This week it is Halloween, which originally is a celebration to 'All Saints'. In modern times and pop culture Halloween has focused more on 'to frighten evil spirits' and turned into a horror and gore related celebration. Anyway, by this time of year the shops are full of everything Halloween related merchandise, and the toyshops are no exception.
While visiting a toy store in Sweden (at the border just some 60km south from where I live) last weekend with my youngest son, I saw a 'new' bucket of soldiers. -And they were Halloween themed. The bucket was labeled "Zombie Hunter", "Marines vs Zombies", and "Zombie Battle Playset". It got my attentionand I took a closer look on it.
I haven't seen the Zombie figures before, but they looked somewhat chunky, 'cartoonish' and not so well proportioned. Since some of the Zombies was 'kids' they looked bigger than the 'Marines'. The 'Marines' on the other hand I've seen before, as they are identical to 'The Corps' futuristic army men looking like Starship Troopers.
So, did I buy one? No. These almost
'Pound Store figures', were not at sale at
'Pound Store prices'. At £ 16,10 or $ 21,48 or € 18,41 for only 105 pieces I didn't think it was worth it. If I'm going to make an
'Zombie Army' for a future game, I'm considering converting some of
these. I still have some 90+ unpainted
'Space Marines' left from a larger
'Bucket of Soldiers'. - So it's no danger for me painting my last miniature yet, hence Mark's latest blogpost at
Pound Store Plastic Warriors.
These futuristic Army Men or Space Marines looks like they're made as
'Starship Troopers', but are very versatile and generic and can be used for everything from near future troops to various alien armies. The prone sniper looks like a present day soldier. Perhaps they even can be used for Warhammer 40k or Kill Team? They are notably smaller than regular 54mm figures. I've been using them to create a small section of
'V' - Visitors Shock Troopers and James at the
Quantrill's Toy Soldiers have used them for making a Sci-fi
Lizard Alien Army and more recently classic
Space Opera Troopers. Please share a link in the comment-section if you have made your own versions of them.
However you celebrate it, Happy Halloween!
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That's a frightening price for some Army Men!
ReplyDelete😆
DeleteThe most terrifying is that these prices are 'the norm' in Norway and Sweden....
I haven't seen the set here in Oz. However, a few years ago I did see the futuristic army men set. The weapons remind me of 40 ones. The scale is significantly bigger than Games Workshop but they are pipsqueaks next to 54mm figures and would be the size of children in adult proportions. I'll just say they are a smaller type of humans.
ReplyDeleteThe zombies could always be hacked about for conversions.
But for current 'army men' $5 a figure, that is the price of some 1960s figures. Most likely they got hit by some high tariffs.
If these futuristic army men are used as aliens, size differences doesn't actually matter, as aliens can be 'smaller'. On the other hand if not mixed directly with 54mm figures, units of these figures goes well with facing other units of 54mm figures as there is some distance between them. In this set however they looked very different and 'smaller' than the Zombies.
DeleteIt feels like 'high tariffs' is the 'norm' here.
While they look interesting, the price is definitely to be avoided.
ReplyDeleteToo bad these horrifying prices are the 'norm' in Norway and Sweden. Those prices usually reflects the secondhand market as well....
DeleteAwful price , well avoided.
ReplyDeleteAlan Tradgardland
P.s did Norway have a toy soldier industry in the past or was it mainly imports of Britains etc. By the past I mean say 1900 to 1970s?
Thank you!
DeleteNo, according to my knowledge there has not been any Norwegian made lead, eladtolin or plastic soldiers. At the present we have Norsemen Miniatures, which makes single 54mm scale figures. They are pricey. On the Norwegian market it was mostly imports like Britains, Timpo, Airfix and Matchbox.