I lost my Mum a few weeks ago and had her funeral last Thursday. Both parents gone now. This post just brought the memories coming back and a few tears. Obviously my parents bought me these boxes of soldiers. Much of these early years were spent reading Commando books and playing with my toy soldiers.
@@redrev674 I was maybe in a similar position a few years ago and would like to extend my condolences and share your sentiments very much. Treasured memories live forever in the soul.
@@toysoldiernostalgiaI had I recall nearly all the Airfix sets collecting from the age of 5 in 1972 up to about 12 or 13. I tried looking for Airfix boxes of soldiers for my son but dont think they are around any more.
The SMLE Mk III* (renamed Rifle No.1 Mk III* in 1926) saw extensive service throughout the Second World War, especially in the North African, Italian, Pacific and Burmese theatres in the hands of British and Commonwealth forces. The No 4 rifle did not begin to see front line service in large numbers until 1943.
Seeing this set of 8th Army figures takes me back to my early modelling days. I used this set in a diorama I made with a British Grant tank and a Panzer IV. Ah the memories!! Thanks for sharing 👍🙂
For my eighth birthday, one friend bought me a box of Eighth Army and another friend bought me a box of Africa Korps. That's all I needed in 1979. Both boxes are fantastic but the Germans are better. The officer, grenade thrower, prone machine gunner and sub-machine gunner are all fantastic. Even the riflemen are slightly better than their Eighth Army counterparts. The Eighth Army troops are great but the Africa Korps troops are wonderful.
Not sure if the DAK set is "better" than the 8th Army set, but the soldiers look a bit better nicer uniforms etc. The only thing I have against the set is the weird machinegun that is supposed to be a MG34 but looks more like a US Browning mg; and the smg that seems to be a mixture of the Beretta 38/42 and the German MP41. Oh well. It's still a great set. 😊
Some of the other manufacturers like Matchbox made some amazing Afrika koros and Eight army figures. A set made from all the varieties available would be great. 😊
These videos are really helping me understand the army men I had as kid. I never had Airfix or Matchbox, but these molds were definitely reused in some of the buckets of army men my parents got me as kid from Kay Bee Toy, and K-Mart. Thank you!
As a child in the 70's I remember my local corner shop selling individual direct ripoff copies of the 8th army figures packed with a piece of Gum. The only difference being, they were moulded in green plastic . Great review btw 👍
Great youtube vids good sir, it`s nice to know I`m not the only obsessive collector of Airfix toy soldiers and I have a similar admiration for the designs
I had both when I was young. Of all my sets, 8 army was always my favourite. In general, all sets of British soldiers were among my favorites and that was because of the helmets that the British used. always digged the Tommy helmet.
Firstly i always look forward to your posts, a few minutes to visit my younger self....so thankyou for that. To business: such a controversial question.....sheesh. I loved the desert aspects of warfare, so much so that this became my specialisation in the armed forces and I tie this choice to my childhood play. But i loved both sets, but always favoured the overall look of the AK, but the 8th always won any play-conflict (haha - in keeping with history of course)...I loved the walking solder and for some reason, painted all their helmets red to make them MP's amongst the entire army I had (not a clue why). My fave AK was the grenade thrower, it just looked realistic. Again great post....have a great day. CC
p.s. Gymnopedies is my favourite peice of music of all time....Im always touched by a tinge of sadness by it and it makes the end of your post quite meanignful and me, slightly melancholy for a moment.
One of the fascinating aspects of the 8th Army was that it was so absurdly multinational - and still so effective. Even as a not too bright kid I did wonder - where are the australians, new zeaanders, south africans, east africans, indians, the free french? I blieve not the entire 8th Army got the nickname Desert Rats but only the 7th armoured division and I suppose this set represents infantry elements of that division then.
