Reamsa of Spain Western Townsfolk are an nice addition to a Western scene. Where Marx did only one or two townsfolk. As you can see that Reamsa did a wide variety inclusing several woman firing weapons. The Western woman that I had Replicants make was inspired by the Reamsa women.
Bill Nevins back with thoughts on these figures and what he did with them.
Reamsa of Spain Western Townsfolk Introduction
I got these from John Stengel many years ago. I have two sets of both the Women and Railroad Workers. The original re-issue color is a pinkish, flesh color that does nothing to enhance the detail. So, I decide to repaint them to blend in with the rest of my Western one color figures.
The figures themselves were coated in flash and it took plenty of razor bladesto cut it all away. I did the best I could and I am pleased with the color choices and the end results. These are going to look terrific in my 60-70 mm WesternTown.
Reamsa of Spain Western Townsfolk The Figures
These are all the female poses. Three shooting and three that look like they might be waiting for the train. The woman holding the baby is seated and needs something to sit on. These are wonderful poses and will add so much to any display.
Close up of the 3 firing poses. I like the color choices here. So much better than that awful flesh color.
Again the color makes the figures come alive. The lack of female pedestrians
has always been a sore spot for western figure collectors. These will blend in nicely.
The two men here come in the bag set with the women. They look like they are being held up. I converted the guy on the right by removing his hand and replacing it with a hand with a pistol in it. I took it from the Paragon Alamo
Mexican extra hands that come in the set. It looks good to me.
Reamsa of Spain Western Townsfolk Towns folk and Railroad
Here you can see the original color reissue figure standing between the two painted figures. A better view of the conversion.
This are another excellent set of figures to have in your Western Town. I never realized it until I began removing the flash that the facial features of the track workers are Chinese! That’s fantastic!
I have one of those Great Western RR trains that is going to look just perfect with this crew working on the track. Perfect size…G gauge, I think. Liksahad an article about it a while back looking for track pieces, I think.
This is a set of two guys driving the spikes into the track. The other guy is an “oiler” who job it is to keep the moving parts lubricated. Perfect color for him.
I had a lot of fun picking out which colors to use on what figures. It’s kind of a challenge to paint the figure in a color that brings out the best in it.
I’ve done more Cowboys including a really neat conversion that I’ll send in later on. 60 MM 7 th Cavalry, too.
They do look good in those colors, good job.
The nice colors are a 1000% improvement over that sickly flesh tone that Reamsa sometimes used on their otherwise excellent figures.
Plus, the way that Reamsa offered such nice, unusual poses and themes is reminescent of Atlantic. And I always liked that Reamsa, like Atlantic, made so many of its figures in a nice 65 – 70mm size.
Great job Bill.!!!!:-):-):-):-)
Every Spaniard brand made a chinese in their western set.
Bill u match one color used by Gomarza.The last reissuer of Reamsa molds before went dormant in Spain till were reissues and brought here by Ric B and Clark.
The color ir reddish rust.I have then in bags
Well done and great observation.
Best.
Correction.
Not every.The most important did
Reamsa, jecsan, comansi and PH.With Jecsan and COMANSI doing the most.
I always liked Reamsa’s sculpting style better than Atlantics on the whole. I love those females, even in 60mm that woman with child might be a great Susannah Dickenson for my Alamo (with the newer figures, that is). Thanks for the share.
Nice job with the various colors. I have these sets in the peach color, and you’ve got me thinking about painting them in the same color choices you used. Also have the cowboy on the ground fighting off the Indian attacking from above 2 piece vignette. My only regret on these figures is the very large size. I can display them with 60 – 70 mm Marx & Auburn, but wish they were made in 54 mm to fit most of my dioramas..
Yeah the two big issues with Reamsa for me are the size of the figures and those ginormous stands. That sculptor seems to like the big leg spread.
I hope everyone in the group has enjoyed a safe and happy holiday season. I’m probably not sending this in the appropriate manner, but perhaps Stad will post accordingly.
I have a friend in Spain who is seeking info on Northern ACW militia units who may have worn the forage caps worn by the X-Force figures. He wants to paint accordingly, and give a name to his unit.
