SHEPTON MALLET TOY FAIR

                             A FESTIVE OUTING TO SOMERSET

On December 14 Chris and I went on a day out to Shepton Mallet Toy Fair, which is held at the Royal Bath & Somerset Grounds. It has a reputation for being the largest in the Southwest, and that three hundred traders might attend. I can't say whether it was the Christmas festivities but in my opinion it was not that much larger than the Exeter event. And, the typical pricing of items was possibly higher. I'm inclined to suggest the railway and toy soldier traders were low in number, or making up a smaller proportion of what was largely sci-fi and lego stands. So was it worthwhile?

This was a successful day out because we had agreed to meet family members, George and Lianne. We later drove on to Frome where we had a splendid roast dinner. Concerning the fair, well, I did pick up some useful additions to my collection, but that is as far as I'm willing to go.

And here are the new acquisitions. I rather like this metal French(?) Napoleonic staff officer. Will restore the original high quality paintwork. It cost £5. In height it is similar to Airfix.

Any help in identifying the manufacturer or retailer would be appreciated. The base is tin? With clipped corners.

I will always accept a Cherilea archer, it will join my French unit made up of the same. It cost £2 which is a bit high, but the bow is still intact.

Probably paid too much for this Deetail Confederate too, £3...... it was an early purchase!

Towards the end of our visit I discovered a bag of naval figures........ I need some more open-handed to man my gunboats. The trader charged £2 each, which is fine.

This Crescent figure has a shorter outfit, distinct from the British uniform. I find them very useful.

But this figure will be serving with the Royal Navy gunboats.

Now this is rather interesting. It is a plastic Royal Navy officer made by GE-MODELS. The scale is 51mm, which is fine with my gunboats. I include a file photo showing the full range, which included sea cadets. I paid £1, which I like!

My figure is on the far right.https://www.bonhams.com/auction/19297/lot/1338/gemodels-plastic-royal-navy-15/

With another trader George spotted this figure. I paid out heavily, £8. But I have always wanted a W. Britains Admiral. I will paint strip this figure, it deserves a smart uniform!

And finally, a WW1 lead figure with gas mask.......... hope it proves useful, Graham!

MGB

RAILWAY BUFFERS

Have been viewing this O Gauge Hornby Hydraulic Buffers No.2A for several weeks in the Collectables shop. After exchanging Christmas cards with the shop owner, I took the plunge. He kindly allowed a discount and I purchased it for £7. I will give it a light clean but unsure whether to restore the paintwork, no plans to paint strip this pre1930s model, but I might increase and polish the brass-work for aesthetic appeal.

I was also able to pick up a W. Britains Royal Artillery pack gun crewman for £2. It will probably have a head swap and end up with the Hessian artillery battery.

THOSE NEW ADDITIONS PAINTED AND BASED

Here are the figures picked up at the Shepton Mallet fair.

SOME CHARITY SHOP FINDS

On December 20 I popped into a local charity shop. They've had a box of badly damaged toy cars for several weeks, charging £1 each. To my surprise I found three items of definite interest.

 I picked up a Lone Star jeep. Now I already have one of these fully restored. They are a bit small for 54mm but some of my WW2 Americans are closer to 50mm.

Here it is repainted for service with my Seabees unit. Have added some perspex to the windscreen. The US Navy occasionally painted their jeeps in shades of grey or grey-blue.

I have no problem adding a WW1 Crescent 18pdr gun. A bit scratched but otherwise all in working order, including its toe hitch. It has now been lightly restored, removing any chips in the paintwork.

This is a W.Britains Triumph Thunderbird police motorbike no.9697, missing its megaphone, handlebars, and petrol cap. But for £1 I'll take the gamble and consider my options how to use it. One idea is to keep it as a police bike, with black paintwork. Some constabularies did this. These bikes were used by British police in the 1950s-70s. 

And here it is stripped, repaired, painted and varnished.

No plans to recreate a miniature of Marlon Brando in the movie The Wild One (1953). But the Thunderbird used in the film was actually his, having purchased it in 1950! A rather 'cool' fellow, and a great actor, he is superb in Mutiny on the Bounty (1962). To my total surprise, I had assumed he was of Italian ancestry (blame the Godfather movie). But he was actually of German, Dutch, English and Irish stock.

And on another visit I picked up this Corgi tractor, just £1. Now this model design was produced in the 1950s but with a slight liberty it will pass muster as a WW2 Massey-Harris model 101, used by US Forces. It still had its steering wheel, just needed paint stripping and repainting. Here it is completely restored. I will attach it to my Seabees runway construction unit.

