Matchbox 1/32 American Infantry. 1970s Classic Toy Soldier Set!

[@alonzocalvillo6702]

I am 75 and I grew up playing with these as a kid.This must have been way back in 1956 or thereabouts.If you didn't played with these toy soldiers you missed out on a lot of fun.

[@BadmanPictures]

the zoomer generation missed out on so many great things that you had access to. thanks for reminding us of our demise.

[@lukasg2786]

Crazy but, I was born in 2000, and I also had toy soldiers lol, imagination made the whole game not figures itself

[@Yourlocalm4a3sherman69]

I remember when I was 5 my dad bought a TON of army men for me I remember having a tank and more

[@victorjohnson3491]

Man I’m 55yrs. Old and as a kid 7 or 8 yrs. Old, I use to love these…. Everytime I go to the store with my mom…. I go straight to the toy isle to look for these army dudes…. Go home and play with them on my mom’s coffee table which she didn’t approve of!!…. I remember getting the jeeps and tanks…. My favorite was the guy with the bazooka!!…. This really takes me way back!!…. Cool nostalgic video!✊🏿😏👍…. Thanks for sharing the memories…

[@toysoldiernostalgia]

Thanks for sharing your memories. That`s why I started this channel.

[@panigalecheckmate1549]

..so I did...greetings from Germany , Jörg

[@jason200912]

And now you get to play with real guns

[@jebstuart4004]

my father bought for himself Airfix in the 70's, i used to play with them in the mid 80's, i remember playing with friends in the garden. great memories. things that nowadays kids don't know.

[@markborner291]

I loved this set and it was one of my favourites from Matchbox. The guy with the walkie talkie and greasegun and the commander shooting the Colt 1911 were my favourites. Looking at these now it's amazing how much detail they molded into them and I've seen worse 1:35 model figures produced by some companies quite recently!

[@DBM67]

I still have all my sets.

[@shonseibert48]

I have 5 loose ones in great shape, I was born in 71 n used to love these

[@johnmainwaring6556]

I grew up in the 70s and Airfix 1/32 were the go to 'toy' soldiers, and then matchbox came along with kind of 'action figure' approach and better weapons, detailing, even accessories in some sets etc. Every though the proportions of the figures were a bit doll-like, they won us over. We used to set up opposing armies of 1/32 soldiers (and later the better 1/72scale) and throw batteries, and other small objects in turns until last man standing.

[@PopularesVox]

I collected a lot of plastic soldiers when I was a kid. I had all of the Airfix boxes of figures both 1/32 and 1/72 scale and was always on the lookout for more. I remember visiting the local news agent with my mom one day and being thrilled to find Matchbox sets of figures and thereafter saved my pocket money to buy them. They were 1/72 scale and had the American, German and British soldiers joining my battles on the living room carpet.

[@panigalecheckmate1549]

Me too Grüße aus Germany, Jörg

[@PopularesVox]

@@panigalecheckmate1549 I covered the living room floor with extensive battles Jörg. So much so, my mother said no more "little men" as we called them. So I took to visiting toy shops myself buying them with my pocket money, and hiding the boxes under my bed.😃😅

[@Duececoupe]

Grew up with the Airfix and Matchbox figures, back in the 70's and early 80's....oh the memories of hours of fun! 🥺😁😎

[@geniol28186]

The Matchbox cars with the "Made in England" logo below, one of the most endearing objects of my childhood 🤤 🚗

[@ronaldmcdonald8303]

I've been into army men since I was at least 13! I've been a fan ever since, I still have my American soldiers from the early 90s. Where I live people are always telling me I should throw out my soldiers, or ask me why I like toys saying I'm an adult. However since I joined YT I have found dozens of adults who like the things I like. Even retro gamers. I also enjoy Airfix and there was a shop up the road from me run by a man in his 50s or 60s. I'm 34 and I love my army men, I also do Airfix models too. A lot of my spare cash goes on my army collection. I'm saving up for a big order of BMC toys from America, I just need the orange ones and I'll be complete. Too many people spend all their time on their phones. I prefer to play with my soldiers. I have only had my OPPO for 18 months and sometimes I only use it to make calls. These army men of mine are just my thing, I also have a collection of Airfix models to assemble. I grew up in the 90s and early 00s, a brilliant time to be a kid, unfortunately after I turned 13 my life went down hill, my brother thinks the reason I prefer older things is because I want to go back to those happier days.

