I had two of these 72nd scale gun emplacements, a Foreign Legion Fort, a Roman Fort and the La Haye Saint farmhouse from the Battle of Waterloo. In 32md scale I had the jungle bamboo hut on stilts which was always in the back garden with Japanese and Australian infantry fighting over it. I also had the pontoon bridge but had totally forgotten that until I just saw it here. I miss those wonderful days in the 60s and 70s when all my pocket money went on plastic and metal figures, Airfix, Timpo, Esci, Britains, Matchbox, Revell and so on. Also the glorious War Picture Library, Battle and Commando comics. What wonderful nostalgia your film brings back to this 62 year old who has never grown up!! Thank You.
We had very similar lives! I have covered the forts and buildings you mentioned in other videos. Apart from the Foreign legion fort which is built but awaiting painting figures. I have also filmed the 1/32 Airfix buildings and Britains Deetail figures. All the brands you mention and the comics are a big part of my life (60 this year) I am enjoying filming these nostalgic collections. Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a nice comment for me to read. It encourages me to make more!
omg, I had the pontoon bridge too, ha ha , the second I read your comment could picture the green plastic pontoons which were also used as boats in my childhood games, lovely video.
Hours & hours of fun in my childhood playing with airfix soldiers , kits & dioramas - i didnt want anything else for Christmas, shame my kids dont really show interest, its so good for boosting imagination.
Using our imagination was a big part of our childhood. I guess if you play video games it might spark an interest in making something you become interested in. An aircraft or vehicle. I hope so! It’s still good for us more “experienced “ folk
I was just gonna write the same thing, but your post was at the top, and it expressed my sentiments exactly. Some of my fondest memories include a living room floor covered with Marx 54mm soldiers on Christmas Day. My brother and I would play for hours on end. The HO-Airfix stuff came later. I had the set pictured in the video. These big kits weren't cheap. I cut grass, raked leaves, shoveled snow, carried a weekly paper and picked up pop bottles. It almost all went intp "little soldiers". If I remember right, a box of about 40 odd figures cost $2 with tax. A vehicle was about the same or maybe a little more. I'm talking 1973-76 or so. A pop bottle brought two cents. LOL The good old days!!
@calliecooke1817 wow you worked hard for you hobby! Glad you enjoyed the video, yes I’m still playing soldiers! Thanks for your comment, I am enjoying all the shared nostalgia
That's brilliant thankyou still have the pontoon bridge sometimes have it on display with armour crossing, Always found the vintage 1.76 infantry better.
@@tonyrobinson362Always my favorite toys. I have kept all my 1:76 stuff. At 62 years old, I still pull them out a couple times a year, just to relive the great memories
I love stuff like this ...I could look at, even play with this stuff for hours. I'm 57, and collect all the toys from my childhood. I got a model railway in my loft, a Scalextric, a collection of Action Men, a stash of model kits, and I sit for hours with them....Harmless fun.
I really enjoyed setting up this video. It was great to build a new coastal defence set and refurbish the older sets. I would treat yourself to a nostalgic build I’m sure you would enjoy it. Thanks for watching and commenting
I am pleased you still have your collection. It was good to get my collection out on display. It’s great to know so many people are enjoying seeing the models. Thanks for your comment
My mom bought me these when i was a young kid many moons ago. I loved them so much . Seeing them in this video brings back many great memories. They still look really great !
I’ve been lucky a lot of these models are from when I was young, I’m still enjoying making them. It’s great to hear they bring back some good memories. Thanks for your comment
Takes me back many years. I had all of these and forgot about the airfield tower till now. Many hours of fun, thankyou for bringing those memories back again.
I’m glad you enjoyed the nostalgia. Some of these models have survived from childhood. I still keep adding to the collection as I’m still enjoying building them. Thank you for watching and for your comment
@@grahamhurst4613 Thats what happened to mine but I sold the family home in covid and could not get back to the UK. I had everything, every box of soldiers both scales, half tracks, jeeps etc.
Nice to see the "La Haye Saint" renovated and brought into the twentieth century and about to be liberated, and the Matadors, if I have a favourite truck it's this one.
It’s funny how building a kit like the Matador can make you really appreciate the real thing. La haye sainte makes a few appearances on my videos. On the railway layout, ww2 of course and a complete one on my Waterloo video. Thanks for your comment and subscription
Great to see others with the kind of interest I have , even today . I now wargame with 15mm figures and like to play platoon sized skirmish games with a set called Chain of Command . Many use the same rule set with their Airfix figures based just as these depicted ... And you don't have to repaint your models after they're hit with the projectile from your Britain's metal 18pdr ! 🎉
That’s it exactly, it is nice to know that there are lots of people like us who share the same interests. I’m still enjoying models and figures. Thank you for your comment. Matchsticks and rubber bands can be deadly for models, dice are far more civilised
Yep, i had the gun emplacement as well. Think i played with it with ww1 germans and desert British infantry but didn't care. I had the pontoon bridge as well 😊
Wow. Well done, excellently painted. Takes me flying back to the late 1960s, early 1970s. I even bought some of these for my kids, honest, in the 1990s.