GONE FISHING!

On December 31, I spotted this fishing boat in a local charity store. I still had to pay £5 for it, but the potential for an attractive maritime addition was high. It certainly would need a good clean, and I would have to clear some of the deck clutter for a suitable crew.

Having got home, could not resist starting work on the boat. First job was to go outside and use a make-up brush to remove the accumulated dust and fluff. Some of the deck woodwork had no value to the model and was removed. Any dangling ties were also cut away. I then sanded any rough areas, and tidied up the paintwork. A coat of varnish spray completed this two hour project. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

MGB

Postscript. Photos for Donnie. Still to decide about the tin base, looks like it was only painted in a gold paint over the blue?

An original in good condition.

January 3. Primed the base, and three coats of gold acrylic.......

CHRISTMAS TOYS, and more

                             🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄A HAPPY YULETIDE🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

My thanks to everyone who has encouraged this 54mm gaming blog during the last twelve months, particularly Brad, MJT, Donnie, Graham, and Roger. 

This year has been 'tricky' for my family with some personal events disrupting a more conventional lifestyle, but that too is part of life. Reduced Christmas decorations this year, I really need to keep my home ornamentation to just the tree, but I will still be raising a glass on the 25th to my Lord, the New Testament, and to my God.

I might not be raising so many decorations this year but as a collector of vintage Christmas mercury glass I was very pleased to pick up a rare faceted lantern bauble for 10p (I gave £1), shown below. This item was picked up in a charity shop and dates back to the 1950s. I now have a collection of about two hundred! They really do give off a reflexion which plastic cannot replicate.

And then, on December 8, a large charity shop bag for £2. Having arranged they could keep the modern decorations, I paid them £3. 

And on December 11, found the following two items in a box of decorations for 50p each, I was rather pleased. The Drummer is made of heavy resin or plaster. I wonder if it is American? In the 1700s all nationalities covered their drummer's coats in regimental or royal family lace, except the Americans. But the latter continued their British tradition of reversing the coat and facing colours for drummers.

Footnote The five inch drummer is made of polystone, and are for sale in the US at https://xenosgifts.com/products/revolutionary-war-drummer-ornament?srsltid=AfmBOoqhObC93FOVaqIDo2kvlZzjOWQKmmE_lZTaXpLq42dM6qqNmV26 

      A NEW RECRUIT FOR THE BRITISH ARMY

A visit to the collectables shop involved swapping a toy car for something more useful to my collection. This figure represents a sergeant in the Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders, and it forms part of a set of toy soldiers issued as freebies by William Grant's whiskey company. A photograph of what I believe was the full set follows. They were produced in 1990.

COLONIAL RECRUITS FOR THE FRENCH ARMY

For some time I have been raising two French colonial battalions on a budget. Blow me if Graham Apperley (Tales from the Toy Room Blog) contacted me with news that he had picked up five W. Britains zouaves quite cheaply and they were mine if I wanted them...... these five would allow me to complete both units to twelve. Thanks again Graham, the figures were absolutely vital, and it is rather rare to find them still with bayonets. 

Here they are repainted, awaiting their gloss varnish and card bases.

And here are the two completed battalions, ready for action.

Original condition

I thought Lead had been removed from petrol?

Now this project is really exciting my interest, it's an oil pump for a planned garage. And I have also started to restore three petrol pumps for a garage forecourt. When I've picked up some suitable card I will start constructing an appropriate building. It will be somewhat generic, covering the entire first half of the twentieth century. I will also be seeking to recreate that tin toy look of old.

Old oil pump.

🚂🚂🚂🚂RAILWAY STATION SIGN🚂🚂🚂🚂

Finally got round to paint stripping and repainting this rather splendid Hornby Series railway sign. Instead of advertisements, I wanted station names. I thought Torquay would serve for English language countries and coastal actions, while the Streslau reverse could cover central Europe. Actually, this city is fictitious, being the capital of Ruritania! I was keen to adopt a red and black livery to match my Timpo train set and staff uniforms.

JAPANESE TIGER FLAGS and Scarves

The following photos are reproduced for purposes of education, no copyright infringement intended. No profit made.

The tiger was a popular symbol in Japan in a manner not dissimilar to the lion used by the British. Many small flags incorporating a tiger were made during WW2 as gifts to Japanese soldiers from family members. I could not resist reproducing some of these for my Japanese WW2 collection. For wargame purposes, it actually helps being able to mention particular units by their flag. I must admit my renditions are considerably larger in scale, but they certainly add something colourful and interesting. 