One of my fondest memories of growing up was listening to my grandad's stories. He was in the Queen's Regiment, 7th Armoured and was in North Africa (with two months attached to the LRDG) and then Sicily, Salerno and then Normandy. He always felt fortunate to have got through three invasions and was proud to have been a 'Desert Rat'. He got the Military Medal and was mentioned in dispatches twice. Needless to say, as a kid, I became obsessed with the 8th Army and the Afrika Korps as a result.
I used some spare 1/32 8th Army, head swapped them with Airfix Ghurka heads (w/bush hats), added khurki knives and painted them the same od green as the Ghurkas. Left the Officer as is- just a repaint. Added some needed Ghurkas and gave me some nice sculpts.
Excellent stuff. Thank you again. Every child needs a powerful adversary to face off against their brave soldiers. Airfix accomplished this to grand effect. An obvious comparison would be; Every Luke Skywalker needed a Darth Vader. Han Solo had to confront powerful Stormtroopers. It makes sense to me that the "Baddies" should appear more intimidating and, therefore, more appealing. I fully understand why the Afrika Korps are among your favourites. (They are just as important to me too). Lovely stuff, Cheers.
The sculpt for those as you say are excellent. The copies i had in my younger days were ok but it was evident as i do remember there was some issues but as a kid you don't think of anything but the toy soldier and any other kind that appeared especially to me when i did see toy soldiers i had to have them back in the day. I was reminded by another commenter that it was also a time when family was all together those good days. That was a sense of security. Now I'm by myself no family. 1970s was the greatest for those of us growing up with such fun toys but mostly mother and father were there. Thanks to the commenter that added that in his comments.🙁☹️😣👍🇭🇲✌️
Hello from Sweden! Great memories... I was born and grew up in Spain, and for some reason I played mainly with 1/72, 1/76 and H0/00 figures, first from Matchbox and then mostly from Esci and Airfix. . Some of those figures have in fact ended up following me all the way to Sweden 🙂. I had both sets in that small scale, and liked them both, but I had a soft spot for british troops at that time. Anyway, congratulations on your channel, and keep 'em coming!
I just remembered the Officer i would glue down the left foot on the base. But it would unstic as glues don't adhere that kind of plastic. I tried modiations back then also.🙂👍🇭🇲✌️
My age is 52 years this figure is nostalgic when i was kid back then the german, the british, American n the Russia too n the western cowboys love it that day till now
BOTH SETS ARE GREAT AND EVEN THE CHEAP COPIES FROM OVERSEAS LOOK BETTER THEN OTHERS FIGURES.MOST OF THE FIGURES POSES ARE TAKEN FROM COMBAT PHOTOS FROM NORTH AFRICA CAMPAIGN.GOTTA LOVE AIRFIX FIGURES OF ALL ERAS OF COMBAT.I THINK AIRFIX FIGURES ARE THE MOST COPIED TOYS OUT THERE IN ALL SCALES. TAKE CARE
Elbow out is the correct way to shoot for the era. Elbow down is completely unrealistic. Soldiers now hold their elbow down, but only because protective vests prohibit the classic shooting pose.
Yeah your probably right. A protective vest doesn´t prohibit a chicken wing (unless extreme) but these days we know that it doesn´t do anything to help with a stable shooting platform and limbs sticking out behind cover is considered not so good :)
Great video, both sets are fantastic tho I think the Afrika Korps edge it,mind you to this day I'm more of a ho/oo fan and I think the detail in these sets at this scale is amazing, thanks for helping keep these great memories alive
Hello, i habe a question , can you Tell me, how to geht rid of the paint from my 8th Army soldiers. I painted them years ago with humbrol Gloss paint. Greetings Dieter
Great video as always, my 2nd favourite set and 2nd set bought as a child. Many happy hours spent battling the mighty Afrika Korps , the desert war was always my favourite battleground
That officer used to be my fave soldier when I was a kid in the 80s. I didn’t have many sets, mind you - one American infantry, one German infantry, one Japanese, and this.
