Repairing Plastic Toy Soldiers

In my previous post I mentioned acquiring six 1970s Britains white fences and over ninety broken plastic toy soldiers. The cost was £9 which included delivery. For myself, the fences were worth £6 alone, they really do look nice on my green gaming boards. So the broken figures cost £3. 

Decided to launch into a campaign to repair and convert this hoard of figures into something useful. I knew a victory was on the horizon as I only required a handful for success, but many of the figures were very likely to become everlasting casualties.

Well, it has proved an enjoyable project, with twenty-nine figures restored to active service.

Here is the first batch, mainly WW2, but I also acquired two car mechanics, and a smaller scaled farm labourer (now portraying a lad going on a fishing trip). Four US figures have been given ship grey bases to serve on my MTB, and will represent Jones's 'Amphibious Reconnaissance Company (USMC).

                               Mechanics in 1930s indigo blue coveralls, but their haircuts are c.1970

Original state

Next up are those broken cowboys. Heavily oxidised, decided to replace their arms, securing them with steel rods. Primed, painted, and given a coat of yacht varnish, they are now quite robust.

Not expecting too much from this chap, he's fighting his own battle.

Original state

The third batch are medievals. The two 60mm figures will serve as high commanders. Two shields have been left bare, still to decide who they will represent in the 15th century. That extra archer completes a unit of eight. Must home-cast an extra scimitar for the Turk.

Original state

Now this was a bit of fun. There was a broken Airfix olympic shot-putter, he has now enlisted in the German Empire Labour Service (WW2). While the FFL figure will serve as a wagoner.

And here are the remaining figures. Fairly confident most of these will be eventually used. Thirty-eight others were lost or used for spares, but I'm not complaining.

PART TWO

Some time ago I made a French gunboat out of plastic-card, based on an antique tin toy. To be honest, I wasn't that pleased with the result. Decided to scrap it, using the materials elsewhere. However, it has been replaced with a new wood, card, and metal model, and I am much happier with the results. I think it has captured the vintage look.

MGB

REPLIES TO COMMENTS BELOW (UPDATED)

Thanks MJT. The figures were a pleasure to work on, and they allowed me to clear a load of spares too, so it worked on two levels. I wanted the cowboys to be more European but they are somewhat mid-Atlantic. Guess I can use them in either scenario. Yes, that gunboat is a vast improvement on the former, those railings have added much to the character.

Thanks for the morale boost, Donnie. Some projects are a chore but I genuinely enjoyed repairing the plastic figures, and putting the ship together. As I mentioned to MJT, the ornate railings have given the model that tin toy look, which I wanted to recreate (I can't afford the c.1900 originals).

Hello Q. Yes, I have found the same here, the Deetail are overwhelmingly fine, while many of the Charbens, Lone Star, and Crescent plastic figures of the 1960s have oxidised, I think it is due to storage in seasonal environments, such as lofts. I had a delivery box which furnished a number of large copper staples, which produced superb sword blades, drilled into the hands. I am also able to cast axes and scimitars in pewter so I can replace the weak plastic. Never use plastic spears and lances, waste of time painting them, went over to steel rods. Cheers.

Hello Brad. The ability of the Deetail range to be immune to plastic decay is amazing. What I find strange is that some figures, including Airfix, also dating to the 1960-70s, are OK, but others have totally oxidised. I believe extreme changes in temperature must be the issue. Worth noting, some plastic containers left in my garden have oxidised after a couple of years, just like the older toy soldiers, but the same containers inside are still flexible. I believe freezing cold nights and summer heat alters the plastic. (Presently working on a coastal patrol boat for the post-WW2 period.)

Cheers Quinn. I'm still doing house and garden projects but my hobby projects are also scoring, inspired by some great value purchases. Yesterday, I picked up in a charity shop a 1/32 scale vintage car for £4. I already had one of the same but that cost about £10. They make good command vehicles for the old lead toy soldiers or anything pre-WW2. I might also get a few more figures out of the 'broken' box, which recently arrived. By the way, hoping to stage a few small games, including one for Ruritania, and my first for Schleswig-Holstein.

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!