Kickstarter Project, New Union Infantry!

Please join us in our goal to make a new set of Union Infantry possible!! Check us out on Kickstarter, and join the cause!!

Please see news.cunnyngham.com for all the latest information!

Chicago

Just a few pictures.  Posting from my phone which isnt easy.  Will do more later.

Modern NATO by ESCI

Made in Italy by ESCI, Modern NATO troops

I've always been a fan of the "modern" troops produced by both ESCI and Airfix.  Though a touch on the smaller side, at 1/35, they are a nicely sculpted and have a lot of detail, especially for being rather flat.  The set above was done in two colors that I know of, the flat green and the dark, shiny green.  I much prefer the flat green, as the shiny color tends to hide a lot of the detail on the figures.

I picked up a full set at an antique store recently for pretty cheap.  These were probably released in the 80's (somebody correct me if I'm wrong), so you can still find these floating around fairly easily.  I remember seeing a lot of ESCI/ERTL figures at my local general store when I was a kid, mostly the 1/72 figures though.

We're going out antiquing again today, so hopefully I'll find another little "treasure".

Welcome to Cunnyngham Collectibles

Two years ago while driving home from the Chicago show, my wife turned down the radio, looked at me, and said "we could do that too.".  I had no idea what she was talking about, but she explained that we could, if we wanted to, start our own toy soldier company.  And so we began the long journey of figuring out exactly what we wanted to accomplish, and how we wanted to go about it.

After lots of work, I'd like to introduce you to our new online home and our new website...

Welcome to Cunnyngham Collectibles

Maker of Fine 1/32 toy soldiers

This Coming Monday

With the San Antonio Show fast approaching, we are busily preparing for our official "switch". We have most of the details worked out, and our new online home is just about ready.

I'll be gone this coming weekend, but please visit us this coming Monday, and you'll see what we've been leading up to for awhile!!


I can't tell you how excited we are! This is one of the most exciting projects I've ever been involved with, and I can't wait to share it with you.

Have a great weekend!!

New Character Figures

Steve Weston is offering the newest Replicants on his site including Thomas Paine, Simon de Montfort, and Bill Cody.  

Not sure if they have made it to any other dealers yet or not.

I also noticed on both the Hat site and the TSSD site that the newest Hat 1/32 figures should be available shortly.  

Stay Tuned...

Within the next few days, I'll be giving you a link that will show you what we've been working on.  It will, in fact, take the place of this website.  In a way, it's fairly sad that after 5 years, The Plastic Battalion will cease to exist.  But I can't wait to show you what's taking it's place!

Stay tuned for the next phase.  You won't be disappointed.

21st Century Toys

TSSD's website has a short note about 21st Century Toys. If it means what I think we all assume it means, that's too bad. I always appreciated that they could bring historically accurate toys back to the mainstream market. While I didn't collect all their lines, I always looked forward to browsing the O.D. Green section of Wal-Mart, and now that it's not there anymore... kind of depressing. Their 1/32 vehicles were amazing, and their figures were always a nice addition to any battlefield. Wish they had gotten the chance to release a few more figure sets, including the WWII British and the Marines that were advertised a few times.

quick Highlight of the book Appaloosa

I don't read a lot of fiction. And I don't read fast. I usually read a couple pages at a time, and spread a book out over a month or so.

But yesterday, during my work as a librarian I came across the book Appaloosa by Robert B. Parker. I picked it up and read the intro just to get a feel for the book. It was really, really good. I took it home and read it in a single sitting, which I think I've only ever done once before with a book. Much better than the movie that portrayed it. If you're into westerns, or simply a good story, give it a shot.

All right, now back to the unintelligible ramblings that have been leading up to June...
Keep a sharp eye. Never know where a code might pop up.

...

"I soon saw that we were the reserve, which is a dreaded position when kept up, for you will hear the roar of the battling front... one may be shot down and not so much as raise a hand in self defense..."

William Fletcher
5th Texas
Seven Days Battles

...

"I always shot at privates. It was they that did the shooting and killing, and if I could kill or wound a private, why, my chances were so much the better."

Sam Watkins
1st Tennessee Infantry

any clearer?

Tell Your Friends!

Things are moving right along here. Nothing to see quite yet, but soon. Very soon. As in, less than a month. Tell your Friends! They won't want to miss out.

Great YouTube video!

I had to pass this along. My buddy Greg sent this to me. I know a few of you out there are Reenactors as well, so you might enjoy this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsz3Fpy0Jkk&feature=related

Shifting, Shifting, ever Shifting

whilst the minute hand moves, time has no choice
moves one to the right, as if it has no voice.
what once was two now turns to three
just as what once was B now turns to C

Just as six before, the clues in colors
the clock turns clockwise, ignore the others
won't give it all, but just the gist
and if you still don't get it, try not to be... upset.

Fun and games for those that try
but also feel free to take a bye
but be sure to be here for the start of June
I might just be able to make you swoon

This site is getting to be a real "enigma"

AKZKX RXAXD JFWXQ KAJND ORLSH DCXDZ DNTIY G

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/decoding/virtwave.html
figure out what's coming soon, and you'll be close to your three letter key code

The Red Herring

Ten little Soldier boys went out to dine; One choked his little self and then there were nine.

Nine little Soldier boys sat up very late; One overslept himself and then there were eight.

Eight little Soldier boys traveling in Devon; One said he'd stay there and then there were seven.

Seven little Soldier boys chopping up sticks; One chopped himself in halves and then there were six.

The Plastic Battalion Mixed Alphabet, Caesar would be Proud

AKJITSTOPRT DJIPJROY AKHDJC QKKJ!!!

look for the "cipher" in the title.

....

(20-4) (12) (8-7) (19) (17+3) (3x3) (3) ----- (2) (1) (5x4) (23-3) (1) (3x4) (9) (13+2) (14) -----(18-4) (3x5) ----- (13) (7+8) (18) (7-2).

......

...

"For two years the Regulars taught us how to be soldiers; in the Wheatfield at Gettysburg they taught us how to die like soldiers."

An admiring Volunteer watching the Regulars sacrifice themselves to allow other Federal troops to escape, July 2, 1863.