Well hello again, I’m back with some more plastic soldiers from long ago, I should have posted this some time back but have been distracted with the Zvezda Art of Tactic sets that have turned up. It’s bloody scary to see all the stuff I have, maybe I should just re-seal some of the cartons and forget about them for a few years.
Well enough rambling. I have four sets from my Yoof, as Rogers says. (Go Over and check out his recent post ‘Rantings from under the War Games table’ as he has picked up the ball and run with it.)
The first two sets are from Airfix. Some of you will recognise these. The first set is the original Airfix Foreign Legion before they were reworked. The second is the Airfix WWII 8th army set; both are as I painted them over fifty years ago.
The other two sets were painted in the late 70’s when I was living in the UK in Suffolk with family friends who had a farm that I helped out on. These belonged to one of the lads and were painted with what was available back then. No fancy brushes or paints as I remember although one of his mate’s parents had a paint brush business just down the lane so they may have been pretty fine. Then again the eyes were probably a bit sharper! There’s a mix of Matchbox and Airfix I think but I will stand for correction if any of you sharp eyed folk spot some you know.
Oh I have to say that after spending a lot of time in the modelling room adding her fine hairs to my work she has decided to join in, apparently she feels she has better eyesight and doesn’t need my big magnifying glass, and dare not criticise her work or you will get that steely stare!!
The last few photos are my new racks that I slipped into the entrance hall, an idea I got after seeing Guru Pig show us his wife’s Ikea cabinets displaying her fine collection of porcelain dolls, thanks Dave!
















Colonel Mustard
Great to see Pat. I like the small display cases for the men- were they repurposed from something else?
LikeLiked by 4 people
patmcf
Thanks Will, I had the little perspex tops made by Kayendee in Melbourne and had my picture framer make up the wooden base to suit, that was some years ago but it’s only this year that I got around to putting the figures on Foam board and making them up, Kayendee make all my caps for my dioramas which saves them from all the dust and animal fur😅😅😅.👍🏻
LikeLiked by 3 people
theimperfectmodeller
A nice bit of nostalgia there Pat, I’m pretty sure I’ve got the French Foreign Legion and 8th Army figures in my loft somewhere. A nice display unit too but I thought you might have got Fi to make one for you! 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
patmcf
Thanks Dave they are a little brittle especially the Foreign legion guys as they had a rough time in the folks garden, I’m sure yours would be in a far better condition having served in a milder climate😉. Mate getting to make anything for me now is near on impossible as she is so busy, heavens it’s not like she’s retired, now that’s when one gets really busy🥵.
LikeLiked by 4 people
ericritter65
I love your work, and the cat!
LikeLiked by 2 people
patmcf
Thanks Ec👍🏻, I’m sure everyone knows who is running who in the modelling room now 🤔.
LikeLiked by 2 people
tancreddebeauville
What a great cat is sitting here, I guess he/she is helping you with keeping order on desk 🙂 ?
LikeLiked by 3 people
patmcf
😅😅😅she is my daughters cat and I feel she was thinking how messy I am 😉.
LikeLiked by 3 people
John@justneedsvarnish
I’m pretty sure my dad has the original Foreign Legion and 8th Army sets still kicking around somewhere. Great to see the Matchbox figures as well, Pat, I think their figures are great. 🙂 And cat pictures are always worth seeing!
LikeLiked by 2 people
patmcf
Good to hear your dads a harbourer of fine things also 😉, thanks mate I had a feeling they were Matchbox as they look like some I have hidden away I’m a box yet to be opened. She’s one clever manipulating cat John, I always say no but funnily enough that generally turns to a yes 🤔.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Kuribo
I think these minis are before my time but they look great, Pat! I really like your IKEA display shelves too. Its awesome to see your dioramas get the spotlight they deserve. Now if only I can convince my wife to let me show off some of models like that in our condo, then I’ll be in business! 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
patmcf
Thanks a Jeff I’m sure they would be as I’m just a few years short of the big 70, good luck with the display area though it’s taken me quite some time to achieve 😉🤓👍🏻.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Kuribo
Its a worthy goal as far as I’m concerned! It would be a shame if some of these things I’ve painted can’t be seen by someone else too 😉
LikeLiked by 3 people
patmcf
My thoughts exactly😅👍🏻
LikeLiked by 3 people
Guru PIG
I wish they were before mine!
LikeLiked by 3 people
savageddt
Some great looking mini´´´´´’s Pat, I also like the setup and that nice big magnifying glas you have on the desk. Thank you for sharing.
LikeLiked by 3 people
patmcf
Cheers matey I certainly need that big magnify glass more and more as I approach the big 70😅😅.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Guru PIG
Great work Pat. Love the set up especially the Pirate diorama you posted on previously. Just give the cat a brush and tell it to get cracking!
LikeLiked by 3 people
patmcf
Thanks to you mate for the idea 👍🏻I told the cat what you said but all I got was that glare saying “ yeah go on try it !”
LikeLiked by 2 people
rantingsfromunder
Lovely post Pat, it’s great to see these old models again, though I don’t think I actually had any of them (perhaps the 8th army?). I love your display stand, really sets you models off a treat, especially that wonderful looking scene at the top with the sailing ship!
Thanks for the shout out by the way 👍
Lovely cat too, I share my painting space with five cats (well they grudgingly share it with me!). Oh yes I know who’s boss!
Cheers Roger.
LikeLiked by 3 people
patmcf
Five 😳, wow Roger I have to take my hat of to you matey, I’m not sure if I could cope with that many demands 🤔. Hopefully we will see some more magic dragged out from the lads and lasses hidden recesses
LikeLiked by 1 person
imperialrebelork
Very nice Pat. I had some of the foreign legion as a kid. Passed down to me from Grandma who had them at hand for any kids in the neighbourhood who happened to come by.
LikeLiked by 2 people
patmcf
Thanks mate 🤓, it must be a Grandma thing as my mum had a box of toys for any her grandkids also, I’m not a grandpa yet but I took that box when she passed away just in case any friends drop in with there’s 😃👍🏻
LikeLiked by 2 people
Mark A. Morin
Great nostalgic post Pat!
LikeLiked by 2 people
patmcf
Thanks mate 🤓👍🏻
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dave Stone
Some great models from a bygone time Pat, and your displays look awesome on the shelves.
LikeLiked by 1 person
patmcf
Thanks Dave much appreciated 🤓👍🏻
LikeLiked by 1 person
Azazel
Cool to see your older stuff and how far your painting has progressed over the years – I also like the shelves next to the door! Still, it’s hard to top that painting kittycat!
LikeLiked by 1 person
patmcf
😅😅😅👍🏻
LikeLiked by 1 person