Alexei Volkov
Plastic army men are considered toys and not scale models, so historical accuracy is not a priority. They are typically around 2 inches (5 cm) tall, though some sources suggest they can be as small as 1 inch (2.5 cm) and are usually made from low-density polyethylene plastic. They are often dressed in modern military uniforms and armed with 20th-century weapons, such as the Vietnam-era M-16 rifle. They are commonly sold in plastic bags or buckets and in multiple colours to represent opposing sides. While they are not considered scale models, some plastic army men sets are made to a scale of 1:32.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Considered | Toys, not scale models |
| Toy soldiers made of | Low-density polyethylene plastic |
| Height | 5 cm (2 inches) |
| Colors | Green or tan |
| Dress | Modern military uniforms |
| Armament | 20th-century weapons |
| Accessories | Rifles, machine guns, submachine guns, shotguns, sniper rifles, pistols, grenades, flamethrowers, mortars, bazookas |
| Scale | 1:32 |
| Price | Low |
| Sold in | Plastic bags or buckets |
| Place of origin | China |
| Manufacturer | TimMee Toys |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic army men are toys, not scale models
Plastic army men are toys designed for creative play and are not intended to be accurate scale models. They are typically made from low-density polyethylene plastic, which makes them durable and flexible, and are commonly sold in plastic bags or buckets at low prices in discount stores and supermarkets. The most common size for plastic army men is around 2.5 cm (one inch) tall, although they can vary from 28mm to 32mm, or even up to 4.75 inches (12.1 cm) for the less common "jumbo" variety.
The widespread production of toy soldiers began in the 18th century, inspired by the military exploits of Frederick the Great. These toys have evolved over time, with the British toy company William Britain revolutionizing the production process in 1893 by devising a hollow casting method, making soldiers that were cheaper and lighter. The first American plastic toy soldiers were introduced by the Bergen Toy & Novelty Company (Beton) in 1938, and the classic Vietnam-era soldiers with M16 rifles remain the most common type today.
While some plastic army men can be quite detailed and realistic, with facial expressions and three-dimensional bodies, they are not designed with historical or chronological accuracy in mind. Their primary purpose is to encourage imaginative play and creativity, often being used in sandboxes or simple wargames. Their low cost also contributes to their disposable nature, and they have been a source of entertainment for children and adults alike, even inspiring characters in popular movies like Toy Story.
The availability of plastic army men has changed over time, with some sources noting that they were once found in almost every store in America, from gas stations to grocery stores. Today, most army men are manufactured inexpensively in China, and the accessories commonly found in Marx playsets are less frequently included. Despite these changes, plastic army men remain a beloved and iconic toy, often evoking a sense of nostalgia for many individuals.
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They are typically 2-2.5 inches tall
Plastic army men are considered toys and not scale models, so historical and chronological accuracy is generally not a priority. They are typically around 2 to 2.5 inches tall, or about 5 cm, and are commonly moulded from low-density polyethylene plastic, which makes them durable and flexible. They are usually sold in plastic bags or buckets and in multiple colours to represent opposing sides.
The standard set of poses for plastic army men toys has become fairly standardised over time. These toys are usually armed with 20th-century weapons, with rifles, machine guns, submachine guns, shotguns, sniper rifles, pistols, grenades, flamethrowers, mortars, and bazookas all making an appearance. The most common plastic army men today are Vietnam-era soldiers, with their M16 rifles. These figures are produced by TimMee Toys and were the inspiration for the army men in the Pixar movie, Toy Story.
The first American plastic toy soldiers were made by the Bergen Toy & Novelty Company (Beton) in 1938. They acquired the moulds of another pre-war plastic figure company, Universal Plastics, and their figures remained on sale for many years. Today, most army men are made inexpensively in China and are smaller on average than their historical counterparts.
Plastic army men are virtually disposable due to their low cost and are therefore well-suited to creative types of play. They can be set up in many different ways and are especially good for sandbox games or simple wargames with rubber balls or marbles.
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They are made from low-density polyethylene plastic
Plastic army men are typically made from low-density polyethylene plastic. This type of plastic is a major thermoplastic, and is widely used for manufacturing various containers, bottles, tubing, plastic parts for computer components, and various moulded laboratory equipment. Its most common use is in plastic bags.
Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is a type of polyolefin. It is one of the most popular thermoplastics and is used in a large array of applications. LDPE is lightweight, durable, and one of the most commonly produced plastics. It is also used in frozen food bags, bottles, and containers for yoghurt and cereal, among other things. LDPE is defined by a density range of 917–930 kg/m3.
LDPE was the first grade of polyethylene, produced in 1933 by John C. Swallow and M.W. Perrin, who were working for Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI). They used a high-pressure process via free radical polymerisation, and the same method is still used today. LDPE is made from the polymerisation of the ethylene (or ethene) monomer.
Despite competition from more modern polymers, LDPE remains an important plastic grade. In 2013, the worldwide LDPE market reached a volume of about US$33 billion. However, LDPE is not as commonly recycled as some other plastics, and when exposed to consistent sunlight, it produces significant amounts of the greenhouse gases methane and ethylene.
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They are often painted green or tan
Plastic army men, or toy soldiers, are commonly moulded from low-density polyethylene plastic, which makes them durable and flexible. They are typically painted in solid green or tan and dressed in modern military uniforms. The green colour is often referred to as olive drab green and is a feature of the WWII US Army Infantry Fire Support set.
The standard army men are about 5 cm (2 inches) tall, though they can vary in size, with jumbo army men reaching 4.75 inches (12.1 cm). The smaller figures are often not much more than 2.5 cm (1 inch) high. They are usually sold in plastic bags or buckets, with multiple colours representing opposing sides.
The plastic army men figures are often painted green or tan to represent the military uniforms of different countries and eras. For example, the green colour may represent the US Army during WWII, while the tan colour could be used for desert combat uniforms or soldiers from other countries.
In addition to the traditional green and tan colours, plastic army men can also be found in other colours, such as grey, as seen in the BMC CTS WW2 German Panther V Tank set. The choice of colour often depends on the specific historical or military theme that the set is based on.
While plastic army men are considered toys and not scale models, some sets do offer a level of detail and accuracy in their sculpting and painting. For example, the TSSD WWII US Infantry set features highly detailed and realistic figures with attention to facial expressions and three-dimensional bodies.
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They are usually armed with 20th-century weapons
Plastic army men, or toy soldiers, are typically armed with weapons from the 20th century. These toys are usually dressed in modern military uniforms and equipped with a range of weapons, often depicting the Vietnam-era M-16 rifle with a fixed M7 bayonet. Other weapons include rifles, machine guns, submachine guns, shotguns, sniper rifles, pistols, grenades, flamethrowers, mortars, and bazookas. The traditional helmets on these figures are the older M1 "steel pot" style, which were issued to US soldiers during the middle to late 20th century.
The vehicles and accessories that often accompany plastic army men are usually manufactured on a smaller scale to save on production and packaging costs. These can include tanks (often modelled on the M48 Patton tank), jeeps, armed hovercraft, half-tracks, artillery, flags, army trucks, helicopters, fighter jets, landing craft, and fortifications.
Plastic army men are designed to be inexpensive toys, commonly sold in plastic bags or buckets at discount stores and supermarkets. They are typically made from low-density polyethylene plastic, which makes them durable and flexible, and stand about 5 cm (2 inches) tall. The creation of plastic army men was made possible due to the surplus of plastic, both hard and soft, after World War II. This allowed toy soldier companies to produce safer toys at lower costs, and they were widely available in the United States.
The predecessors of plastic army men were tin toy soldiers, which were produced as early as the 1730s in Germany and became widespread during the 18th century, inspired by the military exploits of Frederick the Great. These tin soldiers were crafted in bright, glossy colours and sold in boxes with various accessories, including wagons, cannons, and engineering equipment. However, it was not until the late 18th century that the first "real" toy figures, known as military miniatures, were mass-produced by the Parisian company "Mignot". These miniature soldiers stood at approximately 2 inches tall and were adorned in colourful uniforms.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic army men are typically around 2 inches (5 cm) tall, though they can vary from 2.5 cm to 54 mm in height.
Yes, plastic army men come in a variety of scales, including 1:32, 1:48, and 1:72.
The smallest plastic army men are typically around 2.5 cm (1 inch) tall.
The largest plastic army men, known as "Jumbo" figures, are approximately 4.75 inches (12.1 cm) tall.
