Modelling Toy Soldiers

The nature of toy soldiers means that a perfectly satisfactory result can be achieved by those with only rudimentary modelling skills. The reader of this book is taken through every stage in the modelling of an individual toy soldier. It starts with a look at basic human anatomy and the making of a skeleton or armature. Different modelling materials, tools and techniques are discussed as the soldier takes shape, and advice is given on the choice of era, regiment and uniform. Once the first soldier has been produced, the reader can settle down to perfecting newly-acquired skills, or proceed to the study of the mould-making and casting methods which facilitate mass production. By these means, a single master figure can be replicated and simple painting techniques quickly transform plain metal castings into colourful massed ranks. The book concludes with suggestions for the storage and display of potentially valuable soldiers and there is a chapter devoted to the establishment of a small business.