BIG UPLOAD, Lots of New Toys! (April 8)

                                                                SANSON TOY PLANE

Decided to augment my modest airforce with a worthy restoration project. 

Picked up this bi-plane in an auction for £8.50 delivered. It is a Rico S.A. (Sanson) toy, made in Spain during the 1970s? Rico concentrated on pressed steel and plastic combinations. I don't think historical accuracy played heavily on their minds, but their products are colourful and a pleasure to handle. This toy claims to be a French WW1 Breguet, which was a fighter-bomber in WW1. Actually, the company manufactured several very different aircraft using the same fuselage, and merely altered the wing layout, number of engines, and slight extras. Because of this, the scale varies, this model looks fine with 54mm.

I wish I could report that this 'universal' method of design protected them from cheap far-eastern imports, but it didn't. The company ceased trading in 1986, after seventy years of toy production. It appears to me, collectors of Sansom are mainly found in Spain and France. My intention is to link this aircraft with my c.1900 French army, comprising mainly old lead toy soldiers.

My toy is missing a tail fin, rear wheel, a heavy machine gun, six bombs, and some propeller blades...... this will be fun! Worked on the project yesterday........ just got the HMG to complete.

Plasticard sorted the missing tail fin.

                                                                         SANDBAGS

I normally leave my terrain items with a matt finish but I spotted a photo of sandbags given the gloss treatment. I liked it, and decided to do the same with a darker wash.

the inspiration

MONOGRAM TOY SOLDIERS 

Regular visitors will be aware that I recently acquired 104 WW2 American figures for only £12.70 delivered. With this unit sorted, only some seven remain in my spares box.

Here is the 1st Marine Raiders Battalion, also known as Edson's Raiders. For distinction, I have given this unit their 'Fall' uniform. Actually, it is the lining to their green camouflaged jacket and trousers (P42 and P44 issues). The plan was for the lining to be worn during beach landings, particularly in the Pacific. It was not popular, and rarely used as the intention was always to push beyond the landing zone as quickly as possible. But the uniform is distinctive, and will help me manage tabletop wargames. (The metal mortar was a kind gift from Paul Watson.)

And here are the three USMC infantry battalions using 1/35 scale Monogram figures. Not shown is a unit of scout-snipers, and the First Engineer Battalion (USMC).

The Fall camouflage (lining).

Here is a photo of USMC Raiders, wearing the bright green camouflage. Must acknowledge the enormous levels of courage and determination that was required to capture so many Japanese fortified islands.

A useful timeline to aid further research into the Pacific War is available at THE HISTORY PLACE

https://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/pacificwar/timeline.htm

PETROL STATION-GARAGE EXTRAS

A new project has recently arisen. Have decided to construct a petrol station/garage for my small collection of 54mm die-cast vehicles. Have seen some rather splendid tin-plate examples dating back to the 1950s, or earlier. To help me capture the early atmosphere, I picked up a few petrol pumps from the Collectables Shop. The three items cost £8. Just can't decide whether to paint-strip as they still have about 50% of the original, would welcome opinions!

RAILWAY SACK TRUCK

Very pleased to have purchased a sack truck for my restored Britains Railway Porter. It cost £7, which seems a lot, but they often sell for much more..... had to have it!

WW2 MOTOR TORPEDO BOAT

Clearing an off-cut of mahogany wood, decided to construct a WW2 small naval vessel. Although loosely inspired by American PT boats, this model must be 54mm friendly, and suitable for service with the Royal Navy, and the German Navy. Pleased to find that the shark mouth was popular with both the British and American MTBs, and I found one example of a German minesweeper adopting it too. Still to add a pair of torpedo tubes but only one is presently fabricated and I prefer to paint and fix them at the same time. 

American PT Boat

Some Royal Navy MTBs

A BAG OF TOY SOLDIERS HAS ARRIVED

This is something that arrived today. Picked it up on eBay for £9. Now I must admit, the figures are nearly all broken, and those Cowboys and Indians don't have the value other periods have acquired. However, I suspect about one third will still prove useful. And, the six 1970s Britains Fences is what really caught my eye. 

Above, interesting rider, Sheriff of Nottingham?

I must use those broken FFL figures somehow!

Above, Cowboys or Ruritanian militia?

I can always use kneeling-seated figures.

Well, not sure about these.