[@a_world_made_of_cardboard]

I played with just about every plastic figure type ever made. Not just army men, but cavemen, astronauts, Knights, and soldiers from other eras. I still have a large collection. Great fun, great memories. I just subscribed

[@kazquillo]

I give credit to toy soldiers for my lifelong interest in history, my family was poor as hell growing up, one of the few toys we could afford were toy soldier sets that i used to buy at the local woolworth.

[@tenoristuk1]

The officer in the coat shooting the pistol is in a pretty cool WWII era pose, shooting one handed with his free hand extended backwards.

[@toysoldiernostalgia]

True ww2 movie style 😀

[@patmann9363]

Great figure always remember that one for some reason.

[@paulbfields8284]

These were the holy grail of combat soldier when I was a kid. I wonder how many hours I spent imagining a war going on in my living room..

[@toysoldier68]

Great set and review. Loved them as a child so much!

[@toysoldiernostalgia]

Thanks.

[@jphakola]

Had a box of these at 1:72 scale when young. long term casualty rates in the sandbox battles were at least 95% due the figures lost to somewhere.. good memories

[@quasar8898]

I have several sets of these. I like the use of actual rifles as opposed to carbines or smgs. The hand held radio is also great- as most sets from any maker use the backpack radio, if they even have a radioman. Historically, US units had something like 20 handhelds for every one larger radio in use.

[@kimhaggerty4367]

My mum spent hours and hours painting the hands and faces for pennies in the fifties we had boxes of them all over the house

[@toysoldiernostalgia]

Who did she paint them for?

[@kimhaggerty4367]

@@toysoldiernostalgia unfortunately I can't remember sorry ,they were delivered in plain boxes on a Monday to our house and she would paint them in the evenings ,,but she only ever painted face and hands

[@minerva-265]

I had so much fun with this as a kid. I really liked it.

[@elforeigner3260]

I had whole divisions of German, British and American soldiers… I could stay for hours playing 😀😀😀

[@gregcoker4527]

I remember when this set came out. In my memory it was 1979. They were VERY cool with great poses.

[@nos2342]

The matchbox figures are amazing!!

[@Andrew-qx8kg]

I have hundreds of these somewhere in my house German, Australian, Japanese, American and British soldiers. I had massive battles with them even painted some. But alas I never kept any boxes. As a kid I ripped them up to get at my troops. The German paratrooper box was pretty cool as was the Australian troops with one guy attacking with a machete. The Japanese officer had a samurai sword. Such detail.

[@emeraldfury2152]

Awesome!, I also own the Airfix Australian infantry and the German infantry but they are small, but soon I'll try to buy more sets similar to those

[@glenndouglas8822]

Any kid that didn't rip or lose the box was a weirdo. Who saved boxes as a kid 😂

[@Zwakkie05]

I have the British commandos (P-6006 1/32) and play them in mine childhood 😊👍🏻. I have also the complete collection from the 1/76 scale.

[@febreze1836]

Here in America getting these European company toy soldiers are basically impossible sadly. Not impossible but if I find some they are just super expensive and not worth my money. It’s sad because I really love the vintage matchbox toy soldiers including the vintage Airfix but sadly it’s almost impossible to find them and if I do it almost costs a fortune just for 15-10 figures in a crummy box. But thanks for reviewing these figs!

[@toysoldiernostalgia]

Did you check out any toy soldier conventions? Maybe the prices are bit better irl then on Ebay.

[@febreze1836]

Yeah I’ll definitely have to go and find out. Sadly where I live doesn’t have any toy soldier conventions but I know just the place even if it’s pretty far away. I am too skeptical I guess but I’ll definitely check them out. Thanks for the suggestion👍

[@Emdee5632]

I live in Europe and I've said it before on this channel: I WISH I had bought more boxes of the same sets in the 1970s and early 1980s. They were sooo cheap. Every toy store had them.

