J is for Jug Band

I will make an effort this Christmas, to finish the railway figure series, started two years ago, I meant to do it last year, but it never happened, and it's high time it got done. In the meantime, and as a taster (it's the only image on the firm in the queue), is this, which was donated by a Blog follower who prefers to remain anonymous . . . don't worry, I get it, I'm a loose cannon, and it's a brave man who would be associated with me!

Imported into the UK by Bachmann Europe, is this hillbilly Jug Band, in HO from Woodland Scenics, and it's absolutely lovely! The only thing missing is a couple of drunk neo-Nazi bikers, loosing a fight with Bo' and Luke Duke! We've got a wash-tub bass, a washboard and a guy playing an actual jug, with three more conventional instruments, charming. Cheers Dude, you know who you are!

B is for Bachmann, Busch and Other Blister Cards

Box ticking some more of the smaller railway figure issuers, it doesn't look like they actually made them, and because they are both blistered I've added a couple of other blister shots including one from Jon Attwood, as we are near the end of these posts for now.

These are the sets I hid in the Sandown Park plunder post the other day, a seller had a mass of N-gauge stuff, obviously an estate-clearing lot, and among them were several sets of figures, of which I grabbed four samples, one each of the two Bachmann's, the Busch and a Hachette (below).

 

A couple of points to note are that Bachmann admit to getting them in Hong Kong, while Busch, not known for figures, being primarily a tree/scenic maker, obviously got hold of some too, but give the impression - by subtle omission - that they are German products! The other point is that while graphics are similar, there is a year or two between the two Bachmann sets, with the green 'Accessories' line one being probably the newer, the blue 'Trains & Buildings' one probably older.

 

The usual scans (of the HO range) from various Walther's catalogues. In recent years Bachmann Europe and/or Bachmann UK have used various figures in HO/OO - also in sets of six - bought-in from Preiser, or even commissioned from them, but by "Recent Years" I realise I am talking about twenty-odd years, and there have been various changes in ownership of different arms of the brand in that time which are not for here, now, but can be looked at another day.

 

The same seller had these HO figures in tow, from Hachette the French-based part-work issuer, and (from the talk of 'Craft knife and scissors' in the instructions) possibly part of a larger building kit, and I think it was from the 'Little Benton Village' part-work? I suspect they are whitemetal, but short of getting them out and scratching one, I can't call it for sure!

 

While Jon sent these shots as part of the wider contributions, a bit too big for HO/OO-gauge related models, we have looked at them before, and this is the one with the bin-man which confused me a few years ago, as a similar chap came with a bit lorry!

B is for Airfix!

I said Bachmann were next, and this is next, so Bachmann it is, except it's really Airfix! In fact, let's get that out of the way first, I have read, several times, that these figures are "Airfix copies" or "copies of Airfix".

 

But in point of fact, Airfix during its heyday, had irons in many fires, including a foam-fabricator in Potter's Bar, and among its properties was the German Plasty outfit, who had got close by importing Airfix in the early 1960's, so it's no surprise that as part of the general toy range, we find Airfix imported the Bachmann Mini-Planes and joint-branded them Plasty Airfix.

This (left-hand images) is the 1969 announcement flyer/leaflet, and they would continue on in the toy catalogues for a while, while on the right is the Bachmann booklet from late 1971 (an earlier issue had announced the Spring '71 new releases), these aircraft - which my brother and I had about four of, and really enjoyed, even though they were very delicate - ran through both makers catalogues, at the same time as Bachmann's listing of the Airfix Figures.

The figures therefore were almost certainly either licenced, or more likely from tool cavities supplied by Airfix under a share-deal; "We won't re-export yours back to your territory, if you don't re-export ours to here" type thing. The heavy, glossy paint on PVC makes the Bachman versions resemble the PZG output (which were piracies) from Poland, and I've seen them confused in that manner, but the bases are the thinner Airfix originals, not the thick ones from the East.

 

Packaged in three's and singly in true rack-toy style hanging-cards, this is not the same as the previous post's image, but it might as well be, not many ways to photograph something like this while avoiding reflections!

