The World of Model Soldiers

Part 8 (cont'd.) : The Larger Figures

The Airfix company produces a very attractive French Grenadier which stands, without bearskin cap, about 150 mm high. Although relatively cheap to buy, when painted and with a weighted base, this plastic figure looks absolutely magnificent. Also among the larger models by Airfix is a Bengal Lancer, another beautiful figure approximately 300 mm tall, when seated on his horse.

Seagull Models, in London, continue to expand their range of Realmodels and now do a 54 mm, 80 mm, and 90 mm range. (Why they produce two ranges with such similar measurements is not known.) They have brought out figures of the American Civil War, some German soldiers from the period prior to World War I, and also some Ancient soldiers. Bill Hearne, the very talented figure maker, sculpts a number of the Realmodels for Seagull Models and Richard Almond carves their 120 and 140 mm figures.

Another new firm dealing in large-scale figures is that of Chota Sahib of Brighton in Sussex, and their first offering is a 90 mm figure of a British Officer in the Indian Army of about 1900. Other 90 mm figures on the market are the Samurai warrior of Ray Lamb who produces the Poste Militaire figures, Robert the Bruce by Caledonian of Scotland – they also produce a 75 mm Rob Roy McGregor – Cossack officers and Apache Indians by Eagle Miniatures of South Wales, and the large range produced by Miss Edmonds of Sentry Box in Billinghurst, Sussex. Kilmore, a rather unfortunate name for a firm making model soldiers in this pacific age, from Buckinghamshire, produce their figures in cold cast bronze, which is a form of resin with a metal filler. They make Napoleonic, World War II, and Ancient soldiers.

In the United States, the firm of Little Generals have a good range of horse soldiers in the 90 mm size, distributed by the Soldier Center of Boston. They also produce in the 140 mm size soldiers of the Black Watch at the turn of the century and French soldiers during the time they were skirmishing with the North American Indians. Another American firm, Valiant Figures of Chicago, Illinois, produce models in both the 90 mm and 120 mm sizes.

Charles Stadden, the original master sculptor of the figures sold by Tradition, now makes his own figures and he calls them his Collector’s Range. Made in pewter, they come on an attractive mount and stand 80 mm high. The figures cover a variety of foot soldiers and dismounted horsemen from 1660 to 1974.

Men O’War Figures, from Kent, produce a range of Napoleonic and World War II German figures, plus one or two others covering the Victorian period of England, the Cromwellian period, and World War I.

Phoenix Model Developments produce 75 mm figures. Currently they have only four in their range and whereas these were made of pewter, there is now a higher lead content.

Elastolin, the well-known German manufacturers of plastic figures, produce a whole range of Ancient peoples with their siege weapons and castles, not only in the 40 mm size, but also in 70 mm. Although produced mainly for the toy market, their figures are excellent in detail and can be included in any collection of model soldiers.

Superior Models have produced large-scale figures, including a 90 mm German Uhlan and a 150 mm Napoleonic Grenadier of the Old Guard. These models are distributed by Coulter-Bennett in California.

While on the subject of figures that are made in larger than standard size, mention should be made of those which for many years have been produced by silversmiths as Mess trophies and decorations. There are many fine examples of military statuary which have over the years been bought, and in some cases sold, by regiments and museums and these are on show in messes and also in military museums. They can still be bought from leading silversmiths and are normally made to order. Sometimes, however, the figures which are made for museums and messes by supposedly reputable manufacturers are not what they appear.

Some dioramas which have been made for some of the British regimental museums consist of no more than hastily thrown together collections of plastic toy figures, suitably painted, arranged, and doubtless costing a great deal. One famous maker, when asked to provide a silver-plated trophy for an artillery mess, simply bought a toy 25-pounder gun, took out the spring and wire firing mechanism, filled in the breech, and had the whole thing, complete with rubber tyres, silver plated and mounted on a wooden base. The old adage, caveat emptor (let the buyer beware) holds as good in the model-soldier world as it does in the world of, say, used cars.