Yes I had a set in the mid '70's along with the infantry combat group and the 8th Army. One of the few sets of British Infantry you could buy at the time.
This was the second Airfix set I had bought back in the day. I love this set. I don't care what anyone says, I hadn't found a British infantry set I like as much as this one in this scale.
A interesting lineup of Airfix/Hornby 1/72 British Infantry at the start of this video! My set is from the early 1970s, with the boxart depicted at 0:15 . Overall quality was good although many gun barrels have broken off. Weird that one type of Sten gunner is prone, while none of the two types of Bren gunners is prone - as you would expect. By the time I realized at the end of the 1970s Airfix might NEVER release a 1/32 British Infantry set (so that the infamous 1/32 British Infantry Support Group would actually HAVE something to support) I already had bought some 1/72 WW2 figures sets. Until then, my main focus was with 1/32 figures but with 1/72 figures you could combine them in a large diorama with tanks, cannon, houses and ruins etc. that fit on less than one half of a table. I was a bit disappointed when I got this 1/72 British Infantry set - the uniforms made the figures look very skinny. Yet I had lots of fun with them. I still have ALL the 1/32 and 1/72 sets I ever bought or that were given to me. I missed the release in the 1980s of several 1/32 sets. In 2022 I finally decided to acquire the Hornby 1/32 Britsh Infantry set. It was this brown and hard plastic, totally different from the old 1970s/1980s sets. A couple of gun barrels have already broken off.
I know with 1/72 sets being as small as they are its kinda hard sometimes to get good molding detail on the weapons.The rifles in this set don't look like a Lee Enfield at all but rather just like a stick with a butt on the end.The 1/32 sets clearly get the classic Lee Enfield look a lot better.One exception is the British 8th Army set which i think is the best 1/72 set Airfix ever made.
Yes agree that. The second issue 8th Army set were great figures along with their sword bayonets and vickers machine guns etc. I am biased though as my great uncle was actually in the 8th Army.
An excellent review, but I much prefer to hear your dulcet tones sans background music. I had to turn the sound down when watching it as my partner said it sounded like tinitus! There are a good range of poses and I especially like the "bren" poses; Airfix have always done brens well I think. I think that this set is more for 1940 rather than later in the war.
Its a very weird thing but I do not remember British army figures as a kid in the 70s. Normally, watching your videos bring back a flood of memories of having that at the time, but not these. I don't even recognise the poses though strangely, I do the box art. I swear at one time I had every Airfix figure set at this size - Robin Hood, Indians, Romans, foreign legion, first and Second World War but where ware these? How did I miss them?
Frank, I rarely saw these in the shops and I actually obtained them second hand in the 80s obviously this set I bought on ebay recently and I would not say they are 'rare'. So I was aware of there existence when I was a kid but like you they did not seem to be 'known' on a level compared to other kits
I would spend hours gazing at all the various Airfix kits in my local model shop wishing I had more pocket money in the '70's. Also had the Roman's, Pontoon bridge, Gun emplacement and Sherwood castle etc. Relatives would buy the more expensive items as Birthday or Christmas presents.If I bought the catalogues I would struggle to get my homework done! Sadly all of those model shops have now gone. There are now two books about the old Airfix box artwork if you are interested. Managed to get a sealed box of these Brits off ebay from the US ( a young lady in Mobile, Alabama of all places).
It's 40 or 45 years ago, but as I remember it, where I live almost every local regular toy store had plastic model kits and (Airfix) toy soldier sets in 1/32 and 1/72 scale. I have only two Matchbox 1/72 figure sets. I can't remember the prices but they were cheap. This all changed in the early 1980s when computer games became widely available, at the expense of model kits and figure sets. Slowly but surely they disappeared out of the toy shops and were only available in specialized stores - at higher prices even corrected for price inflation.
I have the EIGHTH ARMY SET. I think the detail is great. A little flash. But not to bad. Wash them good. And use a good primer. Put on a flat clear coat after painting
You're welcome I have been watching your channel for a very long time and I enjoy what you have on your Channel especially because I am a very big collector of all kinda airfix models and Men
I have tried to buy a Revell box of Anzacs but they are virtually impossible to get hold of, without paying a fortune anyway.The Airfix Aussies are a great set though.