The full range, as seen in Bachmann's 1974 catalogue, 24 figures, with the 'British Infantry' being taken from the 2nd version Paratroops, as the lack of actual British Infantry was a bone of contention back in the old country, at the time!

 

These vac-forms however, were all Bachmann, if they existed? It states they were sold unpainted, and I don't think I've ever seen one, but they run through the catalogues, so I guess they must have been, I've seen something similar to the machine-gun nest, but Atlantic and Dulcop both produced similar stuff in approximately 1:32nd, so it could have been either of them?!

The two on the left are actually 1:76th, and I was going to leave them out, but what the heck, the only thing of note is that Eidai, Nitto or Fujimi (?) copied the strangely two-dimensional dragon's teeth, as polystyrene solids a few years later!

The 1976 catalogue crams them all on to one page, which suggests they were winding down the line, but it's a smaller pocket leaflet/flyer than the A4 magazine catalogue of '74. I also have half an idea that they were sold briefly in full sixes, but that may be a false memory, and I'd have to check the other files!

L is for Lun'un Taarn!

So back to July's London Toy Soldier show, and I was supposed to be on a tight budget, and - to be honest - thought I'd done quite well, but there seems to be a lot of plunder here, although I think I was lucky with cheap bits, but let's have a look at it all, anyway!

I'll stress now that I can't remember who all this came from, and the photography isn't making any sense, so thanks here to Adrian Little and Peter Evans, as Peter brought me a bag of bits, and Adrian had a tub of stuff too, and I had some cheapies off him at the end.

For instance, I don't know where this mixed lot came from and while I'd like to think they were all in Peter's bag, I suspect the metal figures were in Adrian's lots, and that this was just shot like this, while I was tired?

 

Suffice to say it's an ecclectic lot, with a solid Star Wars Wookie from the 'Clone Wars', not sure of the set, maybe Disney Store, or Hasbro, an earlier Lord of the Rings figure of similar quality, an MPC German I may or may not have, but even if I do have him, there's a 50/50 chance I have him in the darker grey, so he stays untill I can check!

I think the tall chap may be from a chess-set, but he could be a licensed property? The headless Man Bat is a re-shot of the Cherilea one (from Dorset/Marlborough?), and now that recent finds/donations have completed the origianl pair, a nice 'next chapter' sample for that group.

Finally the two metal Lone Star soldiers are oddities, the helmeted kneeling firer seems to be a home-cast copy of the plastic figure, but the other is more of a mystery, I thought I was being thick when I couldn't find Lone Star in Joplin, but he lists them under DCMT and has a small handful of mostly plastic, while all searches for the figure (which I don't recognise) have failed to reveal him in plastic or metal? Is it a cut-n-shit from Japan or Argentina?

 

He's not from the Lone Star poses, having more of a stick that their EM2 Bullpup rifles? Answers on a postcard please - I haven't got a clue! They both seem to be painted by the same person/organisation, but whether home-made or commercial I just don't know.

 

Next Day - from Peter E "The kneeling paratrooper and soldier with foot on the rock are resin castings by me The kneeling paratrooper was never made by Lone Star in their series so I did a version The foot on the rock pose was from a hollow cast by Charbens Painted up by me also" Which is why they both struck me as odd, and a lesson to take notes, a softish plastic resin, not metal! And it means all the above were from Peter, and I've now credited everyone correctly I think!

 

These are more thematic as a shot, three probably Japanese (Bandai or Tomi/Takara?) figures from some kids TV anime or computer/video game and another of the Avatar II figures we've seen here. complete now I think, from Kinder.

Above shot is the show lot, and I think these did come from Peter, a collection of familiar-looking footballers; modern China-made and older Culpitts cake decorations, but as you can see from the lower comparison shot, the larger figures aren't as large as those we've seen several times here, now, under several brand-names.

 

Being both smaller, and less detailed, they seem to be 2nd Generation knock-offs, and I will need to find the rest and any colour variations, for another look at them . . . a growing 'family' of figures!

Terrible shot I'm afraid, I haven't quite got used to the lighting over at the flat and some of them get washed-out with the back-light, I don't know why as it's mostly the trees screening the M3 from the building, but, moden fancy self-cleaning glass or something?

