"Armies in Plastic (aka the best X-mas ever)" Topic

Well after Trojan Bunny showed me the AIP site it was a mere two days before I placed my first order- 2 boxes of AWI infantry and 2 boxes of AWI cavalry, 1/32 or 54mm. I had plans of mixing them with 40 and 45mm stuff and the price was right for 'filler' troops- $12 USD a box for 20 figures (or 5 Cavalry) with a buy 3 get a 4th for free deal.

Grand total was about $64.00 CAD including the shipping for 40 infantry and 10 cav.

Seven days later and the package was from New York to Edmonton Alberta. A weeks worth of waiting had brought me….

wow- I was stunned. I had low expectations of the detail so what I got was a pleasant surprise. All the internet photos I had seen had made the figures seem plain and 'too toylike'. Although these did have a few 'filled' areas to avoid undercuts they had been sculpted so as to minimize the effect in most cases. What detail there was was perfect. In fact I had originally planned on converting them all to FIW era redcoats, and although I still may convert a few (they will be easy to mod) I just painted them as AWI since they looked so good.

I would give the AWI sets scores from 7/10 to 9/10 for detail and pose depending on the figure. All in all an excellent deal.

My only major 'complaint' was that the tricornes are 'filled' on the top so as to avoid the undercut problem. However with a sharp Xacto blade I was able to slowly cut one 'out' and they look fine.

link

Trojan Bunny also got me hooked on the Sudan figs and some of them just arrived today- Brits, Madhists, and Ansars. The Brits look very good again 7s-9s for poses, and I really like the Madhist riflemen. The Ansars are a little plain looking at first but that seems to be due more to their sparse 'uniforms' as the detail on some of the large shields is amazing.

They have cavalry sets for the sudan for sale in Febuary- as well as pretty much everything thats missing from the Naps lines

So naturally I 'infected' my brother with the AiP madness and he has ordered the Ft Khandahar set for me for X-mas and he's getting a bunch in return for his gift :D Finally after 20years or so I'm getting toys for Xmas again!

Yeah the Armies in Plastic figures are the best out there, in my opinion. The new cavalry sets are great. After the AWI cavalry they released Indian Army lancers and most recently Mahdist cavalry and Egyptian Army cavalry too. Also a set of Boxer Rebellion Russians just came out. I have heard that Boxer Rebellion US Marines may be coming up this year, I'm already planning the conversions so I can use them for pulp games.

lol I have insane plans of collecting all the sets now- and hoping they do Romans and Guals!

I painted a lot of AIP Mahdists and Arabs. I can say that I agree with Big Miller Bro. They are sculpted to avoid undercuts as much as possible and paint up very well. Poses are also very solid and suitable for wargames. After nagging them for 3 years at every Toy Soldier show they finally came out with cavalry. I am very happy with AIP. I wish I took pictures of those figures before I sold them.

Heh heh, I wont rest until I convert everyone to the ways of AiP and colonial wargaming!

Mike (aka the trojan bunny)

"I am very happy with AIP. I wish I took pictures of those figures before I sold them."

Hahahahaaa, that sounds like you were really happy with them indeed :-)))

AIP are excellent and great value. Go very well with COnte and TSSD figures.
I have a number of ACW sets from these 3 manufacturers and I think they complement each other very well.
AIP Union Brigrade have one of my most favourite poses – the officer advancing with raised sword. In fact I think I'll start a thread on favourite ever poses.

"Hahahahaaa, that sounds like you were really happy with them indeed :-)))"

MONGREL 1, few years ago I was entertaining a 54mm wargame army. I got really ed off at ALL 54mm companies for not finishing their ranges and not having any cavalry. That's why I sold my AIP's 3 years ago.

Fair comment mate, it was just the way it read to me at the time :-))

Igwarg 1--would you please use your demonstrated influence with AIP to have them produce heavy weapons for WWI (especially early war, but whatever…)

If you are willing to wait another decade…

Good Morning!

Back around 1971(ish) I recieved a plastic army men set that came in a metal box (aprox. 16x24x4") and it opened with a "front and back" gate. There were also sets for Cowboys and Indians and Knights and Vikings. Dose anyone know where I might find any of these for my son? I spent hours playing with those sets and I know he would love it as much as I did.

Thanks for any help!

Triston Farnon triston@austin.rr.com