BMC 54mm Iwo Jima Figures not exactly, what we have here are Chinese copies of some of the poses of the BMC Playset Iwo Jima. This was the last major playset done by BMC. The playset was unique for BMC in that instead of having to do new sculpts, they were able to get permission from King and Country to copy some of King and Country’s metal figures. The result was perhaps the finest figures ever produced by BMC giving collectors additional figures and poses to add to their Conte Collectibles and TSSD figures
Imagine my surprise when I received a set of these BMC copies. Here we had eight poses from the BMC Iwo Jima playset downsize from 60 to 63mm to a 54 to 57mm in size. The poses that were chosen are interesting laying with Browning Automatic Rifle, crawling, advancing with rifle across chest, flame thrower, grenade thrower, officer running with pistol, two different laying firing rifle and kneeling firing rifle. There are at least nine different poses and could be more. (Update another bag turned up with a radio operator kneeling.) The person who sent me the samples and did the pictures for this article shows a laying machine gunner, while I have laying firing rifle forward.
Interesting on the laying firing forward legs closed (not in the pictures) and the kneeling firing pose are the Japanese poses from the BMC Iwo Jima Playset. The maker of the copies has changed the kneeling firing pose’s hat to helmet so they could all be on the same side. The above picture is showing laying firing machine gun pose which I did not get which was also originally a Japanese pose.
These photos show the various figures and how they look painted. The detail is nice you have only lost a slight amount of detail from the original figures from the pantagraphing. these copies will be great addition as to those who are into 54mm figures such as Marx.The figures are being sold in dollar stores, you may find them more likely in the independent dollar stores than chain dollar stores. As we get more information we will pass it along.
Incredible how Chinese factories play so easy w others w out facing any legal sue x so long.
Still it is nice to have so much variability and sizes in figures to adjust or choices
Too bad they didn’t copy all the poses, because they would have been downsized just a little bit to make them true 1:32.
I would have bought them!
I got mine on AMAZON, and here is a link including my review: http://www.amazon.com/Army-Military-Soldiers-Men-Colors/dp/B00J3DA66S/ref=cm_cr-mr-title
Paul Gruendler picked up a load of these a few years ago and split the lot with me. They are about a perfect 54mm scale and I added them in with my Airfix and Matchbox GIs. I’ll have to get a look at them this weekend and check my poses. I remember only 2 Jap poses in the lot and they were not changed any; MG man and prone firing rifle. All the Marine poses were done, I think, minus the Amtrack driver. I, of course, painted mine a complimentary OD for their ‘gaining unit’ and the Japs went in with the Airfix Japs and were also painted to match. Toy Soldier Depot had them by the barrel full a few years back.
Wow, look at that. As I wrote this, Paul posted the goods on them.
I always worry about the scale of these knockoffs – too often they are 50 – 51mm and not usable for me. I also have a problem with theft of intellectual property; wonder about the licensing of these products.
The scale look good versus original BMC so far in picture, not 50/53 but more 54/53 mm as BMC are 60/62 mm .In my opinion.China has not problem with copy rights of these type products from small companies such BMC or any in this hobby; they had got along always before with larger companies as well such Airfix and Matchbox first copied by HK them recloned in china. Most toy soldiers even many Marx had been produced in china, as far mold stay there and not claim ,no way to do legally do any.
Too difficult or almost impossible to do legal sue to them unless big giant US or western corporation are involved. In some cases the just cloned exact and in this case help the hobby by giving cheap smaller scale to match with 54 mm .In others they clone and waste the pose/figures and in many other create brand new mix figures that add to the hobby.
Even copy rights-no legal reproduction or copies and cloned was done between US and European factories before the big transfer to china factories. Beton is one big example in how they copied their figures in many other companies.
I could not find them on EBay.
Denver
They are available on Amazon. I do not know if any dealers are selling them on Fbay
Have just bought these figures from a shop called poundland in London England. I got 10 different americans and 2 japs in each tub you get 24 figures . I just paid fifteen pounds for a mix of tssd and bmc americans painted and bmc japs unpainted. I thought
that was a great deal but this is even better. Awhile ago we picked up some airfix world war 1 French they were Chinese copies of the 1/72 scale done in 1/35 scale keep up the good work china.
James if you can do a picture of the French it would be appreciated. It is interesting that some pound or dollar stores will get one item which other stores do not. I know the Italeri Napoleonic were copied but I have never seen them.
I have few of those WW1 French, were done over 10 years ago but not 1.35 ,they are about 45 mm scale ,no all poses and very crude done, mine are pale green and yellow.
They did WW1 Germans too .So far I have 6 poses of each army. Will dig them out to send pictures this coming week.