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The Encounter. “Tyger Tyger, burning bright,. In the forests of the night;. What immortal hand or eye,. Could frame thy fearful symmetry? In what distant deeps or skies” William Blake, specifically his famous poem The Tyger, first published in 1794 as part of Songs of Experience. Blake is asking: What kind of creator could make something as beautiful and frightening as a tiger? Some components; AirFix 1/76 A03310 King Tiger, AirFix 1/76 Forward Command Post, Italeri “Country House with Porch” (Kit 6075) , and a sprinkling of Airfix 1st generation US Marines masquerading as US Infantry released in 1963,#1716.

“Jaque et Robert hunting on the Vermont Estate” A Call to Arms 1/32 (54mm) miniatures of the English Civil War period. Roughly 1642 to 1651 A.D. To put it in perspective the Mayflower Pilgrims sailed in 1620 A.D. (Just how did the Colonies behave during the squabble on the Home Islands?)

The classic AirFix “English Musketeer 1642” in 1/32/54mm scale. First appeared in the 1970s. This build represents the moment the gentleman is priming his firing pan on his musket. In this period, musket rests were used, so he is holding the hefty single shot weapon, juggling the rest and primer bottle. I often think of this figure when I am pouring the soap powder into my dishwasher’s receptacle…it makes the mundane a bit more romantic.

Some old friends of mine. These model soldiers are almost certainly ~85–100 years old, placing them roughly in the late Weimar Republic Period. Hausser-Elastolin 7 cm (2.75″) Hand-painted Sawdust + glue mixture over a wire armature of a type collectors call ‘Composition.” Marked “Germany” (in English) on the bottom of the base they are typically export pieces made before or up to WWII.

Hät 8013 French Horse Grenadiers (nicknamed the “Big Heels.”) BeFunky filter. https://plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=132

Various 54mm Makes

Another family holiday photo: populated by AirFix/Dapol Half-Timber Thatched Cottage and Bachman vintage 1/87 railroad figures, joined by a rubber toy found face down in a city gutter, representing the first family AI.

Marx Toys pressed tin (steel) lithographed castle c. 1951 defended by Britains Deetail Knights of War of the Roses c. 1971. BeFunky filter.

Schrieber Paper Mansion. 1/32 scale 1910 Hudson from Cowland & Cowland 1956 kit. Two unknown maker (Britains?) early hollow cast Sailors. Befunky watercolour filter.

‘Great War’ ACE Models 1/72 Austin Armoured Car (likely Mk. III/IV) alongside an Emhar 1/72 Mark IV Female German captured tank.