Early years of the North African campaign so a SMLE and even early Thompson machine gun. Means could be British, Australian, New Zealand, or even South African, troops, especially due to the shorts.
Great that you found a use for thet figure. I used to set them up as reenforcements and as soon as a firing soldier got eliminated i removed one of the running or walking soldier and respawned the firing soldier.
I use to buy the target boxes around 1977 I have been trying to find some from that era but on e bay you need to re mortgage your house to buy stuff 😂 Thanks for sharing!
All these in combat poses with their helmets on (except for officer) is more realistic than the Afrika Korps all with caps on. They fixed that somewhat with the 1/72 Afrika Korps by adding some helmets.
I had the knock off versions growing up. My first version was in brown plastic, badly moulded but I loved them. In later years I had green versions which were much better moulded knock offs with all the usual accessories they included in Hong Kong KO sets, then darker green versions slightly badly moulded in a large bag of them, finally I had a tan set by the 1990s which was again better moulded with the usual accessories. I found out about KO versions as I grew older and the Airfix/Matchbox originals. I have a vintage 1970s or 80s Airfix set of 8th Army loose.
Back in the 70s I had the copies of the 8th British army made in Hong Kong. Weren't too bad. A cannon was included that fired little bright pellets all came in a clear plastic bag. I still was happy with those regardless not original Airfix. Back in the day just as good. I had plenty of German infantry also copies in dark green plastic. In the 70s you had options if you couldn't afford the more expensive Airfix I had lots of those as well you could go for the copies. When I was able to afford as a 9-10 year old.👍🇭🇲🦘🙂✌️
I agree the 8th Army sculpts and poses are much better than the Afrika Korps. Afrika needs more helmeted soldiers and more gear on them. However, Matchbox made the best sculpted and posed Afrika Korps ever with some wearing long pants and some with the high topped laced boots.
Had both the Afrika Korps and 8th Army back in the early 80s. Bootleg version of course made in H.K. I remember being kinda disappointed as a kid back then because no one in the Afrika Korps were wearing helmets as compared to the Brits who were all wearing helmets except for the officer.😀
Strictly speaking the Desert Rats was nickname for the British 7th Amoured Division not the 8th Army. The 7th Amoured Div were part of the 13th Corps then transfered to 30th Corps.
I remember these but looking back now the figure look a bit too buff, nice leg muscles tho. One thing is on the officer what is that around his neck, lanyard for the pistol, rosary beads or a zipper
7:36 How can you NOT know the differences between the classic SMLE and the Rifle No. 4? 😀 Okay okay, the two major differences: the SMLE has a rather square looking front with the front sight very close to the muzzle. The open notch back sight is in front of the magazine and the chamber. The Rifle No. 4 has a front that looks more like so many other rifles, with a barrel exposed for several inches. The back sight is at the back of the receiver, an aperture sight. There are more differences but at this scale they hardly matter I think. But as pointed out in at least one earlier comment: In this early period of the war, the No. 4 simply wasn't widely available yet. And I have to admit I never really spotted the discrepancies in this early model Thompson smg, although I'm well aware of most of the didifferences between the models. Thank you for pointing this out.
And Jerry there were a whole lot of Airfix 1/76 military figures, Red Indians, Roman Legionaries, Cowboys etc.... going way back to the beginnings of Airfix.
I had the Afrika Korps, my brother had the 8th Army ...in 1/72 scale. I think the AK were better. But my favourite was the German paratroopers. Would be good to review the napoleonic sets too.
I have two videos on two of the 1/32 scale Napoleonic sets but I´m gonna remake those and do one viseo on the French sets and one on the british sets in 1/32.