Some exquisite artwork.

REPRODUCED FLAGS

Japanese regiments were apparently classed A, B, or C. The C Class was often used for static garrisons. Their rank and file numbers were often much lower than the A and B class units, and heavier support weaponry was also reduced. My 'C' class garrison regiment is uniformed in white fatigue uniforms as their main distinction. 

https://www.mournemilitaria.com/en-GB/uniforms-headwear/wwii-imperial-japanese-army-work-tunic/prod_11299

Having painted two tiger flags, the Tiger Head has been issued to the Garrison Regiment, and I have painted up three more figures to complete their establishment of twelve. (My Japanese officer has a white tropical hat, not sure if it's correct but it does appear in David Lean's superb Bridge over the River Kwai, 1957.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfNS0wU5PEg

Another two figures have been drafted to my Sun Rays regiment, With support weapons, this 'B' class unit can muster sixteen.

🤖🤖🤖🤖A RATHER CHEAP DALEK🤖🤖🤖🤖

Cheap, yes, but still a nice die-cast model. Picked up this Corgi Dalek for £2 in the Collectables shop. It's missing its eyepiece but I will replicate it with steel rod and plasticard. 

And on December 10 a box arrived with two more that were in an auction, £6.24 including delivery. One of these still has its eyepiece and this will serve as a template for making two of my own. Must admit, I regularly rewatch two DW stories, Genesis of the Daleks and Day of the Daleks.

Postscript And here are the three Daleks, two with fabricated eyepieces, and a little bit of silver paint restoration. I drilled some steel rod into the cap, used odd bits of plastic to construct the eye, and wrapped some fuse wire to represent the blue rings. It will do the job and they are good and firm.

Do I plan to raise an army and fight a wargame? If I spot some silver/blue Daleks at a good price I will increase their number, and I won't rule out a few command Daleks. As for the opposition, I already have three Para battalions, a Royal Marine battalion, and four infantry battalions dressed in 1950-80 uniforms. And I also have Doctor Who. I guess it is fair to say...... it certainly is viable!

🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅

CHRISTMAS TOYS OF OLD

RESEARCH PHOTOS, UPLOADED FOR PURPOSES OF EDUCATION

Going through my files, thought the following might prove of interest, and rather festive too.

BARCLAY MANOIL WW1 SOLDIERS

Often overshadowed by Britains, Crescent, et al, the Barclay Manoil company produced some exquisite US toy soldiers. They really do have a distinct character.

Love this toy field piece.

CHERILEA ATTEMPTS TO GET TO THE MOON

This is for Brad. Cherilea produced this fun little rocket (8cms tall), it certainly reminds me of those that appeared in 1950s movies such as DESTINATION MOON (1950). The full movie is available to view on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJkS-uQnAgE

STARLUX FRENCH COLONIALS

Now these plastic toy soldiers are rare in the UK, and when they do appear you can expect a high price. I must acknowledge these Starlux colonials have a archaic charm, but I do wonder if oxidisation is an issue?

SAVING MONEY FOR CHRISTMAS

Amazing how many saving boxes were produced for kids that were inspired by WW1 British tanks!

Don't you just love the comment in the first photo.

🎄🏹🏹🏹🏹🏹Errol Flynn joins the Team🏹🏹🏹🏹🏹🎄

This figure was kindly supplied by Brian Carrick. In scale it's about 56mm. What immediately caught my eye is the similarity to the Robin Hood played by Errol Flynn in the classic movie The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938). I can now confirm this figure was designed by the Italian company Dulcop, and was indeed inspired by Flynn's portrayal.

Another figure furnished by Brian is a recast of the Marx original of Friar Tuck. I already have this character by W. Britains, so decided to paint it as a Cistercian monk in their distinctive white and black habit.

And finally, Brian also sent a Marx recast of Maid Marian. This figure was rather slight in scale and as I already have a splendid W.Britains Deetail figure for Marian, I decided to recreate Bess, the lady-in-waiting (played by the respected actress Una O'Connor) in the wonderful Flynn movie. A spare Tommy helmet helped here, I think it looks the part and an interesting addition to my medieval collection.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Michael G. Butterfield

FOOTNOTE

On Sunday, December 14, Chris and I travelled to Somerset to attend the Shepton Mallet Toy Fair, where we were joined by family members George and Lianna. We later travelled to Frome for a very fine pub meal, and where we later spotted the open doors of this Anglican church. Will upload more on the toy fair in my next post.