Where it all began - My first figures, seriously...

[Merryweather]

Here's my first attempt at sculpting a bust. It must be about 30 years old ( I was about 15 when I did it, made from grey milliput and sculpted with a dart, a cocktail stick and a craft knife). Its about 1/5 scale. Sadly Ive not improved too much but looking back, I'm rather proud of it.View attachment 413978

Ooh Nice! reminds me of Where Eagles Dare!

 

[ivopreda]

oh my God... looking through these threads I realised how much old I am and how many years I spent enjoying our hobby.
I know mostly of the figures used as start for many of you... also some figure directly inspired by my art box.

ok... the thread title is your first figure... airfix collectors series in the 70ies
in the picture you can see the oldest figure I've in my showcase... my n° 3... a precious gem painte dwith glossy humbrol not diluted...

enjoy

 

[Richard Baxter]

Ok, seeing as you asked so nicely...a trip down Nostalgia Avenue!



A standard bearer of German Heavy Cav, 1900, by Series 77.




On of Ray Lamb's sculpts for Hinchcliffe, 75mm French Line Grenadier.




Two 54mm figures from Art Miniature.



Two 54mm Agincourt knights from New Hope Design.



Finally, a Chota Sahib Highlander of WW1 and a Venetian Marine, can't remember who manufacturer was!

All these were assembled and painted between 1975 and about 1982. Hope that they make you smile and maybe stir some memories. Maybe we need a whole new thread or folder for these nostalgia trips?

Anyway, time for my tablets. Nurse, quick, the screens..!!

 

[Richard Baxter]

Hmm, those pics, my camera must use Rob Lane's Smudgyvision. Or maybe it's just the past always being seen in soft focus. Anyway, you get the general idea.

 

[Richard Baxter]

pictures, please Richard!

Your wish is my command! See above.

 

[Merryweather]

very nice Richard!
Ray Lamb improved a bit from that Hinchliffe Grenadier, didn't he?

 

[Richard Baxter]

Just a smidge. I have a French drummer from the same vintage. His early figures were of very slender physique, with slightly too large heads, but quite characterful.

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

Hi Mike.

I used to model Tamiya armour and Airfix figures as a kid, but stopped circa 1975 to get into the usual teenage pursuits. After the kids began to leave home and I advanced into my 50s, I was looking for something to soak up the spare time and happened to see the film 'Ronin' starring Robert De Niro and Jean Reno. In that film there is a dodgy doctor played by Michael Lonsdale, who spends most of his time painting model figures. He is working on a huge diorama depicting the story of the 47 Ronin and it reminded me of the old Tamiya sets of figures from the same story. I did an internet search, found that they were still available, ordered some, and the rest is history.

What a good story Peter!
That’s legend that part of Ronin, & I’ve heard it mentioned before as piqued interest in others. Not many movies or TV programmes feature the hobby. Therefore reckon many don’t even know it exists. Imagine if it features on one of streaming services today! Lots of folk interested in history through specialty TV channels & gaming. Wonder if in years to come people may reference these for an interest.

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

What a great thread, Mike, thanks for reviving it.
Like many I started out with planes, many of them nicked from Woolie's(to my shame), then I discovered simple figure conversions by Roy Dilley in Airfix Magazine. ...
My main enjoyment comes from the modelling, converting and positioning of the figures-especially trying to convey movement. I struggle with painting, and especially on this forum where everyone is SO good! For me ,painting is just a necessary evil to get me a finished figure rather than a monochrome sculpture.
Cheers
Neil

Neil, neat to learn of your early days & inspiration, plus your return to the fold in last few years.

Ref “plasticine” never did quite get this. How to avoid it melting, staying sticky etc. Remarkably resilient material though.
I used it to fill the Esci 1:9th German & still have some in my modelling toolbox - got no idea why... Nostalgic I supposed.

Love the “painting is a necessary evil” - I’m hearing ya, still good fun.
Like your little Tommy, you really made most of the ICM kit figure. I’m going to work on some kit set figures soon, going to be a real leap back in time.
MikeTheKiwi

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

Here's my first attempt at sculpting a bust. It must be about 30 years old ( I was about 15 when I did it, made from grey milliput and sculpted with a dart, a cocktail stick and a craft knife). Its about 1/5 scale. Sadly Ive not improved too much but looking back, I'm rather proud of it.View attachment 413978

Mate! That’s a cracker!!
Even more so considering how old you were & your modelling tools. You definitely deserve to be proud of yourself for this fellow. What was they inspiration Hobbes?

 

[callmehobbes]

Mate! That’s a cracker!!
Even more so considering how old you were & your modelling tools. You definitely deserve to be proud of yourself for this fellow. What was they inspiration Hobbes?

