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Wargaming With Airfix Toy Soldiers

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Collecting Airfix 1:72 scale toy soldiers for wargames and war gaming

When I was a kid I was a avid collector of Airfix toy soldiers. I was introduced to them by a second cousin and played with them for hours. The sets fostered an interest in the history of the period ranging from ancient Rome, The Napoleonic Wars, The American Civil War, The First World War and The Second World War. My first sets were a box of English and German Infantry from the second world war. I used Airfix Toy Soldiers for board games and diaramas too.

When I was 11 I designed a board games based on the American Civil War, it was played on an A3 sized board divided into squares. Some squares were no go areas like swamps and others slowed movement like rivers. Soldiers moved my a throw of a dice you were allowed to move 5 soldiers a turn. Range was 5 squares the board was divided into 1 inch squares. The outcome was decided by dice roll the highest being the winner. Quite simple and good fun.

When I was 14 I created a double skinned 6 foot by 1.5 foot by and 1.5 inch deep World War 1 diarama. The surface was made of Polyfilla and painted. The depth of 1.5 inch was used for creating the trenches. I lined the trenches with old match sticks in part, used clear glue to make puddles and pools cut soldiers in half to look like they were walking in water. Barbed wire was simply coils of fuse wire wrapped around a pencil. I also used a couple of 1:72 scale Airfix First World War Tanks too. It spent some time at school and was then given to a local museum.

Contents at a Glance

Airfix WWII British Infantry
Airfix 1:72 WW11 British Soldiers on eBa...
Airfix WWII German Infantry
Airfix 1:72 German WWII Afrika Korps sol...
Airfix WWII British Paratroopers
Airfix WW11 British Paratroopers on eBay

Airfix WWII British Infantry

This set comes with a stretcher bearer party and an officer in a cloth cap.

Airfix 1:72 WW11 British Soldiers on eBay

Airfix WWII German Infantry

my favourtite models were the soldier with the stick grenade and flame thrower

Airfix 1:72 German WWII Afrika Korps soldiers on eBay

The best models in this set were one's with the german forage caps

Airfix WWII British Paratroopers

Airfix WW11 British Paratroopers on eBay

Airfix WW11 British Commandos

Airfix WW11 British 8th Army

The Desert Rats

eBay

Tanks Across The Desert

The diaries of Jake Wardrop

The maiden name of the mother of my second cousin, the boy who introduced me to Airfix Toy Soldiers was Wardrop. (H. Wardrop) The family was originally from Carlisle in Cumbria the UK. She had a brother called Jake Wardrop who was in the 5th Battalion, Royal Tank Regiment. The book Tanks Across The Desert is his diarised account of the second world war in North Africa. He was killed in 1945.

Tanks Across the Desert

by: George Forty

Amazon Price: $15.57 (as of 05/28/2012)

Airfix 1:72 WW11 German Afrika Korps eBay

Airfix WW11 German 88mm Gun and Half Track

Airfix WW11 Ghurkas

Airfix WW11 US Marines

photo by J. Corey Butler, 2007

Sherman Tank

Airfix 1:72 WW11 US Marines on eBay

Airfix WW11 Japanese Infantry

Airfix 1:72 WW11 Japanese Infantry on eBay

Jungle Outpost

Airfix WW11 Italian Infantry

Airfix WW1 American Infantry

Airfix WW1 British Infantry

Airfix WW1 Royal Horse Artillery

Airfix WW1 German Infantry

Airfix WW1 French Infantry

Airfix 1:72 American Civil War Union Infantry on eBay

Airfix 1:72 American Civil War Confederate Infantry eBay

Airfix US Cavalry

A useful addition to any American Civil War game. The US Cavalry set is made up of a range of interesting models many rattling their sabres. These models are available under the Imex brand.

Airfix American Civil War Artillery

airfix-toy-soldiers american-civil-war-artillery

One of my favourite sets. Airfix also produced a handbook on the American Civil War. Here's another helpful link to Airfix American Civil War gaming

Airfix 1:72 Cowboys and Wagon Train Settlers on eBay

Airfix Waterloo Battle Set

Airfix Robin Hood and His Merry Men

Airfix Sheriff of Nottingham

Airfix Romans

Airfix Ancient Britons

Airfix 1:72 French Foreign Legion on eBay

There were two editions of the Foreign Legion set. The first in dark blue and a second light blue set.

