Hidden Treasures Juan Hermida Conversion Figure, I have done a number of house cleanings over the years, one aspect is finding hidden treasures. When cleaning my late aunt and uncle’s apartment, I found my uncle’s fireman’s helmet and a wooden toy. Going through my house, I found figures from my friend from Spain Juan Hermida. I have a conversion figure to show you.
Hidden Treasures Juan Hermida the Find
Lafredo is known for its large size figures. They did smaller scale figures many are copies of other figures. Here we have Britain Swoppet knights copies from La Fredo. They were done as solid figures.
This figure is from Desconocidos (unknown). I believe the figure is a cowboy with a knife and gun.
This is an early Pech Hermanos rubber soldier standing and firing a rifle.
Jescan Vikings three are damaged I will pass them to a friend to do conversions. The kneeling figure I will keep despite missing his helmet.
These figures are also by Pech and are 45mm. They are designed with plug-in arms. I like the Alpine figure.
Finally, some Comansi Western figures. Spain had a fantastic plastic figure history. They did figures we would have loved to have such as El Cid and Bridge on the River Kwai. Juan has written a number of books on Spanish plastic figures.
Conversion Figure
I like conversion figures. They fill in poses you would not normally get. I liked this figure as he would be part of a signal corps. My friend Peter Evans feels Peter Oliver did him. I have another one which will show in the future.
Odds and Ends
I will have a busy November. I have three shows in my area and the York Toy Show. I will have photos from Eurofigurines next week. This is a great show in France. Likewise, I will have photos from the German Plastic Show.
Finally, I had someone want me to take the hat of a Timpo Mexican I had on Ebay and photograph its head. I declined and blocked him.
The civil war figure looks a Timpo solid they have converted.
Lafredo knights series were made by artist Victor Garcia Penalver ,again while knights poses are base in Britain Herald swoppets ,they are carved in different style and the set has 6 foot and 6 mounted poses with some nice variation.
The foot and horse poses were redone repeated in 90 mm scale sets with different poses as well.
The heavy armored horse pose made for the 1/32 and 90 mm scale sets is original designed.
The Lafredo knights are among the rarest and more priced base in quality condition.
The cowboy “unknown” is by Sotorres from Spain ,the rifle on his right hand is just broken missing minus the barrel tip .Hat were plug in as well the horses had separated bridles and saddles.From 1955 least and hard to find intact .
All the plug in arms movable marching soldiers 45 mm are by Torres Maltas from Spain also ,no quite PH.The molds mostlikely are base on the lead cast igures series molds of Capell company whose molds were sold by Manuel Pech to his friend Manuel Sotorres.That is why they resemble the lead 1940s style figures so much .
Some of the sets were sold under PH ,Bruver and other brands and that is why is confusing .
Your Jecsan viking are very early first edition with plug in helmets .
Nice collection of very hard to find in US figures from early 50s/60s Paul!!!
Juan Hermida had published 4 new books about plastic figures limited edition.Mine are in the way to me already.
He was just interviewed resently by a TV channel about the history of toys in Spain.Highly recommend his interview .
I consider him the best Toy true researcher investigator and best book editor covering plastic toy soldiers and figures ever!
His books are extremely great in images quality and company information in regards to Spaniard huge vast production that unfortunately is poor known outside Spain/Europe generally.
Most his book are in Spanish but some had been edited in English.