[@dad_jokes_4ever226]

Loved these as a kid

[@knighthospitaller5493]

Thanks for sharing! Very nice! I started collecting Matchbox, Hot Wheels, Zylemex and other military vehicles at the age of 7. I'm in my mid 50's now and have a massive collection of over 800 pieces. All this brings back so many memories.

[@manweller1]

I don't think Airfix had any Flame throwers or Snipers sadly. Matchbox had the edge there.

[@skylongskylong1982]

Airfix US Marines 1/76 scale had three flamethrowers per box.

[@manweller1]

@@skylongskylong1982 my bad your correct. I should have stated in 1.32 scale.

[@theminiatureconstructionco4556]

Gosh this takes me back to my childhood. I think I had one of each nation. Over matchbox models. 👍👍

[@eltenda]

A true classic! The sill look awesome

[@daviddealba1988]

An unknown Mexican company cloned this and other sets of soldiers original from Matchbox (German and British soldiers namely) in the 1980s. They would strike me distinctively because of the amazing degree of detail by the time. I was fascinated by them, but it would take me 40 plus years to find out their Matchbox authorship. That's made me like them even more.

[@toysoldiernostalgia]

Is it still possible to find the Mexican clones?

[@IMCproductions]

@@toysoldiernostalgia yes, i actually bought a huge lot of decent matchbox clones made in Mexico City

[@IMCproductions]

Ah a fellow Mexican collector

[@IMCproductions]

I think the name of the company was called Pepsa, they also cloned airfix paratroopers

[@KingPiotyr]

woah the memories... damn this brings me back

[@teddyboo7843]

Geez, back in the 70s playing army men in the dirt and sometimes melting the enemy with a packet of matches.

[@jubsy]

wow thanks for posting this. I had about a dozen of these in the 80's and have wondered ever since where these amazing figures came from.

[@toysoldiernostalgia]

Same as me then I guess. I never hd a full set of Matchbox. Just the odd figure traded with friends.

[@markmiller6402]

I had hundreds of these, battles with my brothers were epic haha

[@claytongrice7164]

I loved these as a kid . . . Wish Matchbox would re-introduce these and the smaller sized ones again! They must have the molds somewhere!

[@karlbeck421]

Used to love them. SAS and commando sets were my.favourite

[@OneofInfinity.]

This brings some memories back 👍🏼

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

Very nice set. The M3 grease gun is excellent as very few companies used that.

[@vincnetjones3037]

in 1/72 they were well decent too. An advancement in plastic in I think 1982. Really quite good in the variety of poses and quality of figures.

[@ObiwanNekody]

I greatly appreciate the documentation of these older toys.

[@Nooziterp1]

I had some just like that when I was 12! American, British and German. How many battles I had. The allies always won of course!

[@anastasios4415]

Another jewel from Matchbox ,thanks for the video !!! Greetings from Greece , mate !!!

[@toysoldiernostalgia]

You´re welcome. Cheers mate 😃

[@joelellberg5160]

I loved Matchbox figures. 😍 Many hours of fun as a child! Great video.

[@toysoldiernostalgia]

Thanks.

[@Aegelis]

I grew up an 80's kid, so I missed out on these. I had the dime-a-dozen packs with scant details, limp weapons, and plastic chads hanging off of them but what they lacked in quality was made up for in number. One day I had surrounded the living room on every mantle and ledge, much to my father's astonishment when he came home from work. Really cool how you discussed the details, roles, and equipment of these figures and will be paying closer attention from here on out. I can say for sure anything with a medium machine gun or flamethrower was by far the favourite.

[@marcelomendoza881]

what wanderful memories, congratulations

[@genesismaboloc7398]

I'm always remembering my memories about those soldiers that i played all the time and created stop motions with it i always remember my old good days i have those literally like i just found in the toy alley from the store

[@manningjackson2723]

Great video! Keep up the great work mate! 👍

[@tomasgonzalezmarin6118]

I had this box and loved it!!!! Loved Matchbox!!! Regards from Chile! :-)

[@joeokabayashi8669]

I love this set because it is one of the few that features US Infantrymen with M1 Garand vice the others that feature toooo many M1 Carbines and M3 "Grease Guns." Not enough M1 Garands out there. Thank you for the review.