Hello. Thank you for bringing back found memories of my youth. I had the twin canon fort and plenty of the airfix commandos,Germans , paratroopers, rangers and British infantry. Also had a lot of scale vehicles too. Sadly nothing remains
I am glad to know you enjoyed seeing them again. I am lucky a lot of my collection survived and I am still enjoying adding to it. A lot of the kits and figures are still available. Thank you for watching
Absolutely 💯 great work here 👏 it's some job to paint tiny figures and model kits I appreciate the hard work to all model builders for these layouts 👏. Their interesting and amazing to see . Good job 👏
It’s been my hobby from childhood right up to today. Some of these kits date from the 1970’s. I am still enjoying building and painting them. I do like to show them with the scenery. Thank you for your great comment. There is more to come
Hey I appreciate seeing them I am very interested tbh I wish I was good at this stuff I use to do the odd few planes and tanks but I love your layout I like the American vehicles coz I like the korean war stuff to tbh .
Really nice models, and I love the diorama set-up; this is what we dreamed of making back then. I still have my tackle box filled with 1/72 vehicles and soldiers: great fun. Seeing your set-up makes me want to build some more. I think the battle here will come to a screeching halt though, and both sides will be too terrified to fight each other, when the giant cat-creature at 9:43 jumps up on the board and runs amok!
That was well spotted! He has been known to do that. Glad you enjoyed the layout. It’s taken from a map of Villiers Bocage. It is something I always wanted to make. I’m still enjoying building kits. I’m sure you will enjoy revisiting the hobby. It’s what I wanted to do on this channel, encourage people to build a kit
Takes me back to halcyon days of youth, oh and then I became a professional Architectural model maker in London !.Never again was model making a joyful hobby
I can understand that, I worked at Space models and Mastermodels. I have rediscovered the hobby and I’m enjoying it. There are so many good kits out there. I hope you can recreate that joy. Thank you for your interesting comment
You are re-living my youth, Graham. This was like a time machine for me to watch... in a good way. We (my brother and I) also used the Waterloo house for our WWII skirmishes. Thanks Graham,.
It’s nice to know you are enjoying the memories. The Waterloo farmhouse has featured a few times in my videos. Also on the railway layout and a complete one with the Airfix napoleonic figures. Thank you so much for watching, commenting and subscribing I really appreciate your support
Lol you could get these separately or in packs with vehicles back in the 70s... unlike the 'strong point' that was available in 2 scales these were only in 1 72... which was a pity... I used the single gun from this to mount on a scratch built armed merchantman for commando mission support...
@grahamhurst4613 Yup.. its just that the picture on the box has a red Cross flag and the kit is titled strong point.. but whilst you could have it as an aid station it certainly could not be a strong point at the same time.. which would be illegal... just one of these weird quirks
I had to replace mine a few parts were missing. It was good to be able to get a new coastal defence set with the new Airfix D-Day set. Nice to know you have your original one, the new ones don’t have the springs for firing shells. Thanks for watching and writing a comment
It's fun to convert the Coastal Defence Fort to how it looks nowadays; overgrown, Big holes in it, rusty ironwork, grafitti, and a couple of figures representing Urbexers having a look round.
@@grahamhurst4613 - Yup. My last 'Fort Sahara' became something from the extended Star Wars universe. I made it into a Tatooine outpost, dressed with various greeblies, with landspeeders (Micromachines) and various Galoob Micromachines figures. I'd like to get another, and do it better.
It wasn’t until recently that I realised I had never built a Waterloo farmhouse as intended. They all ended up as “Normandy” farms. Glad you enjoyed seeing all the kits. Some are survivors from the 1970’s. Thank you for your comment
Nice, Graham! I still have a lot of similar Airfix bits in the basement. Same bridge and the smaller German bunker, some Airfix vehicles but most are Roco. Many boxes of soldiers, the British commando set was nice and the Arabs were fun with the camels and horses. Mix in my old HO train buildings and trees and you had a war! Also Aurora Rat Patrol set was fun.
I always enjoy hearing what others have in their collections. A lot of mine is original down from the loft and I’m still enjoying adding to the collection. Thanks for watching and writing a comment
I had these two about 30ish years ago.. how time goes so fast.. though i may try and purchase these for my boy, he would love them! Also i remember machbox made soldiers and you used to get them for a quid! I was never keen on airfix soldiers.. they was always out of proportion 😂
The D-Day Overlord set gives you the coastal defence fort and a lot of vehicles and landing craft, it will keep you both busy! I always preferred the Matchbox figures especially the British infantry. Thanks for your comment
The Scammel is a tricky kit to build. The instruction sheet in my kit was a bit fuzzy. But once finished it does look great. It does appear in another video of mine with a Churchill tank. It will look great in a desert scheme. Thank you for your comment nice to know you are building one
I had all of these models and some from Fugimi mostly Russian KVs both 1 and 2 as well. My friends and I were in a wargame club called Military interested Games Society or Migs and they developed a game for HO scale armoured warfare called, oddly enough, Tank. We had a complete set of rules for movement armour values and gun penetrations including deflection and also hit results, later we developed some rules for weather as well.
Que bonito campo de batalla ,se ve que tiene cariño como yo a los accesorios de airfix como las defensas de costa y el puente de pontones que excelentes y los tractores "quad" de artilleria característicos del ejercito inglés,la infanteria inglesa de matchbox,cuantas veces jugueteaba con ellos,los tuve todos a las dos escalas,todo el video está muy bonito y nostálgico.😊
Airfix and Matchbox models and figures were a big part of my childhood. I am still enjoying collecting and building them today. I am glad you have enjoyed seeing them, they do give a nice feeling of nostalgia. Thank you for your comment I enjoyed reading it and it makes me smile
Amera Moulding offer the vac-form bases for the Airfix sets separately (and quite a few other useful bits such as nissen huts for your airfield). I think the most useful for toy soldiers was the French farm, even better if you add dormer extensions to the roof and a removable upper floor.