I am sure about these, only the Guards horse has value to me.

And here are the six Britains fences.... all in good condition.

MGB

REPLIES TO COMMENTS

Hello MJT, a lot of projects and purchases suddenly appeared, and rather than uploading each and every day, thought I better get it all up in one go before I forget something, lol. Have just sorted out 27 soldiers/horses/bits that are unlikely to serve any purpose, but the remainder are giving me some interesting restorations. Sort of reminds me of the 'Box that Keeps on Giving'. I want to see if the cowboys can be made to look more European c.1860. 

Hi Donnie, I'm tempted to agree with you. I have seen some Britains petrol pumps, the exact same as mine, and they are in a much better condition, about 80% original paint. I know some would just paint the areas that are bare metal but I fear they would just end up cratered, and a mess. The original paintwork was never great but it was bright, clean, and shiny..... what I have now has none of this. By the way, they did two others, red for Esso, and orange for National Benzole Mixture. 

Thanks Brad. I was fairly happy keeping them as they are but when I saw originals in near perfect condition, also with their hoses, I realised mine are really only 40% complete, and I am forfeiting the wonderful colour of the originals which will add so much to the potential petrol station. I will wait a while, but probably drift towards paint stripping. I am going to fabricate some hoses for certain.

Thank you, Brian. There is something slightly Spanish about him. I initially thought of Robin Hood figures or French musketeers, but your suggestion makes more sense with the modern hussar riding boots. I will probably paint him as a medieval, I don't war-game renaissance in 54mm. 

Thanks for the support, Quinn. Have started clearing the box of broken plastic. I don't like too many projects left around. Can confirm thirty-six have been used mainly for spare limbs, etc or just dumped. Another twenty eight have been successfully repaired and largely painted. Assuming the fences are worth £1 each, the new additions only cost £3 including postage, and the remaining sixteen unpainted will also find service...... my frugal values are well pleased, lol.

CHARITY SHOP VISIT

Popped into a local charity shop on Thursday. I'm rather pleased with what I found.

First up is this bi-plane. I have always liked traditional tin toys, with their bright shiny paintwork, and cartoon like design. They look great with W. Britains toy soldiers. But there are two problems in raising a collection, surviving examples are often in poor condition and difficult to restore (if you should?), and they can also cost a small fortune. 

Further research confirmed that this is a repro British-made tin toy. It is listed as a Curtiss 1930s plane, which was popular with the United States, but this model has British markings....... strange. The tin toy is still available to buy from BRIMTOY LTD, and retails at £34.99 with free delivery. They also make this product in some other colours. I have been very lucky, I picked up mine for £3, even eBay second-hand examples are over £20.

Now I must admit, tin toys are rarely accurate, they were always just toys. For me, the pleasure in using such with lead soldiers is to capture the imagery of toy wargames 1910-1980. I describe such as 'Toy Shop Wargames', and I admit that gaming friends of later generations, brought up with Games Workshop values, have no comprehension of this type of gaming. And yet, I get more pleasure wargaming with my toy collection than my extensive 28mm historical miniature collection!

My second charity shop purchase is a bit more modest. I picked up some original W. Britains farm items for £2. The chicken coop and turkey are English-made, and are shown in my 1979 Britains catalogue (thanks George) but disappear by 1983. The coop is actually quite valuable and sought after, floats for about £12. Will add it to my home-made farm house and barn. No need to repaint!

MGB

REPLIES TO COMMENTS

Hi MJT, I am rather pleased with the tin plane, it just looks right next to traditional lead toy soldiers. I know others have utilised their 20mm aircraft collections for wargames, and I recognise scale is made irrelevant if they are flying above. But I am striving to capture something H.G.Wells could feel at home with, if that makes sense. I am also planning to mount them on rods that are only about one foot high. 

Hi Tony, it most certainly is worthwhile. Visits have provided some very useful terrain items, including several buildings. But this is the first time I have gained an aeroplane. You don't see many lead figures, due to public health issues, but I have picked up some early plastic.

Cheers Donnie, Have been looking at it again today, and it really does work well with the gloss toy soldiers...... it just looks right at home. It reminds me of the very old photos Tony puts up on his blog, referencing toy collections.

Hi Brad, there is a recent story to the hangar. George S. Mills and his lady friend visited for a New Years dinner, and furnished the scratch built hangar as a gift. It has a very 1930s look to it which works wonderfully with my lead toy soldiers, and now my tin aircraft. 

