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ALL ABOUT ARMY MEN

Welcome to The Army Men Homepage!

Everybody knows what Army Men are! You know, those little green plastic toy soldiers sold in bags at every toy store? Yeah, those! Army Men (as we know them) have been around since the early 1940s.

Even though they’re simple toys, their popularity has endured over the decades and they still remain popular today. Army Men have also been featured in many movies and TV shows, cementing their place in pop culture.

bag of toy soldiers by Jaru
A common bag of toy soldiers sold by Ja-Ru. These can be found in almost any store in America.

The iconic design of the toy soldiers has become an enduring symbol of childhood fun.

Army Men are also used as a creative element in a variety of artistic projects.

For example, there is a dedicated community of international film-makers that employ toy soldiers as their actors. These soldiers serve in army men stop motion movies and dioramas.

Army Men even have museums dedicated to them, all across the world!

These 2 or 3 inch toy soldiers might be small, but they pack a punch! They’re abundant, and are the main fighting force found in toy chests around the world.

Everyone has seen or played with army men at least once in their lives.

Many people think they’ll eventually outgrow their love of toy soldiers…

But the truth is, they’re wrong!

Once you’ve played with army men, you will never ever out grow them!



Army Men, Toy Soldiers, Miniatures – What’s The Difference?

Have you ever thought that “Army Men” and “Toy Soldiers” were the same thing?

Yeah, you aren’t the only one.

Many miniature hobby enthusiasts wonder what’s the actual difference between genuine green Army Men, and other every other kind of miniature toy soldier.

To make things simple: all army men are toy soldiers, but not all toy soldiers are army men.

(This is just like how all golden retrievers are dogs, but not all dogs are golden retrievers.) 

Army Men are a type of Toy Soldier. To be more specific, figures made of tin, led, and other metals are not Army Men. Even wooden miniatures are considered toy soldiers, but not army men.

In the majority of cases, Army Men are plastic figures.

Sometimes, they are made of soft plastic. Most of the time, they’re made of hard plastic.

The figures produced by model companies are also plastic, but, they’re not Army Men either.

In fact, they’re actually affordable miniature models! (Miniature models are another kind of toy soldier.)

An easy way to tell whether a toy soldier is an “army man,” or a “miniature model,” is by their packaging.

Does the toy soldier come on disassembled on a sprue? Did the manufacturers expect you to glue the pieces together? Then that toy soldier is considered a “miniature model.”

Does the toy soldier come pre-assembled as a whole piece? Is the entire figure molded together, and fused with its base? Then that toy soldier is considered an “army man.”

Now, it’s time you find out exactly what Army Men are.

Real “Army Men” are toy soldiers with the following qualities:

  • Army Men are made of either hard or soft plastic. (The soft plastic is sometimes mislabeled as “rubber,” but it is indeed soft plastic.)

     

  • Army Men are made of colored plastic. The most recognizable colors have always been Green, Tan, Grey, and Blue. Even the Army Men video games by 3DO used those colors for their toy soldier video games. More colors have been introduced into the Army Men Universe as early as the 1970s.
sarges heros green army men
Green and Tan army men battling in the classic 1999 video game “Army Men: Sarges Heroes.” This game series by 3DO featured plastic army men waging war against each other.
  • Real Army Men are also always found in these default scales – 1:72 and 1:32 and 1:6 – (25mm to 54mm to 100mm ). They may sometimes be found in slightly larger and smaller scales.
large and small scale tan toy soldier
A Jumbo sized army man posing next to a regular sized army man. These poses are both copies of Tim Mee Toys.
  • Army Men are always molded as one piece, with the weapons, equipment, and body all being fused together. Most Army Men are molded onto their base. There are few exceptions to this rule.
toy story toy soldiers walking
Green army men marching in the Disney/Pixar film “Toy Story.”
  • Army Men are usually sold in bags or boxes by the bundle.
  • Sometimes, you can find larger lots sold in boxed playsets or in plastic buckets with accessories, like tanks and terrain pieces. A modern example of this was seen in the Disney/Pixar Movie “Toy Story.”
bucket o soldiers disney toy soldiers
The “Bucket O’ Soldiers” made famous by the Disney/Pixar Film “Toy Story.”
  • Most importantly, Army Men are sold as TOYS first, and collectibles, scale figures, models, or miniatures second. They’re also never marketed as anything other than toys. While most toy soldiers, such as miniature models and scale figures, are tailored for hobbyists, army men are tailored for everybody. Miniature models are meant to be painted, displayed, or used for wargaming. Army men are meant for backyard battles, and being thrown around in rough play. That doesn’t mean army men can’t be painted like miniature models. It only means that army men are intended for play first, hobby play second. For miniature models, it’s the opposite.
  • Army Men never pose as historically accurate. However luxury toy soldier companies do create precise miniature replicas. Army Men have become more historically accurate in recent times.
  • Although some brands have become recognized prominent toy soldier producers, there are a large quantity of generic “no brand” knock-off toy soldiers.

