Plastic Figure Showcase Part 5 February 2018 Figures from Around the World I have an interesting group of figures. We have figures from Turkey France and United Kingdom amongst others. Plus a mystery figure and a conversion to intrigue you.
Plastic Figure Showcase Part 5 February 2018 Figures from Around the World Part One
These two figures are from Turkey. Peter Evans found them at a Plastic Warrior Show for me. It one of the things I miss not getting to the European shows. Is seeing figures like these that you do not see here. The figures are 54mm to 56 mm. I do not know who made them.
Here we have figures from France and Italy. The Indian on the left says Plume Brisee. I am not sure if it is the name of a company that made it or describing the figure. I alway forget to bring the figures from photograph area. the figure on the right is a 45mm Fontanni cowboy standing firing rifle.
Here are three of the Lone Star red beret figures. These figures are at least 60mm and I believe head is suppose to come out (I may be wrong and I would not try it if it does.) the funny thing is I had purchased these figures years ago and for some strange reason they never got in to storage area and discover them again when I was look for some photos.
In that same bag with the Lone Star figures was this girl. I have no idea who made her.
Plastic Figure Showcase Part 5 February 2018 Figures from Around the World Part Two
Over the years you have heard about how I used my figures for stories. Also I have told you about the legendary hunt for the Speedwell armored car on fire. Well there was one other hunt not as great as that. It was looking for the Timpo bandit firing two pistols. I had this figure as a child. I called him Outlaw Blue. He was first a villian then he turned good guy before going bad again. Sadly he was one of the figures that got damaged. One of my dogs got him and chewed him. When I got older I kept an eye for him. I first got in aluminum. Later I found him in plastic which you see here.
Finally another conversion, this was done by a different English collector. He took a Hing Fat Pirate and changed it into a Indian fighter. I like conversions as it gives you different figures for your scenes.
The two first figure are simple crude solid poses cloned from earky first Timpo series swapped soldiers sold in grey as Germans I belive and also as Gi’s
Argentina factory(Epopeya) did exact same w swapped timpo poses of soldiers, knights western romans and others.
Indian i think is a premium figure I forgot if germa,r Belgium,else. I may be wrong .But there more much poses…..
I like the great idea of hing fat pirate as indian …
I never liked those Hing Fat Pirates, but the conversion is a 1000% improvement! Very nice looking figure!
Well i personally like all 10 original HF poses pirates from 90s ,of course just personal like as usual.The copies sold later in less poses set come in smaller than 54 mm and very around.The detail and mold body parts in later copies are often wasted w defects too.
I remember when TSC from NYC-NJ sold then at high price and i find out then in bags at store pile up bags .
Funny how back then some dealers overprice stores products in mail/online site x collectors.
Now days we look more around before get then from dealers.
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“Back then” is still “right now” – our “buddy” even gouges on postage!! German dealers charge me less to CT than he wants from NYC!! Have to laugh. Waiting for deep panic sales as age creeps up on him & his hoard.
Well he is an exception not doubt ,yet he manages to stay afloat over many who had close down and even won several lawsuit .
I have nothing personal ,so good x him ,least buyers have to option of others around.
His ebay deals are not bad considering his massive overstock amount that surpass other dealers .
Yet i stop buying from him since early 90s as i got most out from abroad direct and here at shows or other dealers.
my thoughts
CAVEAT EMPTOR!!!!
ita quidem! (translation it is)
Maybe I have just seen the later copies. I’ll have top look for the originals.
Mark .No;is may be is my personal like only ,you may not like that style or figure detail else.
I think figures like is something very personal as well.Im very general ,but when figures made today have deformities or anatomical irregularities in body part else is when i make some exception or stronger critique in my view only
Vintage i do consider then as vintage curiosity for sake of collecting even if ugly sometimes.
if i got a figure from a set i often want complete set in vintages.
I have personal original HF poses and can send picture next to later to see difference that is more in size and other poses plus a bit deep detail ,not more.
So i respect your view complete as well.
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Plume Brisee means Broken Feather and was a premium issued in 1954/55 in a range of 60 figures by French coffee firm Cafe Legal.
The Lone Star Red Berets do have removable heads and some of them are getting quite brittle now.
The Hing Fat pirate conversion was made by Ian Walden, who sadly died a year ago, he did some great work, whenever he brought stuff to the PW show I always bought the lot, we never negotiated price, I just opened my wallet and he took whatever he thought was a fair price. You can see more of his Indians on my blog here: http://toysoldiercollecting.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/more-marathas.html and here: http://toysoldiercollecting.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/maratha-mobile-artillery.html
I have forgotten names over the years of people. I remember Ian a nice charming man.
I thought so on the Lone Star Red Berets and their heads
Thanks for the update one of these years I will get everything centralized.
That’s a nice diorama of Indians (real Indians from India, as opposed to Native Americans) you have set up in your garden. I can see the curious Burmese/Siam cat investigating what’s going on.
The conversions by Ian are very impressive.
I also think it is impressive that Ian would bring his conversions to a show for sale, immediately quote a fair price, and that without any quibbling you would open your wallet and pay the quoted price. I’m thinking I may try that technique at the upcoming Indiana toy soldier show, and see if it works out. Of course, it takes two to tango, so it requires the toy soldier dealer/seller to first quote a fair price. I actually think many of them do, unlike some (not all) of the ebay sellers who occasionally post.
Love the pirate conversion to Indian warrior, Really nice figure, I have used those pirates myself as I think they make pretty good Medieval peasants/warriors, But never thought of the Indian idea, Like it.
Now i’m thinking to make then chinese/japanese pirates,even as tripoli pirates to match Barzso poses set .The barrely shirts in most give that impression w few turban hat/heads i guess.
I got plenty later reissues and are still around everywhere.
i just have to find time….
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Good ideas Erwin, I personally like these Hing -Fat Pirate figures as they are but as been mentioned they could be converted to be many other Warriors from different countrys.
yeah these are very cheap around here in the later reissues less poses sets by buckets or bags,now im thinking in start cutting and gluing a bit ,i may cut sometimes myself .lol
Its good fun to try converting and I really enjoy it mostly as long as things go as I want them to but not always, I would love to see what you come up with as i’m sure everyone else would.
Great ideas and conversation in Tiger hunting by Ian .Interesting in using African elephants bull with indian ears ,Yet i will not use as huge difference in reality with skull/head and body legs of animal.Also asian elephant barely had big tusk and were often cut or reduced in purpose x hunting.Only males had then in bigger enough and used as parade or heavy work load more.But of course is a great job toy conversion.
Not doubt!!!
Will be great for Durbar parade better as they let then use with larger tusk there in my personal view/like.Great adorn decor very well done in animals too.
I love last picture with gigantic Tiger attacking I bet that will be the end of all hunters.
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Brian said everything about the Legal Coffee premium “Broken Feather”…
Best from France