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Post by jimmn on Jun 18, 2019 18:01:10 GMT
Armies in Plastic has been a good source of figures for me, but after buying several sets (Confederate marines, Boer commandos, butternut infantry, Boer War British infantry, and zuaves) i think i will be ready to try another brand. My painting skills have improved slightly but still are not up to an average level, so i will not attempt uniforms that are highly detailed. The price should be reasonable. Buying twenty figures in a box is overkill for me; a set of five would be enough.
Which brand would be good for a person like me?
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Post by davel on Jun 18, 2019 20:24:13 GMT
Have a look at Expeditionary Force. They may not have all you want, but their Zulu war range may be of interest. They are more expensive but have 9 infantry or 5 cavalry in a box.
Best Wishes Dave
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Post by twogunbob on Jun 18, 2019 21:28:30 GMT
I hate to be 'that guy', the one that gives an answer opposite to what you want. But when it comes to cheap and plentiful with plenty of figures to cut your teeth on the Toy Solider grab bags are kind of hard to beat.
$55.95 and less nets you enough figures for a small scale war in the periods. I wish I'd grab a couple for my ACW project cause I'd been a few dollars ahead.
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Post by jimmn on Jun 18, 2019 23:34:57 GMT
Well, Bob, I have a couple hundred badly painted BMC, generic and AIP figures. I could wash them off and try again. That would keep me busy for awhile.
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Post by leswhite on Jun 24, 2019 13:36:14 GMT
Hi Jimmn, Since it would appear that you have an excess of AIP figures already and you are not looking for large quantities of figure types might I suggest you try your hand at converting to create something new for your collection without outlaying any more funds. AIP figures are pretty much the same size so swapping heads is both easy and a worth the effort. To swap heads you just need a sharp knife, a packet of dress making pins and a pair of pliers (with cutting edge). Use the figures neck line as the cut edge means the new head lines up nicely. With the figure sets you mentioned you could create - ACW Long coat Infantry in slouch hats. ACW Shell jacket Infantry in Kepis. Boer War British Infantry in slouch hats. Boer War British Irregular/police in sun helmets. Boxer Rebellion French Zouaves in Sun Helmets.
Obviously the more different sets you have the more that can be achieved with the most unusual subjects being as practical as the so called more normal ones. Some AIP sets are very generic and can be used in so many ways that a box of 20 won't last long
This example by me shows what can be done with the basic Boer War British Infantry body and that a new head and paint job change the 'look' and therefore the use of the figures in different time periods. This is more involved that just a head swap of course but I think you get the idea. It depends on how much detail you want I'm just going for a 'toy soldier' look.
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Post by jimmn on Jun 24, 2019 14:09:48 GMT
Les,
Thanks for the suggestions. I really like your conversions, all from one base figure. That started my brain, The WWII infantry army man would seem to be the most common and least expensive toy soldier. His helmet is bulky enough that perhaps it could be cut down to make either a kepi or a brimmed hat for the ACW.
My Boer War British infantry men look so good that I am reluctant to modify them.
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Post by leswhite on Jun 24, 2019 15:41:46 GMT
Jimmn, You are correct a basic WW2 army man can work just as well as any other base figure, it is entirely up to your imagination and skill at this point if you haven't done any converting before. Using the cheap Army men to work on for practice is the way to go, it does not matter if you make a mistake you can jus start again with another figure, once your confidence picks up you could move onto a better quality figure. These two figures are from WW2 originals - MATCHBOX WW" US Infantry Officer and AIRFIX WW2 Russian Officer converted into ACW types. Quite a lot of putty work of course but it shows that anything can become anything
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Post by jimmn on Jun 24, 2019 17:12:50 GMT
Those conversions open up lots of possibilities.
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Post by leswhite on Jun 24, 2019 17:59:51 GMT
What periods interest you apart from the Boer War ?
I've come across many blog sites with conversions of the standard Army men into lots of different eras of troop types, so most things should be achievable, up to yourself how accurate you would need the figure to be but that's what great about this hobby you can please yourself and get exactly what you want
Here are some more examples that I did for a customer many years ago. The crawling/prone figures are WW2 figures.
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Post by jimmn on Jun 24, 2019 18:43:24 GMT
The concept i am working with is alt-ACW as inspired by Harry Turtledove. It starts about 1860 but continues on its own timeline. Britain and France support the CSA so USA sues for peace. USA loses Maine in the war. CSA acquires the northern states of Mexico via purchase.
USA allies with Prussia. USA and CSA have a three thousand mile border over which border ruffians and bushwhackers frequently cross to raid and rob. USA builds block houses along the border and patrols as best it can. Sometimes punitive reprisal raids are sent south. War is declared periodically.
By now we have left the Turtledove timeline. In 1898 the CSA exploits the Spanish American War as another opportunity to fight USA. British infantry and French Foreign Legion assist as do Cherokee units and perhaps some Mexican units. Prussians assist USA.
That is about as far as i have taken it. Prussia will not be crushed in WWI so the Nazis will never come to power in Germany. CSA might ally with Russia.
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Post by leswhite on Jun 25, 2019 9:26:10 GMT
I am familiar with the Turledove stories and can see the appeal of the multi historical timeline. Many of the AIP sets are useable straight out of the box for the turn of the century.
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Post by jimmn on Jun 25, 2019 12:14:45 GMT
Some of the same figures appear in different sets, just in different colors. For example, I think maybe the Confederate marines and the Union marines overlap. So, the box can be split, painting half gray and half blue (give both groups light blue pants).
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Post by leswhite on Jun 25, 2019 18:59:37 GMT
The AIP ACW Marines were actually designed as BERDAN SHARPSHOOTERS in GREEN, US MARINES in BLUE, CONFEDEASTE MARINES in GREY, BUTTERNUT CONFEDERATES IN TAN. 2 figures have scoped sniper rifles. One set can be painted the 4 different ways plus the 54th Massachusetts coloured Infantry and the South Carolina regiment with the red trousers. With head swaps for various shakos you can get close to many European Armies of the 1830's - 1850s it all depends on how accurate you want your figures. This is why I like the AIP range and why I have plastic buckets of spares - complete figures , heads, arms and other parts lying around in my cupboard Ready to assemble into something new !
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