Wednesday 19 March 2014

Glossy Guards


These chaps came as part of a large lot of 54mm figures in mostly ceremonial dress which I acquired earlier this year. 
They are old metal hollow cast figures (Britains perhaps?).  There was another rifleman but he had suffered serious damage in a previous life.  The paintwork was in a poor state but I preserved what I could and touched in the chipped bits before sticking them down to mdf bases and topping off with a coat of gloss varnish.
Best of all is the officer's party piece - viewing the world with binos (above) and without (below).

18 comments:

Paul Foster said...

'Gow's Drift' perhaps?

Tim Gow said...

Paul Foster
Unpainted Zulus sir - faasands of 'em!

Archduke Piccolo said...

Toy soldiers have a character all their own don't they?

Tim Gow said...

Archduke Piccolo
The batch in question consisted of 200+ figures but I think these three are my favourites!

Mosstrooper said...

Like the Officer with the bino's

Tim Gow said...

Mosstrooper
He's a real gem.

Brian Carrick said...

Britain's certainly! but perhaps with repairs to the rifles? That sounds like quite haul, look forward to seeing more of them, what paints did you use?
Best wishes Brian

Tim Gow said...

Brian Carrick
The touching up was done with Vallejo acrylics. The other figures have rather less rarity value - modern Britains etc.

Stephen Thomas said...

Regarding the officer with the bino's I have the same figure. Working arms et al. The only difference is that my chap is wearing a German visor cap. I picked him up with a batch of figures bought on Ebay. :-)

Tim Gow said...

Stephen Thomas
Is your chap hollowcast too?

Stephen Thomas said...

He feels a little heavy to be hollow cast. I think he's probably a re cast copy of the original. I have no idea if the figure would have sported different heads or if that change came later.

tradgardmastare said...

Glorious figures - you are a fortunate man indeed!

Don M said...

Always had a soft spot for the old Britains figures, very nice Tim.

Tim Gow said...

Tradgardmastare
Shame there are only three of 'em really!

Tim Gow said...

Don M
I treasured these chaps from the moment I saw them.

Arthur said...

Tim

I sit here, reading this post and the following stumbles across the wasteland of my intellect -

Arthur asks "Tim, why are they called Britains figures?"

Tim replies "Arthur, because they are British Guardsmen"

Arthur pauses, staring blankly at screen. Eventually he says "oh".

So I won't ask the question, but they are nice toys.

Regards

Tim Gow said...

Arthur
A fascinating insight in the the er, workings of your mind. Of course it might be something to do with the original maker (in 1893!) being one William Britain....

Arthur said...

I have barely reached the point where Arthur pauses. Don't hold your breath.