Thanks Quinn, I have many collections in 28mm, and have followed the majority view with how they should look. My 54mm is a nostalgic look at early wargaming. And, to capture the magic of entering those pre-1980 toy shops that has stuck in my mind for half a century. Have just won an auction for another plane, a different make, not the same quality, but it will add to my very old style gaming.

Thanks George, I was instantly reminded of the movies 'Aces High', and the excellent 'Blue Max' when I spotted the tin toy in the charity shop!

MORE PROJECTS PAINTED and Old Corgi Toys

SPANISH Home-Made MORTAR

Decided to clear some bits and pieces by constructing an 1880-1914 type mortar-howitzer. I'm quite pleased with the result and decided to add it to my small collection of converted Spanish, the crew are Marine Artillery. 

Spanish 1885 model

✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰ PART TWO ✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰

More Americans are Completed

7th NAVAL BEACH BATTALION

On the D-Day landings there were units styled 'naval beach battalions'. They appear to have been formed to assist in coordinating the landing of men and supplies, They are also referred to as 'Shore Parties', 'Joint Assault Signal Companies' or Amphibious Corps Signal Battalions'. 

These units appeared in army or navy uniforms, or a mixture. Have noted some units painted a grey band round their helmets, but others just painted red unit numbers.

Here are some 1/32 figures in Coveralls, which is confirmed. Some time back I repaired a Starlux bazooka figure. As I now have a surplus of bazooka figures, decided to convert this figure into a signalman using a 'Blinker Tube'.

 'Blinker Tube'

US NAVAL CREW and CORGI DIECAST RADAR

Painted up some more of the figures in coveralls (I still don't know who made them) to complete a small crew for a modest naval gunboat, or a landing craft. Strictly, they should have two shirt breast pockets, and no patch pockets on the denims. I decided not to alter these figures, let the paintwork do the job.

The Radar is a 1957-61 Corgi toy, listed as No 353 Decca Airfield Radar. It is missing a small antenna but 'DIECAST RECOVERIES' can supply replacements! Picked up the Radar for £5 (originally £6) from the collectables shop.

121st ENGINEER COMBAT BATTALION (Normandy)

Recruited this unit from a mixture of 1/35 scale figures. Some were missing weaponry so decided to construct some extra equipment indicating they are engineers. Some plastic sprue was used to make the Bangalore Bangers.

MILITARY POLICE (AIRBORNE) and a STAFF OFFICER

Many US military units had their own police that could be identified by the armband and 'MP' on their helmet. The helmet also included a painted band usually in white, but some surviving helmets use bands in yellow or red (confused?). This odd figure (don't know the make) will be serving with my Airfix Airborne unit, its a similar size.

CORGI JEEPS ENTER SERVICE

Have completed the two Corgi 1/36 scale jeeps, constructed a M2 50cal HMG, and painted the crews..... not bad for £5 in total.

140th INFANTRY REGIMENT

These old lead figures were painted some time ago, but I have now added a figure to command, and a bazooka team. The 140th was stationed on the American West Coast during WW2. 

MGB

★★★★★★★★★★ REPLIES TO COMMENTS ★★★★★★★★★★

Hello Brad,  I had to make it a good run to clear several tabletops. It is too easy to drift...  and I am back to wall plasterwork soon. Yes, the blinker gun is a nice way to utilise a surplus figure, an easy job with miliput. The Corgi jeeps have turned out quite nicely, was a bit concerned if the 50cal HMG would be a strong model..... but it is securely drilled into the die cast using a steel rod, and my gaming does not need it to swing round. 

Hi Q, It has been a successful week, and another marine battalion got sorted on Monday. Good luck with your Australian Toy Fair..... best wishes to our brothers and sisters in the southern hemisphere.

Thank you Donnie, I don't mind admitting, had all the newly completed stuff on the table and it was a morale boost to see it all completed! Problem is, can't lay out the gaming table at the moment, but might be able to fight some skirmish games soon! 

Hello MJT, I feel the same about that Corgi Radar, I saw it in his shop for £6.... on the second visit I said yes, and I love it. I don't want to paint strip as it still has 60% original. But I will get a replacement antenna, but it will cost another £5. It deserves it!!!!