Favourite Airfix Figures

[Tim Hall]

A problem which has largely departed from most of this forum's members.

From memory, first there was the cowboys and Indians, then the ICG, then the Guards packs.
The original 8th Army, Afrika Korps and WWII Germans followed and they were much better detailed
Then came the civil war and US cavalry similar quality to 8th Army
Then the Robin Hood Sherrif of Nottingham, FFL and arabs
Then the WWI series, which were an enormous improvement on anything that had gone before
The Highlanders and cuirassiers and French Artillery were comparable to the WWI series.
Then came the later Wellingtonics which were vastly superior to anything that had gone on before
Then the rehashed WWII ones which were little masterpieces of detail.

I think the Guards and Civilians came first, followed by the legendary Infantry Combat Group, and then the 1st edition Germans, followed by the ACW infantry, and the Cowboys and Indians.

[Vintage Wargaming]

What you need for all of this is a copy of Carbonel’s Airfix’s Little Soldiers, which will answer any and all questions. I’ve just had a quick look for my copy with no luck - as the cheapest copy on Abebooks is £108 I think I might be looking a bit harder tomorrow

[Vintage Wargaming]

What you need for all of this is a copy of Carbonel’s Airfix’s Little Soldiers, which will answer any and all questions. I’ve just had a quick look for my copy with no luck - as the cheapest copy on Abebooks is £108 I think I might be looking a bit harder tomorrow

Found it while looking for something else.

HO/OO range - first five years, in order of issue

1959 Guards Band
Guards Colour Party
1960 Infantry Combat Group
Farm Stock
WW2 German Infantry
Civilians
1961 Cowboys
Indians
1962 8th Army
Foreign Legion
Afrika Korps
ACW Union Infantry
ACW Confederate Infantry
ACW Artillery
Wagon Train
1963 US Marines

I sort of knew but had forgotten that John Niblett had sculpted most of the sets up to the 1970s - I remember being really surprised when I found this out.

[grizzlymc]

That Guards box were my first French imperial guard, followed by the British Grenadiers from the AWEE stuff.

I stand corrected on the order of the first few.

[Vintage Wargaming]

It’s just information. There’s plenty of it in the book! It is an Histoire & Collections smaller format paperback which is lavishly illustrated with colour photos - a real labour of love and fascinating to read. And apparently now extremely expensive second hand!

I can remember waiting for each new set from about 1970 on and my feelings on opening each ons for the first time. Particular highlights were the ACW sets and wagon train (plus cowboys and later 7th Cavalry) allowing the first plastic all arms armies for both sides; and the start and then growth of the Napoleonic sets.

I remember them (and series 1 kits) costing 2/11 around that time.

[BaronVonWreckedoften]

I recall having both Guards Band and Colour Party - in red plastic - quite early on. The first packs I bought myself were Russian infantry (two lots - almost five shillings as I recall); my working class maternal grandparents were slightly shocked that I had chosen Communists!

[MarshalNey]

Happy days! Airfix was my life as a kid.

[Etranger]

I recall having both Guards Band and Colour Party - in red plastic - quite early on. The first packs I bought myself were Russian infantry (two lots - almost five shillings as I recall); my working class maternal grandparents were slightly shocked that I had chosen Communists!

So they were all reds! The red colour was only used in the very early sets IIRC.

[grizzlymc]

Yes, the civil war set got me started on wargaming. What better than throwing minibrix (a sort of rubber leggo) at them. Dad had an idea, we could roll dice. Nothing could stop us after that.

Mine were red.

[Tim Hall]

Our local toy store, although a small concern stocked Airfix and RoCo Minitanks, the slight scale differnece wasn't a major issue and many of those saw action with US Marines, Infantry Combat Group and the dastardly Germans. The Japanese were popular foes as well. I remember my friend and I going to see "Bridge at Remagen" at the Gants Hill Odeon, and afterwards stocking up on RoCo Chaffees and M3 Halftracks so we could recreate the movie action.