No matter, it's only a top-up of small scale, mostly Marx/Blue Box or Crescent/Britains clones with a few Airfix G.I.'s, and they'll all get their day on the But Is It Giant Blog in the fullness of time!

Mixed lot here, probably also from Peter, the farner is from the A-Z/Padgett Brothers farm import sets I think, drum-set from Culpitts is very useful, it seems to only come in red, while I have yet to find red musicians, but yellow, green, light blue and two browns have turned-up and one day we'll have a 'battle of the bands' post with all of them, but a couple more side drums (one missing here) and cymbals are needed before that shot can be taken!

 

These are all rather nice, two really 'clean' Lone Star African Warriors I got from Steve Vicker's stall at the start of the show, a quite uncommon Cavendish Drum/Band Major, mercifully in one piece*, who came from a rummage tray and the Marx six-inch caveman is not exactly common either!

 

The Africans, are those I didn't remember having, but I'm now not sure if I had/have any, so I probably should have got the rest, I know we looked at the Hong Kong pirates in some detail with Chris's help a year or two ago, but I'm not sure what I have in the way of originals, I think I have the Cherilea, and most of the Charbens, but not sure on the Lone Star chaps!

And I wonder if showing the Marx caveman will lead to a sudden rash of them elsewhere, Deadleaf showed his BIG's again the other day, twice in five months, he must have the attention-span/memory of a goldfish!

 

And between showings managed to find the audacity to friend-request me on Faceplant; I kicked that in the bin, assuming he'd clicked it by accident while poking around in my details! paint may be home-done, or point to Swansea production?

*The relief over the Cavendish, is not just because it's my third pose now I think, but because years ago, I was helping JB sort some stock when we found two of these in a little box, and as he lifted (carefully - fingertip and thumb) one out of the box, it imploded/exploded under some tension-stress like a grenade, and flew all over the room in front of us, we didn't touch the other!

 

All three of mine have these [Airfix M5?] brown bases I think, the fragile ones had slate-grey bases if I remember them correctly, which may or may not have significance, my own - unscientific - observations are that early blacks (and dark reads) can lead to brittleness, and grey would have black pigments in it?

This is a nice group, some cheap lead from Adrian's rummage trays, I have quite a side-collection of metal/hollow-cast machine-gunners now (some in the old guard melt this stuff down you know!), but the rear three are the more interesting I think?

The Hilco grenade-thrower is not rare, but I thought this example in gray/mauve marbling was a bit different, the Kentoy standing firing pose, is - I think -  a glaring absentee on the Khaki Infantry page, so well overdue, while the musician is rubber?

Now, he's not the hard, dense, shoe-sole rubber of Bata's figures, and I have a feeling he may be of Belgian manufacture, but I have no idea where that feeling came from; have we seen them in one of Joplin or Opie's books? But, yeah, possibly 'best of show' can be awarded to this chap, rather than the Cavendish, or Leopold III.

 

Although, when I say Leopold III (middle figure), I'm not sure, it's hard to find pictures of him in a this uniform (by 'hard' I mean I failed to), but his surrendering of Belgium in 1940, rumours of Nazi sympathies and abdication in 1951 have - I suspect - conspired to leave him a little airbrushed from, if not history, then - at least - the Internet? he has a plug-in plastic dress-sword.

But I think that's who he's supposed to be, I recall a white, summer-uniform version in Jean-Claude Druart's toy soldier magazine 'Les carnets du Sergent Ginger', the same plastic as the doctor on the left above, a more common figure, but one I knew I needed, both from Steve V, who also found and gave me another of the odd Confederates (far left) we saw in the Plastic Warrior show reports back in May/June?

While to the right, a couple more of the soft, polythene plastic 'Euro-premium' versions of the ubiquitous flats we looked at again, only the other day, I can't remember why, but I'm sure there was a good reason for doing so!

A mixed group of animals, a bit disappointed by the tiger, I thought it was some modern PVC thing, and didn't realise 'till I was home, sorting them, that it's just the poxy Atlantic Circus/Christians one, home painted! A mistake of the kind we all make from time to time!

 

The Polar bear is hard polystyrene, and probably French in origin, while the dog's new, the Dino' is welcome grist to the mill and the horse - Reisler - will prove very useful at some point, indeed; I think I have a Reisler Mountie in need of a horse?

