, But Ancient and Medieval are my favourite periods of History, And anyway theres no way I could afford to collect figures from all eras, So perhaps its for the best.
Trust me you don’t want to be like me from prehistoric to SFC .Now is an addiction ,few who visit my house say I will died suffocated in then, funny most are in boxes to when I retire play battle, I guess with my grandchildren or who now.LOL..
so yours Darren is for the best and you have rare stuff as well I bet I never see.
I can only imagine how many figures youv’e got Erwin, Im betting on 100,000 at least. You must have a big house to keep them all in. Ive only got about 4,000 to 5,000 or so figures also in boxes but I dont like to many poses the same and I like as many diverse figures as possible which is why I dont have more. Yeah I might have a few that you dont know, But im sure its not many with your knowledge Lol. Im a fan of history from Prehistoric to Sci-Fi myself so I can understand your addition.
I’m in the same boat, Darren. I just collect American Wild West and ACW.
Not a lot of display room (or money) left. Personally, can’t see spending scarce money to hoard toys in boxes. Already have enough packed away that I don’t need more, unless I can find old Marx complete sets for cheap. And that is NOT easy.
Yeah I guess collecting one or two periods is what most collectors do Andy otherwise the costs would be massive, I used to have some ACW and quite a few Wild West figures and had some good battles with them as a kid, But when I got back into collecting as an adult I sold off much of my collection and concentrated on Ancient and Medieval, Along with Fantasy as I do love films like Lord Of The Rings and Warcraft ETC. Yeah I wish I had the space to display my figures but sadly not, And you would be surprised how much space 4,000 plus figures look like when you put them up in battle formation, Like a Huge Army.
By the way Erwin, Im Excited by the upcoming possible Ex-Force figures, Sounds Great to me mate. Again thanks for the info.
Darren ,me too ,the future EXF medieval peasant scene had not been cover. Most had done men at arms, sergeants and knights ,but typical peasant armies such Swiss and Spaniards or Italians had not been done .Pech Heramanos,COMANSI and some others as Reamsa as well two French brands vintage cover then ,Sorry REAMSA only the poses from (William tell) could be use as such not specifically made as that.
Other new totally set by EXF are the war machines made x ancient sets, those are great as could used in many post war as medieval as well.
For those doing the wars in India from 1812-1860 Indus ARMIES use very alike machine at battle and mounted in elephant .If google, see some books will see it.
So they have many uses.
Let see hoe they go,so far EXF is moving fast in number, I bit back versus they announce, but heck ,we should not complain I think.
who else is making at this rare.
Expensive ,well the world is going up in all ,so collectors should expect it.
They offer in large orders discount and shipping free too direct.
Yeah Medieval Peasants sounds Great and you also mentioned wars of the Roman Empire which is also exciting to me, Cant wait.
Yes .Scott mentioned in link post above.
I’m thinking will cover mid to late Roman period w the Persia n sasenians wars too that had not been cover and last over three centuries.
Yeah that would be Great Erwin, Im more excited by what the enemies of Rome might be. Dont get me wrong I really like Roman figures and Roman history is incredible, But there are many Roman figures from different companys that have been done. So im looking forward to perhaps enemies that haven’t been done before and lets face it the Romans had many wars with different countrys, Some Ancient Britains would be good and I dont think they have ever been done in 1/32 scale, But whatever it is im sure it will be Great. I would have preferred 54mm scale but 60mm is ok as long as they dont go over 60mm as I want them to go with my 54mm figures as much as possible, But im being picky.
Me too Darren.
I’m looking more x east barbarians.persian sasanic empire or late germans .
But in romans as most done are pre third century I’m interested in othere soldier w later armor and heavy late roman cavalry too.
Problaby to the Byzantine empire early armies if possible.
So I’m very happy x what they doing.
Best…
I would guess that my collection rivals Erwin’s in terms of size. He’s seen pix of my playset collection, so I’ll let him judge. I don’t think that he has been at it as long as some of us here.
If you’ve been in this hobby a long time, you probably have quite a bit of stuff that you picked up because it was cheap. Not because you collected it. You knew that the price was too good to pass up. So, you grabbed it.
For example, I don’t collect WW 2, yet I have over a dozen bankers boxes full of figures vehicles and terrain pieces. Every maker you can think of. I just can’t pass up things that I know that are worth something, just because I am not interested in that period. There are probably 20 Battleground partial sets mixed in those boxes. None of which I paid any more that 5 or 10 bucks for.
I’ve been beating the flea market bushes for as long as I have been a collector.
I’ve always intended to sell off all of this excess one day. That’s why I bought it in the first place, for later resale.