@@grahamhurst4613 I always said about Matchbox that although the two tone plastic was rather bright, when they were painted they looked okay. I would love to build some of the old Matchbox range again. In the 70s they were truly ahead of their game.
I was always intrigued by the mysterious little hinged hatch just offset behind the main gun. It had steps but led nowhere. As a boy I thought it might be where ammo is kept. Or prisoners. Or even naughty German soldiers.....
That was my favourite part of the model. It would have led down to the crew quarters, and the magazine. I remember the playset box art showed troops emerging from it. On the one I own at present, I have cut away the blank wall at the bottom of the steps. It looks a lot better.
Had one of those forts Used to rescue my old man’s spent matches from lighting his pipe to shoot from the gun. They didn’t half come out a bit urgent 😂
Matchsticks were very useful ammunition for those forts! The newer ones don’t have the firing mechanism. But I have managed to find a couple of old barrels. Glad you enjoyed seeing them
Takes me back a year or two, first rate mucker. I must get on with my airfield E-Pen idea. As it's 80 years since D-Day, my Grandad landed on Gold Beach, XXX Corps. I think some building is in order to commemorate that.
I recognise everything except the Cromwell tanks. Are these Airfix, Matchbox or something else. The 17pdr anti tank gun is Matchbox I think. The Matchbox Firefly on half a bridge is a vivid memory. The single gun emplacement has a hatch. Did the few rounds for the gun get stored in there?
The Cromwell’s are MMS models white metal kits. Before Airfix released their new kit. Well spotted. Yes it’s the Matchbox Firefly, nice kit. The hatch on the gun emplacement is still a mystery! Glad you enjoyed the memories. Thanks for watching and your comment
The Crocodile was so feared, that it is recorded that they would pull up near a bunker - and the Crocodile could fire 'rods' of napalm like fuel through gunports - and the operator would 'cough' some unignited fuel on the bunker. A lot of times, this was enough to get the occupants of the bunker to emerge, hands aloft. It is also reported that captured crews of Crocodiles were often treated extremely harshly by their captors - usually SS troops.
I really doubt if the opponents were usually SS troops, as there not as many of them as shown in the movies, but yes, Crocodile troops were treated harshly or even executed instantly after being caputured. But, all nations treated flame thrower units similar, as they were absolutely objects of hate for common soldiers.
Flamethrower weapons do have a fearsome and frightening reputation and if you’re operating one you must know you are the first target. Thanks for your comment
Nice collection, I am just coming to the end of building the allied side of these old airfix kits, only one I haven't seen is the little allied armoured car, what kit is that as would be nice to complete the collection
@@grahamhurst4613 Nothing wrong with the german side, I use the germans as a refresher paint in between allied models, as the germans have interesting camos, as much as I like the allies the camo can end up a bit samey. Could it be a small ferret armoured car?
4.51 : two damaged bridges ( Matchbox sherman firefly ) stick in one : you have the first not damaged matchbox bridge ! well done, and please not sure if LVT 4 Buffalo was used on europ theater, anyway nice tabletop for playing long time....many thanks for sharing, cheers ; )
I have been meaning to make a whole matchbox bridge for ages! It’s essential to have a good layout it’s good to show the models in action. I did a little research, the Buffalo was used by the 79th armoured division during the River Rhine crossing. The Tank museum just released a book called Vanguard of Victory about the 79th, well worth a look. Thanks for watching and comments, very welcome
The Airfix kit of the LVT(4) is the British variant - it's main armament is a 20mm Polsten cannon. Buffalo amphibians were used in the latter stages of the European war, to get British troops over the Rhine.
@@grahamhurst4613 - The one made by Airfix, with the cannon, is the one used by the 79th - making it a 'Hobart's Funny'. Other than that, It's the same as the one used by the US - replace the Polsten cannon with a suitable .50 cal. machine gun.
@@grahamhurst4613 I didn't have the whole gift set. You could buy the coastal defence on it's own. Build lot's of Matchbox and Airfix model tanks to play with including a landing craft wirh a Sherman tank together with soldiers from both Airfix and Matchbox Happy days! 😊
Now that is a good question. Strictly it is 1/87. The Airfix vehicles and soldiers are 1/76 and aircraft are 1/72 which makes a figure about 6 feet tall. Airfix put HO/OO on their military models
@@grahamhurst4613 thats what i was wondering..between 1/72,....1/76 and HO/OO there are 3 scales that are bumdled together...why cant these companies stick to just one.
HO = 1/87; OO = 1/76. Not particularly close, but close enough for both to run on the same gauge railway track. Just to confuse things further, the Airfix airfield Control Tower was originally a lineside kit - to go with 1/72 scale aircraft. Go figure.
The models are by Airfix and Matchbox. Some of the Matchbox models are now owned by Revell. All of the models are 1/76 scale. I would start with the Airfix and Revell websites to see what is available at the moment. I hope you have a local hobby store near you. Thank you for watching
@Manuelhernandez-fo3ks the only models I can think of are the Roco mini tanks range. Which are ready made. Or maybe if someone is 3d printing some. Thanks for watching
I inherited those set of figures from my uncle who got me interested in the hobby so they are there for sentimental reasons. I think they might have been Luftwaffe soldiers? Well spotted though! They have also made an appearance in my German secret jets video. Thanks for watching
I had british and german soldiers plus some roman legionaries. They were being resurrected from the dead by the thundering sound of the guns and went after them all, no matter which side. So much for historical accuracy back in the 70s and 80s.