I was disappointed with this set as a kid. Look more like hairdressers in fancy dress uniform than soldiers. And those _imaginative_ ways to use the sten: just hold the darn magazine firmly, point and brace why don't cha. Best figures are the squating bren and strolling bren and, as you say, stretcher team is good and of use to modellers. Yes, a disappointing set particularly as a replacemet for _Infantry Combat Group_ had long been required. Great vid yet again, thanks.
I never had any firearm but it seems the way you are supposed to handle a sten gun is by holding your left hand around the barrel sleeve in front of the magazine, the magazine design wasn't the best and the sten was prone to jamming.
TOY SOLDIER REVIEW hey mate I really do believe your narration is the icing on the cake for two reasons: 1- your narration is well exercised and has some great information or at times even real eye opener like the ESCI catalogue. 2- always when I watch your videos its like time travel - my inner eye sees all these columns etc - I’d much rather sit and listen in these moments than read. The famous British set - paired with the German Infantry the mother of wargaming. I always liked it, there were a few special characters in there and I also liked the officer who by the way worked ok in WW1 scenarios as well.
I love these minis brings back so much nostalgia!
Same here!!
Yes I had a set in the mid '70's along with the infantry combat group and the 8th Army. One of the few sets of British Infantry you could buy at the time.
This was the second Airfix set I had bought back in the day. I love this set. I don't care what anyone says, I hadn't found a British infantry set I like as much as this one in this scale.
Some great poses in this set!
Also my favourite set of British Infantry from back in the '70's. The bren gunner kneeling is the best pose I think.
the toy soilder you unbox make my army men proud again
Fantastic!
Always liked this set, has some good poses.
Yes Martin, I had been looking forward to this review for years!
Yes I think the kneeling bren gunner is my favourite figure.
This is a very informative video! Thank you friend!
A interesting lineup of Airfix/Hornby 1/72 British Infantry at the start of this video! My set is from the early 1970s, with the boxart depicted at 0:15 . Overall quality was good although many gun barrels have broken off. Weird that one type of Sten gunner is prone, while none of the two types of Bren gunners is prone - as you would expect.
By the time I realized at the end of the 1970s Airfix might NEVER release a 1/32 British Infantry set (so that the infamous 1/32 British Infantry Support Group would actually HAVE something to support) I already had bought some 1/72 WW2 figures sets. Until then, my main focus was with 1/32 figures but with 1/72 figures you could combine them in a large diorama with tanks, cannon, houses and ruins etc. that fit on less than one half of a table. I was a bit disappointed when I got this 1/72 British Infantry set - the uniforms made the figures look very skinny. Yet I had lots of fun with them. I still have ALL the 1/32 and 1/72 sets I ever bought or that were given to me.
I missed the release in the 1980s of several 1/32 sets. In 2022 I finally decided to acquire the Hornby 1/32 Britsh Infantry set. It was this brown and hard plastic, totally different from the old 1970s/1980s sets. A couple of gun barrels have already broken off.
I know with 1/72 sets being as small as they are its kinda hard sometimes to get good molding detail on the weapons.The rifles in this set don't look like a Lee Enfield at all but rather just like a stick with a butt on the end.The 1/32 sets clearly get the classic Lee Enfield look a lot better.One exception is the British 8th Army set which i think is the best 1/72 set Airfix ever made.
yes Mark, this set was a guinea pig i think!
Yes agree that. The second issue 8th Army set were great figures along with their sword bayonets and vickers machine guns etc. I am biased though as my great uncle was actually in the 8th Army.
An excellent review, but I much prefer to hear your dulcet tones sans background music. I had to turn the sound down when watching it as my partner said it sounded like tinitus! There are a good range of poses and I especially like the "bren" poses; Airfix have always done brens well I think. I think that this set is more for 1940 rather than later in the war.
i thought early war too but the issue was the Sten gun Stephen! Hmmm i'll have to figure out squeezing my dulcet tones in somehow!
Wonderful review
Thanks my man!!!
Its a very weird thing but I do not remember British army figures as a kid in the 70s. Normally, watching your videos bring back a flood of memories of having that at the time, but not these. I don't even recognise the poses though strangely, I do the box art.