[@toysoldiernostalgia]

Thanks for watching.

[@beendoneagain]

I only had Airfix as a kid (almost every set) but I started collecting again and have bought a few sets of Matchbox and they are very nice detail.

[@jameswhitehouse5706]

Nice videos you are making here. I still have all my Airfix and Matchbox sets but not boxed. They are in metal biscuit tins in the loft along with Sea Kings and Battle Kings and Britains Deetail and all sorts of old stuff. I did enjoy the Matchbox sets though the Airfix had so much more variety. The 1/72 Matchbox Japanese set was amazing and I was so sad it never came out in 1/32.

[@Bilingord]

My Parents buy this for me at a Walmart in Argentina in early 90s !! I was very little. But I remember Them couse I Lost The Bayonnet Guy in a Sand silo from a House in construction near bye and i was desolated😢. Thankfully I kept The Pistol Oficer till this day 😊

[@damionkeeling3103]

I don't recall these being available when I was a kid. We had the 1/76 original? version and there were also cheaper versions in 1/76 and 1/32 from toy companies in Hong Kong of variable quality from really good to dried tomato.

[@HerrKurt]

I was little boy my dad bought german Japanese russian plastic toy soldiers also american plastic toy soldiers i played with them every day but now I see toy store really rare to sell it

[@topcat4759]

I owned this set in 1/72nd scale back in 1976. Along with the Matchbox "Battle Kings" M3 halftrack they made a great set. The 1/32nd scale set are virtually identical but I only had the German figures in this scale. The "Patton" figure and his NCO with the walkie talkie are my favourites. 50 cal.is also a great figure. Airfix did not do an infantry set at the time just marines so the Matchbox set were a great option.

[@damionkeeling3103]

I remember losing one of the bazooka guys down a flagpole mount in the playground.

[@caltblake6112]

was mad on these as a kid thanks

[@victormontes7007]

they knew how to make toys back then

[@esculapiogonzalez9590]

Tuve varias tropas Matchbox en mi infancia siento no haberlas conservado eran maravillosas realmente

[@michaelhearn3831]

I’ve still got loads of these in my loft once in a while I open them up and reminisce…😂🤣🤷🏼‍♂️👍🏻🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@myramadd6651]

My favorites of the old army men were the flamethrower, the bazooka and the mortar

[@PeterD75]

I had as a kid lots of them...😍🥰😍

[@MichaelT199]

Excellent figures. Excellent video.

[@toysoldiernostalgia]

Thanks.

[@rolfagten857]

The running soldier is just the image of US 101 airborne captain Winters from BOB.

[@toysoldiernostalgia]

I have to have a look and see.

[@rolfagten857]

@@toysoldiernostalgia From the Normandy The Brécourt Manor Assault monument.

[@toysoldiernostalgia]

@@rolfagten857 cool thanks. I’ll check it out.

[@madlenellul3430]

Yes this was a fantastic set..My ‘dirty dozen’…👵🇦🇺🇺🇸

[@spritbong5285]

Matchbox model tanks were superb.

[@toysoldiernostalgia]

I hade some of them that came with the little diorama. I´m slowly buying some of them now so I can build them again.

[@stephenmcmahon5833]

Wonderful stuff. Thank you

[@toysoldiernostalgia]

Thanks for watching.

[@waynewhitfield409]

Great video nice to see other people enjoy these great sets . Don’t want to be to historical but Patton didn’t use the 1911. I believe had two pearl handle revolvers .So, it was, when World War II exploded, Patton shipped out with at least four pistols and four custom-made holsters. The S&W . 357 and Colt . 45 revolvers he wore in left and right matched holsters in the Myers-made rig.

[@jarradmoore6939]

I’ve still got these….not in the box tho…..well played with 40 years ago

[@danielgonzalezlopez5334]

De niño tuve toda la coleccion de matchbox a los dos tamaños conservo los de escala pequeña los japoneses eran extraordinarios y los anzacs con una mula de carga.Eran mis preferidos eran figuras estupendas.La pena que se quedaron cortos tardaron mucho en hacer novedades.Los ultimos la infanteria inglesa en malvinas.Los dibujos de sus cajas eran maravillosos mostrando las posturas que realmente salian en las figuras.

