Fighting Toy Stories

Farewell

Every blog ends. Fighting Toy Stories was begun as a lockdown project, as a by-product of my research into the various toys that I was collecting and trading on eBay. I felt, and still feel, that there are so many stories to be told about them! It was a real pleasure to put together a series of posts about the toy ranges that I had an interest in.

However, this isn’t something I can keep up forever. Well, actually, I honestly think that I could if I really wanted to – but I have so many other interests that I want a change of focus. So, I’m putting the blog to bed. It will remain available for now, I just won’t be adding any further posts, at least while I take a break and consider my options.

I have taken this opportunity to update the statistics page, so please take a look at that. And if you want to stay in touch, feel free to take a look at my photoblog here. Onwards and upwards!

Frog Aircraft Kits

The Underdog

We have already seen in these pages how FROG created some of the earliest plastic construction kits during the 1930s. Post-war they dropped the range, but in 1955 relaunched it using a new type of plastic, polystyrene. Between 1963 and 1976, the range underwent a dramatic expansion, with 84 kits produced to a common 1:72 scale. There was, unsurprisingly, a focus on British subjects, and on the WW2 era. During this era, FROG were in competition with Airfix, and very much the underdog. How did the two compare?

Airfix Attack Force

Ready To Go

Beyond Kits

In the 1960s, Airfix flourished as the premier maker of plastic construction kits in the UK. As we have seen elsewhere in these pages, they had also introduced a range of figures in softer polythene, which proved very popular. Building on this success, in 1966 they inaugurated a new range, the Attack Force.

Britains Military Vehicles

Supporting the Troops

Unsung Heroes

Britains was mainly known for their toy soldiers, but artillery guns were always a part of their offering. Less well known is the (admittedly small) selection of wheeled vehicles that they also produced. Initially these were horse drawn vehicles, mainly artillery limbers and supply wagons, but as the British army slowly embraced motor vehicles, so Britains followed suite.

Hansa Ships

The Third Way

After the War

It took a while after WW2 for toy makers to recover from wartime restrictions and resume production, especially of course in Germany. We have seen elsewhere in these pages how by 1960 the German firm Wiking began to create new waterline models, and Triang launched Minic ships. Both of these ventures were slightly pre-dated by the arrival in the late 1950s of a new line of models, by Hansa. So, what were these like?

Timpo Australian Infantry

Bits and Pieces

Timpo

Timpo Toys was founded in 1938 by Salomon Gawrylovitz, a German jew who fled in 1937 and settled in the UK. The name Timpo was formed from the ‘T’ of toy and ‘impo’ from Importers, appropriate because the original intention was to import toys from continental manufacturers. However, the impact of WW2 closed off that supply, and Timpo soon began manufacturing for itself.

Matchbox Military Kits

Entering the Land War

We have already discussed in these pages the innovative Matchbox range of 1:72 aircraft kits, and you will know that I just love their colour and variety. Not surprisingly, Matchbox also turned their attention to other subjects (e.g. vehicles and warships). Were these kits as impressive? Let’s take a look.