I had two of these 72nd scale gun emplacements, a Foreign Legion Fort, a Roman Fort and the La Haye Saint farmhouse from the Battle of Waterloo. In 32md scale I had the jungle bamboo hut on stilts which was always in the back garden with Japanese and Australian infantry fighting over it. I also had the pontoon bridge but had totally forgotten that until I just saw it here. I miss those wonderful days in the 60s and 70s when all my pocket money went on plastic and metal figures, Airfix, Timpo, Esci, Britains, Matchbox, Revell and so on. Also the glorious War Picture Library, Battle and Commando comics. What wonderful nostalgia your film brings back to this 62 year old who has never grown up!! Thank You.
We had very similar lives! I have covered the forts and buildings you mentioned in other videos. Apart from the Foreign legion fort which is built but awaiting painting figures. I have also filmed the 1/32 Airfix buildings and Britains Deetail figures. All the brands you mention and the comics are a big part of my life (60 this year) I am enjoying filming these nostalgic collections. Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a nice comment for me to read. It encourages me to make more!
omg, I had the pontoon bridge too, ha ha , the second I read your comment could picture the green plastic pontoons which were also used as boats in my childhood games, lovely video.
All these Airfix forts and buildings are useful for all sorts of scenarios. Still enjoying mine!
I had an original one great, I bought another in the eighties they took out the spring terrible
@maureenbrown6413 I agree, I have just got some original guns with springs so they will be swapped around
Hours & hours of fun in my childhood playing with airfix soldiers , kits & dioramas - i didnt want anything else for Christmas, shame my kids dont really show interest, its so good for boosting imagination.
Using our imagination was a big part of our childhood. I guess if you play video games it might spark an interest in making something you become interested in. An aircraft or vehicle. I hope so! It’s still good for us more “experienced “ folk
I was just gonna write the same thing, but your post was at the top, and it expressed my sentiments exactly. Some of my fondest memories include a living room floor covered with Marx 54mm soldiers on Christmas Day. My brother and I would play for hours on end. The HO-Airfix stuff came later. I had the set pictured in the video. These big kits weren't cheap. I cut grass, raked leaves, shoveled snow, carried a weekly paper and picked up pop bottles. It almost all went intp "little soldiers". If I remember right, a box of about 40 odd figures cost $2 with tax. A vehicle was about the same or maybe a little more. I'm talking 1973-76 or so. A pop bottle brought two cents. LOL The good old days!!
@calliecooke1817 wow you worked hard for you hobby! Glad you enjoyed the video, yes I’m still playing soldiers! Thanks for your comment, I am enjoying all the shared nostalgia
That's brilliant thankyou still have the pontoon bridge sometimes have it on display with armour crossing, Always found the vintage 1.76 infantry better.
@@tonyrobinson362Always my favorite toys. I have kept all my 1:76 stuff. At 62 years old, I still pull them out a couple times a year, just to relive the great memories
I love stuff like this ...I could look at, even play with this stuff for hours.
I'm 57, and collect all the toys from my childhood. I got a model railway in my loft, a Scalextric, a collection of Action Men, a stash of model kits, and I sit for hours with them....Harmless fun.
We have the same life! Nice to know you are out there. Brilliant comment
@@grahamhurst4613 Good man! I have a 'man cave' full of toys, models, kits, soldiers, displays.... whenever a mate comes over, they are so jealous...
I've done the same. Even bought toys I remembered when very small...thanks to ebay.
i feel you , i`m over 50 too collect toys from the 1970,s mainly britains deetail , books etc
@@bonysminiatures3123 I collect 1/72 figures & models, 1/35 figures & models and of course Star Wars 3.75"
WOW! Had one of these as a kid in the 70's, loved it!
Metoo 😂wonderful moments
It’s all about bringing back some good memories and maybe building some of the models again. Sorry for late reply
Like me! 🤩
Same here, great set!
I played with these toys and sets for hours on end as a child pity i didnt still have them
I really enjoyed setting up this video. It was great to build a new coastal defence set and refurbish the older sets. I would treat yourself to a nostalgic build I’m sure you would enjoy it. Thanks for watching and commenting
Sooooo cool!! Took me back in time more than 50 years. I still have all my airfix stuff safely boxed. Thanks for sharing and good gaming! 👍🏻
I am pleased you still have your collection. It was good to get my collection out on display. It’s great to know so many people are enjoying seeing the models. Thanks for your comment
My mom bought me these when i was a young kid many moons ago. I loved them so much .
Seeing them in this video brings back many great memories. They still look really great !
Glad you enjoyed the memories. You can get the Coastal Defence fort at the moment in a D-Day set. Thank you for watching
I had this stuff when I was young. I was obsessed with soldiers and models. Great memories. Thanks
I’ve been lucky a lot of these models are from when I was young, I’m still enjoying making them. It’s great to hear they bring back some good memories. Thanks for your comment
Really nice nostalgic video. Loved the old Airfix kits and models. Thanks for sharing.
It was enjoyable to make. The kits and figures are a mixture of old and new in my collection.Thank you for your comment
This really takes me back. I had both of those forts as a kid. Thanks for sharing.