     

  • But finally, and most importantly, Army Men are the same cheap plastic toy soldiers we’ve known and loved since the early 1950s!

     



What’s The Difference Between Soft Plastic & Hard Plastic?

Remember, genuine army men are always made of plastic. The difference between soft plastic and hard plastic, in the context of army men, is easy to understand.

These Army Men Have Soft Plastic Which Makes Toy Soldiers Bendable
The Fallout army men produced by Emcee Toys are examples of soft plastic toy soldiers.

Hard plastic isn’t pliable, and may break if you try to bend it. Soft plastic on the other hand, is way more flexible, and feels softer (almost like rubber) to the touch.

Here’s a simple test you can use to determine whether your army men are made of soft or hard plastic:

Are you able to bend your figure with your thumb? Does it feel a little bit like rubber? Then that army man is soft plastic.

Do you try to bend your figure, and it stays still? Does it feel more sturdy, almost like a plastic rock? Then that army man is hard plastic.



Friendly Facts – A Brief History Of Army Men

In the early days, the most common type of Army Man was modeled after the classic American Soldier from the World War 2 era. This fact is verified by the shape of their old M1 Steel Helmet.

BMC american toy soldiers d-day
WWII era American army men produced by BMC.

Although the specific kinds of toy soldiers vary, the majority of Army Men from the old days represented American troops from the 1940s to the 1960s.

Currently, World War 2 era Army Men are still one of the most popular eras being produced.

Classic Army Men eventually received a standardized update. They now also feature an arsenal based on the Vietnam war. Many soldiers now carry M-16 rifles, and other 1960s equipment.

Green is the most common color for plastic Army Men. Other colors were created, and are universally recognized as the “enemy troops” or the “bad guys.”

Likewise, green army men are seen as the “good guys” in major media. Two recent examples of this was the Army Men video game series by 3DO, and Pixar’s “Toy Story.”

sarges heroes box cover art
Sarges Heroes was an entry into the “Army Men” video game franchise. Each game featured plastic army men waging war against each other.

Army Men are usually accompanied by plastic warfare accessories. Tanks, vehicles, barriers, cover, sandbags and more, have all been included in army men play sets, since the very beginning.

More specifically, tanks, M3 and M4 half tracks, howitzers, jeeps, sandbag emplacements, and barbed wire fences are all usually included in common Army Men sets.

These vehicles and terrain pieces are usually inspired by real life counterparts. For example, the M47 and M48 Patton Tank is a common tank included in toy soldier sets.

One army men manufacturer provided German PZ5 “Panther” tanks, German “jeeps,” and peculiar half-tracks, along with a hard-plastic, firing 88mm gun.

The majority of enemy vehicles resembled standard US equipment. Yet, they were molded in alternative colors, with tan or grey being the most prevalent.

Included among the potential terrain accessories were pillboxes (concrete fortifications), fighter planes, helicopters, small landing craft, missile launchers, and 3/4 ton trucks.

army men vehicles
A mixed set of army men battling. The soldiers are True Heroes (inspired by Tim Mee). The tan Tank is manufactured by Tim Mee. The green vehicles are knock offs.

Incorporated in nearly every set of Army Men was a paper American flag attached to a small wooden dowel, supported by a circular plastic base.

This tradition is still respected today. Now, Army Men sets sometimes come packaged with a blank plastic flag and base. The flag itself comes as a peel-off sticker you could stick onto the plastic.

The flag variety has expanded to include almost every country on the planet. Some flags even represent fictional factions found only in the Army Men universe.