Do you like old games? Amongst my army men collection, I also collect retro games and consoles. I don't think I have a game younger than 15 years old at the very newest. I still have my early 90s plastic army men somewhere. I'm old school, I want a 1979 flight simulator floppy 💾. The 70s was sort of the very begginingbof the digital age. I grew up in the 90s and early 00s. I've owned some awesome things, but my dad tends to throw them away. I was talking to my work colleagues on Tuesday about their favourite toys growing up. My friend vicky hase some old golly wogs and dinky cars that are older than me by many years. The detail on these soldiers is top notch. Do you have a Boyes store in your town?
I loved the bren gunner. Believe it or not British people's general standards of health were raised as an issue prior to the Boer, first and second world war. As in why are our new recruits so puny So they might have generally been smaller and less healthy than German soldiers in the conscripted units. But I don't think that's what Airfix were going for 😅
A good set ... not better than DAK🌴😁🐪 Pros: the soldiers wear helmets ... cons: all soldiers wear shorts, although famous pictures depicture desert rats wearing them (nice socks though) ... I didnt have them, except lost and founds in the yard or sandbox, as with the 1:72 Two officers, how is that?? Leading from the front ... yes They represent a lot of nationalities. Even those that were released seperately for jungle war ... Any good movies or books to support this set and theater back than??
I wish gents such as Sir would take their hobby seriously. There's a gap between the piles of boxes and the ceiling! You know you're on the right track if you can only see the speaker's eyes.
Hi from Italy. Airfix & Matchbox soldier toy sets until 1980-5 were the best sets in the stores. I love them until today that I'm 57 y.o..❤❤❤
Talking about the boxes isn't boring, the boxes, graphics and how the illustrations developed and change is fascinating. Great stuff. Thank you.
Thanks. Great to know is appriciated.
For me the greatest thing is they evoke strong childhood memories, particularly of parents and grandparents long departed but never forgotten.
Same here. They are like a time machine that enables me to feel more connected to people and times long gone.
Same here, they take me back to a time before today`s technology and more simplistic & imaginative fun, while invoking past memories.
I lost my Mum a few weeks ago and had her funeral last Thursday. Both parents gone now. This post just brought the memories coming back and a few tears. Obviously my parents bought me these boxes of soldiers. Much of these early years were spent reading Commando books and playing with my toy soldiers.
💐
@@redrev674 I was maybe in a similar position a few years ago and would like to extend my condolences and share your sentiments very much. Treasured memories live forever in the soul.
@@stevenpeiper5538Thank you.
Sorry for your loss and I hope a few of those tears were happy ones thinking back on good old days.
@@toysoldiernostalgiaI had I recall nearly all the Airfix sets collecting from the age of 5 in 1972 up to about 12 or 13. I tried looking for Airfix boxes of soldiers for my son but dont think they are around any more.
The SMLE Mk III* (renamed Rifle No.1 Mk III* in 1926) saw extensive service throughout the Second World War, especially in the North African, Italian, Pacific and Burmese theatres in the hands of British and Commonwealth forces. The No 4 rifle did not begin to see front line service in large numbers until 1943.
Seeing this set of 8th Army figures takes me back to my early modelling days. I used this set in a diorama I made with a British Grant tank and a Panzer IV. Ah the memories!! Thanks for sharing 👍🙂
The officer looks like the late Prince Philip! Keep up the good work, Mr G.
I have a renewed appreciation of my boyhood Airfix Australian infantry. Thank you Jerry.
You`re very welcome.
For my eighth birthday, one friend bought me a box of Eighth Army and another friend bought me a box of Africa Korps. That's all I needed in 1979. Both boxes are fantastic but the Germans are better. The officer, grenade thrower, prone machine gunner and sub-machine gunner are all fantastic. Even the riflemen are slightly better than their Eighth Army counterparts. The Eighth Army troops are great but the Africa Korps troops are wonderful.
That´s some great friends :)
It was your friend's mums - when you have kids you know how the system works 😊 Still cool though!
