RFCM

RFCM discussion => General discussion => Topic started by: martin goddard on February 14, 2025, 11:41:11 AM

Title: Airfix's Little soldiers (book) 1959-2009
Post by: martin goddard on February 14, 2025, 11:41:11 AM
I have mentioned this book before.
A great read.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQPYRhP6tDc

One trader is asking £95. Far too much.

A great book to get from the library for free

martin :)
Title: Re: Airfix's Little soldiers (book) 1959-2009
Post by: Leman (Andy) on February 14, 2025, 02:34:08 PM
I had some of the first sets of their 20mm offerings when I was very young, as I had them before we moved to Llandudno in 1962. They were the Guards band in stunning pink and the ACW infantry - all the Union in kepis in dark blue and all the Confederates in slouch hats in light grey. A few years later I was busy converting many of these after a school friend, and fellow wargamer, lent me his Airfix magazines with all the ACW how to articles (memories of plasticine and banana oil). I wonder how many of us started wargaming with 20mm Airfix figures.
Title: Re: Airfix's Little soldiers (book) 1959-2009
Post by: John Watson on February 14, 2025, 03:30:37 PM
I started with the ACW figures, including the artillery. then the 8th Army and Afrika Korps. The book you mentioned Martin seems to be as rare as hen's teeth. I could not find any copies of it for sale.
John
Title: Re: Airfix's Little soldiers (book) 1959-2009
Post by: martin goddard on February 14, 2025, 09:07:53 PM
Many of the RFCM members are of an AIRFIX age. Younger gamers will not appreciate Airfix at all.

It does seem to be too pricey, £95 is far too much.
I suggest borrowing it from the library for free.

A worthwhile read with some great exclusives included.


martin :)
Title: Re: Airfix's Little soldiers (book) 1959-2009
Post by: Big Mike on February 15, 2025, 09:19:36 AM
My first set of Airfix soldiers were the French Foreign Legion (my Dad's choice!). They were  dark blue and were soon joined by WW2 German Infantry who were much more interesting for a 9 year old brought up on war films. I had no idea what the strange looking Panzerschrek weapon was but it was exciting to deploy with marbles against the hapless Legionaires.
Mike       
Title: Re: Airfix's Little soldiers (book) 1959-2009
Post by: martin goddard on February 15, 2025, 10:40:34 AM
The legionnaires were a great pack.
As usual a few men stabbing the ground with no bayonet attached.
Lovely dark blue.
I never got around to painting them , did you?

martin :)
Title: Re: Airfix's Little soldiers (book) 1959-2009
Post by: Big Mike on February 17, 2025, 11:01:04 AM
No figure painting until I bought some Russian Infantry that I fixed to a textured board then realised I could only sit and stare at them. Wargaming with based figures came much later. 
Title: Re: Airfix's Little soldiers (book) 1959-2009
Post by: martin goddard on February 17, 2025, 11:51:15 AM
Those Russian were great.
Charles Grant used them in his BATTLE book.
The pack also included a mortar and MMG which was very useful at that time.

martin :)
Title: Re: Airfix's Little soldiers (book) 1959-2009
Post by: Smiley Miley 66 on February 17, 2025, 05:12:22 PM
This book seems to be very rare !
All the other books connected to Airfix not quite so ?
I wonder why that is ?
Miles
Title: Re: Airfix's Little soldiers (book) 1959-2009
Post by: martin goddard on February 17, 2025, 05:15:18 PM
I suspect it is because it by Histoire and Collections who have short print runs and very high quality. I find their uniform books to be unsurpassed.
When they are released just buy them.

martin :)