Model Boat Mayhem

Mess Deck: General Section => Model Boating => Topic started by: Langsford on November 02, 2007, 10:43:36 pm

Title: model figures
Post by: Langsford on November 02, 2007, 10:43:36 pm
Hi, I'm sure this topic must have been up before, but can anyone advise on the purchase of figures for my tug boat. The scale is 1:32.
Cheers, John
Title: Re: model figures
Post by: RickF on November 02, 2007, 10:57:56 pm
At 1:32 your choice is endless. Apart from the specialists, like George Turner ( http://www.georgeturnermodels.com/index.php?page=shopping&shop_cat_id=20 ),there are any number of 54mm figures out there waiting to be butchered.

Rick
Title: Re: model figures
Post by: tolnedra on November 03, 2007, 09:37:32 am
You could also try looking at Model Slipway's website, they also list 1/32 figures, very suitable for tugs.(I've got them on three of my tugs!)

Danny
Title: Re: model figures
Post by: Popeye on November 03, 2007, 11:54:58 am
Some good toyshops still stock plastic farm hands and coyboys in various poses which are virtually 1:32 scale. Hack off unwanted detail and ,if required , amputate offending limb/s and reposition with aid of fine brass rod (for joint strength). Make good with P38 and repaint. Magic.

Another option is to buy PREISER architectural figures  -they offer many scales including 1:32. (www.ontrackscart.co.uk/preiser_quikstore.cgi).

Happy hunting and/or hacking. O0
Title: Re: model figures
Post by: Philipsparker on November 04, 2007, 06:03:44 pm
I'd recomend the George Turner figures, they are really nice mouldings with plenty of choice. Being resin you can chop'n'change them easily too with aid of some model filler.

I used one of his drivers in my tug Tomsk which I wrote up in my Blog - http://philsworkbench.blogspot.com/search/label/Tomsk and also on a Clyde Puffer - http://philsworkbench.blogspot.com/2007/03/puffer-crew.html

Hope this helps.

Phil :)
Title: Re: model figures
Post by: Langsford on November 04, 2007, 09:51:52 pm
Thanks everyone, I have ordered some from George Turner.
John
Title: Re: model figures
Post by: Captain Povey on November 06, 2008, 09:13:06 am
Hi All, Just an update on this topic as I have just received from Hongong 50, 1:50 painted figures for £5. I found them and lots more on ebay. They are for model railways but are still very acceptable as crew figures. They will need a repaint to make them a bit more crew like. There are 5 male types, four standing one sittong and 5 female types in the mix. They were all delivered within a couple of days in a very useable tuppaware type box. Cheers Graham.
Title: Re: model figures
Post by: barryfoote on November 06, 2008, 12:45:58 pm
Hi All, Just an update on this topic as I have just received from Hongong 50, 1:50 painted figures for £5. I found them and lots more on ebay. They are for model railways but are still very acceptable as crew figures. They will need a repaint to make them a bit more crew like. There are 5 male types, four standing one sittong and 5 female types in the mix. They were all delivered within a couple of days in a very useable tuppaware type box. Cheers Graham.

I got 100 figures at a scale of 1/100 from China, again delivered in a tupperware box and pre painted...All for 1.76 (Sterling).
Title: Re: model figures
Post by: Bunkerbarge on November 06, 2008, 12:55:04 pm
There are huge choices of 1/35th scale figures from any one of the plastic AFV manufacturers.  I have just bought some Russian tank maintenance crew who are in shirt sleeves and are going to be easily adapted to crew for my 1/35th scale steamer.  They actually have no discernable uniform so can easily be painted up as civilians.
Title: Re: model figures
Post by: Captain Povey on November 06, 2008, 12:57:54 pm
Wow that was a good deal. I have just read in some trade press that there are lots of toy factories in China closing down as a result of a collapse in demand. Maybe they will get even cheaper. Cheers Graham
Title: Re: model figures
Post by: Philipsparker on November 06, 2008, 09:07:39 pm
Wow that was a good deal. I have just read in some trade press that there are lots of toy factories in China closing down as a result of a collapse in demand. Maybe they will get even cheaper. Cheers Graham

Cheaper !!! Blimey, the makers will have to pay you to take them away if they get any cheaper !

Seriously though, the 1:100 figures have been discussed on another list and it looks like they have been made from moulds taken from other figures. Trouble is it's not worth tracking down these guys and chasing them through the courts. Fine for us today but in the future would you bother sculpting figures if some guy in a sweatshop in China was promptly going to rip them off ?  :((

Phil