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Britains and its subsidiary, Herald, were not the only companies providing modern-era infantry figures. However, Herald was a great influence on the design of modern British and US army figures in the UK. Other frequently imitated the handful of poses found in Herald "Khaki Infantry." US figures also tended to be of a type, copied mainly from a Britains competitor, Timpo. Here we have amassed several brands of find British-made toy soldiers of the 1950s through 1970s.
Note that the tendency in British toy soldiers is to offer painted figures. Many of the plastics used during that time were smooth, and did not accept paint well. Chipped and lost paint are common in British figures.
English toy soldier design was dominated by the precedents set by Herald and Britains until the arrival of Airfix 1/32 scale figures. Airfix's original poses and unique assortments "broke the mold," so to speak.
These figures by Johillco, marked 'Hilco" under the base, are actually clone-type copies of Herald brand Khaki Infantry. |
The Johillco clones stand to the left of their Herald counterparts. The cl;ones are smaller and have slightly less definition. |
Clone copy of crawling Herald soldier, probably by Johillco |
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These figures held their paint better. |
Johillco clones of Herald radioman and rifleman, with US type helmets, Note base of radioman, which differs from its Herald counterpart. |
Johillco US Infantry. The US Army was a popular subject for British toymakers. Minesweeper and mortar man might be clones of Timpo. |
More Johillco infantry |
Crescent World War II British Infantry in very animated poses. Excellent, but huge. |
At 65 to 70mm, the Crescent troops loom large. Great poses! |
Compare a Herald rifleman with its larger Crescent counterpart. |
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US Infantry by Timpo. |
Timpo infantry was later copied by Reisler of Denmark. |