Has anyone noticed how some of the blog links listed in the column on the right show pictures while others don't? Before the recent update the links would all have shown the first picture from every post (except those hosted by Wordpress). It's not unique to this blog it seems to be affecting all the blogs I follow, I'm sure it must be something to do with settings but does anyone know what we need to do to get all the pictures back?
When I have a little money, I buy Toy Soldiers; and if I have any left, I buy food and clothes. (with apologies to:) ERASMUS
Friday 23 October 2020
Tuesday 6 October 2020
Ancient Gauls made by CBG Mignot
A recent ebay extravagance, they're not the sort of thing I collect really, and they all have some damage but then again they are nice early toy soldiers made by the classic French manufacturer CBG Mignot (Cuperly, Blondel and Gerbeau). I don't know what I'm going to do with them but for 99p my trigger finger was itching uncontrollably, and it would be unforgiveable not to give a good home to these strays.
Ancient Gauls made by CGB Mignot |
Solid metal and 54mm tall, the first two may have held spears, which would be easy enough to repair with a spot of solder although, of course, I'm never likely to find original Mignot parts. The first figure shows the sword, cast separately and soldered to the body. The middle one is posed to give a clear view of the shield, which is made of thin pressed tin, this design was used for the Ancient as well as Middle Eastern ranges where they came brightly painted, as opposed to being left in the flat metal as here.
Saturday 26 September 2020
Not Quite Victorious Army
But I'm sure they will be when they eventually get onto the table for a game!
For some time now I've been building up a generic Chinese army, I'm not sure why and I can't remember how it started, perhaps I just like the colours. And the flags, the flags are great. Anyway, there is no grand plan, I just bang out another unit every now and then when an idea comes to me, it's quite therapeutic, doing something different. Here's what I've got so far:
Tuesday 15 September 2020
Battle of Britain Day - 80 Years on
Wednesday 26 August 2020
Robert the Bruce in the Tower of London
Over on facebook someone on the "Friends who like Plastic Warrior" group was asking about the plastic figures made by John Niblett & Co (Modelmakers) Ltd that used to be on sale at the Tower of London. I have a couple of them so I put a picture up on the group, they're such nice models I thought I'd post it up here too.
Robert the Bruce is based on the 1964 statue at Bannockburn by Charles Pilkington Jackson, the rider is a little over 54mm and I think it was originally sold with an unpainted gilt finish. I bought this back in the 1980's as part of a collection, sold at Phillips Auctioneers, which had belonged to a chap who'd been a serious student of heraldry. His collection had been broken up into several lots, most of which were high end metal models, but there was also a big box of plastic odds and ends that nobody was interested in, so I went for it. The box contained lots of conversions which he'd made himself, based on historical figures and all painted in the correct livery, so I'm guessing that he painted up this model of the Bruce. Helpfully he put a little hand written sticker on the bottom of each base to say who the model was of.
The second model is the suit of armour of King Henry VIII which I seem to recall had been on display at the Tower, it stands about 80mm high and is missing a pikestaff but otherwise is in original condition. I know there was at least one more model in the series, a mounted knight in Gothic armour but there may have been more, anyone know of any others? John Niblett is of course best known for his work on the 1:72nd scale figures for Airfix but he worked on a freelance basis for several manufacturers as well as producing these and his own range of very fine wargame figures.
As mentioned above, I have recently joined facebook, which is a sure omen that it will shortly collapse, if my past history for joining such groups is anything to go by! In the meantime I'm enjoying touching base with many old names from the collecting world who don't necessarily bother to follow the blogging world. My only beef with FB is that the photos don't blow up very large and I'm very much a pictures person, also you have to trawl through reams of stuff if you ever want to refer back to them. For these reasons I will probably post pictures here and on FB, I hope that won't become too annoying?