A peculiar but widespread type of Army Men was known as the “ring hand soldier,” among collectors. Their primary purpose was to hold their army’s flag as they charged into battle. They also featured separately molded weapons, field gear, and helmets. 



What Are Other Types Of Army Men?

The majority of Army Men are designed to look like soldiers from Modern Conflicts.

World War Two and Vietnam are popular eras for toy soldier companies to depict. Army Men companies often mold their toy soldiers using real soldiers from those eras as inspiration.

However, the world of Army Men is unique and diverse. There are thousands of different kinds of Army Men, featuring soldiers from the distant past, present conflicts, and the unseen future.

Here’s a list of some of the lesser known, but still appreciated army men types.

Cowboys and Indians –

cowboys and indians army men
A dollar store set of multi-colored cowboys and Indians army men.

Cowboys and Indians were once some of the most common army men bag sets. They could be found in dollar stores all around the world.

Typically, sets of Cowboys and Indians feature standing figures, along with a few mounted on horseback, molded in various colors.

These sets usually include an assortment of accessories, such as covered wagons, stagecoaches, cavalry forts, Civil War-era cannons, tepees, plastic campfires, canoes, and plastic trees.

The cowboy army men come in hundreds of different poses, spread across all the different manufacturers.

The same is true of the Indian figures, which are a diverse mix. They incorporate accouterments from several tribes and regions. It’s common to find Mohawks alongside Sioux and Apaches in a single set.

Civil War Soldiers –

Toy Soldiers from the American Civil War sport historically accurate appearances. They’re usually distinguished by their blue and grey molds, representing their respective armies.

civil war battle toy soldiers
American Civil War toy soldiers preparing to make battle. The original molds were created by BMC Toys. These army men are now reproduced by various knock-off manufacturers.

The Union is represented by blue toy soldiers, and the Confederacy is represented by Grey toy soldiers. Typically, a few mounted soldiers are included alongside the foot soldiers.

The accessory collection encompassed cannons, mortars, caissons, wagons, bunkers, and molded “wood” fences. Additionally, most sets feature both an American and Confederate flag, with the Union flag often depicted with the standard 34 stars.

Foreign Legion Soldiers –

painted french foreign legion toy soldiers
Hand-Painted French Foreign Legion Army Men. These models are from Armies In Plastic.

There were, and still are, few options available for Foreign Legion Toy Soldiers.

The sets were available in a variety of scales, with the most popular being 1/72 and 1/32.

The army men figures were affordable, and always made of plastic. The more expensive collectible toy soldier sets included brass or metal figures.

These figures highly detailed, well-crafted, and historically accurate, making them popular for collectors and hobbyists.

They remain a popular item today.

The sets comprised both foot soldiers and mounted figures, often including a couple of cannons.

These toy soldiers most commonly represent the French Foreign Legion and Arabian Foreign Legion. The figures were molded in various colors, offering a diverse selection.

The American Revolution –

bmc army men revolutionary war
American Revolutionary War toy soldiers by BMC Toys. These army men are feature soldiers from the Battle of Brandywine.

Army Men sets featuring toy soldiers from The American Revolution were not as widely favored as most other kinds of army men.

They feature figures molded in blue and red, with some sets also incorporating a small number of Indian figures.

Most of these sets contain cannons and include a mix of mounted soldiers along with foot soldiers.

The sets also feature flags, tents, and other accessories. The figures are usually in the 1/32 (54mm) scale, and are made of hard plastic.

Older sets were often sold in a boxed set with a booklet that provides information about the historical context of the figures.

Although they have cultivated a small cult following in recent years, they remain unfavorable to the toy soldier collectors community at large.

Spacemen –

Toy soldiers featuring Astronauts are extremely popular. Originally, there were two types of Space Men. Starting in 1962, the most popular kind resembled American astronauts in various action poses.

space army men astronauts
Astronaut toy soldiers produced by Tim Mee toys.

Some were equipped with ray pistols and rifles, but one brand’s astronauts carried scientific equipment.

The sets also included diverse accessories, such as missiles (the same used by regular Army Men), tracked vehicles (personnel carriers refitted with peculiar accessories and molded in “space” colors), rockets, radar sets, and Mercury Capsules.

