Last year I acquired four Timpo West Point Cadet figures, made in the 1960s. I think they are rather nice castings. But I also know these toy soldiers are prone to break with plastic oxidisation, so I wasn't surprised to find mine had lost parts of their rifles. As four was never going to be enough it was always my intention to cast a reasonable number in pewter. Pleased to report that the mould was a success, and I have now raised a full battalion for my collection.
MGB
(Campaign news. These older cadets were surprised to find themselves ordered to go on immediate active service. Here is their encampment, just over the Canadian border.)
Smartly repaired, recast and painted. Now you'll have to crank up the Souza marches on the gramophone ...
ReplyDeleteWell, to be honest, Americans train with shoulder-arms on BOTH shoulders, but mainly on their right. While the British are ONLY on their left shoulder. So I am planning to raise some American units with right shoulder-arms, to balance the collection. Then they can start marching to Souza, lol.
DeleteMichael
A very fine piece of conservation, sadly Timpo originals are very frail these days, a bit like myself!
ReplyDeleteYes, Brian, its true, the early Timpo plastic is very brittle, much better to cast them again. Luckily, the officers had no issues and are safe to handle. Know how you feel, parts of me are only working at 50%.
DeleteMichael
I have some very frail similar figures in the shed. Battered and broken they will need some TLC. I don’t cast myself ( as yet) but repair or repurpose individuals.
ReplyDeleteHi Allan, I like them, and if they have no extended detail some good paints and varnish will make them sturdy, I had two officers and they are fine on the tabletop, I may have replaced the plumes.
DeleteMichael