Not sure if you’ve noticed, probably because you’re not the sort of weirdo that checks your local plastic tat shops for changes in big bags of crappy army men… but there’s been a degradation.
Some might say this doesn’t matter… that I’m overthinking… but maybe it’s a hint at the entire collapse of western civilisation?
Smaller… skinnier… more oddly proportioned. Some of your usual suspects for poses. But these are bad figures. Not as bad as these though:
I’m not sure what ‘Command and Conquer Generals Shockwave’ means… Command and Conquer Generals is a video game, I doubt those two things are connected, and I imagine the logo above is stolen. However that’s not my issue, this is my issue:
Soldiers and terrain merged into one. Awful play value for kids. Maybe okay for me if I can be bothered to separate the figures. The terrain is largely unusable by the way… and I’m saying that… you know I’ll use anything! (Case in point: I am a fan of the grenade thrower)
Anyway, back to the less bad figures. A bit of painting later and here’s a gallery of my guys close up:
A really odd bunch. But… I do kind of like them. As I said, I really will use anything. And once they’re on the table they’re really not too bad:
And then you always have to remember to look at them from actual wargaming distance:
So maybe not the collapse of western civilisation…
Deathzap 
I will not normally buy figures that anorexic! However, I see that there are still some nice fully rounded figures on sale. Also, there is the secondhand option. There is no shortage of cheap army men on Ebay, although some sellers stupidly call them all ‘retro’ figures, which most of them are not.
I have already plenty of big containers of cheapo figures and also the original Airfix and Matchbox ones, enough to last me indefinitely. However, I still search, hopefully, for new sets from China. I also like to see how the original figures morph with each new copy/piracy. This makes them less like WW2 Germans, Americans and Brits and more generic, which makes them interesting for imagi-nation or SF troops – so long as they don’t become impossibly distorted in anatomy. The only exception, really, is if they are intended as some kind of horrible genetic experiment or mutation!
Having said that it is worth noting that people collect old flat and semi-round metal and plastic figures so maybe there is a continuity somehow! Also, looking at your paintjobs, you make anything look good!
Thanks very much! I was quite happy with how these guys came out.
I’ll keep up the search for chunkier guys, it’s just sad to see my local shops have only got slim pickings (pun intended) especially when my big box of miscellaneous dudes is starting to run dry.
I’ll be turning to eBay and Amazon to replenish the stocks.
Locally I seen the same drop in quality (and quantity) and wondered if the tall, thin guys could be used for ‘The Skinnies’ from Starship Troopers!
The quantity drop is the worst bit now you mention it!
I’d love to see some Skinnie conversions!
I am impressed at what you’ve managed to turn out given the poor state of the starting material you had to work with.
I have to say I am not a fan of the flat bloke plus terrain type however.
Still, as you say, from a wargaming distance …
they are pretty bad….
My main problem is finding the smaller, guard sized army men over the primaris height ones- it’s so difficult to judge their size from online listings.
The eyes on your rogue’s gallery remind me of pikmin
Little World, of China does some excellent modern infantry in 50mm. Tey also do some nice dinosaurs, sea life and so on. Too big for 28mm but just a tiny bit small for me. Little World Military Figures 20pk | The Reject Shop
They are well sculpted and fully round!
Pikmin! That takes me back!
Those do look good! The first pic has figures I can readily get in the UK via Amazon. The ones in the second pic look great, unfortunately I haven’t seen those knocking around!
They’re horrible. I love them.