This is a brief beginners guide to some of the 1/32 scale (54mm) plastic toy soldier sets currently in production. It details the leading manufacturers, the figures they produce and the historical periods covered. Figure painters, wargamers, diorama builders and collectors are the main intended audience. My interest is both personal and professional as I enjoy painting figures as a hobby and also sell toy soldiers through my eBay store Drum & Flag.

( A guide of this nature is out of date almost as soon as it is written with new sets coming onto the market and new manufacturers starting up production. I will therefore endeavour to update it from time to time as best I can. This update was posted in March 2008. Guide first posted June 2006)

As they are the figures I know best I'll take a more detailed look at the main manufacturers I stock in my eBay shop. Most of these figures are made of similar unpainted soft plastic that paints up very well as long as washed properly before hand. Endless conversion possibilties are made available with this material. Nearly all these figures are compatible with each other although some makes are a little more unique than others. For more information on painting figures see my guide to Painting Plastic Figures

Prices are usually between £5-£20 depending on the make, production run and the size of the set. Figures are unpainted unless otherwise stated. Most figures do not require any assembly but some may require removing from the moulding sprue. Visit my eBay shop for set specific details, prices, more pictures and stock availability. 

Makes listed in alphabetical order. Only 10 pics allowed so can't illustrate all makes I am afraid:

A Call to Arms (ACTA)

Company Details: Based in London. Figures are British made.

Range: American Civil War, American Revolution, English Civil War, Napoleonics, Romans

Sets: 34 sets currently on the market.

Contents/Poses: Usually 16 foot figures in 4 poses. Cavalry 4 figures in 4 poses, horses all same pose.

1/72 Scale Range? Yes, figures are usually scaled down versions of their 1/32 range.

Other Info: ACTA use a variety of plastic colours. Moulding and sculpts usually very good. Cannon sets feature only one artillery piece whilst crew sets feature four sets of crew - a good incentive to make up a four gun battery!

Accurate

Company Details: Were based in Florida, USA. Figures made in England. Now owned by Imex I believe.

Range: American Civil War, American War of Independence, Medieval

Sets:  5+ sets currently on the market. Some increasingly difficult to source.

Contents/Poses: 20 foot figures in 10 poses. Mixed French Knights set is 5 foot and 2 mounted poses.

1/72 Scale Range?: Yes, figures are usually scaled down versions of their 1/32 range and are the same as the Revell sets.

Other Info: None

Airfix

Company Details. They need no introduction really being many people's first thought when considering plastic soldiers. Now owned by Hornby - it will be interesting to see where they take the brand and what they do with the back catalogue.

Range: WW2 hard plastic kit type figures recently in production. See CTS for reissues of much of the 1970's range, including the fab buildings - strongpoint, checkpoint, desert house and bamboo hut.

Sets: 7

Contents: Usually 6 multipose figures.

1/72 Scale Range? Yes. Also reissues from HaT and Heller amongst others.

Other Info: None

Armies in Plastic (AIP)

Company Details: Based out of New York State AIP is a designer and fabricator of historically accurate military figurines, depicting armies and battles from around the world.

Range: American Civil War, American Revolution, Colonial (wide range), Russian Civil War & WWI (wide range).

Sets: 100+ infantry, artillery and cavalry sets.  

Contents/Poses: Typically 20 foot figures in 10 poses. Artillery 5 foot figures and 1 gun. Cavalry 5 mounted figures. Colours used are in keeping with the sets and span a broad spectrum which US collectors particularly appreciate. Miving to 3 copies of 8 poses in infantry sets of late.

1/72 Scale Range?: No

Other Info: AIP sets are made from easy to paint soft plastic. It is worth noting that several sets are made up of the same poses - just the box artwork and the plastic colour varies. This means that collectors and gamers who do not wish to paint their figures have a good broad choice of different coloured plastic sets. Royal Navy and Crimea sets due around May.

Barzso

Company Info: Based in Illinois Barzso have been proudly making excellent American designed, sculpted and manufactured plastic figures, accessories and playsets since 1993.

Range: Many US themes. American Civil War, French & Indian War, Battle of New Orleans,  The Alamo, Pirates

Sets: 60 +

Contents: Varies widely - but a typical 'soldier' set has 13 figures in assorted poses.

1/72 Scale Range?: No

Other Info: Most sets made of a resin type plastic. Figures are great and the accessory range is particularly strong. Robin Hood and Sheriff of Nottingham sets amongst recent releases.

BMC

Company Info: US based

Range: WW2, ACW, Alamo, Little Big Horn, Rough Riders etc...

Sets: tbc

Contents: Vary widely but generally you get plenty of figures for your money.

1/72 Scale Range? : No

Other Info: As well as figures BMC produce some great vehicles and accessories.

Britains Super Deetail

Company Details: This famous name in metal as well as plastic toy soldiers is now owned by US company First Gear. They have reissued, revamped, repainted and rebased Deetail figures first seen in the 1970's plus some accessories.

Range: WW2, Wild West, ACW, Medieval plus accessories (Sandbags, stone wall, ACW walling and bombed ruin)

Sets: 16 different counter packs including accessories.

Contents:  Most foot figures are available in 6 different poses and the cavarly in 5 or 6. I sell the figures bagged up into sets but you can get them individually as well as they come in counter packs designed for toy shops.

1/72 Range? No

Other Info: Hopefully these figures will sell well and First Gear will then look into how feasible other re-releases or even new products are.

