Plastic Soldier Review: AIRFIX WATERLOO FRENCH INFANTRY 1/72

PLASTIC SOLDIER REVIEW OF THE AIRFIX WATERLOO FRENCH INFANTRY 1/72

[@TOYSOLDIERREVIEW]

Struggled with this one as the white figures are soooooo white it masks a lot of detail!

[@user-bg6vn9ck3r]

First saw these figures back in the early-mid seventies, and loved them. They disappeared in early eighties. When i started getting into the hobby early nineties found them as Hat reissues, and now have several boxes. Great to paint. Remember them as only French line infantry to be found, and they do hold up very well. Great rejiew sir.

[@mecongberlin]

On another note - in general I loved the box art on the Waterloo boxes. Here as well - it’s beautiful. My favorite box art - French Cuirassiers.

[@TOYSOLDIERREVIEW]

That's nice too

[@timcolder2789]

Totally agree. Many Airfix kits had great artwork by Roy Cross which were a suberb marketing ploy even though they did not have much competion from other manufacturers back in the '70's. My favourite was also the Cuirassiers. There are two fantastic books about Airfix box artwork that you can find on Amazon if anyone is interested.(No I am not their sales rep!)

[@mecongberlin]

@@timcolder2789 TSR did a review on this book I believe. It's on his channel here somewhere.

[@sirrathersplendid4825]

White plastic is indeed a peculiar choice. They were originally a magnolia yellow, and later a dark blue, which seemed the optimal colour considering the hue of most French uniforms. Could it be that the colour additives made the plastic more fragile and so were discontinued?

[@nevergiveup582]

Best French infantry of the Napoleon 's era ever

[@marks.6480]

Truly a classic Airfix set. And not too bad even now. And you are spot on that th audience for military figures has changed. These kits were intended and produced as toys for kids.

[@TOYSOLDIERREVIEW]

Yes exactly Mark, best thing was they weren't as bad as I thought they might be!

[@josmoify]

so you you can what the toy quality for kids was then .a lot of "analog" craftsmanship went into that just for a 4 year old,lol

[@sirrathersplendid4825]

They may have been intended for kids, but kids too have standards! I bought these when I was maybe 11 years old and was disappointed with them by the time I was 13. I still have them today, several decades later, and play with them regularly!

[@mark6310]

I been reading on the internet lately that Airfix is going to reissue its 1/32 sets next year possibly.I sure hope so its been around 5 years since they were last in production.They have been surely missed by many.

[@TOYSOLDIERREVIEW]

Mark, i really hope they get the quality right and say no to cheap plastic!!

[@SunburntHands]

I love these, but I do understand people's criticisms. The sculptor injected character and movement and intrigue and charm, but not the exact historical realism that people expect.

[@TOYSOLDIERREVIEW]

Yes I need to find out the sculptur

[@andrewoconnor5108]

Great review of an old set of figures that were much loved by Airfix fans. Look their age now and whilst inaccurate in many respect, still retain their charm.

[@TOYSOLDIERREVIEW]

Well said Andrew, hard to be so critical over a very old set

[@nunogonzalez4037]

Despite some inaccuracies, these Airfix figures manage to be superior to some more recent brands. Figures full of movement and personality and in most cases superior sculpture.

[@TOYSOLDIERREVIEW]

Not all the time but some of the time! And no longer at all now!

[@hughmaxwell8143]

I remember these guys. Always thought the hats were too big, especially next to the other sets, imperial guard, Prussians, etc.

[@TOYSOLDIERREVIEW]

Different sculpt these one and it shows

[@sirrathersplendid4825]

I always thought it was the Imperial Guard bearskin hats that were way too small! Easy to forget that the average Frenchman was several inches shorter than today, so the shakos might look out of scale compared to a short-limbed soldier. Certainly the pompons on the hats were much too small. I supplement mine with a blob of superglue and some fine sand or talc.

[@stephenhunt2806]

A very enjoyable review. I have two sets of these, the HAT reissue set from the 90s, which is in a medium blue and the "farmhouse" in white from a couple of years ago. The detail in the first set is vastly superior. I don't think that white works for these figures at all. The chap loading his musket and the other one carrying his wounded comrade are all much better designed. I bought this set originally in 1972 and I think that it has stood the test of time very well. Just give the white set a wide berth! My current favourite for this period is the HAT 1808 to 1812 Line infantry, number 8095.

[@TOYSOLDIERREVIEW]

Thanks Stephen, yes white is an unfortunate colour and it looks like the majority of the French sets in this box are all white.....

[@timcolder2789]

I remember the majority of the early '70's issue blue box issue Waterloo figures were in yellow plastic, both the Brits and the French. Osprey books do a great range of publications on this era if you need any help with painting the figures.

[@josmoify]

for some reason those where one of my favorites Napoleonic 1/72 ...maybe because they where my first ,in those awful yellow /cream ? color

[@FernandaHernandez-vj6xm]

thanks, beautyful soldiers.

[@PaulJohn01]

Released in 1972 it's very, very old, I too was released in 1972 thanks for depressing me 😢😁

[@TOYSOLDIERREVIEW]

Anytime my friend!!

[@xavieranderson2229]

Great video as always! Keep up the good work!

[@TOYSOLDIERREVIEW]

Thankyou!!

[@mecongberlin]

Why did they change to these strange colors? Like this neon white. If I remember correctly they used to be cream colored - or not? I used the mounted officer a lot. Nice set nice vdo👍

[@TOYSOLDIERREVIEW]

Dreadful colour

[@andrewoconnor5108]

Yes, had a couple of boxed set in the cream colour.

[@TOYSOLDIERREVIEW]

@@andrewoconnor5108 I wonder why they chose white?

[@mecongberlin]

TOY SOLDIER REVIEW yeah me too, makes no sense at all. All in all the color scheme in the 70ies was brilliant - Afrika Korps looked like AK same for the Wehrmacht and so on or Civil War. WW2 Russians in grey, Gebirgsjaeger in steel blue - absolutely magnificent.

[@TOYSOLDIERREVIEW]

@@mecongberlin good period for Airfix

[@headlessguy8733]

Have you bought any Mars 1/32 sets yet? You should, and make some reviews. You buy them easily from several UK Websites

[@TOYSOLDIERREVIEW]

Not yet, I literally threw a few sets in my bag

[@thomasmatzen477]

Hatte ich mal wie male ich sie an

[@user-jc7nj1zk5b]

Very interesting video!

[@TOYSOLDIERREVIEW]

Great!!

[@edwinbentley2469]

Hello can we some close up shots its a bit of a job with all distance shots especially when the figures are this colour thanks

[@TOYSOLDIERREVIEW]

That's it I'm afraid the white is to bad and bright

[@monumentstosuffering2995]

My childhood friends lol.

[@timcolder2789]

Mine too. Just wish had more money to buy virtually every Airfix kit at the time!