In the multi-figure picture we have two Kinder, one of the swivel-part 'super-deform' caricatures, of a cowboy and a plug-together 'Steckfigur' as the Germans call the Italian figures, he may be missing weights or dumbbells? A Corgi milkman, another of the ex-Crescent cowboys, and a better-than-average Hong Kong tractor (copy of Britains Lilliput I think), and a Legoland trailer with a few bits in.

Among the bits are a three-part seated figure who I suspect is Thunderbirds Lady Penelope, she could only be from a FAB 1 Rolls-Royce, but the Dinky and Century 21 are both in pink, and while the recent Corgi Classic is in brown, she seems to have her hands in her lap, with white gloves, so this must be from a Hong Kong knock-off . . . anyone know for sure?

I have another one somewhere, also polystyrene, where she's in a lime-green 'flapper' dress? So there are a few around, but the 'swoppet' elements of this figurine rather tickled me! And she may not be Lady P' anyway? 6th Nov - She's from the Mattel movie-related Chitty-Chitty Bang Bang, where she's one of four similar figures

Bachman set of three Airfix US Infantry,

- we'll be looking at these next

 

These are interesting; the six above came-in at the show, while fortuitously, the three lots which have come in, in the last few years, happened to all be here, so below, is the six newest, one freebie from Adrian (the first I'd seen) and four I found on evilBay about a year ago.

 

Now, my initial thought when Adrian gave me the first one was probably Canadian (or American) cereal premiums, but the four off feebleBay were being sold in the UK as British cereal premiums, which in conversation someone else said that had happened, but I don't think they are on Cerealoffers, or, at least, I can't find them, and the ones on feeBay at the moment are all in Canada (and shocking prices!), as Kellogg's Canada, issued 1956/57, so for now we'll assume Canadian cereal premiums!

I'm definitely missing a goalie, and with six poses in my sample, can guess at an eight-count, pose wise? They are also found in grey plastic, and are standard polyethylene of the Airfix/Marx/MPC type. Don't they look a bit Rubenstein . . . heehee!

Seemingly based on MPC's Prehistoric animals and dinosaurs, these have hollow bodies, and while unmarked, may be Hong Kong stuff? The seller had a large stock, but only these eight poses and three colours. Despite having the whole show to pick these out, I managed to pick two damaged dino's, so I'm hoping the seller has them again in December! Premiums of some sort?

This bag was a bunch of rumage-bin finds;

 

Cherilea 60mm guards, which I think are, or were (are still a partial -) gap in the collection, I have the riflemen, but not the musicians, they're in good condition except the paint (and a broken trombone), but even the paint is better than most of the type, these days!

 

Wild West types, with several of the Kwong Wah (or similar - flatter bases) chromium-finished Lone Star Metalion clones, two Giodi for Kinder or just plain Giodi (a decade earlier) ACW; one near-complete Federal and a parts donor, from the armed insurgency! The green one looks like that Yugoslavian outfit, and there's a Paramount, bottom right.

Finally; a nice Cherilea knight, he's on a Timpo horse base, but given the fact they often turn-up like this, and given also the relationship Timpo had with them at the Sharnaware end of things, it may be meant, as also; some of those knights struggled to stay-up on the standard bases! I'll leave it like that for now and sort it out another day.

Behind him is a Tim-Mee European-factory gunner, a Starlux Alpine Troop's horn blower and a nice pair of Charbens paratroopers, I always buy the latter when I see them going cheap, as there are dozens of paint-schemes and plastic colours, with variation within schemes - as here, where the camouflage blobs are very different colours.

I is for I'll Just Put This Up Here . . .

. . . for any self-dubbed 'legends' who might need a hand!

I love the little lecture he gave us about Britains! And for those tempted to believe his much repeated lie that I'm some sort of racist . . .

. . . what I actually said was "...you're not a fucking 'legend', you're a fucking fool!"; nothing racist there (mere factual accuracy!), but he lacks the cognitive-reasoning or logical thought processes to know a racist from a retard if he were sat having tea with one of each!

I can't believe it! Four hours later and he's gone and posted it on another site, still calling it Britains! How stupid is he? I mean he's so stupid he doesn't know when to quit! Un-ber-fucking-lievable! And tragic!