Also, if anyone has two CTS full size Conestoga wagons and seats and would like to trade for a light gray ambulance cover and seat and a cream cav cover and seat, perhaps Stad could forward my email address. Thank you! Mike
Erwin, Does anyone carry Reamsa reissue in the US anymore? Overseas?
Or how about you?
I would love to get more. I have those big 40 piece bags from Mexico, that has Cowboys, Indians, 7 th Cav and French Trappers and Canadian Mounties all in the same bag.
Any traders out there?
Link:
http://ats-toy-soldiers.myshopify.com/
Bill .
Here officially only ATS had some left over of old reissues he stock, but every time less,TSC -Delson carry some but very high$ as usual.
What you got from Mexico are the REAMSA-Gomarza imported to Mexico ,also to Argentina and Venezuela in late 80s.
Mexico packs were repack for (fiesta-piñata) party supply and sold under (Broadway ) brand and also Jugetemundo stores company in Mexico,Monterrey and Veracruz.I think there other repacked brand too.
Something funny most bags of toy soldiers figures from Mexico got 40 pc !?I do not know why.
In Germany ,Italy and France in 90s some one repack and distribute some of PH-and Jecsan western sets from original pack via PUCHOL the old last owner of the molds before got storage away. Every country pack come in nation languages under generic toy distributor.
You can get then for not crazy price mint from Germany eBay now ,but are mix sets poses assorted with not much figures in mix solid colors. Let me know and post link x you guys here.
No one else in Spain sale their figures. All toy soldiers productions stop in Spain by early 90s from all brand minus COMANSI.
Comansi last reissues were in 1996-1998 from me brought here (I brought most western line with forts and building plus houses and the mix armies of the world modern series in buckets). I import several pallets and some were mass resold to Argentina. Took me years sale the rest via TS shows ,commission and gamers
In 2000 all old COMANSI molds were officially dismantled and storage for good out of actual main factory. Since 2010 Twice I had try convince the owner to redo it ,he says is way too much waste bring back all and put together old machinery for few rounds.
Comansi still made a lane of painted not old related mold figures about 65 mm in PVC and the 3″ high to match PAPO and others line too.
I do not know if any want -could contact Ric Bracamontes in IL? to find out if he still have any old stock imported .
Wherever I have so far is not for swap or sale x now-Sorry .I will have review later in spring in any extras if got then x spare and will post direct to you if got any. Too much snow cold to dig out from my storage places. UP here we got feet of snow since late October
Best regards.
ATS carries them, some anyway.
Great colors, for great looking figures. The armed women are especially striking. Reamsa did some really nice figures. Nice work, Bill. The converted figure is greatly improved just by changing the color. If that peachy pinkish color was the original color of all the figures, I wonder why? These figures are all greatly improved with the painting and the details really stand out. The more I see from the big time Spanish figure makers, the more impressed I am!
John the type colors were the choices among others from those who imported then here ,they choose grey, light brown, peach(may be intended x skin color!?) ,red brown ,different shades of blue-grey green as well bronze, silver and gold for ancient and medieval, however some odd color were done for others too such white , cream and even neon bright colors but these were more for those sold in Mexico bags.
The type soft plastic used pretty much was same use in REAMSA ,Jecsan/Comansi plus PH since late 60 in the painted old version .It is a very good quality by the way and perfect for conversion else.
The pre 60s Spaniards production were made in rubber and older harder plastic. Those painted version are very rare and top $$$ if in complete condition.
Reamsa redone some entire mold sets when made transition to new plastic in late 60s
Spain toy brands are the more abundant in Europe covering western figures era ,they sets are very large and diverse and maybe they compete well with Americans main brands in numbers and diversity.
Ironical REAMSA was the less in number making only over 50 poses of cowboys,townspeople,explorer,trappers .Not counting Mounties ,American Civil war , US 7th and Indians .
They did 5 wagons, stagecoach as well buffalos,forts,houses ,boats, teepees ,trees ,totem ,canoes,farms x the sets.
Several of the western poses were never reissues , such the duel poses and mounted dropping rifle plus two woman for the (Stagecoach ) set base in film.
But named by REAMSA (Ambush in Rocky Hill) to avoid license rights.
The most proliferate in western series were Jecsan and Comansi with larges selection of poses and else.
