Ever since I decided to allow myself to revive my 54mm late 19thC gaming I've had a small but important quandry. The only suitable artillery I have are two antique Britain's field guns. I love them but periodic searches for more have failed to turn any up, or rather very few available and none within my means. Where could I get more suitable, affordable guns?
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| Picture of an on sale 7 pdr from the AIP website. |
The matter was clinched tonight when I discovered that AIP has a big sale on their website so two 7 pounders have been ordered along with a gatling and a camel mounted screw gun. The crew figures, as nice as they are, will be surplus to requirements since the AIP style, just doesn't mix well with the vintage toy soldiers. (which is why I no longer have any of the 100's I painted and gamed with early this century.)
Now I just have to settle on a Foe. I think I do enough US-Canada stuff and am contemplating investigating the career of the Son of the Emir of Wadi Foulyam.
As I recall the only difference between the Artillery set and the Gatling Gun set is the pose of one crewman. Both sets used to come with the same carriage and barrels for four types of weapons, a breech loader, muzzle loader, gatling gun and a Dragon gun.
ReplyDeleteI had seen a picture indicating that a while ago but extra pieces never go astray. Its a pity I won't be using the crew as I quite like their figures. They just don't mix well with the vintage ones, side by side neither looks as good as they do on their own.
DeleteThose Armies in Plastic look interesting .
ReplyDeleteThey do a good range of good figures with certain plastic toy soldier 'action' feel but as accurate as most wargame figures. They mix well with most modern metal 'toy' soldiers, just not with the vintage/antique ones.
DeleteLangley, here in the UK, have a large range of 54mm figures and accessories, and you can buy heads, arms, etc. as separate bits to customise your units. They have some artillery, including gatling guns, and even a horse team and limber set, albeit expensive. The only caveat is that the range is long in the tooth, and recent purchases show some slight degradation of the castings.
ReplyDeleteThanks Joppy, I didn't realize they were still in business. I had ordered a catalogue and a few samples in the late 90's but couldn't afford metal 54mm armies so spent lots pf time dreaming over the catalogue and bought plastic. When I tried to look up them up a few years ago, the only website I could find was for their railway stuff.
DeleteThey are online now. Just punch in Langley Toy Soldiers and follow the trail. You just have to choose the right catalogue. I think they concentrate on the railway stuff now, so the soldiers get left out on a limb.
DeleteFinding suitable Artillery pieces can be the bug bear of cpmpleting a fine collection - glad you have zeroed in on Armies In Plastic to solve it in 54mm.
ReplyDeleteI've liked their stuff since it came out. Feels good to give them even a tiny bit of support again.
DeleteI see a dangerous butterfly flittering nearby. Another era. . . I. Must. Resist. But it ain't easy.
ReplyDeleteBest Regards,
Stokes
Its OK Stokes, I've got this one for you! Still the young master might like some nice, big, red, Victorian soldiers to play with....maybe you should check their website. For his benefit....
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