Just when you thought it was safe to go back onto eBay.

 

Several posts ago I said I didn't need anymore 54mm figures , then I happened to notice the above figures on a 'Buy it now' option on eBay , they were about £24 ! , I couldn't resist and immediately bought them ! . I think that the low price and 'But it now' option was because the seller was not generaly a Toy Soldier dealer and just wanted a quick sale .

I had never seen the classic Britains Lifeguard figure with a lance before and assumed it was a modern conversion .

I asked for more information on the 'William Britains Toy Soldier Collector' Facebook group and was told they where part of the above set 'Musical Ride Household Cavalry' issued between 1954 - 1963. I'm rather pleased with them but will need to add bases to them if they are to take place in tabletop battles .

I came across this quotation which is perhaps a bit to close for comfort for myself ..........

Toy Soldiers in Art No.9

 

 Never happen!, 

1930's German Toys .

 

Found on the 'Military Toys from our Childhood' Facebook group , Would say German 1930's - click on photo to enlarge.

Starting painting my 40mm SYW-ish .

 

Started painting up my 40mm homecast French SYW , it's been a while since I painted any of these figures and I don't think I've got the shading right on these figures , hopefully the next batch will be better. These will be varnished when I get them all done.

Here's the rest undercoated ready , sadly the undercoat shows up the casting inperfections - hopefully a coat of paint and a couple of coats of gloss varnish should hide all the mold lines.

Fruits of the castng pot .

 

Having 'fettled' my mold I brought my casting pot indoors (it being cold outside in the shed) and started warming up my metal in the kitchen - my wife passed me by and said "you won't burn the house down will you !?" * 

After a few false starts , I started getting some good castings - the Godess of Homecasting smiled on me and I have enough figures for a small unit now. 

*you'll be pleased to know I didn't .

I'll just leave this here , and walk away quietly .

 

Just read this - Hmm ! I'm afraid I recognise myself in this ..............

(This has been sat unpublished for eighteen months quietly forgot , now is it's  time)

A return to folly (sic)

So I have decided to add another unit of infantry to my 40mm Homecast SYW-ish collection . It's been ages since I cast any figures up so this will be a nice change of pace . I've been cleaning up some of the castings and adding a couple of vents to one of the molds which wasn't casting properly . 

It will be a company of the Volontaires Estranger, a unit of French Light Infantry with rather acttractive green facings . The molds are a selection by Prince August. I hope to get the other castings done in the coming week.