Airfix 1:72 Bedouin Arabs on eBay

Airfix Toy Soldiers blogs

Allied M4A1 76mm Wet Stowage in 1/72...: By Robin Buckland Here is another Sherman variant in 1/72 from The Plastic Soldier Company. Aimed primarily at wargamers who want multiple vehicles for wargames units, quick to assemble and able to stand regular handling on a gaming table there are 3 ...

Plastic Soldier Review

not just Airfix, here's a whole army of plastic soldier manufacturers

Airfix Toy Soldiers. This is a great site that provides detailed images of each soldier in every Airfix toy soldier set and a review too. There are also alternative manufacturers.

Foward Command Post

Airfix Modelling Link List

Airfix Magaine Guides: A5 books on aspects of modelling
Airfix Tribute Forum: Airfix fans
Official Airfix on facebook: Facebook official community

Airfix Twitter Follow

May 28, 2012 @ 10:40 am

I posted 12 photos on Facebook in the album "" http://t.co/W5VSIebg
May 28, 2012 @ 10:04 am

RT @hamishmoseley: Old school Airfix aeroplane construction before our big RED TAILS multimedia. @RedTailsUK http://t.co/SirEZgE4
May 28, 2012 @ 10:04 am

RT @theraygun: I enjoyed Red Tails, despite usual Lucas flaws, junior correspondent absolutely loved it... Great Airfix models too...
May 28, 2012 @ 10:03 am

RT @dansmudge: @JohnDonoghue64 I can relate so much to your books! its great makes my days! I even have airfix soldiers! but didn't pull...
May 28, 2012 @ 9:58 am

Congratulations Michael Fisher your "Photo Of The Week" prize is on its way! http://t.co/tLXsq0rR

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What are your memories of Airfix Toy Soldiers?

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bejeezers Feb 20, 2012 @ 4:03 pm | delete

I remember making them as a youngster. Love the wide ranging selection shown here.

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Tipi Oct 26, 2011 @ 1:49 pm | delete

Aha, been trying to get my like to show up and finally figured out that I'd been here a while back, I thought it all was familiar, liked it then and still like it now!

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Tipi Oct 26, 2011 @ 1:37 pm | delete

I love your creativity as a kid, you would have a vision and make it so! Very cool!

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TheCureForYouthMinistry Sep 27, 2011 @ 9:24 pm | delete

Well done lens! Love miniature gaming. Gonna make my own lens soon.

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ChrisGray Sep 16, 2011 @ 5:42 pm | delete

Sooo many memories. I can smell them! I had every single one of those packs; sometimes several packs to make decent sized armies. I've got thousands of painted Essex Miniatures lead soldiers now, mostly ancients. I love them too. Always the child!! Thanks for the lens.

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poddys Mar 1, 2011 @ 1:42 pm | delete

Brilliant lens! I grew up with Airfix soldiers too. I used to have a large collection of American Civil War troops from both sides, complemented by Cowboys, Indians and wagons from the Wagon Train set. I had Romans, First World War and tons of Second World War. I used to do a lot of wargaming, mostly Civil War or World War II, and had close to 3,000 troops altogether, and about 50 tanks, trucks, artillery etc. Those were the days :) Blessed by an angel.

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reasonablerobinson Mar 1, 2011 @ 2:38 pm | delete

That's some army Poddy were you a Union soldier or a Reb'?

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fanfreluche Feb 14, 2011 @ 4:06 pm | delete

Blessed by a squidoo angel! I sold some of these nice sets on Ebay a couple of time after finding them at garage sales. They use to do pretty well. I find them cool and it is no wonder they are so popular. I love your lens. Thanks for making it!

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MamaBelle Jan 27, 2011 @ 2:35 pm | delete

Like your Lens, enjoyed my visit, Thanks.

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Tipi Nov 15, 2010 @ 5:05 pm | delete

What a great lens you have made here. Airfix toy soldiers look like a lot of fun.
Best wishes to you for the holidays! ~