Not sure if the DAK set is "better" than the 8th Army set, but the soldiers look a bit better nicer uniforms etc. The only thing I have against the set is the weird machinegun that is supposed to be a MG34 but looks more like a US Browning mg; and the smg that seems to be a mixture of the Beretta 38/42 and the German MP41. Oh well. It's still a great set. 😊
Some of the other manufacturers like Matchbox made some amazing Afrika koros and Eight army figures. A set made from all the varieties available would be great. 😊
Excellent video as always, the ending is always my favorite. very classy.
I like the endings to :)
These videos are really helping me understand the army men I had as kid. I never had Airfix or Matchbox, but these molds were definitely reused in some of the buckets of army men my parents got me as kid from Kay Bee Toy, and K-Mart. Thank you!
As a child in the 70's I remember my local corner shop selling individual direct ripoff copies of the 8th army figures packed with a piece of Gum. The only difference being, they were moulded in green plastic . Great review btw 👍
I bet the figure tasted better than the gum!
Great youtube vids good sir, it`s nice to know I`m not the only obsessive collector of Airfix toy soldiers and I have a similar admiration for the designs
I had both 8th and DAK and I prefer latter but both kits are very good.
I had both when I was young. Of all my sets, 8 army was always my favourite. In general, all sets of British soldiers were among my favorites and that was because of the helmets that the British used. always digged the Tommy helmet.
I love that so many of us connect just one tiny thing with what makes a set better and why we prefer it :)
I 'm a new subber...I love the boxes!
Thanks! Boxes are awesome.
Firstly i always look forward to your posts, a few minutes to visit my younger self....so thankyou for that. To business: such a controversial question.....sheesh. I loved the desert aspects of warfare, so much so that this became my specialisation in the armed forces and I tie this choice to my childhood play. But i loved both sets, but always favoured the overall look of the AK, but the 8th always won any play-conflict (haha - in keeping with history of course)...I loved the walking solder and for some reason, painted all their helmets red to make them MP's amongst the entire army I had (not a clue why). My fave AK was the grenade thrower, it just looked realistic. Again great post....have a great day. CC
p.s. Gymnopedies is my favourite peice of music of all time....Im always touched by a tinge of sadness by it and it makes the end of your post quite meanignful and me, slightly melancholy for a moment.
I couldn´t agree more.
Have a good one.
Cheers.
That´s why it´s in there. Swedes are a very melancholy people and it realy resonates with me.
I'll always have a soft spot for the 8th. These were both my first figures, and first model kit.
I've come a long way since then.
One of the fascinating aspects of the 8th Army was that it was so absurdly multinational - and still so effective. Even as a not too bright kid I did wonder - where are the australians, new zeaanders, south africans, east africans, indians, the free french? I blieve not the entire 8th Army got the nickname Desert Rats but only the 7th armoured division and I suppose this set represents infantry elements of that division then.
One of my fondest memories of growing up was listening to my grandad's stories. He was in the Queen's Regiment, 7th Armoured and was in North Africa (with two months attached to the LRDG) and then Sicily, Salerno and then Normandy. He always felt fortunate to have got through three invasions and was proud to have been a 'Desert Rat'. He got the Military Medal and was mentioned in dispatches twice. Needless to say, as a kid, I became obsessed with the 8th Army and the Afrika Korps as a result.
What happened to the mine sweepers?
I am sure I can remember mine sweeper figures!
I think they might have been Matchbox soldiers as opposed to Airfix.
The HO scale set had a mine sweeper.
@@toysoldiernostalgia - Thank you. Did you cover these in another vid?
@@christopherd.winnan8701 I haven´t done any HO scale sets yet. I will but don´t know when.
I used some spare 1/32 8th Army, head swapped them with Airfix Ghurka heads (w/bush hats), added khurki knives and painted them the same od green as the Ghurkas. Left the Officer as is- just a repaint. Added some needed Ghurkas and gave me some nice sculpts.