Conflix

Company Details: tba

Range: 1/35 Dioramas. Lightweight prepainted foam - easily portable.  New - due 2008. Pill Box, Bunker, Gun Emplacement, Redoubt, Trench, Ammo Stash, Command Post and Desert.Tropical Emplacement and Ammo Stash. Ideal for WW2 / WW1 / ACW / Vietnam etc...

Sets: 0 at present.

Contents: tba

1/72 Scale Range?: 15-28mm modern, medieval and fantasy painted resin building/terrain ranges.

Other Info: If these are as good as their little brothers and as good as they look in the catalogue these will be most welcome releases in the larger scale.

Conte Collectibles

Company Details: Operating out of Las Vegas this producer of great metal toy soldiers also manufactures fantastic plastics. Conte describe their injection moulded figures as the industry standard and they strive to keep getting better. Undercuts have practically been done away with and the sculpting and historical accuracy are amongst the best you will find.

Range: Alamo, American Civil War, Colonial, Medieval & WWII. I believe Spartans are coming soon which is fantastic news, particularly with everyone's imagination fuelled by the recent release of 300.

Sets: 70+

Contents: Usually 16 figures in 8 poses or 8 figures in 8 poses. Figures come either boxed, bagged or plastic bubble packed.

1/72 Scale Range?: No

Other Info: Plastic is more 'rubbery' than some in earlier sets at least. This has helped them mould some very detailed and top quality sculpts. The seperate sprues for weapons and limbs in some sets also enable poses to be presented that are not normally possible with injection moulding. Some ACW sets are also available factory painted. Spartans due 2008.

Classic Toy Soldiers (CTS)

Company Details: Colorado is home for this leading US toy soldier company. They produce their own figures, accessories and vehicles as well as top quality reissues of the classic 1970's Airfix figures, buildings and vehicles. 

Range: WWII, Napoleonic, Medieval, Wild West, US History  and more

Sets: Lots. I count 70+ sets that I stock.

Contents. Varies widely

1/72 Scale Range?: No

Other Info:  None at this time.

Emhar

Company Details: Made by UK company Pocketbond.

Range: Vikings, WWI (1/35 Scale)

Sets: 11 including their excellent WW1 tanks.

Contents:  Viking set for example contains 12 figures.

1/72 Range?: Yes. Also collaborate with Imex.

Other Info: TBA

Hat

Company Details: Based in US

Range: Punic Wars, ACW, Napoleonics

Sets: 12

Contents: Varies. Set in photo has 16 figures in 4 poses.

Other Info: Box artwork for the Triarii set illustrated has to be one of the best I have seen - very dramatic. More Punic War sets coming soon.

Imex

Company Detail: Based in Florida.

Range: American Civil War, American Revolution

Sets: 15+ on the UK market. More in the US I believe - mainly Civil War variations.

Contents: Varies depending on the set type.

1/72 Scale Range?: Yes.

Other Info: Imex produce a great range of Civil War sets covering all three arms. Artillery is particularly well covered with varying calibres and limbers as well as crew. Alamo Mexicans on the horizon.

Italeri

Company Detail: This Italian company are located in Bologna and have released many excellent sets onto the market over the past few years to compliment their impressive 1/72 scale offerings. Italeri are very careful to select the right historical subjects and try to represent the various eras in the best way possible.

Range: American Civil War, Ancient, WW2, Medieval & Napoleonic.

Sets: 30+

Contents: Typically 16 foot figures in 8 poses and 8 cavalry in 4 poses.

1/72 Scale Range? : Yes - one of the best. Now also incorporating many of the old Esci sets.

Other Info: More medievals and Napoleonics due in 2008.

Pegasus

Company Info: tba

Range: Gladiators sets 1 & 2, WW2 Russian Naval Infantry. Planned new releases for 2008

Sets: 0 at present

Contents: tba

1/72 Range?: Yes. Also 28mm accessories and 1/144 scale

Other Info: tba

Timpo & Toyway

Company Details: Toyway are based in the UK and produce figures under both the Timpo and Toyway brand names.

Range: WW2, Ancient, Wild West, ACW, Medieval, Colonial, Ceremonial

Sets: 30+

1/72 Range? No

Other Info: The Toyway Romans, Greeks, Egyptians and Footballers are all pre-painted as are some of the Ceremonial and Medieval sets. Many of the sets are ideal for kids as well as collectors.

TSSD

Company Details: Based in San Diego, California, USA.

Range: WWII and ACW

Sets: 10 (with different colour variants)

Contents: I sell the infantry in packs of 8 figures, all different poses

1/72 Range?: No

Other Info: Some of the best sculpted figures on the market. Well worth investigating if you have not seen them before. Sets all pictured in my eBay store.

Waterloo 1815

Company Details: Based in Italy.

Range: WW2 Italian, Napoleonic Prussians - New

Sets: c5

Contents: Varies

1/72 Range? Yes

Other Info: None at this time.

Others

If your interest includes Charbens, Cherilea, Crescent, Herald, Marx, Swoppets etc... then I can't help you much as any expertise I may have does not extend to these out of production sets. However eBay members buy and sell plenty of these figures so take a look at what's being traded. A good reference is Plastic Warrior magazine which is published 6 times a year. You can find details of how to subscribe and much more information besides on their website: plasticwarrior.com.

Happy to answer any questions and to receive corrections or suggestions for the next update. Contact me via eBay messages. User ID flagbearer101.

To visit my eBay online toy soldier Shop click here: Drum & Flag