Welcome to the Army Men General!Previously: >>11887749>Plastic soldiers, knights and pirates, cowboys and indians, fantasy and sci-fi, cops and zombies, all are welcome here! (civilians are fine too)>Archived threads:https://archive.palanq.win/toy/search/subject/Army%20Men%20General/>Army men wargame rules:https://combatstorm.com/https://www.plasticcommand.com/https://freewargamesrules.fandom.com/wiki/Special:Search?query=army+men>Places to get army men:https://bmctoys.com/ and https://victorybuy.com/https://www.armiesinplastic.com/https://www.toysoldierco.com/https://www.classictoysoldiers.com/https://www.toysoldiersdepot.com/https://www.hobbybunker.com/https://www.michtoy.com/https://micshaunscloset.com/http://www.expeditionaryforce.com.sg/
Well this feels a bit awkward. I ordered another of those WW2 grab bag discount sets from The Toy Soldier Company and it arrived today... except they sent me the Civil War grab bag instead. Was going to order one eventually so having it now isn't an issue really; not getting the WW2 set is no big deal either. Still, do I say something? I don't want special consideration or compensation or anything, but just make them aware they sent the wrong thing so they don't do it to someone else, or muck up their inventory. I dunno, I just feel awkward heh.
>>11916997 If they are the same - or close to, the same price and you don't mind...just mention it to them. And if you are fine.. let them know. It's not going to cost anyone their job or anything..but might make them better.. also, as you said - inventory.
>>11917037Yes you're right, I'll let them know so they can adjust accordingly. Both sets are the same price, though the Civil War set is a greater discount from their original reckoned value. I'll end up re-ordering the WW2 set next week most likely. Is a relief really, was hesitant to even open the bag without saying something first.Funny thing is today I also received an Amazon order where among other things I'd ordered two cheap Civil War soldiers sets that I took to be basically the same ones ViiKONDO sells, same poses, shades of blue and grey and the same rounded bayonet tips. They were indeed, though they lacked the banner stickers on the flags. The only difference between the two sets (which was about $3 in cost) was the more expensive one also included a pair of horses for the two rider figures. Pic related, these being from ViiKONDO so having the stickered flags but the same in all other respects.
>>11917045Been raising a considerable amount of musket-era troops lately, got some grandiose ideas that will likely have to wait for next year's campaigning season. I mostly got these latest sets to fill out the less visible lines in a typical formation so the poses don't matter as much; still bugs me this particular set of Confederates doesn't have any aiming/shooting poses, just various forms of movement, one guy reloading and an artilleryman with ramrod for good measure.
>>11917048In fairness I believe the poses from both sides come from a set that was Gettysburg-themed, more specifically the climactic "high-water mark of the Confederacy" Pickett's Charge against the Union centre; the Rebels are all charging forward (or retreating) while the Yankees are grimly holding the line.
>>11917051Will probably unpack that grab bag tomorrow.
Well they wrote back and said it was an unfortunate mix-up of two grab bag orders; makes me wonder how things went with the other half of that equation. Anyway here's what was in that ACW grab bag, starting with this assortment of Imex Union infantry and artillerymen. I'm far less familiar with ACW toy manufacturers, been relying on the stated contents of the typical grab bag for help in getting the IDs right. I really like the officer figure with the Burnside-style facial hair; the guy to the left of him has an interesting firearm that appears to be a revolver with attached buttstock.
>>11920099These are by Accurate Figures, still on their sprue.
>>11920100I had a few of these guys in blue, nice to get a more complete set including the distinctive flag-bearer. The red colour is a little odd to me, being accustomed to ACW armies in universally identifiable blue and grey for the North and South respectively. It's only going to get more confusing in a bit...
>>11920104Out of several bagged sets in the lot, these are the only ones with any kind of labelling. My understanding is that Hobby Bunker has been re-issuing some Marx sets (Victory Buy, aka BMC and present-day Tim Mee also does some Marx) which explains the left bag; the other purports to be Marx originals and may very well be, I'm far from an expert but it doesn't matter to me either way. These two sets do cause me some consternation...
