ACW for Kids with Marx toy soldiers

[davbenbak1]

I started this project when my kids discovered my old toy soldiers in the attic. The recasts are surprisingly cheap if you order Confederates cast in blue or Yankees in grey (the Chinese don't seem to know the difference). I added a few "Armies in Plastic" figures for variety. First I glued fender washers to the base of each figure.

Then put peel and stick magnet sheets on 3"X3" squares and spray painted green.

Each full strength unit gets 12 figures. Figures can be removed as casualties occur.

My first battle will be Bull Run. I will post something in the "Wargaming " forum along with a description of the rules.

[Kekso]

Looks good so far. Do you plan to paint them?

[Ochoin]

If it matters, a quick spray of the relevant blue or grey is a quick solution (use Krylon plastic spray paint for preference: it won't peel).

donald

[Peter]

Looks like great fun for your kids! Now show them painted!

[Beano Boy]

Nice looking figures.
I used to buy many a Toy Figure from the USA, but Shipping Cost`s are Crippling ,and one only has to look at USA E Bay Sites to realise trade is being damaged. I buy mainly from the Far East now which have low Shipping Costs. However I miss not being able to buy good Wild West Toy Figures, and those in this topic. BB

[Ochoin]

And where's the cavalry?

donald

[davbenbak1]

With the help of Krylon some figures have switched sides but on the whole I am hesitant to paint them (especially my original Marx figures from the 70's). I want this to game to have a very "hands on" feel for kids and when the figures are painted they just don't have that toy soldier appeal. I may give in and paint some of the generals.

[Ochoin]

As a mere suggestion, you could give the figures a "toy soldier" paint job: simplified, flat colours & shiny.

Even add roses to their cheeks:

http://www.oocities.org/Infantry8thMO/J ... loseUp.jpg

Regardless, I admire your project.

donald

[vellek]

These bring back fond memories of 'The Blue and the Gray' from the Sears Wish Book, and hours of battles on Christmas Day. Funny how no matter how tough the fighting, the Union always won the day!!!

[davbenbak1]

@vellek
Amazing!! Exactly how I came by these figures. My friend got Guns of Navarone for Christmas so we played WWII at his house and ACW at mine. No telling how many figures were lost to an early grave somewhere in the back yard.

[davbenbak1]

Here's all the units on the field for Bull Run.

Each three base unit is a brigade. I'll get a game in this weekend with the kids.

[davbenbak1]

Here is the carnage wrought by two 10 year olds. Most units suffered 100% casualty rates.

Warning: No plastic figures were harmed in the making of this battle.

[Peter]

Must have been a hard battle as I don't see many standing figures!

I hope they had fun!

[Susofrick]

Oh my, two of them are drowning! Great report and fun pics!