Now that I have a granddaughter, I’ve started unloading things and putting the money in an account for her. Besides that, I need the room!
Darre.Really I do not know how mant I got .Never will count then I guess unless I hire some to do it.
I do collect x pasion and not value.Those why I do not keep most original packing or boxes.
But my collection will not fit in one house at all.
In boxes along ( I use big tote plastic cases w smaller boxes inside dividing groups to avoid damage) I had split in three full basement houses ,three full attick, one double garage, one single garage, two rental unit rooms and 6 rooms full to roof from three houses.
I’m organize so I use those spaces good.
Also in my house (smaller) of the three I use to storage I got few space w display set plus my office room.
The other houses.My mother and Brother are big one and the let me use space x long.
I barley collect playsets and if I do .Not original case in most.I don’t have space x it and not fun of them.
More than half my collection is single pose full set per brand. Like all WW2, western, primitive, SFC, moderns , civilians. …
Ancient, medieval I got doubles or few more in some sets .Many not.
Napoleonic and main european wars I got many repeated in action poses as well ACW.ARW and 7 years war continuation in americas.
Plus south americas war and conquest or precolombia lands.
WW one I got max 4 each pose.
Samurai are lot too.Most not more two each poses.
Animals and dinorasours are single.
Armor are by platoon 4 machines in most each model/ brand.
Sames goes x artillery from WW one forward.
Ships I got three to four each.
Castles, forts, bunkers and rest are generally singles.But accessory are many.
I also have huge nativity collection from many Europeans in plastic all.
I got a large composition collection from my grandfather and most my US collection is from my fathers inherited.
I have boxes numerical inventory but as per years I keep addin to then .Often I forget update in list chart what is inside.
My collection are storage per wars and continental made.
And it is more half from non US or and chinese made.
I had bough direct from European x over three decades plus got many gift as well.
Thanks to my jobs from past till now I had be able to spend a lot and not regrets what so ever .I collect because I love it and never see money an issue .Alway of course not affecting my family or me of course.
For European sets or figures in many cases I do not care cost.For new production I take time as far long production as not rush and there I still have plenty to buy still.
Collect painted and not painted.I paint if time.Barrely convert as not much time and not good as many u guys are.
I had travel many time to Asia and got many things as well.
For now that is my overall list regarding g size.
Best regards
Erwin – A-MAZE-ING!
Wow Erwin Ive changed my mind on the size of your figures, It must be close to a Million or more men, Enough to invade 10 countrys. You put my 5,000 men to shame, But im still proud of my little army and to be honest I dont want huge numbers as I would seriously run out of space. Yeah I only collect for the love of the hobby and dont think much about the money. Plus I enjoy converting and painting, I must have done at least 500 to a 1000 figures, But you keep up your collecting Erwin and see if you can reach 2 Million Lol.
LOL.I don’t think that t number, but trust me I’m insane .I had reduce many doubles as far foreign in long years selling. Still I have to get to many big boxes still to search. One day!!!.
New productions still around I go slow and not much, I had skip some sets others not. I do not skip short run production like Russians high value sets as I know will not b around x long.
The good part about yours and most you guys could enjoy best as small but space to set display.
I had not time and or space. My house is the smaller of three I use to storage ,because my daughter and work I keep the inside house minus office and basement or attics clean of toys complete .I do not enjoy then as not time. So that is a bad part x me now.
So I only enjoy talking here most and when I have to go mission 1,2,3 or 4 to look x then for pictures x stads forum as made me dig out.
My brother only do train and he used a section his basement I did not use with mine in his house(his house is big) one flat floor chalet style. I admire his train layout ,will do photos one day here ,maybe admin will like show it.
I mention my brothers as he often pull civilian figures from me ” free rented from my collection” for his train season scenes(he set 4 season) in a year.
Now he ask me for western lay out,opportunity to show all plastic building I got soon ,so as I mention in late spring I will get then out. He does not want much action, but I told him I will lease my western stuff if he set a western battle in one part, he Agree!!
About to and talking of Bill Nevins collection as he mention me.
Yes Bill does have a playset big selection and diverse, he should have photo and you tube it and post in internet.
Is amazing as far I had see only part in photo he send me.
He had then well see in temperatures to conserve the boxes/toys. So admire it.
I never been his house, will one day if he let me of course.
I know of others and I can attest Admin=Paul has an amazing array figures I had never see before .He may talk much more of it…
As I know he had go UK and central Europe several time as well 80s trip to Mexico and others he had got stuff we never see before and he is and should be credited with bringing most info of those brands plus connection for to be retailers in the molds else.