>>11920114The "Union" army is in grey. Perhaps it was a time before some unofficial universal standard to differentiate the two sides by their iconic colours set in, or perhaps they were counting on people to paint them. Either way they'll probably end up as rear line infill, at least those who aren't too identifiable. I'll note that a number of their muskets were curved from being far too long in their packaging, had to work in some heat treatment to bring them back into a semblance of proper form. This pattern will be repeated with a few others as we continue.
>>11920116Confederates in a silvery blue, or blueish silver I suppose.
>>11920118This next batch was unlabelled but are clearly the Marx Confederates, though in a different plastic and not as well made; they have CTS/TSC marked on their bases, which I take to be Classic Toy Soldiers. While they've done well with the details, some of the figures came out rather warped - the rightmost kneeling rifleman aiming skyward, one of the standing loading soldiers with wobbly base, and most bothersome of all the running guy at back who needed significant bending to just barely stop from keeling over. At least, these boys are in their proper grey.
>>11920126Keeping the waters muddied, these are also Confederates in two shades of blue, again by Marx but a different set than the above. These have had a colourful existence, literally; several editions were hand-painted and each figure was even given a name. The saluting officer is General Longstreet, while the rest seem to be generic or made-up names.
>>11920140This quartet is much more familiar, coming from one of the more widespread and reproduced sets of ACW army men. These are apparently BMC originals, packaged as a special set of generals with (left to right) Lee, Longstreet, Meade and Hancock.
>>11920152Next some Timpo recasts, described as "butternut" colour but I'd suggest they're more of a muddy brown, perhaps from the siegeworks of St. Petersburg.
>>11920158They also include a set of Marx ACW accessories, guess there isn't much demand for them.
>>11920159Finally we have a handful of randoms tossed in to complete the grab bag. A good half of the figures here are Marx rider poses, some cavalry and others caisson riders with whips; thinking I'll try using them as wagon drivers. The bluish silver are Marx Union infantry; the lighter blue dude with raised sword at right is also Marx but is a bit out of time, being a Mexican officer from their Alamo line. There was also a crude pavise-type shelter with two ill-fitting logs to prop it up; beside it and looming over everyone is a Toy Soldiers of San Diego Confederate, the first figure I've had from that illustrious toy manufacturer. Last but not least at the back is a magnificent black warhorse, not sure of its provenance and the Marx horsemen don't fit it but I'm sure I've got someone to match it.
>>11920164The remainder of the random stuff were these Marx figures, ten of whom are the same freshly injured infantryman in the midst of dropping his musket. The sole over-enthusiastic officer leading the charge is like an infantry version of the character Captain Stark in the old "Tuniques Bleues" comics I read overseas in my youth, basically a Belgian take on the American Civil War and Wild West following the adventures of Sergeant Chesterfield and his cowardly sidekick Corporal Blutch. They meet Captain Stark early on in the Civil War and it's quickly apparent that he's a fanatic, leading hopeless cavalry charges over and over yet miraculously always coming back for more (the rest of his men, however...).
>>11920171You just know this guy is distantly related to Luigi Cadorna.
Nice to see this general still alive and kicking
>>11921548There were periods of snow and cold over the weekend, nothing that stayed and temps are slowly creeping up again but the campaigning season is nearing its end. Have some hope for decent weather on Friday; we'll see how much more can be done before heading to winter quarters. The Wall will unfortunately have to wait.
>>11920114Hobby Bunker is some regional off-brand of Hobby Lobby or Hobbytown?>>11917045I would have said something.
>>11922869It's these guys, not sure if or how they're related to any other Hobby-named companies: https://hobbybunker.com/about . Funny enough I've been reposting the same copypasta link list all this time and completely forgot they're there, guess they possess or have access to at least some of the old Marx molds and have done their own production runs.Went ahead and ordered a few things from them including my first ever Armies in Plastic stuff, have seen a couple other anons with some and it's past time I tried them too. Also have another ebay find on the way...