The colors varied, but most figures were molded in red, white, blue, silver, or gold. On occasion, one might come across an earlier version of spacemen armed for battle in “Flash Gordon/Buck Rogers” type suits. If there were any aliens included, they were always portrayed as green bug-eyed monsters wielding ray guns. Tim Mee toys currently produces a line of Spacemen Toy Soldiers.

Medieval Era Warriors –

Medieval knights are available in a vast array of choices. Each brand’s knights sported armor from various eras and came as both foot soldiers and mounted figures.

Medieval knight toy soldiers
True Legends (Chap Mei) Medieval Knight army men battling each other.

These knights were molded in a variety of colors. Some manufacturers offered opposing armies in silver and gold or silver and black molds.

The accessory range included catapults, additional shields, small round medieval tents, and a small castle made of hard or soft plastic or lithographed stamped metal with a plastic gate and drawbridge.

A few sets also featured both Knights and Vikings. However, it’s worth noting that the Vikings were more accurately portrayed as Migration-era Germans with horned and winged helmets, as well as furs. Additionally, some companies produced soft plastic Viking ships. They are still available today, and are just as popular as they were back in the day.

Mythical Soldiers – 

mythical true legends toy soldiers
A True Legends (Chap Mei) set of Mythical Warriors. This set features warlocks, elves, dwarves, orcs, human warriors, amazonian warriors, and a dragon.

Some “Medieval” army men sets also feature mythical soldiers. Imagine that He-Man was transformed into an Army Man figure, rather than an action figure. These mythical sets also feature priests, princesses, mages, wizards, orcs, goblins, skeletons, and various other mythical warriors.

Pirates –

skeleton pirate toy soldiers
Skeletons & Pirates from a True Legends (Chap Mei) army men bucket set.

Pirates in Army Men form were, and still are, highly sought after.

They come in a wide range of colors, equipped with the standard assortment of cutlasses, flintlock pistols, tricorn hats, and hook hands.

Some are even molded with a parrot perched on their shoulder!

The accessory selection encompassed Pirate ships, rowboats, cannons, additional swords, treasure chests, and, in certain sets, a crocodile.

It was common for Pirate army men playsets to include skeletal adversaries for the pirates to fight against. Usually, these skeletons would be guarding treasure in the play set box art.

Undead Army Men –

skeleton toy soldiers
Skeleton soldiers are one type of Undead Army Men. These skeletal toy soldiers were a limited release from Party City™ in the early 2000s.

Undead Army Men have seen a recent gained traction, due to works like “The Walking Dead,” and “The Dead” zombie series by George A. Romero rising in popularity.

Although the category of Undead army men is has only become prevalent since the 1980s, skeleton toy soldiers are as old as “normal” toy soldiers themselves.

Skeleton army men are a unique and spooky twist on the classic toy soldiers. These miniatures bring the world of fantasy and imagination to life, featuring skeletal figures instead of traditional soldiers.

Undead army men are not limited to skeletons, however. There are also other varieties, such as cryptids, demons, vampires, and zombie army men. Undead army men bring a thrilling element of macabre to toy soldiers in general.

Roman Warriors –

Roman Army Men first came in sets that featured soldiers molded in two different colors. They were rather rare and distinct – a unique addition to the army men community.

painted roman toy soldiers marx
Hand painted Roman army men. This playset by Marx featured centurions and gladiators.

Now, these kinds of Army Men are much more common.

Most sets originally contained a few mounted figures and several catapults, with chariots being a common addition.

If a fort was included, it typically resembled that particular brand’s medieval castle.

Moreover, there was one (now defunct) company that produced a small Roman boat.

Roman army men play sets commonly featured barbarians, Roman centurions, gladiators, and plebian civilians.

Futuristic Soldiers –

lanard futuristic red army men
Futuristic Sci-Fi army men By Lanard – The Corps Elite. This set included a battle mech.

Futuristic army men are currently one of the most unexplored categories of army men.

Recently, we’ve begun to see more and more Sci-Fi miniature models appear in toy stores across the country, and the world.

Some of the most popular toy soldiers today come from Games Workshop with their Warhammer 40,000 toy soldiers lineup (though Warhammer 40k toy soldiers are considered miniature models, rather than army men).

However, the toy soldier community has not seen many “authentic army men” sets that feature futuristic Sci-Fi soldiers in recent years. Thankfully though, in 2016, Lanard released a popular series of futuristic army men called “The Corps: Elite.” The set is still in production as of 2023.

