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Wednesday 18 May 2022

Really Old, Old School

 I have been promising myself that I would create some British opposition for my Roco and Type1 Airfix German force.  Leafing through some early Featherstone books the answer lies in the Airfix Combat Group set;  a set that I have always liked apart from the lack of heavy weapons. 

I set about assembling a 'company' size force of four platoons and an HQ.  I also converted some Type 1 8th Army machine gunners to create a medium machine gun platoon.  Here they are:



I plan to create two more companies, an HQ and some other support weapons to form a battalion sized unit.

21 comments:

  1. I have fond memories of this Airfix set - the machine guns are a splendid addition

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    1. Sadly quite a few of mine are turning to dust as the plastic rots. However, I have managed to stockpile quite a few and they can be put back together with super glue and given a coat of PVA to hold the bits in place!

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    1. Thanks Paul, cant't wait to get to grips with the Type 1 Hun!!.

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  3. I have always had a soft spot for the early Airfix figures. I like the size too as they go well with the Roco HO scale vehicles.

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    1. Indeed they are and I really enjoyed painting them.

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  5. You've done a lovely job on those. The Combat Group figures take me back.....

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    1. Thanks Martin. I wonder if Airfix still have the moulds for the Type1 figures? They would be an interesting re-release in their 'Classic' range.

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  6. Great to see these fellows, happy memories.
    Alan

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    1. I am looking forward to getting them onto the table.

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  7. One of my first Airfix sets and I still have a fondness for them. Also one of the few 1/72nd sets to show the Mk 3 helmet.

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    1. I have always wondered if Airfix intended these to be WW2 figures or to represent 'modern' infantry of the day. the fact all the figures wear ties suggests the conscript army of the 1950s.

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    2. They were intended to be 'contemporary', hence the box art shows them carrying L1A1 SLR's, although many of the figures appear to be armed with the EM2 rifle that was being trialed but never adopted; in this sense, Airfix were too far 'ahead of the game'!

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    3. Thanks for your comment. I suppose Airfix went along, or were in the lead of several toy soldier manufacturers. If I recall correctly the Herald British Khaki infantry had similar weapons.

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  8. These certainly bring back memories Bob…
    My first two boxes of Airfix soldiers were the Infantry Combat Group and the Guards Colour Party…

    All the best. Aly

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    1. I had some of these figures in the late 50s and I remember an old tobacco tin full of Type 1 German painted in Airfix gloss green paint! We played with them outside and many were lost in the garden.

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  9. Excellent! And would it surprise you to know I have a load in a Really Useful Box in the loft…?

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    1. Well many thanks to you as the machine gunners (the top half) were from the batch of 8th Army that you kindly gave me.

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