Airfix's Little soldiers (book) 1959-2009

[martin goddard]

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

[Leman (Andy)]

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.

[John Watson]

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

[martin goddard]

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

[Big Mike]

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       

[martin goddard]

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

[Big Mike]

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. 

[martin goddard]

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

[Smiley Miley 66]

This book seems to be very rare !
All the other books connected to Airfix not quite so ?
I wonder why that is ?
Miles

[martin goddard]

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