[@toysoldiernostalgia]

I totaly agree :)

[@paulofreire7520]

Very cool set 👍🏻

[@eddyjohan8650]

I bought this set in 1981. Had great time playing them against airfix africa corp and japanese infantry. Still have them lock up somewhere. Maybe I'll play them with my grandkids in couple of years.

[@eddyjohan8650]

The strange looking french helmet somehow turn me off really ha ha ha. Never got the urge to add em to the collection.

[@eddyjohan8650]

@Wallace Carney The strange looking french helmet somehow turn me off ha ha ha. Spend years waiting for airfix 1/32 british troops to come, not the multipose version.

[@paulkirk7120]

Wow this takes me back. I had loads of Matchbox 1:76 as opposed to this scale. Afrika Korps, German and Japanese Infantry for the Axis. 8th Army, US and Aussies for the Allies. Wish I still had them.

[@georgeaitken2719]

Remember collecting both scales of these the smaller scale they used 1.76 scale which made them smaller than airfix my favourite was the 8th army one my only gripe was the large amount of Bren gun armed troops

[@SoapinTrucker]

I never saw or knew about these, but had Matchbox vehicles that came in a little box for 50c? or so (late 60's). Anyway, I did have toy soldiers though, they were a staple in the toy section at the grocery store during Vietnam! I think a bag of them cost less than a dollar? Some fancier sets came with other stuff besides soldiers, but they always came in a plastic bag in the toy section! Mom & Dad would bring them home as a treat once in awhile, or a real working parachute trooper. Please, remember I was a KID, I didn't make or even know/understand, the connection between what was REALLY going on in Vietnam, and my playing with toys in the dirt.

[@toysoldiernostalgia]

Boys have always and will always play "war". It´s part of taking on challenges and solving problems in a social setting where you learn to compromise and interact. And of course we at that age didn´t understand the horrors of real war.

[@robertrobert7924]

I had similar green Army men in the 1950s. I think I bought them in plastic bags at the 5 & 10 cent store. I remember shooting them with my Daisy BB gun. I also would light them on fire with a match and they would melt as I held their base in my hands. The noise they made as droplets of melting plastic fell to the ground was a very distinct Vuit, Vuit, Vuit. I loved the bazooka man and the grenade thrower who held the grenade in a classic Greek shot put throwing postion. In 1968 at Army basic training I made the mistake of throwing a live grenade like a shot put. The training technician grabbed me and pulled me into a foxhole because the grenade did not fly very far away. I felt like an idiot.

[@goldmanjace]

I still have those LOL

[@robwilliamsfn9425]

Matchbox always had the best box art, too.

[@toysoldiernostalgia]

I think it is making one soldier bigger that for some reason realy makes the Matchbox boxes stick out.

[@mark6310]

The Matchbox sets were very nice, lots of detail and the quality was very good.Shame they are not in production still because they are so hard to find.Revell must have purchased these molds because they were manufacturing these figures some years back but discontinued them.The Airix sets I don't like them now because of the material they use.Its a cheap hard resin plastic that is not durable and breaks very easily.

[@toysoldiernostalgia]

I have to get my hands on some of those Revell sets.

[@iangreen4572]

These were better than the Airfix equivalent but i like the Airfix multipose sets

[@toysoldiernostalgia]

I only had one multipose set when I was a kid. Need to get my hands on some.

[@eddyjohan8650]

The airfix multipose sets were really good.even better than tamiya's figures. I got the Africa Kor when I was thirteen.

[@WarmasAsunnedcat]

Always had airfix never came across matchbox but I think the matchbox sets had a lot more action poses. Got them all now 😊

[@charlesgarnier4255]

I sent a large bag of similar soldiers to my sister and brother in law when on deployment in afganistan the troops had more fun with these.

[@IMCproductions]

I grew up with Chinese and Mexican clones, the only bad thing of the early 2000’s Chinese clones is of course the lack of detail and the fact that the guy with the pistol is missing, but at least the Chinese manufacturers decided to add a bazooka pose, while Mexican manufacturers never added the bazooka pose, they added the officer with the pistol

[@geoffsullivan4063]

Now I know what's behind the term "he got greased" as in "killed" or "murdered"! 😁 👍

[@dmozonnersepicoutdooradven3524]

I never had any of these. Very cool video. Thank you.