Besides Lanard, most futuristic Army Men are produced by small manufacturing companies on Esty.

African Explorers –

African safari army men
A giraffe and hippo from an unknown manufacturer. These animals are common in Safari army men sets.

In the African Explorers category, you could find several sets containing Jungle Jim/Ramar of the Jungle-style figures bundled with plastic palm trees, a canoe, tents, a jeep or truck, and a few African natives wielding spears and shields.

These sets usually had a variety of static, decorative accessories such as a campfire, drums, and spears.

These army men reached peak popular in the 1950s and 1960s, and often featured bright colors and exaggerated details.

The figures and accessories were meant to capture the excitement of exploration and adventure in the African continent.

Many sets also included many exotic animals the explorers could encounter while on their imaginative adventures.

The animal figures included gorillas, tigers, elephants, and crocodiles.

These kind of army men are rather rare, and are still currently highly sought after by collectors and remain a popular item today.

Divers –

scuba diver army men
An army man diver, armed with a combat knife and modern scuba equipment.

Included in some sets were scuba and deep-sea divers, along with a variety of large fish, sea serpents, octopi, and sharks.

The majority of these sets featured a treasure chest, giant clam, and a small boat or submarine.

The divers could be seen in both non-combat and combat poses, with one even carrying a “limpet” anti-ship mine.

Occasionally, divers would be armed with hand guns or combat knives.

These kind of divers resemble special operation soldiers of modern warfare.

Monsters –

two headed monster army men
A two headed monster army man, manufactured by a now defunct toy soldier company.

A set of 3-inch movie monsters, consisting of Frankenstein, Dracula, the Wolf man, a mummy, and bug-eyed creatures inspired by the popular 1950s space movies, was produced by at least one company.

The original figures were made of plastic and occasionally had articulated arms.

They were sold in sets and individually by the now defunct company. Collectors have prized them ever since.

A few other army men manufacturers produced various mutants and monsters.

These mutant army men were often produced with an orange or blueish tint and were popular among kids and collectors.

They have become increasingly valuable over the years, and the rarer ones fetch high prices. Knockoff companies are now the most common producers of monster army men.

Farm And Zoo Sets –

Farm sets, containing farm animals, typically featured “wood” fences, farmers, a tractor, and a small barn or silo in the majority of cases. The majority of the animals and farmers came in a variety of colors.

farm animal army men
A set of various farm and zoo animal “army men” in an assortment of colors.

Zoo sets were also usually presented in various colors. These sets were typically packaged in tubes, and comprised a collection of wild animals and often featured a few farm figures as well.

Dinosaurs & Cavemen –

Toy dinosaurs, crafted by several manufacturers, came in various sizes, with some being small while others were large enough to challenge standard Army men.

dinosaur army men
An assorted group of vintage dinosaur “army men” and King Kong “army men.”

These prehistoric creatures often played the role of favorite adversaries during re-enactments of our beloved 1950s science fiction. Our green army men were always backed up by the burly cave army men.

Firemen –

Appearing in a few sets, firemen were typically accompanied by one or two small fire trucks. They are still being currently produced by Tim Mee Toys.

tim mee firemen army men set
A set of fire rescue army men. This multi-color set is produced by Tim Mee Toys.

Cops and robbers –

Sets of cops and gangsters, offered by one or two makers, lacked accessories in the bag.

blue police army men fishel
Police Army Men produced by Fishel, a now defunct toy soldier company.

Police forces are still currently being made, but army men featuring models are more obscure. The most recent addition to the police army men collection was a playset by Fishel. They also produced a firemen set.

Civilians

The world of Army Men hardly had non-combatants back in the day. That’s changed in recent times, where one can fully populate cities with civilians. Soft plastic cars and trucks were offered by a few makers. The larger ones paired nicely with standard Army men.



Allies And Enemies – Most Common Plastic Army Men Factions

In the realm of miniature warfare, the battle lines are drawn between various enemies and allies, creating a diverse range of factions. These iconic plastic figures have been a source of joy and excitement for generations, representing different historical eras, fantasy realms, and sci-fi universes.

Now we will delve into some of the most common and beloved Army Men factions, each with its unique characteristics, colors, and stories. Get ready to discover the captivating world of adversaries and comrades that have captured the hearts of collectors and hobbyists alike!