I really enjoyed building these forts and setting out the display. It’s nice to enjoy a bit of nostalgia. Glad to know that you enjoyed it
Wow that took me right back to about 1976. Brilliant thank you
Glad you enjoyed the “invasion” of nostalgia. Some of the Sherman tanks and half tracks date from that time
Takes me back many years. I had all of these and forgot about the airfield tower till now. Many hours of fun, thankyou for bringing those memories back again.
I’m glad you enjoyed the nostalgia. Some of these models have survived from childhood. I still keep adding to the collection as I’m still enjoying building them. Thank you for watching and for your comment
Mine have long gone to the great Airfix in the sky
I was lucky they went in boxes into the loft. But it’s been nice to get them out on display a lot of people have enjoyed seeing them again
@@grahamhurst4613 Thats what happened to mine but I sold the family home in covid and could not get back to the UK. I had everything, every box of soldiers both scales, half tracks, jeeps etc.
I still have the 'gun emplacement' bought new and now in the loft - Complete in the box and with all the accessories. Those were the days.
Very nice to have an original one in the box!
GREAT SETUP SIR,AIRFIX ALWAYS HAD THE BEST MODELS KITS AND ASSORTED BUILDINGS FOR ALL ERA IN HO/OO TAKE CARE
They certainly kept me entertained and still do! Thank you for your support and comments
the hours spent playing with this ! little by little pieces got lost but it still got played with so much opportunity for imagination.
I always enjoyed all the Airfix forts and buildings it’s been great to collect them and get them on show. Thank you for your comment
Nice to see the "La Haye Saint" renovated and brought into the twentieth century and about to be liberated, and the Matadors, if I have a favourite truck it's this one.
It’s funny how building a kit like the Matador can make you really appreciate the real thing. La haye sainte makes a few appearances on my videos. On the railway layout, ww2 of course and a complete one on my Waterloo video. Thanks for your comment and subscription
Great to see others with the kind of interest I have , even today . I now wargame with 15mm figures and like to play platoon sized skirmish games with a set called Chain of Command . Many use the same rule set with their Airfix figures based just as these depicted ... And you don't have to repaint your models after they're hit with the projectile from your Britain's metal 18pdr ! 🎉
That’s it exactly, it is nice to know that there are lots of people like us who share the same interests. I’m still enjoying models and figures. Thank you for your comment. Matchsticks and rubber bands can be deadly for models, dice are far more civilised
Yep, i had the gun emplacement as well. Think i played with it with ww1 germans and desert British infantry but didn't care. I had the pontoon bridge as well 😊
The forts and figures could be anything you wanted really. It was all about using our imagination. Thanks so much for watching and posting a comment
Wow. The forts, the control tower, the pontoon Bridge. I haven't seem those in must be nearly 50 years. Thanks for the trip in the wayback machine.
Glad to know you enjoyed the nostalgia trip. These kits do hold some great memories. Thanks for your comment
Wow. Well done, excellently painted.
Takes me flying back to the late 1960s, early 1970s. I even bought some of these for my kids, honest, in the 1990s.
Thank you. Time to treat yourself to a new set!
@@grahamhurst4613 God no, I've enough of a problem with 1/35th without starting on 1/72 ... 😁
Hello. Thank you for bringing back found memories of my youth. I had the twin canon fort and plenty of the airfix commandos,Germans , paratroopers, rangers and British infantry. Also had a lot of scale vehicles too. Sadly nothing remains
I am glad to know you enjoyed seeing them again. I am lucky a lot of my collection survived and I am still enjoying adding to it. A lot of the kits and figures are still available. Thank you for watching
Absolutely 💯 great work here 👏 it's some job to paint tiny figures and model kits I appreciate the hard work to all model builders for these layouts 👏. Their interesting and amazing to see . Good job 👏
It’s been my hobby from childhood right up to today. Some of these kits date from the 1970’s. I am still enjoying building and painting them. I do like to show them with the scenery. Thank you for your great comment. There is more to come
Hey I appreciate seeing them I am very interested tbh I wish I was good at this stuff I use to do the odd few planes and tanks but I love your layout I like the American vehicles coz I like the korean war stuff to tbh .
@@iancasey704 It’s a great hobby and the more you build the better you get. It’s all about enjoying what you make
Really nice models, and I love the diorama set-up; this is what we dreamed of making back then. I still have my tackle box filled with 1/72 vehicles and soldiers: great fun. Seeing your set-up makes me want to build some more. I think the battle here will come to a screeching halt though, and both sides will be too terrified to fight each other, when the giant cat-creature at 9:43 jumps up on the board and runs amok!
That was well spotted! He has been known to do that. Glad you enjoyed the layout. It’s taken from a map of Villiers Bocage. It is something I always wanted to make. I’m still enjoying building kits. I’m sure you will enjoy revisiting the hobby. It’s what I wanted to do on this channel, encourage people to build a kit
Loved this video. Brought back so many memories of building and playing with the Airfix kits and sets.Happy modelling.
Great to hear that the display brings back good memories. That’s my aim and to get us building kits again. I am still enjoying making them up
Takes me back to halcyon days of youth, oh and then I became a professional Architectural model maker in London !.Never again was model making a joyful hobby
I can understand that, I worked at Space models and Mastermodels. I have rediscovered the hobby and I’m enjoying it. There are so many good kits out there. I hope you can recreate that joy. Thank you for your interesting comment
That combined diorama certainly brings back memories.
Thank you it was enjoyable to set it all up. I think it’s great to bring back some good memories
You are re-living my youth, Graham. This was like a time machine for me to watch... in a good way. We (my brother and I) also used the Waterloo house for our WWII skirmishes. Thanks Graham,.
