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).

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18 comments:

  1. Paul Foster19 March 2014 at 09:48

    'Gow's Drift' perhaps?

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  2. Tim Gow19 March 2014 at 09:57

    Paul Foster
    Unpainted Zulus sir - faasands of 'em!

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  3. Archduke Piccolo19 March 2014 at 10:11

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

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  4. Tim Gow19 March 2014 at 10:15

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

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  5. Mosstrooper19 March 2014 at 11:03

    Like the Officer with the bino's

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  6. Tim Gow19 March 2014 at 11:36

    Mosstrooper
    He's a real gem.

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  7. Brian Carrick19 March 2014 at 12:25

    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

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  8. Tim Gow19 March 2014 at 12:31

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

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  9. Stephen Thomas19 March 2014 at 13:24

    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. :-)

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  10. Tim Gow19 March 2014 at 13:52

    Stephen Thomas
    Is your chap hollowcast too?

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  11. Stephen Thomas19 March 2014 at 14:42

    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.

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  12. tradgardmastare19 March 2014 at 17:50

    Glorious figures - you are a fortunate man indeed!

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  13. Don M19 March 2014 at 18:47

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

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  14. Tim Gow19 March 2014 at 22:43

    Tradgardmastare
    Shame there are only three of 'em really!

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  15. Tim Gow19 March 2014 at 22:44

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

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  16. Arthur20 March 2014 at 13:48

    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

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  17. Tim Gow20 March 2014 at 15:44

    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....

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  18. Arthur20 March 2014 at 21:31

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

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