I swear at one time I had every Airfix figure set at this size - Robin Hood, Indians, Romans, foreign legion, first and Second World War but where ware these? How did I miss them?
Frank, I rarely saw these in the shops and I actually obtained them second hand in the 80s obviously this set I bought on ebay recently and I would not say they are 'rare'. So I was aware of there existence when I was a kid but like you they did not seem to be 'known' on a level compared to other kits
I would spend hours gazing at all the various Airfix kits in my local model shop wishing I had more pocket money in the '70's. Also had the Roman's, Pontoon bridge, Gun emplacement and Sherwood castle etc. Relatives would buy the more expensive items as Birthday or Christmas presents.If I bought the catalogues I would struggle to get my homework done! Sadly all of those model shops have now gone. There are now two books about the old Airfix box artwork if you are interested. Managed to get a sealed box of these Brits off ebay from the US ( a young lady in Mobile, Alabama of all places).
It's 40 or 45 years ago, but as I remember it, where I live almost every local regular toy store had plastic model kits and (Airfix) toy soldier sets in 1/32 and 1/72 scale. I have only two Matchbox 1/72 figure sets. I can't remember the prices but they were cheap. This all changed in the early 1980s when computer games became widely available, at the expense of model kits and figure sets. Slowly but surely they disappeared out of the toy shops and were only available in specialized stores - at higher prices even corrected for price inflation.
I wish they Still made thesse types they look good
Wanted this set for a long time!
I have the EIGHTH ARMY SET. I think the detail is great. A little flash. But not to bad. Wash them good. And use a good primer. Put on a flat clear coat after painting
It's better than I remembered that set!
Amazing
Thanks Dan
You're welcome I have been watching your channel for a very long time and I enjoy what you have on your Channel especially because I am a very big collector of all kinda airfix models and Men
@@dannyfundora7053 Great Dan, hoping to get more uploading done soon!
Ok
Do you know if Airfix made WW2 era New Zealand Army/ infantry soldiers?
They made an Australian set which you could use, Matchbox/Revell do have a ww2 anzac set
I have tried to buy a Revell box of Anzacs but they are virtually impossible to get hold of, without paying a fortune anyway.The Airfix Aussies are a great set though.
I hope someone finds this mould someday. I can’t believe it’s lost forever!
I know
Awesome videos. Thanks. Wouldn't it be great to have your own Injection moulding machine? All you would need is the plastic and dies.
Yes, never thought of that David!
Have you gotten Any 1/32 Mars figures yet?
No I have a airfix 1/72 I'm trying to upload and then an airfix 1/32
I was disappointed with this set as a kid. Look more like hairdressers in fancy dress uniform than soldiers. And those _imaginative_ ways to use the sten: just hold the darn magazine firmly, point and brace why don't cha. Best figures are the squating bren and strolling bren and, as you say, stretcher team is good and of use to modellers. Yes, a disappointing set particularly as a replacemet for _Infantry Combat Group_ had long been required. Great vid yet again, thanks.
Thanks Twirly!
I never had any firearm but it seems the way you are supposed to handle a sten gun is by holding your left hand around the barrel sleeve in front of the magazine, the magazine design wasn't the best and the sten was prone to jamming.
See how this goes, videos might be better without narration and it cuts the length of the video down and quicker to upload in 4k
TOY SOLDIER REVIEW hey mate I really do believe your narration is the icing on the cake for two reasons:
1- your narration is well exercised and has some great information or at times even real eye opener like the ESCI catalogue.
2- always when I watch your videos its like time travel - my inner eye sees all these columns etc - I’d much rather sit and listen in these moments than read.
The famous British set - paired with the German Infantry the mother of wargaming. I always liked it, there were a few special characters in there and I also liked the officer who by the way worked ok in WW1 scenarios as well.
@@mecongberlin Thats food for thought! Thankyou very much for the nice comment!
Been looking at the WW1 Royal Horse
TOY SOLDIER REVIEW Royal Horse nice👍
Shame the origin mould disappeared and we have new mould.
Balance was an issue with some of the figures in this set.