It’s nice to know you are enjoying the memories. The Waterloo farmhouse has featured a few times in my videos. Also on the railway layout and a complete one with the Airfix napoleonic figures. Thank you so much for watching, commenting and subscribing I really appreciate your support
Wonderful tour thanks Graham
You’re welcome, thank you for your support and comments
Had the gun emplacement in the 70s with the firing gun. Recently bought this new version. Great video. Great work.
I’m sure you will enjoy building it. Thanks for watching and your comments
I have sweet and biscuit tins full of airfix and matchbox solders from my childhood still love them now
These models are a big part of our lives. I am glad you still have yours and that you still enjoy them. Thank you for your comment
Lol you could get these separately or in packs with vehicles back in the 70s... unlike the 'strong point' that was available in 2 scales these were only in 1 72... which was a pity... I used the single gun from this to mount on a scratch built armed merchantman for commando mission support...
The 1/32 strongpoint will be appearing soon. You could use these buildings for almost anything
@grahamhurst4613
As long as you didn't mix the red Cross flag with the term strong point... which was always a bit wierd
@@janwitts2688 There are some stretchers included. I guess for a first aid post
@grahamhurst4613
Yup.. its just that the picture on the box has a red Cross flag and the kit is titled strong point.. but whilst you could have it as an aid station it certainly could not be a strong point at the same time.. which would be illegal... just one of these weird quirks
Always wanted that set as a kid. Would have expanded the war front in my parents lounge room greatly. :)
I decided to treat myself when it got released again in a D-Day set. Thanks for watching
I'm in my late 50s and still have the 1/76 gun emplacement boxed set when i got the set in about 1976
I had to replace mine a few parts were missing. It was good to be able to get a new coastal defence set with the new Airfix D-Day set. Nice to know you have your original one, the new ones don’t have the springs for firing shells. Thanks for watching and writing a comment
Fantastic diorama, thanks for sharing that 👍🏻👍🏻
Thank you. Glad you watched it on D-Day 80. Thank for your comment
It's fun to convert the Coastal Defence Fort to how it looks nowadays; overgrown, Big holes in it, rusty ironwork, grafitti, and a couple of figures representing Urbexers having a look round.
That’s the great thing about these buildings you can turn them into almost anything
@@grahamhurst4613 - Yup. My last 'Fort Sahara' became something from the extended Star Wars universe. I made it into a Tatooine outpost, dressed with various greeblies, with landspeeders (Micromachines) and various Galoob Micromachines figures. I'd like to get another, and do it better.
@@brianartillery it’s perfect for Star Wars! I’ve got one it’s painted, I just need to finish some French Foreign Legion figures to set the scene.
Awesome diorama , I could see a fair few kits ive had in the past , I like the idea to use the Waterloo farmhouse in a WW2 setting which looks great .
It wasn’t until recently that I realised I had never built a Waterloo farmhouse as intended. They all ended up as “Normandy” farms. Glad you enjoyed seeing all the kits. Some are survivors from the 1970’s. Thank you for your comment
I've still got the original version with the firing gun and the pontoon bridge
I was slightly disappointed the new one didn’t fire! Safer rolling dice I guess
Nice, Graham! I still have a lot of similar Airfix bits in the basement. Same bridge and the smaller German bunker, some Airfix vehicles but most are Roco. Many boxes of soldiers, the British commando set was nice and the Arabs were fun with the camels and horses. Mix in my old HO train buildings and trees and you had a war! Also Aurora Rat Patrol set was fun.
I always enjoy hearing what others have in their collections. A lot of mine is original down from the loft and I’m still enjoying adding to the collection. Thanks for watching and writing a comment
Too bad we can't share photos on here, but you'd probably be buried in them! My wife is tolerant but laughs at me. 😄@@grahamhurst4613
@@artboy57 that’s funny my wife is also tolerant and laughs at me all the time!
I had these two about 30ish years ago.. how time goes so fast.. though i may try and purchase these for my boy, he would love them! Also i remember machbox made soldiers and you used to get them for a quid! I was never keen on airfix soldiers.. they was always out of proportion 😂
The D-Day Overlord set gives you the coastal defence fort and a lot of vehicles and landing craft, it will keep you both busy! I always preferred the Matchbox figures especially the British infantry. Thanks for your comment
I'd completely forgotten about the pontoon bridge. Happy days!
I’m glad you enjoyed seeing it again. Thank you for watching and commenting
Great modelling ❤️ loved Airfix ☺️
Thank you. I am still enjoying building Airfix kits. Thanks for your comment
Nice Scammell pioneer, I don’t know why, but I think they look great. I making an 8th army one now.
The Scammel is a tricky kit to build. The instruction sheet in my kit was a bit fuzzy. But once finished it does look great. It does appear in another video of mine with a Churchill tank. It will look great in a desert scheme. Thank you for your comment nice to know you are building one
I had all of these models and some from Fugimi mostly Russian KVs both 1 and 2 as well. My friends and I were in a wargame club called Military interested Games Society or Migs and they developed a game for HO scale armoured warfare called, oddly enough, Tank. We had a complete set of rules for movement armour values and gun penetrations including deflection and also hit results, later we developed some rules for weather as well.