Excellent stuff. Thank you again. Every child needs a powerful adversary to face off against their brave soldiers. Airfix accomplished this to grand effect. An obvious comparison would be; Every Luke Skywalker needed a Darth Vader. Han Solo had to confront powerful Stormtroopers.
It makes sense to me that the "Baddies" should appear more intimidating and, therefore, more appealing.
I fully understand why the Afrika Korps are among your favourites. (They are just as important to me too). Lovely stuff, Cheers.
Great video 👍🏻
I wonder why the Rommel figure disappeared in the 2nd edition of the German Afrika Korps set (small scale). It was so characteristic.
The new DAK set was sculpted by Ron Cameron ans it`s seem he never did any figures like that in his sets.
The sculpt for those as you say are excellent. The copies i had in my younger days were ok but it was evident as i do remember there was some issues but as a kid you don't think of anything but the toy soldier and any other kind that appeared especially to me when i did see toy soldiers i had to have them back in the day. I was reminded by another commenter that it was also a time when family was all together those good days. That was a sense of security. Now I'm by myself no family. 1970s was the greatest for those of us growing up with such fun toys but mostly mother and father were there. Thanks to the commenter that added that in his comments.🙁☹️😣👍🇭🇲✌️
This was my first ever set of miniatures.
Great figures from Airfix and a very enjoyable video, keep them coming Jerry 🥇
Thanks Neil.
Hello from Sweden! Great memories... I was born and grew up in Spain, and for some reason I played mainly with 1/72, 1/76 and H0/00 figures, first from Matchbox and then mostly from Esci and Airfix. . Some of those figures have in fact ended up following me all the way to Sweden 🙂. I had both sets in that small scale, and liked them both, but I had a soft spot for british troops at that time. Anyway, congratulations on your channel, and keep 'em coming!
Hej hej!
Oh yes there will be lots more videos.
I just remembered the Officer i would glue down the left foot on the base. But it would unstic as glues don't adhere that kind of plastic. I tried modiations back then also.🙂👍🇭🇲✌️
8th army you could use them to fight in Africa or the jungles of Asia. One of my first purchases way back in golden era
My age is 52 years this figure is nostalgic when i was kid back then the german, the british, American n the Russia too n the western cowboys love it that day till now
This was my first set of soldiers I got in 1975. My late Grandfather served in the desert in 1941
BOTH SETS ARE GREAT AND EVEN THE CHEAP COPIES FROM OVERSEAS LOOK BETTER THEN OTHERS FIGURES.MOST OF THE FIGURES POSES ARE TAKEN FROM COMBAT PHOTOS FROM NORTH AFRICA CAMPAIGN.GOTTA LOVE AIRFIX FIGURES OF ALL ERAS OF COMBAT.I THINK AIRFIX FIGURES ARE THE MOST COPIED TOYS OUT THERE IN ALL SCALES. TAKE CARE
Elbow out is the correct way to shoot for the era.
Elbow down is completely unrealistic.
Soldiers now hold their elbow down, but only because protective vests prohibit the classic shooting pose.
Yeah your probably right. A protective vest doesn´t prohibit a chicken wing (unless extreme) but these days we know that it doesn´t do anything to help with a stable shooting platform and limbs sticking out behind cover is considered not so good :)
Great video, both sets are fantastic tho I think the Afrika Korps edge it,mind you to this day I'm more of a ho/oo fan and I think the detail in these sets at this scale is amazing, thanks for helping keep these great memories alive
Hello, i habe a question , can you Tell me, how to geht rid of the paint from my 8th Army soldiers. I painted them years ago with humbrol Gloss paint. Greetings Dieter
I use an ultraconic cleaner. Then I only have to use the cleaning agent that comes with it and is easier to dispose of.
Great video as always, my 2nd favourite set and 2nd set bought as a child. Many happy hours spent battling the mighty Afrika Korps , the desert war was always my favourite battleground
I like more Afrika korps box🤩 Very good video bro👌
That officer used to be my fave soldier when I was a kid in the 80s. I didn’t have many sets, mind you - one American infantry, one German infantry, one Japanese, and this.
