Help please

[melvyn Jenkins-Welch]

Gentlemen,

I am looking to expand my 18th century armies and wondered if anyone new of anywhere (except eBay) where I can source plastic spencer smiths?

I am fairly sure that if any one knows then they’ll be a member of this group

many thanks in advance

 

melvyn

[willz]

Melvyn if you find somewhere to buy them let me know I have been looking for six months plus .

[willz]

Further to my last, looking through several 18th century web sites this one included lots of war-gamers would like to buy remodeled Spencer Smith plastic seven years war 18th century 30mm figures.  Maybe we should try a kick starter pledge for hard plastic Spencer smith style figures.

Marching musketeer / infantry man, grenadier.  Officer, drummer, standard bearer and artilleryman.  Mounted officer, heavy cavalry, trumpeter, light cavalry man.  All produced todays high standard of hard plastic figures.  I have no idea the cost of production of a hard plastic injection mould but it would not be cheap.  With enough people pledging it would be possible, I have painting and modeling skills but sadly figure sculpting is way above my ability.  Just a thought what do you think.

[melvyn Jenkins-Welch]

I agree. Perhaps if we got a friendly magazine editor who has been seen in these parts to ask Peter at Spencer Smith about this. ……

The things I can foresee as problems are that the Perry’s  have released AWI and HaT have recently produced 1/72 SYW Prussians  with the promise of more to come.  Also to be commercially viable we’d need a relatively high initial funding goal  (to make the moulds etc) and this might mean that each box (Grant regiments ?) may be actually more expensive than the metal figures.

Finally, although those who prefer the plastics are obviously gentlemen of refined taste and culture, I’m not sure that there are enough of us to maintain demand. I’d hate to go to a show in say 2 years time and find boxes of Plastic SS in the bargain bin, (or would I)?

[willz]

I agree with all that you have said Melvyn, oh the joy of finding such a treat at a show or a car boot.  Though last month I saw some figures on flea-bay advertised as grey plastic cavalry bought them expecting 30 Spencer Smith cavalry and when I opened the box I had 228 in total.  That’s my cavalry needs sorted.  (See one of the other post for photo’s) chuffed

Yes you are probably correct as its been 50 odd years and no one has released any decent plastic 30mm plastic figures, “Wargames Factory” is improving still AWI is just a bit to late.  Problem is being fussy I suppose ho hum we wait and dream.

[Iain Burt]

I don’t understand the preference for the plastic Spencer Smiths……….except the weight issue, my army is very heavy.

Iain

 

[willz]

“Iain wrote” I don’t understand the preference for the plastic Spencer Smiths……….except the weight issue, my army is very heavy.

I think its a nostalgic thing and the icon look of the figures, I suppose wanting something that is hard to get, a challenge?  I just like the style of the figures these were the first war-game figures I ever saw.  My army is primary made up of metal figures and is also very heavy.  Having gamed WW2 for several years I did not half notice the difference in weight when lifting my army 18th century into the car the other week.

[Henry Hyde]

Iain Burt wrote:

I don’t understand the preference for the plastic Spencer Smiths……….except the weight issue, my army is very heavy. Iain

You’re a trouble maker. I’ll deal with you next weekend.

 

As for Melvyn, the question is, just how many plastic Spencer Smiths are you after? I fear there are too few of us to sustain a product line — plus, they were originally produced from a very weird kind of plastic. To make them authentic, we’d have to find a chemical mix that would recreate the ‘brittle ankle’ syndrome in 20 years…

Meanwhile, I actually had a chat with Peter Johnstone at The Other Partizan today. He wasn’t exactly upbeat…

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[melvyn Jenkins-Welch]

Well, I’ve got around a 1000 left to paint to complete my AWI armies, so after that dependent on price I’d like to get another 2-3000. A 20×10 shed doesn’t just fill itself you know ……….

as for the brittle ankles, we don’t need to be that authentic!

I’m sorry Peter wasn’t upbeat, but even with enthusiasts like us, this is a niche within a niche

[Henry Hyde]

melvyn Jenkins-Welch wrote:

Well, I’ve got around a 1000 left to paint to complete my AWI armies, so after that dependent on price I’d like to get another 2-3000. A 20×10 shed doesn’t just fill itself you know ………. as for the brittle ankles, we don’t need to be that authentic! I’m sorry Peter wasn’t upbeat, but even with enthusiasts like us, this is a niche within a niche

What would you be doing? Imagi-nations, or something else historical?

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[melvyn Jenkins-Welch]

Probably expanding into the SYW as I’ve got around a hundred hussars that I’m not sure I’m going to be able to use in the AWI.

i might be tempted by imaginations though as my 8 year old has quite the imagination and it could be something for  us to do together

[Graham Cummings]

Gents,

I have some painted spencer smiths which i will be willing to let go cheap. If you’re interested I will count them up and describe uniforms etc and you can make a decision?

Graham

[melvyn Jenkins-Welch]

Dear Graham,

thanks for your kind offer but I’m really looking for unpainted as I’m always ashamed of how other peoples painting shows up my daubing. At least if I paint them all then they look uniformly rubbish.

[Graham Cummings]

No problems.

Graham

[willz]

Graham I would be interested.

[Graham Cummings]

William,

e.mail and pictures sent.

Graham

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