Those fujimi kits are good I have a couple in the collection. I’m glad you enjoyed seeing my layout. It was a nice nostalgia trip
Que bonito campo de batalla ,se ve que tiene cariño como yo a los accesorios de airfix como las defensas de costa y el puente de pontones que excelentes y los tractores "quad" de artilleria característicos del ejercito inglés,la infanteria inglesa de matchbox,cuantas veces jugueteaba con ellos,los tuve todos a las dos escalas,todo el video está muy bonito y nostálgico.😊
Airfix and Matchbox models and figures were a big part of my childhood. I am still enjoying collecting and building them today. I am glad you have enjoyed seeing them, they do give a nice feeling of nostalgia. Thank you for your comment I enjoyed reading it and it makes me smile
Amera Moulding offer the vac-form bases for the Airfix sets separately (and quite a few other useful bits such as nissen huts for your airfield). I think the most useful for toy soldiers was the French farm, even better if you add dormer extensions to the roof and a removable upper floor.
Yes I am a big fan of their products
Well done , good memories.
Thank you, that’s my aim a bit of nostalgia, thanks for watching
Excellent work😀
Thank you, I like to set the buildings up in an appropriate scene
@@grahamhurst4613 seeing the Matchbox Panther brought back some fond memories.
@@jasonmussett2129 I like to try and show some different vehicles. The Matchbox ones with the bases were brilliant
@@grahamhurst4613 I always said about Matchbox that although the two tone plastic was rather bright, when they were painted they looked okay. I would love to build some of the old Matchbox range again. In the 70s they were truly ahead of their game.
Fantastic diorama,well done,sir👍👍👍👍👍
Thank you I enjoyed setting it all up
@@grahamhurst4613 did it take long to do?
Probably about an hour, then twice as long to pack it all up!
@@grahamhurst4613 awesome , my friend
@@jaws848 most of my models I build and paint a bit at a time, then start something else, then come back to it. So no plan or timekeeping
Great stuff! I had quite a few of them when i was a kid
Thank you it’s a bit of a nostalgia trip! Fort Sahara is coming up. I still need to find fort apache. Thanks for your comment
@@grahamhurst4613 I spent my youth playing with Airfix (and Atlantic)
@@picardbs I have some of the Atlantic ancient figures I will have to get them painted up
Loved this i had this as a kid great
Still enjoying mine! There is a lot of nostalgia on show in this video. Thanks for watching
Memories on that video, ❤
Thank you for watching. I am glad the video brought back good memories
My brother and me had most of these In the 1970
These models and forts do bring back some great memories. Thank you for watching
I was always intrigued by the mysterious little hinged hatch just offset behind the main gun. It had steps but led nowhere. As a boy I thought it might be where ammo is kept. Or prisoners. Or even naughty German soldiers.....
These models are all about using our imagination! I wondered where you were going there with naughty German soldiers, I was thinking of “allo allo”
That was my favourite part of the model. It would have led down to the crew quarters, and the magazine. I remember the playset box art showed troops emerging from it.
On the one I own at present, I have cut away the blank wall at the bottom of the steps. It looks a lot better.
Very Nice Display 👌
It was really good fun setting it all up. Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment
very cool looking board
Thanks it’s been good fun setting it all out. Thank you for watching and your comment
I got one of these for xmas 1974 😃Bought another as an adult😏
That’s great! It’s nice to enjoy a nostalgic build. I’m a big fan of the Airfix vintage classic range. Thanks for your comment
I had that gun emplacement im sure i used to put a matchstick in and fire it out .Happy Times😊
Brilliant, yes the ammo provided soon got lost and matches were the perfect replacement! Glad you enjoyed the memories. Thanks for your comment
Had one of those forts
Used to rescue my old man’s spent matches from lighting his pipe to shoot from the gun.
They didn’t half come out a bit urgent 😂
Matchsticks were very useful ammunition for those forts! The newer ones don’t have the firing mechanism. But I have managed to find a couple of old barrels. Glad you enjoyed seeing them
Looks really cool!
Thanks for watching and your comment
@@grahamhurst4613 you're welcome
Takes me back a year or two, first rate mucker. I must get on with my airfield E-Pen idea. As it's 80 years since D-Day, my Grandad landed on Gold Beach, XXX Corps. I think some building is in order to commemorate that.
That’s great to hear about your Grandad. Very worthy to commemorate that
@@grahamhurst4613 Thanks mucker, grateful for your words.
I recognise everything except the Cromwell tanks. Are these Airfix, Matchbox or something else. The 17pdr anti tank gun is Matchbox I think. The Matchbox Firefly on half a bridge is a vivid memory. The single gun emplacement has a hatch. Did the few rounds for the gun get stored in there?
The Cromwell’s are MMS models white metal kits. Before Airfix released their new kit. Well spotted. Yes it’s the Matchbox Firefly, nice kit. The hatch on the gun emplacement is still a mystery!
Glad you enjoyed the memories. Thanks for watching and your comment
Memories!!
It’s a proper nostalgia trip. Thank you for watching
Nice builds sir
Thank you I really enjoyed putting these models out on display
The Crocodile was so feared, that it is recorded that they would pull up near a bunker - and the Crocodile could fire 'rods' of napalm like fuel through gunports - and the operator would 'cough' some unignited fuel on the bunker. A lot of times, this was enough to get the occupants of the bunker to emerge, hands aloft.
It is also reported that captured crews of Crocodiles were often treated extremely harshly by their captors - usually SS troops.
Thank you for taking the time to write more information on the Crocodile tank it’s very welcome
I really doubt if the opponents were usually SS troops, as there not as many of them as shown in the movies, but yes, Crocodile troops were treated harshly or even executed instantly after being caputured.
