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Tuesday, December 13, 2016

News, Views Etc...Plastic Warrior No.165



The Ink's barely dry on the last issue, there must be something wrong with me; three prompt in a row! Anyway - Issue 165 brings the following Toy Soldier stories to your doormat, if you subscribe . . . and I know of at least one new subscriber!

Also - I thought that with only the one image in this morning's post you'd all be feeling slightly cheated!

Articles

* The first article is a fascinating brain-food theory on the likely origins and appearances of Dan Dare toy figures, involving Thomas/Poplar, Tom Smith, Eagle, an outfit called Mead & Field Ltd., and something called a Jollibom! All pulled-together and mused-on by Gerald Edwards. In addition he rounds-up the other suspects with Crescent, MG Southall and Kentoys nodded-to - if that doesn't prick your imagination into subscribing and you still aren't - you probably never will!

* An editorial piece on the board-game 'Market Day' by Holdfast Enterprises is equally interesting

* Alwyn Brice also ponders, in his case on Trojan, but with less success than Mr Edwards I fear!

* A lovely journey of discovery by Peter Watson details his life-long uncovering of Cherilea's production, one set at a time!

* Robert Newson (die-cast expert and co-author of the FIM's) looks in detail at the various versions of Lone Star Landover - and who knew there were so many - along with the figures/accessories that sometimes accompanied them

* The well known German collector and regular contributor Andreas Dittman returns with an overview (and call for more information) of little-known Berlin maker Miniplast

* Another editorial looks at some lovely Crescent clones from Hong Kong

* Tony Sowerby explains his diorama of a Landsknecht gun position using Elastolin figures

* Robert Mackenzie contributes to coverage of Simon Tonge's animal collection, Simon is the numero uno at Paignton Zoo, so knows what he's looking at!

* Colin Penn tortures me with a Blind Bag set from Frozen just in time for Christmas - sorry Colin but I have a sore point over Frozen merchandise, having listened to the bloody woman's doll sing the Frozen theme all day long, on Christmas Day, in SPANISH two years ago . . . I live in trepidation of seeing a Moana doll round my Brother's in two weeks time!

'What The !&*$?' has three items this month, all ladies, one 1940's looking in a nightdress (or fur coat it's not clear!) pencilled-in as 'maybe Spanish', a rural granny type (early British plastic?) and a more medieval-looking, French-looking, rural wench, help needed on all three.

Finally news of the forthcoming ACOTS convention looks forward to their thirtieth anniversary five-day toyfest next Easter.

Regular Features

* 'NEWS and VIEWS and other stuff ' consists of an obituary for Dave Scrivener, reprised from this Blog, news of James Opie's next three C&T-scheduled auction-sales and news of a HäT crowd-funding experiment (which I believe failed while the issue was at the printers).

* 'Book Review' looks at 'Britains Toy Soldiers - The History and Handbook 1893-2013' by the above-mentioned James Opie

What's New covers the following this issue:
·         Chintoys - Sharp's Rifles (with mention of Nappy's Staff)
·         Expeditionary Force - Zulu War Redcoats
·         Mars - US Marines (Vietnam)
·         Replicants - British C17th (?) Dragoons


 All available from Steve Weston's Toy Soldiers

* 'Readers Letters' is four packed pages this time with two from yours truly (Gordy Int. & Noki) and other submissions from:
·         Barney Brown who passes-on a paint-stripping tip
·         Musings on Hornby/Airfix's plans from Peter Watson
·         James Peter Young on possible Aussie pirates (of Hilco)
·         More on Cherilea Baronial Knights from Malcolm Cotton
·         More on the state of the hobby from Pedro L. Cunha re. modern production
·         Happy Feedback on the Chicago Toy Soldier Show from the organisers (Jan and Roger Garfield)
·         'a person' has something to say about Stuart Marconie - who's he?!!
·         Brian Heape shows more smooth-based Crescent knights
·         Thomas Korecek shows rack-toy modern GI's from Prague
While finally; Erik Critchley and Dennis Donovan add to the clown-type from PW 164's What The !&*$?

Plus all the usual small-ads

Both Cover pictures are further shots of Tony Sowerby's diorama

Remember also; for subscription details or to 're-up', for contributions, letters or queries, Plastic Warrior is now on-line through various platforms:

And they are on Paypal.

The old website is to be run-down/retired.

And if anyone thinks the inclusion of my Blogs URL in the obituary was a little 'off colour', they're probably right, but it wasn't in the submitted piece and in his defence - the editor adds URL's to any contributor's piece when he knows of it, has to fit everything round a deadline and had probably already sent the smaller pieces to the printer; as I sent them in a while ago. So maybe unfortunate, but no eggs broken.

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