I finished off my little unit, based on a picture of the 43rd Westminster Rifle Vounteers. I use 8 figures, including an officer, as a unit, because this is the number in one of Dorset Figures boxes, which I'm using as storage. (Also, if I ever need to, I'll be able to sell them off as a boxed set!).
These are the last of my unpainted Fort Henry Guard castings, and I've spent the week rooting around the web trying to find a new source.
There's a chap in Canada has unpainted marching figures. An order has gone in for 8 figures to make up another unit, and I have some figures coming from 'Brigadier' in Australia for another. I'm trying to track down my original supplier (Pat Campbell of Replica Models) from about 12 years ago but he may have given up, though I notice a dealer on e-bay has a considerable number of painted sets under that label on offer. A message has gone out to him. I also contacted the Toy Soldier and Model Figure Magazine in case they had any contact details.
The other thing I tried was getting in touch with Giles Brown, of Dorset Soldiers to see if he had anything similar in his list. Giles has offered to make a mould for me if I'm unsuccesful elsewhere.
I have a modern 'Britains' Fort Henry figure, but it's not a patch on the old one, as the strapping detail is now all painted on in very thin lines, while the old one has it sculpted on.
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While digging for more figures, at the back of my cupboard I found this little chap, who has to be MrsJs favourite from my collection. He's 'The Collector' by Luigi Taoti, an Italian maker who used to come to the London Toy Soldier Show. I haven't been for years, and find I'm very much out of touch with makers, dealers etc., so really must get this year.
More progress reports next week.
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Utterly splendid fellows!
ReplyDeleteLike the collector figure , most unusual , Tony
ReplyDeleteHow absolutely wonderful!
ReplyDeleteNice one. i would want at least twenty of the grey uniformed blokes to make a regiment. A lot of Australian volunteer units had similar uniforms in the 1860s.
ReplyDeleteI can always bulk up if I need larger regiments, but this size makes life easier in a number of ways, initial cost, time to paint, storage, etc.
DeleteExcellent work on the 43rd Westminster Rifles- superb painting- well done!
ReplyDeleteI saw Luigi and his wife at one of the London shows last year, they still come over occasionally but as collectors not traders, I think he stopped making figures a while back.
ReplyDeleteHe must be getting on by now (but then, aren't we all?). I remember him buying a set of WW2 Italian infantry from me. always made me think of Pavarotti!
ReplyDeleteOne could make a mold of an oop one if one had a spare casting, Nice simple pose.
ReplyDeleteOn a related note, are you familiar with this site in the US
http://www.miniaturemolds.com/Coldstream-Guard-and-Highlander-Molds_c42.htm
Ross, now you're jumping ahead. More later. Thanks for the link, I have come across them in my search and will be getting a mould to try out.
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