But, all nations treated flame thrower units similar, as they were absolutely objects of hate for common soldiers.
Flamethrower weapons do have a fearsome and frightening reputation and if you’re operating one you must know you are the first target. Thanks for your comment
Nice collection, I am just coming to the end of building the allied side of these old airfix kits, only one I haven't seen is the little allied armoured car, what kit is that as would be nice to complete the collection
I feel bad I always start with the German side. I’m thinking that the armoured car might be the matchbox kit, which revell have re released
@@grahamhurst4613 Nothing wrong with the german side, I use the germans as a refresher paint in between allied models, as the germans have interesting camos, as much as I like the allies the camo can end up a bit samey. Could it be a small ferret armoured car?
@@scalestuff1066 it’s the Humber armoured car just remembered
@@grahamhurst4613 cheers mate thank you. Keep up the good work, enjoying the relaxed style and nostalgia hit
I used broken off pieces of matchsticks as ammunition for my artillery piece.
Ah yes matchsticks were very important for replacement artillery shells, thanks for reminding us
4.51 : two damaged bridges ( Matchbox sherman firefly ) stick in one : you have the first not damaged matchbox bridge ! well done, and please not sure if LVT 4 Buffalo was used on europ theater, anyway nice tabletop for playing long time....many thanks for sharing, cheers ; )
I have been meaning to make a whole matchbox bridge for ages! It’s essential to have a good layout it’s good to show the models in action. I did a little research, the Buffalo was used by the 79th armoured division during the River Rhine crossing. The Tank museum just released a book called Vanguard of Victory about the 79th, well worth a look. Thanks for watching and comments, very welcome
The Airfix kit of the LVT(4) is the British variant - it's main armament is a 20mm Polsten cannon.
Buffalo amphibians were used in the latter stages of the European war, to get British troops over the Rhine.
@@brianartillery thanks for the information I didn’t know that a LVT(4) was a British variant. I need to read my book!
@@grahamhurst4613 - The one made by Airfix, with the cannon, is the one used by the 79th - making it a 'Hobart's Funny'. Other than that, It's the same as the one used by the US - replace the Polsten cannon with a suitable .50 cal. machine gun.
@@brianartillery many thanks for your precision, yes you've right, take care : )
Just thrown mine away along with the bailey bridge
Should have listed it on eBay, there is a lot of collectors out there
I had that. the opening emplacement
It was an enjoyable project building up all the Airfix WW2 forts. They do bring back some nice memories. Thank you for watching and for your comment
1:59 Had this as a kid
The coastal defence set was a new one part of the D-Day operation overlord gift set. Well worth adding to your collection. Thanks for your comment
@@grahamhurst4613 I didn't have the whole gift set. You could buy the coastal defence on it's own. Build lot's of Matchbox and Airfix model tanks to play with including a landing craft wirh a Sherman tank together with soldiers from both Airfix and Matchbox Happy days! 😊
❤
I’m pleased you liked the video, thank you.
I still have my gun emplacement set.
That’s great, it’s a nice set to have. Thank you for watching
Those American vehicles here could also be used on a korean war layout.
Now that’s an idea, I do like the easy eight Sherman’s with “tiger” faces
I like the M3A1 halftrack
@@iancasey704 The Airfix M3 half track is still a great kit to make. I have a 1/32 Monogram one to build for a future video
Brilliant I'd love to see it 😀
I know HO/OO is railway scale but whats the equivilant to that in aircraft and armour?
Now that is a good question. Strictly it is 1/87. The Airfix vehicles and soldiers are 1/76 and aircraft are 1/72 which makes a figure about 6 feet tall. Airfix put HO/OO on their military models
@@grahamhurst4613 thats what i was wondering..between 1/72,....1/76 and HO/OO there are 3 scales that are bumdled together...why cant these companies stick to just one.
HO = 1/87; OO = 1/76. Not particularly close, but close enough for both to run on the same gauge railway track.
Just to confuse things further, the Airfix airfield Control Tower was originally a lineside kit - to go with 1/72 scale aircraft. Go figure.
@@brianartillery oh the insanity
Lol🤣🤣🤣
I've got that first one.
The gun emplacement is my favourite. Thank you for watching
Where and can I buy these models now? Are they 1:87 scale? Thank You! God Bless!
The models are by Airfix and Matchbox. Some of the Matchbox models are now owned by Revell. All of the models are 1/76 scale. I would start with the Airfix and Revell websites to see what is available at the moment. I hope you have a local hobby store near you. Thank you for watching
@@grahamhurst4613
Thank You!
@Manuelhernandez-fo3ks the only models I can think of are the Roco mini tanks range. Which are ready made. Or maybe if someone is 3d printing some. Thanks for watching
Too much time on his hands? 🤷♂️
Time well spent enjoying the nostalgia. Thanks for watching hope you enjoyed
I don't think the Germans wore blue uniforms in WWII.
I inherited those set of figures from my uncle who got me interested in the hobby so they are there for sentimental reasons. I think they might have been Luftwaffe soldiers? Well spotted though! They have also made an appearance in my German secret jets video. Thanks for watching
I had british and german soldiers plus some roman legionaries. They were being resurrected from the dead by the thundering sound of the guns and went after them all, no matter which side. So much for historical accuracy back in the 70s and 80s.
@@thomask.9850historical accuracy has its place, but imagination is much more fun!
A 1970's 10 year old's dream
That’s brilliant, I think that could apply to most of the content on my channel
Shame of the youth.
All these Airfix and Matchbox kits kept me busy