Tuesday 18 October 2011

204 AWI troops for $1.98!!


Way back in the early 1970’s I remember seeing this add in a comic book. Back then I thought this was simply awesome and hassled my Dad for ages to send away for them. Eventually he did and after several months they arrived. The figures were rubbish really but I was still very glad to have them. They are all gone now but I still remember this add very fondly and the many battles we had with these guys. I now have a 15mm British army and a 28mm Continental army painted up and a 28mm British army still to paint. Here are my two French units that cost more than $1.98 for each figure.  Front Rank figures and GMB flags.



Probably use this chap as a marker.



The Royal Deux Ponts infantry regiment was made up of German soldiers in French service. I stared painting this unit about 3 years ago. It has been an “on again, off again” thing that has finally come to an end last month. The light blue coats and the colourful flag should make this unit stand out on the table. 



My other French unit is the Soissonnois Regiment. This unit was painted a couple of years ago and I struggled with getting all that white done. Me and white don’t really get along too well.
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22 comments:

  1. The Angry Lurker19 October 2011 at 00:04

    Lovely stuff and work, I like the reference where a figure now costs more than that whole set.

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  2. Christopher(aka Axebreaker)19 October 2011 at 00:05

    I do remember that add or at least it looks familiar.Nice looking units you did btw!

    Christopher

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  3. Paulalba19 October 2011 at 00:08

    Really smart Rodger,
    Not a period I know much about (maybe 1 day?), very cool uniforms.

    I used to hassle my dad for cowboys, stage coach etc when I was a lad.
    Cheers
    Paul

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  4. Sean19 October 2011 at 03:55

    Nice stuff, and I know what you mean about white. I have always had issues with getting it to go on evenly. I also had a question about the ground in your photos. What are you using? It looks like you've glued a bunch of static grass to it. Or is it some kind of mat?

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  5. Bob Barnetson19 October 2011 at 04:15

    I so wanted these comic book soldiers but you could never order them in Canada (or so my mother said!).

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  6. Willie Anderson19 October 2011 at 07:16

    I remember drooling over the same ad but like Bob was told not available in the UK!

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  7. Michael Awdry19 October 2011 at 08:55

    They look superb Sir! Love the wounded chap falling back.

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  8. Scottswargaming19 October 2011 at 09:34

    Your advert pic from the 70's certainly takes me back a bit - reminds me of playing with airfix toy soldiers in the garden, digging trenches for them etc - for years afterwards my mother would still be finding them as she did the gardening... Nice work on the FR stuff - I like the characterful chap falling back shot. Interesting you mention a unit taking a few years to finish. If I dont get a unit done start to finish in one go, I find it really hard to go back it, when its been left half done, and something else has grabbed my attention...

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  9. Stacky19 October 2011 at 14:40

    Great work, Rodger! I always wanted to get those soldiers in the comic add....along with the glasses that could let you see through clothes! I couldn't quite figure out how they would work but as a kid wanting to know more about girls the concept seemed pretty cool.

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  10. The Kiwi19 October 2011 at 16:02

    Great looking painted figures. I agree about painting with white. It can be a real pain.
    cheers

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  11. Rodger19 October 2011 at 22:28

    @Sean If you are talking about the top photos- then the troops are on a steel tray , painted green with static grass applied using my homemade static grass charger. The two bottem photos were taken during a game with the guys on a Citadel Battlemat.

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  12. Stryker20 October 2011 at 07:01

    I really, really, really wanted those soldiers to! I think you could actually get them sent to the UK but you needed an "International Money Order" which sounded scary and my parents weren't very keen - if only there had been PayPal back then! There was another add for a complete US Pacific Fleet as I remember...

    Ian

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  13. Ken21 October 2011 at 06:00

    me too! those comics also had an advert for a working submarine that I really really wanted!

    Cheers

    Ken

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  14. Jason Meyers23 October 2011 at 07:01

    Ha! I remember that add too. There was a similar Roman Civil War set that I wanted. :-)

    Your Frenchies look great!

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  15. Ray Rousell26 October 2011 at 02:27

    Excellent painting, I've painted both of these up as well, unfortunately they were both for Postie, the Soissonnois Regiment, nearly put me off painting for life....all that white!!!!

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  16. Paul´s Bods29 October 2011 at 23:17

    Weren´t the 204 figs for 1,98 flats??? I always wanted the roman army set but never ever got them :-(
    Your "1.98 a fig" army looks great..
    Cheers
    paul

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  17. Rodger29 October 2011 at 23:44

    @Paul- They were round bods Paul. Here is a link to photos of the AWI guys and others at TMP.
    http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=245809

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  18. Mycenius31 October 2011 at 13:25

    I remember that ad and other similar ones too Rodger! Alas I never actually was able to ever get any... They were the source of many day dreams about huge wargaming armies as a young boy though! Cheers, John (Wargaming.info).

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  19. Craig C31 October 2011 at 22:06

    They look great Rodger

    Craig

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  20. Hobbyworker1 November 2011 at 02:14

    Nice looking miniatures :)

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  21. Dalauppror18 December 2011 at 09:40

    I realy like your AWI minis, give me inspiratine to get back to my own AWI project...have 80 Continentals to paint...

    Best regardsa dalauppror

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  22. Phil8 July 2012 at 23:16

    Very nice Rodger! Love the figs, and the pictures!

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