"...or someone like that" . . .he is incapable of telling the truth, when in doubt tell everyone [as fact] you 'know it's Britains because...', then, when you're desperately backtracking your arseholery; try to make out someone else was wronger! What a mealy-mouthed turd - winging-it (with the occasional fight) for 'forty' years!

News, Views Etc . . . Vectis Over the Next Fortnight

Another newsletter from Vectis brings a reprise of the other-day's announcement and further details on three more auctions next week (this coming week) and two the week after, as I seem to have saved dosh during lockdown, as have others I know, might be that you too are ready for a splurge?

Lot 5

TV & Film-related Sale

Tuesday 23rd June 2020, Starts - 10:00hrs

" The TV and Film related sale to be held on the 23rd of June features 64 lots of The Key Issue Comic Book Collection, over 1500 issues of Silver, Bronze and Modern Age Marvel, DC and other comics, including large groups and Single issues, with some hard and soft back books. Further items in the sale include Star Wars helmet collection groups, model kits, accessories, plus carded and loose figures, including graded. There is a large collection of Batman figures and vehicles, Thunderbirds collectables, Camberwick Green figures, plus Transformers, He-Man, Dr Who, and many more. The sale will also include a large selection of Prototype, One-off and Pre-Production sample items, from Disney characters, Star Wars, Tonka and Sindy plus Mr Turnip BBC TV original Whirligig scripts, artwork and ephemera. Further items include Hero Quest and other fantasy board games and sets, Modern Action Man, Subbuteo, Lego, and Caterbench product. "

Catalogue (on-line and download) here

Lot 1025

Specialist Die-Cast Sale

Wednesday 24th June 2020, Starts -10:00hrs

" The Specialist Sale to be held on the 24th of June, features seven private owner collections. The French Collection features 41 lots from Victory Models, Shackleton, and boxed and unboxed cars, trucks, and buses from Dinky. The Yorkshire Collection includes 29 lots of boxed and unboxed Dinky models whilst The Hampshire Collection features Tinplate and Plastic models from Mettoy, Wells Brimtoy, Victory Models, and Triang Minic; plus Corgi and Dinky figure sets and vehicles. The Graham Tucker Collection comprises a number of different toys and books, plus Pelham Puppets, Triang Minic ships, and Corgi Gift Sets; Dinky, Budgie and Matchbox. 1/50th scale cranes, Excavators and construction machinery feature in The Humberside Construction Collection whilst Private Owner Collection #1 includes Lansdowne Models, SMTS models, Spark, IXO, Minichamps, EFE, plus Aircraft and Corgi Aviation Archive. There are further items from Other Vendors including TV and Film related diecast, French Dinky, Marklin and Dinky Aircraft. "

Catalogue (on-line and download) here

Lot 2037

General Toy Sale

Thursday 25th June 2020, Starts - 10:00hrs

" The General Toy Sale to be held on the 25th of June, features The World's largest collection of Law Enforcement Insignia and Police Memorabilia. The haul of over 10,000 pieces forms part of an emergency services collection, amassed by a private collector over several decades. Further items in the sale include boxed groups from Lledo, EFE, Bburago, Solido, Matchbox Models of Yesteryear plus many others. There is a large selection of magazine Issues from Hachette, Altire and similar; Britains boxed sets, Disney "Cars?, Dinky, Danbury Mint, Triang, and white metal and resin lots from Provence, Record, John Day, Starter and others.  Further items include books, video games and consoles, board games, magazines, robots and space toys, Subbuteo, Lego and much more. "

Catalogue (on-line and download) here

Lot 3097

Model Train & Railway Sale

Friday 26th June 2020, Starts - 10:00hrs

" The Model Train sale to be held on the 26th June features The St Martins Bay Collection; OO Gauge British Outline from Hornby, Bachmann, TMC Models and other Manufacturers & Accessories. HO Gauge Continental & American Outline, N Gauge and OO & O Gauge Golden Age Models. Further items in the sale include OO Gauge British Outline from Other Vendors, a Wrenn Single Owner Collection, Part 3 of The Chris Freeman Meccano & Vintage Toy Collection, plus further Meccano & Other Constructional Toys, Live Steam, Hornby, Modern and further O Gauge plus Books, Magazines & Catalogues, Railway Photographs, Pictures & Prints and our usual good selection of General Trains. "