Like add all Spainards western brands sets such Reamsa,Comansi Jecsan match well in scale with Aurburn ,TIM MEE and tall Marx poses as well other European figures. So there is plenty to blend with unless your are only in to 54 mm of course.
Bill great match colors work are perfect sample what he had done to blend w big scales I think .
ATS Toy got a little business from me due to this column (Bill and Ed’s question and link reminding me that they carry several Spanish maker’s re-issues. )
Added Reamsa pirates, and a combined set of Reamsa & Jecsan Romans to go with my recast Ben Hur sets.
There were so many nice looking figures and always not enough $$ available. Gladiators, Rev War, Lawrence of Arabia; so many other figures that I may get…someday.
The peach/pink color is also similar to the Pech Hermanos pirates recasts I have from BUM. I think they could be improved greatly with a repaint as Bill has done. (I was also looking at original pirates of the Pech line on one of the Spanish sites; they were beautifully painted although I think the originals were rubber.) Any way, the right solid color painting could really make those details pop as well.
(Thanks to Erwin for helping educate me; as well as others on this forum who have provided web links to some of the sites displaying photos of many original Spanish figures.)
I got hook on the Spanish figures when a collector sold a lot of them at a show 30 years ago. I like the poses as they were different and I could use them for the stories I use to do. II would keep my eyes out when I spotted them. I got a number of at the Plastic Warrior Show. The reissues allowed other collectors to enjoy them.
The woman seating w baby pose# 436 is belong to the stagecoach set, she goes inside seating with 3 more poses ,not reissued plus two drivers and two cowboys. One of drivers if falling down the coach pose dropping Winchester ,other is raising hands -not the foot pose of same style please.
Railroad poses were original made x large big train made by REAMNSA as well with some of woman and townspeople in most passive poses.
Trappers are belong to mounties-Canada set .
Rest of most action poses were intermix ands/or sold in sets of action box.
for export under Figurama series brand.
And last x tonight ,so not tire u guys.
In case any one want to know most of all done by Reamsa .
My good friend and top Spaniard collector(Juan Martin) has reedited the last book he did and is x sale on eBay again with minor add on update. I personally highly recommend this book if you are in to European brands. The book has top quality color pictures with catalog data numbers and is huge (300 pages full of data) but only in Spanish.
Yet you do not need read much to see figures unless want to learn exact history about.
Any need translation of page contact me.
If need a PDF file that is more cheap ,contact me and I get in contact with him direct.
You may need an update window 10 with to download it fast and neat.
His eBay sale link is here.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/REAMSA-2017-BOOK-vintage-plastic-figures-similar-to-jecsan-pech-estereopast-/332064364110?hash=item4d5094164e:g:9QQAAOSw-0xYVB0Z
I got introduced to foreign plastic by Jamie Delson. Jamie lives in NYC, close to where I was working at that time. I would stop by his apartment from time to time to do some trading. He was importing Starluxe at that time, but he had dozens and dozens of foreign plastic samples to show me. This was before he really got going in the toy soldier business. He was just another avid collector to hang out with back then. You can have your own opinion of his business practice, but the guy is really a very passionate collector at heart. I’ve seen that first hand.
Besides collecting plastic figures I am a pretty good model maker. I made Jamie a 54 mm scale Alamo building for his wargames and displays. He paid me in foreign plastic!!
Bill, nice way to get started in the foreign soldiers by getting to see them first- hand and trading. My initial knowledge of any foreign makers was from Delson’s Toy Soldier Company.
BMC sets at Toys R Us got me started on this hobby when my son was young. Next came the CTS Alamo set advertised in Civil War Times Magazine, then TSC sets were also advertised in Civil War Times. Jamie made a good profit off my purchases 12-15 years ago. Pre-ebay days, he and CTS were smart enough to advertise in history magazines, otherwise I did not know about the existing toy soldier hobby.
I used to get the large paper catalogs from Toy Soldier Company and just looking through the pages, got to see some of the foreign manufactured items he had. So I got a little education from him in that way. I also got inspiration from his playsets he put together and advertised. (My son wanted to set up his soldiers to look like the playset pictures from the TSC ads [and also Classic Toy Soldier ads.]) I think Jamie still has a lot of fun putting his sets together and doing combinations of items which are inspiring, if pricey.
However, Stadsstuff and Erwin have been my real education into the foreign makers.