Few miles away from where we live is what used to be a garden centre. Over the years it expanded and now calls itself a retail park.A while back a seafood shack appeared selling assorted shellfish three days a week... so today (Friday) we thought we'd go and get some.
We arrived a bit after opening time - and it was shut. So we wandered around the centre. Couple of 'shops' we hadn't been in before or particulary noticed - one was a kind of craft centre that also sold a few tinplate toys. The other was basically a bric-a-brac shop...
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| This lot were the second buy. 6 little trawlers. Actually you can buy these cheaply in most sea side towns, it's just that these ones were cheaper and the timing was right! |
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| Very much just novelties, they would probably suit 15mm rather than 20mm, but they'll do the job. |
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| Size wise they fit nicely between my other fishing boats. |
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| Chronologically this tin plate flying boat was my first buy. As you can see from the pilot and copilot it sits nicely with 25mm figures. I suppose I could take out those big wheels and clockwork mechanism and repaint it. I won't though. As it stands it has character! |
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| Another view that helps show how well it fits in with 25mm figures. I admit I really like this 'toy'. |
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| Before I bought the above this post was originally going to start here! This is most of my 'fleet' that is currently useable or repairable - haven't included a couple of vessels, including the 20mm resin cargo ship. |
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| One of the things I said I would do is compare New Providence with the Arctic Princess. They are similar in many ways, but I think the extra size of the paddle steamer makes for a more useful ship for 25mm figures. So I might do an upsized version of the Arctic Princess at some stage. Possibly like the paddle steamer but with 2 funnels? |
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| I did a number of cargo ship variants using the Tealight Ironclad templates. Although useful, none of the wheelhouse/bridge areas were really satisfactory - much happier with the balsa wheelhouse/bridge designs. So I might do a couple of balsa cargo ships to replace these rather than repair them. Might have to carve a U Boat at some stage... |
So that is probably (probably) the end of my ship building for a while, though possibly not an end to ship repairing. See how it goes. Considering I had only originally intended to do a couple of fishing boats!
Wow! I major fleet there Rob! A big win with the fishing boats and the flying boat is awesome!
ReplyDeleteIt's a Topsy fleet. 'It growed'.
DeleteA fantastic flock of ships!
ReplyDeleteAlan Tradgardland
Downside is that it isn't the sort where they can all be used - but then, 'designed' for individual use in pulp scenarios. Perhaps I need to think about multiple ship actions?
DeleteThose trawlers need some flags or they're just asking to be mistaken for Japanese torpedo boats by the Russian Baltic Fleet!
ReplyDeleteThe flying boat is gorgeous and the wheels make it look like it's on a trolley like those used to move them in / out of the water. If they were cheap it would be nice to get a second one for some airborne and, or, aquatic nonsense.
It cost a tenner - only one they had. I just couldn't resist!
DeleteI love the fishing boats… and your impressive fleet.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that I am a bit of a sucker for a nice looking tinplate toy…
All the best. Aly
There is something about tinplate toys, isn't there?
DeleteI have seen these kind of fishing boats for sale in souvenir shops even here in New Zealand I think Rob - they do look quite effective! It's a poor wargamer who goes anywhere and can't find something useful he (she) can repurpose for wargaming!
ReplyDeleteSandra and I are a strange pair when it comes to visiting places. She spends all her time taking photos - first visit I doubt she sees anything until she looks at the photos. I spend my time looking in various shops thinking' I'm sure I could use ... for SOMETHING at some time in the future.
DeleteThose trawlers seem an excellent buy. No nose-sniffing about those! And your fleet is bigger than the UK navy and probably more useful
ReplyDeletePure opportunism. Plus they serve a different purpose to the ones I made - couldn't use them for 25mm, for instance, - and have several possibilities of their own!
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