Caesar's Gate

The box art of a surprising childhood survivor! Despite some six moves of home in the space of 20 years, this Airfix playset was somehow spared the culling and disposal that unused and/or unwanted possessions inevitably suffered in the process. I'm sure I must've spent hours assembling and marshalling the figures contained within once upon a time, but that is now too long ago to remember clearly. The box probably hadn't been opened since the mid-1970s.

The dramatic picture shows what seems to be a small skirmish between Ancient Britons and Roman soldiers -- about to be reinforced by a larger force of Romans sallying forth from a fortlet (milecastle on Hadrian's Wall?). Presumably, we cannot see the main body of the Ancient Britons? All designed to stir the imagination! (It obviously worked for me.)

If you look carefully, you can see that the original price is written in pencil either side of CAESAR'S GATE: both 13/6 (thirteen shillings and sixpence) and 67 1/2 p! Given that decimalisation of the UK's currency didn't take place till February 1971, then this box must date from before that.

Remarkably, the contents appear to be complete and undamaged. Even the original instructions are still present, hiding under the snap-together buildings. (I was brought up to take care of my things.) The outer lid shows the expected signs of use and wear, and also some staining at the top where it must have got damp or wet. (Oh dear, I don't know what happened there!)

I have been interested in the Romans for many years -- I still am -- and even at the tender age of ten or so, I knew that the fortlet was a fairly good representation of a Hadrian's Wall milecastle (albeit that the defensive walls would be thicker and the precise ashlar masonry construction would be considerably rougher on the real thing).

My reluctance to part with my old possessions has apparently made this a collector's item now. A quick scan of the internet suggests that it might be worth around £60 (at early 2018 prices) -- although I have also seen examples listed for €150! I would be happy to see it go to a good home if someone would like to make me a suitable offer...

Modelu figures

These are miniature figures -- in the British model railway scales of 4 mm to the foot (1:76.2) and 7 mm to the foot (1:43.5). The larger scale figure is on the right, with two more 4 mm scale examples in bags behind. What is interesting about them is that they are a result of current technology, and that the standing figures should be identical to each other apart from size.

Not so long ago, the quality and accuracy of a model/miniature figure was in large part down to the skill of the sculptor. Normally, a master figure would be painstakingly modelled, and from this would be produced a mould to cast a number of replicas -- traditionally in white metal or pewter. Skill and care is then needed in the casting process in order to avoid defects in the resulting figures, such as excess flash, pitting and heavy mould lines. Even the best cast figure will need some careful attention with a small file to get it ready for painting.

These Modelu (pronounced "Mo-Del-Ee", I understand) figures change the game. For a start they are not cast or injection-moulded. They are in fact 3D-printed in plastic. (Look at the near scale appearance of the brim of the bowler hat.) This means that mould lines and casting defects are a thing of the past. Hurrah! Painting should now require very little preparation. (Although having said that, I notice that the light has caught the tell-tale characteristic of 3D printing in the figure on the right: the contour marks on the chest and the ridging on the bowler hat.)

The other significant difference is that the hand-sculpting process has gone, for better or worse. The casting master is now a real person, so to speak. Laser scanning of someone dressed in character, generates some computer data, which can then be scaled for model use and printed on a 3D printer. This is, of course, a much quicker and less labour-intensive process than hand-sculpting. And it is relatively easy to produce figures in different scales from one set of data. In the traditional casting process, a new master is needed for each scale.

It doesn't take much thought to realise that it should now be possible to create a model figure of oneself! Indeed, if one is so inclined, the service is available...