Catalogue (on-line and download) here

Lot 4351

Specialist Matchbox Toy Sale

Monday 29th June 2020, Starts - 10:00hrs

" The Matchbox sale to be held on the 29th of June includes two private owner collections. The Belgium Collection and the Bruges Collections, both feature Matchbox Regular Wheels, boxed and unboxed, single models and groups, including cars, commercials, buses, tractors and emergency vehicles plus others. The collections also include Gift Sets, Major Packs, King Size and Super King. Further items in the sale include sales and service stations, Accessory and Major Packs, Super Kings, Speed Kings, King Size and Superfast. The sale will also include unlisted variations, factory errors and unfinished models, plus, counter displays, books, catalogues, artwork, games and sets. "

Catalogue (on-line and download) here

Lot 5606

The Joe & Urs Ayres Matchbox Toy Collection Sale

Tuesday 30th June 2020, Starts - 10:00am

" The Joe and Urs Ayres Collection to be held on the 30th of June is a private owner collection of over 600 Lots of Matchbox Regular Wheel models. The collection includes road and racing cars, trucks and haulage, tractors, motorcycles, removals vans, constructions vehicles, buses and coaches, caravans', boats, military and many more. They include many rare and hard to find issues with different colour and wheel variations. "

Catalogue (on-line and download) here

Vectis also explained the system as it stands and going forward in the immediate future;

" We are now back and working to almost full capacity. We have a one or two Specialists still shielding and we have safe distance measures set out within the warehouse, but the Auctions are continuing and the prices being achieved are very strong.

We are still operating closed Auctions, with no viewing or room attendance. Bids can be made prior to, or on the day of the sale, please see our website for more details.

Because of the measures in place, and the time-off we have had, we are still slightly behind with packing, so please bear with us when waiting for deliveries, rest assured we are working as quickly and safely as possible whilst ensuring our usual high standard of packing.

If you would like to collect your lots please contact us prior to collection and once paid we can arrange a mutually agreed time with you.

We have some fantastic collections coming up this month, a World Record Collection, Original BBC props, Key Issue comic books, and a plethora of private owner collections with many rare and sought after Lots. Please take a look at our online catalogues and remember, if you would like any further information or photographs we will be happy to provide extra condition reports on any Lots. "

T is for Ten-more from Toyway . . . and a Farm!

Continuing to look at the sets of ten, rather casually posed, but likeable and well sized, separate-base imports from Toyway today. I think this may be it as far as my collection goes - to date. We've had the Romans and Greeks and a few of the medics, I'm not sure what else I've got, or what else there was!

A group shot, down by the banks of the Nile as they wait for the Royal Barge to tie-up and start issuing orders. As with the other two sets, you get ten figures, but here each is in a different 'uniform' and there are a wide array of bronze-age battle-implements on display, even if some of them are painted 'iron-age'!

Detail shot of the figures from both sides, the chap in a cloak may represent a priest of some kind, while only one of them is equipped with a shield. Another has a sectional armour 'bodice' and they are quite colourful, albeit - not in a hurry to do anything energetic! They'd probably go well in Atlantic chariots though, sans bases?

Quick comparison with various other older figures, although - as you can see - some have been re-issued in recent times with the bottom row being two old and two new Cherilea with two Marx (original on the left and Mexican (?) reissue on the right) flanking a Jecsan (late, polyethylene - so I know it!).

Old evilBay shot - cleaned-up

A very odd conversation elsewhere (you can guess where; False Information Central) the other day when several people (some of whom should know better) seemed to be trying to discount some of Toyway's oeuvre; almost willing them not to be, err . . . because they didn't like the logo!

Richard Morris' Letchworth, Hertfordshire-based import 'jobber', Toyway, predated its involvement with; or purchase of moulds from; Timpo, and this set of imported sub-Blue Box farm 'generics' carries the same logo as the space set welooked at ages ago;  believe, people - believe!

Current Bachmann/Pocketbond logotypes/brand marks for Toyway