GENERIC MINIATURES
What are generic toy soldiers?
Generic toy soldiers are the little green army men that you’d probably imagine when you think of “toy soldiers.” Generic brands have been producing soldiers for a long time, and usually sell their plastic soldiers for much cheaper than other brands. Generic army men are usually thinner and have fewer details compared to the fancier brands. Some generic toy soldier brands may offer a bit more detail, but they still are thinner in appearance, and can’t match the level that fancy brands come with.
What are the qualities of generic plastic army men?
The most notable trait of generic army men is the quality and detail found on each figure, which could be described as “just good enough.” Normally, you’d be lucky to find generic army men that have detail at all, because they most often only come with the barebone necessities. The bulk of generic army men are sent into the battle with a helmet, a firearm, their clothes, and that’s about it! The luckier ones might get a canteen or ammo pouch.
However, just because the detail found on generic army men is a bit lacking, that is not the same for their quality. The plastics are tough and long-lasting, and the creasing lines found on the clothing provide adequate detailing.
They occasionally have noticeable deformities, such as plastic flashing and artifacts. These molding lines appear with more frequency in generic toy soldiers than in premium ones, and occasionally interfere with the enjoyment of the figure.
They’re also produced with thinner bodies than the more premium toy soldier brands. Unfortunately, this sometimes interfere with enjoying the army men, as their thinner frames result in thin bases, which makes the soldiers easily fall over.
Their thin frame also results in them appearing almost 2D in stature, but this is more prominent in lesser quality generic toy soldier brands.
Generic plastic army men are also durable and strong. It takes large amounts of force to snap them. Occasionally, the points of their rifles may bend, but this is easily fixable using the warm water technique. Generic army men also come in a wide variety of time eras, and scales.
The most popular scales are 1:32 and 1:72 for their plastic army men.
These army men brands also usually produce a grand arsenal of plastic vehicles for your toy soldiers. They’re commonly sold in playsets that come with both vehicles and soldiers.
Finally, all generic toy soldiers are much more affordable than premium and luxury minis, and you can usually buy large amounts of them without spending much money. Sometimes, you’d be able to buy 100 generic soldiers for the price of 20 premium soldiers, or 2 luxury minis, making them a cheap and effective army builder.
They also have the most diversity, and come in a wide variety of poses (even though some poses are subpar), allowing you to create unique scenarios with a diverse army of plastic soldiers.
What are examples of Generic Toy Soldier Brands?
The green toy soldiers that pop into everyone’s mind when they imagine army men are produced by “Tim Mee Toys,” an American company based in Scranton, Pennsylvania. They began producing plastic toy soldiers in the late 1940s and continue manufacturing army men in the present day.
Although they temporarily went under the company alias “Processed Plastics,” Tim Mee toys has made a resurgence in the modern army men market.
Tim-Mee has produced a variety of toys, including soldiers, tanks, cowboys, Indians, farm figures, clowns, and knights. Their current roster of toy soldiers are sold as “generic modern toy soldiers,” but are loosely based around the Vietnam era.
Tim Mee Toys may not boast the same level of intricate detail as some of the premium brands, their toy soldiers are still undoubtedly “good enough” to ignite the imagination of young children and collectors alike.
The charm of Tim Mee Toys lay in their simplicity and durability. Their figures are built to withstand hours of imaginative play and are often praised for their simple molds. In fact, Tim Mee army men are credited as being the inspiration for the Disney Pixar toy soldiers, from the movie Toy Story.
While they may not feature the same level of fine sculpting and intricate detailing as higher-end brands, they offer an affordable army on the go, which serves as a solid foundation for young minds to embark on countless adventures on the battlefield of their imaginations.
Another fantastic option for generic army men is “BMC Toys,” which are also (formerly) known as Marx. They’re a renowned toy soldier company with a rich history that spans back to the mid-20th century. Founded by Louis Marx in the 1940s, the company quickly became synonymous with quality and innovation in the toy industry, and stand out from the generic toy soldier market. They are also credited as being one of the first main stream army men companies to feature women toy soldiers.
Though the original Marx company went out of business in the 1970s, BMC Toys has carried on the legacy of Marx, continuing to produce high-quality toy soldiers that capture the spirit of the original brand.
BMC Toys specializes in producing a wide range of toy soldiers, offering collectors and enthusiasts a diverse selection to choose from. They are also one of the best quality generic toy soldier producers in the current market.
Their toy soldiers come in reasonably priced bags, and every figure in the battle bundle has exceptional quality – especially when considering they’re a generic army men brand.
Their high quality army men & low price point makes BMC Toys a top tier toy soldier company.
One of the distinguishing features of BMC Toys is their commitment to historical accuracy. They faithfully explore many forgotten battles and conflicts throughout history, and bring them back through their plastic army men.
To be more specific, their toy soldier sets were meticulously designed to represent various periods in history, including World War II, the American Civil War, The Korean War, and other notable conflicts.
In addition to their focus on historical accuracy, BMC Toys also excelled in producing larger playsets and dioramas. Their diorama battle sets would come loaded with toy combat vehicles, mountainous terrain, and assault bunkers – all available at an affordable price.
These playsets offer children the opportunity to recreate epic battles and engage in imaginative storytelling.
Whether it was storming the beaches of Normandy or commanding troops on the front lines, the expansive playsets from BMC Toys provide endless hours of entertainment and adventure.
Each figure is crafted with attention to detail. The uniforms and weaponry go above and beyond what’s expected from generic toy soldiers.
Their dedication to quality and accuracy has solidified BMC Toys as a beloved and respected name in the toy soldier community.
Finally, their action packed playsets have ensured that the legacy of Marx lives on in the hearts and minds of collectors and enthusiasts around the world.
The full list of generic army men brands is explored on our brands page, click here to view it now.