Standard of wargame figure painting 50 years ago

[Sunray]

I am reading Grant's book "Battle" (1970), and I have to say I am blown away by the standard of painting on the cheap soft plastic Airfix HO&OO figures.

You have to bear in mind that in that era, the figures were regarded as "toys" and both hands and faces were "blobs".
Even "chin straps" on helmets are represented . 

[Steve J]

I think having more time to devote to probably just one or two armies allowed this attention to detail to occur. Nowadays we all seem to have quite a few/many armies and other distractions in our daily lives; I know I do.

[steve_holmes_11]

I am reading Grant's book "Battle" (1970), and I have to say I am blown away by the standard of painting on the cheap soft plastic Airfix HO&OO figures.

You have to bear in mind that in that era, the figures were regarded as "toys" and both hands and faces were "blobs".
Even "chin straps" on helmets are represented . 

There was actually a lot of variation across the Airfix ranges.
I had a set of WW2 Germans (one of the earlier releases) and the figures were just as you describe, like featureless shop dummies.
Compare with the Waterloo 10th Hussars, resplendent with facial hair, chinscales and uniform lace.

I remember some other duds in my psoession were the ACW infantry (A pity since the poses were among the better selections for gaming).

[fsn]

Charles Grant and his figures were absolutely inspirational.





Why were Airfix British Hussars at least twice the size of the French Cuirassiers? 

Why did half the US Marines have no weapons? 

These are questions that have bothered me for many years.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Cause Airfix figures were designed for use by railway modelers - 1st 2 boxes - Civies and Guards band.

[Glorfindel]

I think the same could be said for the Regiments shown in the other classic wargame
ruleset, "Charge !".   Some lovely figures.

[fsn]

They would have been painted in oils wouldn't they? Never tried that myself but will happily tilt my shako to anyone who has.

[mmcv]

Any example pictures for those of us who weren't around in the glory days? 

[Sunray]

Why were Airfix British Hussars at least twice the size of the French Cuirassiers?  :-

Why did half the US Marines have no weapons?  :-

These are questions that have bothered me for many years.

You are not alone Nobby.  

Size variation - Yes, I surmised at the time that perhaps  a different sculptor was used ?  But in some cases the size variation was in the same set.
The US Marine bazooka loader dwarfed a lot of his comrades.  The Senior German Officer in the 1st issue Afrika Korps was a superior sculpt and larger than the troops.


The US Marines (set 1)had a lot of passengers.  Dead and wounded apart, there were a few just splashing through the water?

Airfix HO&OO range began as complimentary to railway figures - the Guards and Band were lovely sculpts. But then then the new additions were first marketed as toys.  The Plastic Soldier Review is worth a visit. It charts their evolution into wargame figures.

[Steve J]

The Plastic Soldier Review website is great for nostalgic trips, but quite often you realise how poor some of the sculpts/ranges were.

[Sunray]

All that!  And tiny bases on the figures that would not stand on their own.  And horses -  did I mention that slots in the bases that did no fit the points on the hooves?

But its the Blue Hills Remembered for a lot of us of a certain age. Airfix figures at 2/= per box (10p in today's money) got us started and Grant, Wise and Asquith at al showed us what could be achieved. 

[FierceKitty]

And Pendraken has shown us how much more can be achieved. Gentlemen, to our hosts!

[Sunray]

And Pendraken has shown us how much more can be achieved. Gentlemen, to our hosts!

+1

[fsn]

All that!  And tiny bases on the figures that would not stand on their own.  And horses -  did I mention that slots in the bases that did no fit the points on the hooves?

But its the Blue Hills Remembered for a lot of us of a certain age. Airfix figures at 2/= per box (10p in today's money) got us started and Grant, Wise and Asquith at al showed us what could be achieved. 

Gentlemen, at this point I think it is obligatory to mention Plasticine and banana oil.

[Ithoriel]

Gentlemen, at this point I think it is obligatory to mention Plasticine and banana oil.

... and spears made from iron (not steel) pins with heads hammered flat and shaped to a lethal point?