As stated earlier, the most common Army Men of the early 1940s featured American GIs.

Numerous manufacturers produced opposing soldiers for the American GIs to confront, offering several varieties. This began after the era of WW2 as these figures were crafted during the post-WWII period. Most of the enemy troops represented foreign soldiers from the years 1940 to 1945.

German Infantry –

german army men afrika korps
German Afrika Korps army men, produced by Airfix.

Standard 1942 German soldiers armed with light machine guns, rifles, and submachine guns continue to be produced by a few companies.

The officers consistently wear their dress caps and carry Luger pistols.

While most Germans were initially molded in grey, in recent years, we have witnessed the emergence of tan and green variations.

Notably, during the Gulf War, at least one manufacturer molded them in Olive Drab and Tan, then sold them as US Troops.

Additionally, some hard plastic scale figures have resurfaced as Army men, with the German soldiers originally designed by Airfix and Matchbox being particularly noteworthy.

Russians –

Russian Army Men Italeri knock offs
A small set of knockoff Italeri 1/32 Russian Army Men. These knockoffs are unique because they come with pre-painted faces.

A vintage manufacturer known for producing unique types of Army Men introduced figures representing Russians in their 1939 uniforms and headgear.

Among them, some sported fur hats, while others donned the old Russian Helmet.

These soldiers were equipped with rifles, Degtyarev light machine guns, and the common “burp gun” submachine guns with drum magazines.

The figures were molded in a dark, slightly metallic blue hue. They are now a common staple in many Army Men companies. Airfix and Italeri are current producers of Russian Toy Soldiers.

Japanese –

Japanese Toy Soldiers, molded in either tan or yellow, were equipped with an array of weaponry including rifles, bayonets, light machine guns, as well as officers carrying pistols and Samurai swords. Some notable toy soldier companies that still produce Japanese soldiers are BMC and Matchbox.

WWII era Japanese army men produced by BMC. These toy soldiers feature battle gear from the pacific theater of war.

British Army Men –

painted british commandos airfix army men
Hand-painted British Army Men. This set features British Commandos produced by Airfix.

Particularly noteworthy were the British figures, occasionally showing up as crude replicas of the Britains/Herald British Infantry, molded in green plastic and marketed as regular Army Men.

British army men are some of the most common army men produced, second only to the American themed army men.

They are produced in the same quantities as World War 2 German army men, and explore many subsets of soldiers.

For example, British Army Men from World War 2 feature Commandos, support groups, and regular infantry, while modern British Army men have been produced as S.A.S. operatives, and regulars from the Falkland war.

It’s also common to see British soldiers knocked off, and produced with tan plastic. These copies featured the rounder, later type of British helmet, along with Sten guns, rifles, bren automatic rifles, and a radioman.

Currently, Matchbox, Airfix, and many other companies produce British Armymen.

Odd-colored GIs –

Numerous companies employed an unusual approach to create enemy soldiers by molding their US troops in colors distinct from green. These adversaries were observed in shades like grey, brown, tan, and blue. Interestingly, the atypical colored troops were not sold separately but were mixed in the same bag with the green soldiers. Remarkably, their models shared identical molds as the traditional green army men.



Fun Ways To Play With Army Men

Play War! It’s a no brainer that the easiest way to play with Army Men is by having a war with them! In the sand pile, toy soldier battles are the simplest option. Alternatively, you could use the living room, with furniture becoming the landscape. Popular variations included Army Men versus Dinosaurs, Army Men versus Spacemen, and Army Men engaging in battles around the electric trains.

Annoy Mom! Since 1960, one could amuse Mom by placing Army men in the Yule village under the Christmas Tree. Moms tend to get annoyed when they spot a Panzer 5’s barrel peeking around the side of the little creche or a Confederate sniper targeting the Three Wise Men. It’s a tried-and-true method to stir up a commotion.

War Game! For the more academic and adventurous, there is the option of playing actual war games with your army men. There are millions of rules and variations to go by, and you could even make up your own rules as you go!



The Durability Of Plastic Army Men

Soft plastic was once marketed as “unbreakable,” but in reality, Army Men could meet their demise in various ways:

melting plastic army men
Many Army Men have been melted in combat.

Fire & Heat – exposing Army Men to extreme heat or flames resulted in them burning and melting away.

