Favourite Airfix Figures

[Tim Hall]

Around the same time as the expansion of Airfix 1/72 ranges in the 1960s, I discovered Britain's "Swoppets" Wars of the Roses figures. I had several foot figures, including a kneeling crossbowman and a guy in what looked like a white pullover who had a helmet with a hinged/moveable visor, armed with a polearm; there were a few more that I don't recall, but I loved swapping the heads around.

Those "Britain's" Wars of the Roses figures are, in my humble opinion, the zenith of plastic toy soldiers, (although, by rights they are Herald/Zang figures). No other plastic toy soldiers have equalled the level of detail those guys had, metal scabbards with plastic swords and knives you could pull out for example, not to mention the level of interchangeability, and knight's horse that actually looked like they could carry an armoured man, if only I had appreciated them as much back then. The "Swoppett" Wild West figures came a close second.

[tim.w]

I was of the age to appreciate anything that scale there was Esci, which were far better. I tended to aquire them from the model shop in Scarborough.

I enjoy this post because it highlights how old everyone is but also because Esci did rock.

They were £3.99 a box for years, then overnight doubled in price. About a tenner now.

Favourite sets:
Vietnam - I bought the new sets recently
Modern Soviets - as above. Used the Arabs as Mujahadeen
Arabs - most versatile box of figures ever
British Airbourne
8th Army
French Foreign Legion
British Colonial Infantry

Romans were the first wargames figures I ever painted.

[tim.w]

My auntie Rose bought me my first Airfix figures when we visited the local Woolworths. US Cavalry and either the Confederate or the Union infantry. I don't remember the year, but on sale at the time were plastic Beatles wigs.......for kids, obviously.

E

They were flapper wigs. It was 1925.

[goat major]

Iain’s still got his. It’s haute couture in Essex

[Jeremy]

I had pretty much all the Esci range over the years. The highlight was converting the running man from the Viet Cong range into 1st Div footballers for a set of home brew rules.

[goat major]

Oh yes I’d forgotten you did that. Have you still got them ?

[Jeremy]

No, they were tossed in the move between Port Elizabeth and Pretoria. It was based on the 1992 Sheffield Wednesday Team.

[goat major]

I have fond memories of Atlantic, even though many of their offerings were piss-poor in hindsight.

I’d forgotten about them so went on PSR to have a look again. Some interesting ranges but I dont remember seeing an advert for this one in Warlord comic ........ http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=635

[goat major]

No, they were tossed in the move between Port Elizabeth and Pretoria. It was based on the 1992 Sheffield Wednesday Team.

Ah the Gateway cavalry of the footballing world

[Jeremy]

In 1992 we took Arsenal to two FA Cup finals, did alright in the League and got relegated the very next year. I’ve never understood that and have been in mourning ever since. My mum and dad were born within a mile of Owlerton and my dad played for their Youth Team. Don’t try and take the plaster off