[@manofaction1807]

Great looking figures. Who has the molds for these guys, now?

[@toysoldiernostalgia]

Don´t know. Revell did a recast some years ago.

[@privatechannel8462]

The matchbox stuff was very good, slightly smaller 1/76 ish i think. But really well sculpted. Sorry was talking about the 1/72 stuff

[@privatechannel8462]

Thats funny i came here to say the same thing....

[@dylantomlinson218]

my dad has a massive collection of the English commandos and German Africa corps

[@toysoldiernostalgia]

All Matchbox or Airfix as well?

[@dylantomlinson218]

@@toysoldiernostalgia matchbox

[@gieselats]

I had the airfix 1:32 toysoldiers od the US army. And i loved them. The poses of the matchbox set are so much different to the airfix one. Really nice. Keep up the good work.

[@ionqueiroz554]

Eu amo esses briquedos cara!

[@chriswalkerMYthSELF]

In my plastic toy soldier actions (very experienced ;0) house and garden play games late 70's early 80's) matchbox were great as 'character additions' but one always filled out the main force with airfix figures. ... But the value of character is not to be under estimated... in game set ups one might swap a whole squad of airfix figures to get to play with one of the matchbox soldiers... ... ... :0)

[@gregpower308]

I swear the box art is based on Ronald Reagan. 😂👍👍 I preferred the Matchbox to the Airfix due to the more exciting poses but Airfix were more available.

[@szymonziolkowski5967]

Looks intresting 😊

[@peterkean5199]

Matchbox figures were far superior to Airfix in both 1/32 and 1/72. Had a brilliant Matchbox battle set with a ruined building, many hours spent playing with that.

[@eddyjohan8650]

I would like to suggest you give a look at airfix 1/32 us paratroopers. The detail on those figures are really amazing. Airfix german troops are quite dissappointing, except for the grenade throwing guy. Matchbox british desert rats are way far better than airfix 8th army.

[@arifeldman6365]

I could be mistaken, but I think there was a Matchbox 1/72 scale set with exactly the same molds

[@toysoldiernostalgia]

You´re correct. There were 8 ww2 sets in 1/72 but only 6 in 1/32.

[@grahamlloyd7157]

I only had airfix and britains...these look good!

[@jadeandreiindita4466]

This is my dream toy icant just get it

[@glencochrane901]

Matchbox was ok, I liked Airfix better. You got more guys.

[@toysoldiernostalgia]

I`m back and forth with which I like best. Now that I`ve been doing a bunch och Matchbox videos I realy get to have a good look at them and maybe that`s why I like them som much right now. I`m starting to shoot some videos on the Airfix modern soldier sets and they are aaaamazing so maybe I will like Airfix more for a while now.

[@olivier3847]

@@toysoldiernostalgia I am making conversions combining matchbox (clones) figures with airfix (broken figures) which merges the two so I am liking them equaly now...they are part of the same world to me...

[@toysoldiernostalgia]

@@olivier3847 cool. Never seen anyone mixing Airfix and Matchbox in conversions before.

[@Uncle_Neil]

Agreed, this is one of the best boxed set of WW2 soldiers ever, no doubt...but...watch out for crap knock offs. Look carefully!

[@toysoldiernostalgia]

Yup I have a set of fake Matchbox US Infantry.

[@BlackAdder1970]

Well these are American GIs then it should be the "Tommy gun" and not a grease gun. I'm 52. I never knew Matchbox made WW2 plastic Soldiers. My go to Soldiers were Louis Marx. Then Timmee came out. I also had Airfix Clones (I didn't know they were Airfix Clones) They didn't have as good as detail. I have to say that these matchbox Soldiers look really good.

[@Emdee5632]

The grease gun (the M3) is correct. After all it was the less expensive replacement for the Thompson. Btw there also was an M2 smg, but it got nowhere. It looked a bit like the Thompson.

[@szymonziolkowski5967]

These old vintage plastic soldiers toys are made in high quality details and have realistic postures with weapons. They should make toys like this but with modern weapons as a modern soldier. 😊