I had the old Tamiya 1/35 flak crew in winter kit and tried to copy it in a larger scale just cos I thought it looked cool. I remember trying to copy the camo from an illustration in a book. I bandaged one eye as I couldnt get both eyes looking roughly symmetrical. Cheers mate. Never thought Id show this to anyone.

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

I had the old Tamiya 1/35 flak crew in winter kit and tried to copy it in a larger scale just cos I thought it looked cool. I remember trying to copy the camo from an illustration in a book. I bandaged one eye as I couldnt get both eyes looking roughly symmetrical. Cheers mate. Never thought Id show this to anyone.

Totally understand the eye bandage & that Tamiya Flak crew.
I too had a lot of little guys with eye patches or bandages over an eye! Took me ages to sort out positioning 2 eyes properly.
And believe it or not my next project does too, albeit more diliberate this time around.
MikeTheKiwi

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

Blimey Mike - not sure my memory is that good. I started with figures thanks to a local model shop, which started to stock Historex and Rose figures I seem to recall a Historex piece, which was my first foray into figures, having been a kit basher previously. That would have been in the mid-60s. I won my first BMSS certificate in 1971 with a Rose Miniatures Indian Army piece, painted in oils. The oldest piece in my cabinet is a 54mm Foreign Legionnaire by Croix de Guerre ( a 2-hit wonder), from around 1988. Nothing I did before 1988 has survived. Looking at the figures in previous posts, I can remember painting quite a few of them.

Phil

Ok Phil wonderful to hear your story mate.
You do go back & am grateful you’re sharing your experiences with us mate.
Now you’ve gotta show us photos - who was Croix de Guerre sculptor? Don’t recall this brand off top of my head.
MikeTheKiwi

 

[Airkid]

Ok Phil wonderful to hear your story mate.
You do go back & am grateful you’re sharing your experiences with us mate.
Now you’ve gotta show us photos - who was Croix de Guerre sculptor? Don’t recall this brand off top of my head.
MikeTheKiwi

Thanks Mike
I'll pull some old stuff out and photo it - it won't be pretty!
Croix de Guerre was a UK Midlands based one-man band whose name I never knew (somebody on here will, I'm sure) As far as I know he/she only did a couple of pieces, one being my Legionnaire in 54mm, the other was a Rogers Ranger in a larger (75mm?) scale. I don't know of any others.

Phil

 

[Airkid]

Richard's suggestion for a forum called "Nostalgia Corner" has some merit. What d'you reckon Nap?

 

[Airkid]

OK Mike, as promised, here are some of my pieces from 1988 - everything prior to that my ex-wife binned, bless her I dug 'em out and dusted them off (less dust on a DAK Kubelwagen!)
Here goes:
Hornet 7th Army painted in Humbrol c.1988
Croix de guerre 54mm FFL Western Front 1917 - again Humbrol
Metale Modeles Tirailleur Senegalais painted in oils and Humbrol
Gascon Crossbowman, about 65mm, by our own Tommi W. Oils and Humbrol
Last one - 54mm Hecker & Goros French Tanker 1940 (plus the arse-end of a Heller H.35) Oils and Humbrol

Grim, aren't they?

Phil

 

[theBaron]

...the film 'Ronin' starring Robert De Niro and Jean Reno. In that film there is a dodgy doctor played by Michael Lonsdale, who spends most of his time painting model figures....

That reminds me of the assassin Joubert in "Three Days of the Condor", played by Max von Sydow. In a scene in which he gets a call from his patron, he's painting a Stadden Napoleonic hussar.
There's a topic for a thread of its own - Movies or TV shows in which toy soldiers or model figures appear.

Prost!
Brad

 

[theBaron]

...Not many movies or TV programmes feature the hobby...

This topic is a popular one on toy soldier forums.
Besides the aforementioned "Ronin" and "Three Days of the Condor", off the top of my head, there are also:

"Murder at 1600" (Wesley Snipe's character has a diorama of Gettysburg in his apartment)
"The Living Daylights" (Joe Don Baker's character maintains a huge collection of toy soldiers and dioramas, featuring the old Forbes collection in the Palais Mendoub in Morocco)
"A Christmas Story" (classic toy soldiers in the storefront at the beginning of the movie)
"Hope and Glory"
"Toys" (Robin Williams, 1992)
"The Forty-Year-Old Virgin"
"The Patriot", though it's a glaring anachronism

Prost!
Brad

 

[Airkid]

British TV series of the 1960s "Callan" starring Edward Woodward. He had a collection of figures which he was very protective of. Also saw Jeremy Irons at Euro Militaire one year. He visited our display.

Phil

 

[Richard Baxter]

I know it's not figures, but Roy Orbison was an avid kit builder, used to get his fill of Airfix when he was touring here in the UK. Mostly aircraft though, I believe.