Extreme cold – when exposed to freezing temperatures, some brands’ plastic turned brittle, leading to shattered soldiers with a single hammer blow.

Firecrackers – the explosive force of firecrackers near toy soldiers led to their shattering.

Teeth – playful dogs and curious baby brothers could easily transform a toy soldier into a stretched-out mess through vigorous chewing.

Guns – if hit square in the middle by a .22 caliber bullet, Army Men would usually only suffer a mere hole. However, when striking an arm, leg, or head, the bullet had the capacity to sever the affected body part.



Are Army Men & Toy Soldiers Historically Accurate?

Toy soldiers, yeah, usually.

But Army Men?

You’ve got to be joking, right!?

Army Men from various eras, such as Knights and Indians, seem like living anachronisms when brought together. It’s even more puzzling to find WW2 play sets featuring post-war tanks like the M41, M47, and M48, along with helicopters.

But in all honesty, the majority of toy soldier brands do produce their army men with a certain level of historical accuracy. However, that is usually not their top priority.

If historical accuracy is your top priority, consider purchasing luxury models from luxury toy soldier brands, but be prepared to pay top dollar for army men you wouldn’t dare to play with.



Common Army Men Vehicle Scales

Army men typically come in scales ranging from 1/35 to 1/25. While many wagons, jeeps, and trucks were relatively close to scale, a few deviated from the standard.

different scales army men tanks
A tan toy soldier positioned near three tanks of varying sizes.

Tanks and half tracks, on the other hand, were rarely accurately represented in scale.

Usually, the scale for tanks in premium toy soldier sets is extremely accurate, and they rarely dwarf the Army Men.

Generic toy soldiers brands are also usually able to produce vehicles in accurate scale for their army men.

It’s important to remember: it’s possible for any toy soldier company to produce vehicles and army men of mismatched scale.

Lanard toy soldier corps elite
Lanard is considered a premium toy soldier company, yet their army men are bigger than their tanks.

Knock-off toy soldier brands however, almost always sell comically under sized tanks and vehicles that hardly ever match the scale of their army men.

3-rail electric trains like Lionel and K-line go hand in hand with Army Men.

You can place the Army men in hoppers and gondolas, but avoid putting them in boxcars as it can be difficult to remove them.

Tanks and half tracks, being closer to 1/48 scale, fit nicely on flat cars.

In the early 1960s, Lionel produced a fantastic set of firing combat trains that perfectly complemented Army men.



Top Ten Reasons Why Army Men Are Superior To Action Figures

  1. Those arms of theirs? Oh, they ain’t falling off unless you go full-on lumberjack and chop ’em yourself! Unlike Action figures, which snap off at the slightest touch!
  2. And no more crying over lost weapons! Nope, these guys got ’em molded right onto their hands, ain’t nobody takin’ those away!
  3. Wanna build an army? Well, guess what? With Army Men, you got yourself a whole battalion in one swoop! No need to collect ’em one by one like those fancy-smancy action figures.
  4. No need to dive into comic books to figure out who’s on which team. It’s as easy as pie – one side is green, the other is sporting some other cool colors!
  5. You won’t be breaking the bank on accessories either! These little warriors come fully equipped with everything you need for epic battles, no extra shopping required!
  6. When it comes to their vehicles, they are practically invincible! No breaking down, no running out of ammo, and definitely no need for batteries! They’re built tough! The only teeny-tiny issue might be those pesky jeep wheels, but hey, a quick fix and you’re back in action!
  7. Army Men are the all-time champs! They’ve been around since forever, and they’re here to stay! While TV shows and comic books keep churning out new stuff, our trusty Army Men never go out of style!
  8. You also won’t be breaking the bank to build your troops! Unlike those pricey Action Figures, you can have a whole battalion of Army Men without spending a fortune! It’s a total win-win! (Unless you go the luxury army men route, which is still totally worth it!)
  9. No more waiting around for the next release to complete your collection! Army Men come fully loaded with all the goodies you need, ready to rock anytime you want. They’re always available, no waiting required!
  10. Finally, you can paint them! Action figures come prepainted in drab, boring colors. With Army Men, you can customize them yourself to be the perfect army!


So, there you have it, the ultimate fun and budget-friendly choice – Army Men, the timeless heroes for all your action-packed adventures!

Let the battles in your living room begin!

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