Early years of the North African campaign so a SMLE and even early Thompson machine gun. Means could be British, Australian, New Zealand, or even South African, troops, especially due to the shorts.
why the hack most of em got a number on their shorts? like at 12:24 the 25 below and left of the canteen
Thanks! I have no memories about it? I still have the target box. Should be easy to find out myself.
All Airfix figures have a number on them. It´s the number of the mold as they were all numbered.
Jerry...fabulous! I did like the walking soldier...my favourite actually....he could walk behind my "make-believe" tanks lol
Great that you found a use for thet figure. I used to set them up as reenforcements and as soon as a firing soldier got eliminated i removed one of the running or walking soldier and respawned the firing soldier.
Nice set, but I prefer The DAK set. ❤
I use to buy the target boxes around 1977 I have been trying to find some from that era but on e bay you need to re mortgage your house to buy stuff 😂 Thanks for sharing!
All these in combat poses with their helmets on (except for officer) is more realistic than the Afrika Korps all with caps on. They fixed that somewhat with the 1/72 Afrika Korps by adding some helmets.
I had the knock off versions growing up. My first version was in brown plastic, badly moulded but I loved them. In later years I had green versions which were much better moulded knock offs with all the usual accessories they included in Hong Kong KO sets, then darker green versions slightly badly moulded in a large bag of them, finally I had a tan set by the 1990s which was again better moulded with the usual accessories. I found out about KO versions as I grew older and the Airfix/Matchbox originals. I have a vintage 1970s or 80s Airfix set of 8th Army loose.
The prone Bren gunner looks like it was inspired by a photo taken at Monte Cassino of a similar pose.
Classic... Airfix was a big part of my childhod and the start for a lifelong interest of ww2. 😎🤘
My first box and I never looked back
Back in the 70s I had the copies of the 8th British army made in Hong Kong. Weren't too bad. A cannon was included that fired little bright pellets all came in a clear plastic bag. I still was happy with those regardless not original Airfix. Back in the day just as good. I had plenty of German infantry also copies in dark green plastic. In the 70s you had options if you couldn't afford the more expensive Airfix I had lots of those as well you could go for the copies. When I was able to afford as a 9-10 year old.👍🇭🇲🦘🙂✌️
@@George-pp2hrI've seen some copies they look really good
@@manweller1 Yes I agree. I used to have lots of copies in my Young days. I still enjoyed.🙂🇭🇲✌️
I agree the 8th Army sculpts and poses are much better than the Afrika Korps. Afrika needs more helmeted soldiers and more gear on them. However, Matchbox made the best sculpted and posed Afrika Korps ever with some wearing long pants and some with the high topped laced boots.
Great video Jerry, did you ever get my email about those Plastic Warrior issue's?
Not sure if I got that email.
@@toysoldiernostalgiaI'll re send
I wish I had a sandbox to set these up! I use to always prefer the Germans as a kid too.
Oh you wait and see what I have planned talking about sandbox. Winter is coming in Sweden so it will have to wait until the spring though.
@toysoldiernostalgia I hope to be there to see it. You have so much cool stuff, I can't wajt!
When i was a kid i was disappointed that the Bren gunners where not in firing positions.
Had both the Afrika Korps and 8th Army back in the early 80s. Bootleg version of course made in H.K.
I remember being kinda disappointed as a kid back then because no one in the Afrika Korps were wearing helmets as compared to the Brits who were all wearing helmets except for the officer.😀
Me too
I had an airfix kit which had a bailey bridge and emplacements. Cannot remember the name
Not sure what set that would be.
Strictly speaking the Desert Rats was nickname for the British 7th Amoured Division not the 8th Army. The 7th Amoured Div were part of the 13th Corps then transfered to 30th Corps.
