I got some wee screw/ nuts n bolts sorter boxes in Aldi’s yesterday when getting some essentials late afternoon. They will come in handy for storage of the sorted figures and eventually for them when based and painted. The sorting began...
I am fortunate to have the Osprey sized book by a French chap ( ?) on the Airfix 1/72 figures which incidentally is always a fascinating read. This was on hand in case any oddities were found.
The figures I hailed as old friends were the 1960 designs as opposed to the 1973 ones. For example I had never handled the 1973 French Foreign Legion before and found them long and thin compared to the ones I enjoyed as a boy. Equally I didn’t really take to some Napoleonic chaps in bearskins I had never owned. However it was a joy to be reunited with the Robin Hood and Sheriff of Nottingham sets especially the personality figures like Friar Tuck and Robin himself. The favourites so far were the 1960 ww2 Germans, Afrika Korps and 8th Army. They spoke to me of the 1960s and boyhood games morphing into Wrg’s platoon action rules or Battle , Practical Wargaming played over Bellona vacuum scenery. More sorting to do and then I will post more on this. Figures will be used in the Portable Wargame battles and some Featherstonian close wars games. Finally what the best way to remove old paint from Airfix chaps?
What an enjoyable way to start the year!
ReplyDeleteTo remove paint I soak the plastic figures in a strong multi surface cleaner over night (part filled glass jar) and then rinse (repeat as necessary!)
Helpful tip thanks.
DeleteGreat start to the year , interesting mix of figures - full of nostalgia
ReplyDeleteWould your French chap / book be Jean Christophe Carbonel's Airfix Little Soldiers? Lovely book. Many thanks for sharing your sorting. It looks like you have got yourself lots of skirmishes in one box.
ReplyDeleteIt was and a splendid book it was. Is it the only/best book on 1/72 Airfix.
DeleteI'm not sure with figures of this age if they are fragile whether it is worth paint stripping as you would with metal. They might just dissolve! I usually undercoat or overpaint onto what is there.
ReplyDeleteNever thought of that ,interesting.
DeleteWhat fun... I can almost smell that old plastic aroma rising from the picture. Apart from Robin Hood, I think my favourite set was the Ancient Britons.
ReplyDeleteVery few Ancient Britains in the hoard, only about four. They were a great set indeed.
Delete90% isopropyl alcohol for removing paint if acrylics. Get a shallow, wide jar with a lid and just cram a bunch of figs in there and then just top off with the 90%IA. Be wary of fumes and when brushing paint of with toothbrush little staining flecks get everywhere so prep yr workstation. Also do not use water during the process as that will reactivate acrylics (which are water based). If paint is enamels you might be out of luck.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the useful tip.
ReplyDelete