Admin cover cartons and charters that I do not and is great. I believe Paul does not collect full set poses in many as he goes more for pose or personal like of specific figures. His collection is huge as well.
From abroad I know of three main book writers and collectors that own huge collection. I had seen in photos and video parts of theirs. Yet most European collectors I know are my age with exception of Herminia from Spain and his huge collection-Most European.
To be honest I do not know ,neither any one would know who has more or largest in single pose collection per figure as it will required a third part true inventory per collection and I don’t see it happen.
So when I see or red (a person who has the largest collection!) I see it with sketical view in my opinion.
Because the many facts to be look at to consider it as largest and few up here know what others really have.There somo millionary up there that thenself and their son barrely get in touch with us here and had amaze huge amount figures,who knows what they have.
I personally considered have a lot my self ,yet not bluff about it much not saying largest at all. I bet there plenty others with much more.
Also considered many facts as ,range,eras ,sizes-scales ,material ,if comics and heroes figures among collection and many other facts that play a big role in to how relay consider it a toy soldiers or general toy figurines collection.
I which I could have more ,but not enough money not time and or space and by time I retired I probably will be very along here with few to talk about versus today as this hobby is shrinking in amount of followers not keeping or growing at all.
Yet in Europe is more in my range age. But who knows.
I’m collecting since 12 years old .I will tell how I start so young collection is a sad first but happy after history I will say.
Best regards…
I used to have tons of stuff, I had 10 or more Gibbs Custer sets, all the Conte Alamo sets 5 or 6 Fort Apaches. Figures of all kinds everywhere, they took up four closets and part of a basement. I had enough 60mm marx cavalry to cover a 8 foot table. I had over 150 revised pose pioneers, it was insane. Then I decided to sell and pared it down quite . I still have quite a bit of stuff, but only about 1/3 of what I used to have. Now I hardly ever buy anything for my own collection.
Ed when I heard that I got scare as I don’t know if I will stock with it along.
But I can not stop x now.LOL
I had to stop I had all this stuff everywhere and I knew I wasn’t going to do anything with it all as it was impossible. I mean what is the need for 10 Gibbs Custer sets? Now I have two, got rid of a couple Fort Apache’s, all the Conte sets including the D Day bunker.
yeah I’m selling my foam pieces too .not space x it.
Castles I had sold some doubles and some unique too as less realistic to me .Fort in have few only.
Doubles POSES I don’t like much but for big wars battles only.
Civil war I had sold most doubles or more same poses ,reason is I noticed many battles in civil war were fought in smaller less uniformed forces and in wood too that were less even or accordingly nice formation versus European drills. So I can reduce there more than even AIW regular armies of both sides.
Indian wars ,not need but one pose each.
Medieval I only repeat mounted or men at arms,archers or spear man and sergeants, not foot knights or others.
Animals and dinosaurs a give away some cases and keep others plus pass to my girl to play too unless old and composition Elastolin from my Grandfather .
I also have celluloid German and Japanese figures and animals too .
Metal only two small cases of old ones from my family and me as child .
Yet I still have to go long way box by box w almost not time …..
I actually broke down and did a couple Civil War and 7th cavalry conversions. Now I got another special order and a new challenge, my first attempt at mounted conversions, should be interesting. I didn’t have the problem with duplcate poses when I was a kid, because my mother would automatically demand that I give the dups to my cousin, so I get a brand new Rin Tin Tin and bam, I have to give all the dups poses to my cousin. That just about made me sick. I think that is why I hoarded the 60mm cavalry poses for so long. Mental scars of my youth.
Personally, I would rather spend $1500 on, for example, a MIB old Marx Untouchables set that I can display and enjoy than have bags and bags and bags of duplicate figures in boxes and bins in the attic, under the bed and in the basement. I’ve had people tell me that they have this and that and the other thing that they can’t sell me because they don’t really know where it is. No harm done to me if people want to do that, but then don’t disparage me if I spend big for something that I can actually use.
I wish I had a MIB Untouchables set I’d sell it to you for 2k. Always liked that set, but have no desire for it any longer. Just like the first time I ever saw a Battleground set, I thought it was the coolest thing ever, now I don’t even want one. Funny how that works, I guess it looked more impressive when I was a kid, I guess I just looked at things differently, the awe is gone.
These are available now. I just ordered a set of these for $34.80 shipping included from the home page on the Ex Force web site.
http://www.expeditionaryforce.com.sg/
The expeditionary forces Gatling gun party set and other are already x sale .
All the pieces all in same match color as I thought and usually they do …
The brand line is fast releasing set..!!!
http://www.expeditionaryforce.com.sg/