Toy Soldier Collector Historical Figures – September 2026

Summary

Issue 129 of Toy Soldier Collector lands at £6.50 with the Anglo-Zulu War's Battle of Ulundi on the cover and a second world-war German street diorama inside. James Opie marks the Somme's 110th anniversary with a full-scale feature on the war to end all wars, while Mike Williams profiles Soviet tank-killer teams armed with PTRS-41 anti-tank rifles. The London Toy Soldier and Plastic Modelling Show returns for spring.

James S. Bucholz profiles Charles Marcak, the Polish-American sculptor whose lost trooper figure became a collector's obsession. Ted Sahlin visits venerable French maker CBG Mignot in Paris, tracing the company's 200-year moulds. Scott J. Dummitt covers the Ontario Model Soldier Society's On Parade show in Toronto. Craig Warner's WWII diorama anchors the Collector's Story on page 52. Paul Newman's Kit Korner walks model figure painters through a project from primer to final wash.

New Releases on page 12 covers the latest injection kits and metal castings from Britain, Germany, and the US. A Look at Books on page 88 reviews recent military history and modelling titles. The calendar of events runs through October shows across the UK, North America, and Europe. Prince August opens its doors for visitors on page 96. Issue 130 gets a sneak peek on the final page.

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Content Guide

▸ Features / Shows & Events / Collector Stories / Reviews / Regulars

p.12 · New Releases
The latest injection kits, resin figures, and metal castings from W. Britain, First Legion, and King & Country hit the shelves. Check Hatcher's Toy Soldiers for pre-order dates on the new Britains Zulu War range timed to the feature.

p.30 · The Empire Strikes Back!
Lord Chelmsford's 1879 march on Ulundi gets the full-diorama treatment with massed ranks of Zulu warriors and British infantry. Paint 24th Foot redcoats with Foundry Paints 13A-13C for a match to the original Victorian service tunics.

p.36 · The Magnificent Marcak and the Lost Trooper
James S. Bucholz traces Charles Marcak, the Polish-American sculptor who created one of the most sought-after single figures in the hobby. Marcak moulds still turn up at estate sales — check the base stamp for "CM" initials.

p.42 · Visiting Venerable Maker CBG Mignot
Ted Sahlin visits the Paris workshop of CBG Mignot, the French toy soldier maker operating since 1825 with original boxwood moulds still in use. Mignot's 54mm flat figures remain unpainted in the French tradition; buy direct from the rue des Archives boutique.

p.52 · Collector's Story: Craig Warner's WWII Diorama
Craig Warner builds a war-torn German street scene with knocked-out armour and rubble. He used plaster dust mixed with PVA glue for a scale rubble effect that dries hard enough to support vehicle weight.

p.62 · Soviet Enemy Tank Killers
Mike Williams profiles Soviet anti-tank teams carrying PTRS-41 rifles, Simonov automatic rifles, and Molotov cocktails during Operation Barbarossa. Model the PTRS-41 with a crew of two — one shooter, one spotter — for an accurate early-war vignette.

p.66 · The War to End All Wars
James Opie marks the 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme with a feature on trench diorama techniques and British Expeditionary Force uniforms. Use Tamiya XF-49 khaki drab for the 1916 British service dress tunic.

p.96 · A Visit to Prince August
Prince August in Ireland opens its doors to collectors and mould-makers, demonstrating home-casting with lead-free pewter alloys. Buy a starter mould kit directly from their Cork foundry for under €50.

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Editor's Take

This is the most balanced Toy Soldier Collector issue in recent memory: the Zulu War cover feature is backed by real museum-grade research, while Marcak and Mignot profiles satisfy the artisan-collector segment without over-indexing on one hobby niche. The Somme piece is timely for the anniversary. Weakness: the Kit Korner page by Paul Newman is too short — one finished figure photo does not justify a full page. The noticeboard section runs four pages of small-type ads that could have been compressed. Best for active diorama builders and metal-figure painters; casual collectors may find the paint recipes too detailed.

Strengths
• Anglo-Zulu War feature anchors the issue with serious research
• Marcak profile tracks a genuine lost artist
• Prince August casting guide adds practical value

Weaknesses
• Kit Korner runs only one project photo for a full page
• Noticeboard ads waste editorial space

Verdict: Recommended — Solid mix of history, collecting, and making; skip if you collect only plastics.