Ooops!
@@toysoldiernostalgia It's a common mistake 🙂. Keep up the great videos 👍
I remember these but looking back now the figure look a bit too buff, nice leg muscles tho. One thing is on the officer what is that around his neck, lanyard for the pistol, rosary beads or a zipper
7:36 How can you NOT know the differences between the classic SMLE and the Rifle No. 4? 😀 Okay okay, the two major differences: the SMLE has a rather square looking front with the front sight very close to the muzzle. The open notch back sight is in front of the magazine and the chamber. The Rifle No. 4 has a front that looks more like so many other rifles, with a barrel exposed for several inches. The back sight is at the back of the receiver, an aperture sight. There are more differences but at this scale they hardly matter I think.
But as pointed out in at least one earlier comment: In this early period of the war, the No. 4 simply wasn't widely available yet.
And I have to admit I never really spotted the discrepancies in this early model Thompson smg, although I'm well aware of most of the didifferences between the models. Thank you for pointing this out.
I will try to remember the differences but don´t hold your hopes up :)
It's close, but I just prefer the Afrika Korps set.
And Jerry there were a whole lot of Airfix 1/76 military figures, Red Indians, Roman Legionaries, Cowboys etc.... going way back to the beginnings of Airfix.
Oh I know. I have a video on my collection of early 60s HO-OO scale figures.
ruclips.net/video/RKLPWxmQI2g/видео.html
I had the Afrika Korps, my brother had the 8th Army ...in 1/72 scale.
I think the AK were better.
But my favourite was the German paratroopers.
Would be good to review the napoleonic sets too.
I have two videos on two of the 1/32 scale Napoleonic sets but I´m gonna remake those and do one viseo on the French sets and one on the british sets in 1/32.
Do you like old games? Amongst my army men collection, I also collect retro games and consoles. I don't think I have a game younger than 15 years old at the very newest. I still have my early 90s plastic army men somewhere. I'm old school, I want a 1979 flight simulator floppy 💾. The 70s was sort of the very begginingbof the digital age. I grew up in the 90s and early 00s. I've owned some awesome things, but my dad tends to throw them away. I was talking to my work colleagues on Tuesday about their favourite toys growing up. My friend vicky hase some old golly wogs and dinky cars that are older than me by many years. The detail on these soldiers is top notch. Do you have a Boyes store in your town?
I thought you were British, I didn't know you were Swedish! I want yo go there.
I loved the bren gunner. Believe it or not British people's general standards of health were raised as an issue prior to the Boer, first and second world war. As in why are our new recruits so puny So they might have generally been smaller and less healthy than German soldiers in the conscripted units. But I don't think that's what Airfix were going for 😅
A good set ... not better than DAK🌴😁🐪
Pros: the soldiers wear helmets ...
cons: all soldiers wear shorts, although famous pictures depicture desert rats wearing them (nice socks though) ...
I didnt have them, except lost and founds in the yard or sandbox, as with the 1:72
Two officers, how is that??
Leading from the front ... yes
They represent a lot of nationalities. Even those that were released seperately for jungle war ...
Any good movies or books to support this set and theater back than??
The 7th British Armoured Division , was named the Desert Rats not the British 8th Army . Just saying . Love your video for sure . Thank you .
I realized I screwed up :)
I played with zem.
I wish gents such as Sir would take their hobby seriously. There's a gap between the piles of boxes and the ceiling! You know you're on the right track if you can only see the speaker's eyes.
I will try to do better. Check back in 6 months 😀
I would call it a draw...
Nice but not flawless set..I did like the germans better..
Airfix and esci were the only one making an italian ww2 set right? Great video
Did Esci make one as well? I have limited knowledge of Esci :)
@toysoldiernostalgia i had 90% off the esci sets ..lol.
Yup alpini mountaintroops a decent one
SMLE No.3!
Schweinhund !
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SMLE |||