WW1 French Offensive : En avant !

This WW1 French offensive is led by the tinplate VeBe Tank (Victor Bonnet) produced in France (30s).

The attack is also supported by early  Durso composite soldiers from Belgium (30s). The tank's clockwork works really well !

Battle of Jaffa (27 July -8 August 1192) : Fighting Saracens

The Battle of Jaffa took place during the Crusades, as one of a series of campaigns between the army of Sultan Saladin (Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn Yūsuf ibn Ayyūb) and the Crusader forces led by King Richard I of England (known as Richard the Lionheart). It was the final battle of the Third Crusade, after which Saladin and King Richard were able to negotiate a truce. Although the Crusaders did not regain possession of Jerusalem, Christian pilgrims were permitted entry into the city, and the Crusaders were able to retain control of a sizable strip of land stretching from Beirut to Jaffa. In this battle we have Sunjade/Supreme crusaders and Biplant Saracens. Enjoy !

Au Printemps Department Store Toys Catalogue (Christmas 1917-New Year's gifts 1918 ) Paris

Printemps Department Store Toys Catalogue, Rue du Havre, Boulevard Haussmann, Paris.  Toys, New Year's gifts (Christmas 1917-New Year's gifts 1918).
The cover illustration: a smiling Santa Claus-Christmas-Santa bringing warrior toys and two folk dolls that could be Alsace-Lorraine.

Please use the link below to download the catalogue :

Kingdom of Heaven this Sunday

Kingdom of Heaven this Sunday . The Sunjade/Supreme plastic soldiers starred as crusaders and the Biplant soldiers as Saracens.

King&Country: Rommel in Africa

For almost 20 years King&Country has been designing and producing Afrika Korps figures, fighting vehicles and aircraft. What is it about these particular WW2 German soldiers that makes them so appealing ?

Please use the link below to download the catalog (12 pages):

Mark IV male tank model and the Mark IV sponson at Cornet Castle.

Mark IV male tank model and the Mark IV sponson at Cornet Castle (Guernsey).The Royal Guernsey Militia Museum exposition.

Au Bon Marche - French toys WW1 catalogue (Christmas 1916-New Year 1917)

The catalog contains many games and toys inspired by the World War I.

Please use the link below to download the catalog:

Biplant crusaders at Bective Abbey

Biplant crusaders at Bective Abbey. Happy Friday !

King&Country : Napoleonics-The British Army During The Wars of Napoleon

King&Country : Napoleonics-The British Army During The Wars of Napoleon.

Please use the link below to download the catalog (pdf 12 pages):

Nice set of Franco-Prussian war paper soldiers

Nice set of Franco-Prussian war paper soldiers.

Hausser's Sd. Kfz. 223 and Elastolin/Lineol panzer soldiers (Part 2)

Hausser's Sd. Kfz. 223 and Elastolin/Lineol panzer soldiers.

Model 12-pdr QF Gun (1902) at Cornet Castle (Guernsey)

At the turn of the Twentieth Century the Royal Navy was still Britain's first line of defence, even for the Channel Islands. However, a perceived threat was attacks on harbors by fast Motor Torpedo Boats.St. Peter Por, like others, was defended from this threat by the installation of 12-pounder Quick Firing guns. In 1902 two of these weapons were installed on the citadel of Castle Carnet along with two supporting Defence Electric Light (searchlight) positions.

Quick Firing guns used their recoil to return them automatically to their firing position, this saving much time in re-aiming. On the 12-Pounder QF, powerful coil springs and hydraulics were used to effect this process. Since the gun could now be fixed, gunners were able to stay in close and be sheltered by a steel shield.(Scale 1:15).

Timpo knights

Nice Timpo knights from Bective Abbey ...

Sunjade crusaders at Bective Abbey

Bective Abbey is set in beautiful countryside beside a lovely old bridge over the River Boyne. It was founded in 1147 by the King of Meath and was the second Cistercian abbey built in Ireland after Mellifont Abbey. It was so important that Hugh de Lacy, the most powerful Norman knight who built the nearby Trim Castle was buried here in 1195.

Hausser's Sd. Kfz. 223 and Elastolin/Lineol panzer soldiers

The Sd. Kfz. 223 was an armoured car with similar features to the Sd. Kfz. 221, but with the addition of a frame antenna and a 30-watt FuG 10 medium-range radio set. Later versions of the vehicle were equipped with an improved 80-watt FuG 12 radio set. It was originally armed with a 7.92 mm MG 13 machine gun, but in 1938 this was changed to a Maschinengewehr 34. The crew was increased to three by the addition of a radio operator. Production ran from 1936 to January 1944, with at least 567 vehicles being produced for the army. Its full name was Leichter Panzerspähwagen (Fu). I have this Sd. Kfz. 223 tinplate model. It's assumed that the model was  produced using the Hausser's spare parts that were found at the Hausser's warehouse after its bankruptcy in 1983.

A German toy-maker's illustrated catalogue from 1830

A German Toy-Maker's illustrated catalogue, containing fine coloured lithographic illustrations of more then 200 toys, is very curious and interesting (c.1830). This catalogue was found in South America, where it was sent at the time of publication. 

Please use the link below to download the catalogue (289 pages JPEG or PDF):