Review: Tim Mee Air Force Figures and Planes

Tim Mee has recast two of its Air Force sets. The first is its 1950s set of Air Force figures. Second is a trio of HO-size World War II Aircraft.

Old style pilots

The Tim Mee Air Force figures were first issued in the early 1950s. They represent ground early Jet Age crewmen, officers and pilots. The original was produced in a blue plastic. Tim Mee has recast them in modern tan and green plastic.

Officers

The original plastic was prone to getting brittle with age. The recasts are a chance for collectors to have these figures from original molds in a plastic that will endure.

Ground Crew

These airmen are toys. The sculpting on several is gawky, to say the least. I would guess that the sculptor was the same one who designed the Tim Mee sailors, pirates and Robin Hood merry men. Nonetheless, these are based on the fellows who serviced combat aircraft. There are refuelers, ammo loaders, fire control and the fellow with panels guiding planes on the runway. And there are officers plus two pilots in old-style flight gear.

Ground Crew

The recast Tim Mee Air Force set is a must for collectors of plastic figures. They are also great for kids to run the play airfield for the Jets to take off and land. A really cool blast from the past.

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The Aerial Combat Set has recasts of three small toy planes. Inside the bag, in olive drab plastic, are a P-40 Warhawk, P51 Mustang and ME-109 Messerschmidt. They are about HO size. This is an item for collectors of Tim mee figures. Get while the getting is good. Items liek this are rarely recast.

You can get both through Victory Buy: click here

Building Attack Danger Zone

Great Halls Afire!

Jeff Imel sent me this unusual item. The two-piece model is a building facade with base. There are “flames” molded by some of the windows. The color of this ‘house afire’ is brick red. It comes with five stickers to place on the “flames”. These look like burst and fire.

The brickwork and other details are nicely molded. Almost too nice for a toy. And the size of the door is just right for figures from 30mm to 45mm. In model train sizes, S scale to O scale.

The Building Attack can be used with toy soldiers. it will also work with toy firemen . And on a model railroad, this building facade would make a nice “house afire” scene at the back of a layout. Model railroaders, be warned. This has some detail that demands extra painting.

In my opinion, this is an item best included with another product. A lighter version had been included with sets of firemen. The building facade could also be packed with a set of soldiers.

Get it here:
https://www.amazon.com/TimMee-BRICK-BUILDING-Under-Attack/dp/B076XTGBBT

Tim Mee Recon Patrol armored cars

Lockheed XM800W

Just received: the Tim Mee “Recon Patrol: Armored Scout vehicles” set. These are based on the Lockheed XM800W, a three-axle vehicle introduced in 1972. The Tim Mee version has one less axle.

The Lockheed xm800w was one of the vehicles submitted for testing for the Cavalry. By 1975, the project was cancelled and none of Lockheed’s vehicles was accepted.

The armored car featured a 20mm auto cannon.

Tim Mee has been making these since 1978. You can see the appeal.  They have a “space age” look to them.

Overall, this is an interesting design. The roof hatch being small, was it meant for discarding spent ammo? I wonder. The driver’s hatch is like a type that swivels to allow the driver to get in or out. Armament is obviously an auto-cannon and could be anything in the 30mm to 30mm caliber. Molded on are pioneer tools and other equipment.

The Tim Mee armored cars look good in tan or green. They are clearly meant for soldiers in the 50mm to 60mm sizes.

Now my wicked mind goes to work. The turret could be altered or removed to allow a larger gun or recoilless rifle, making the car a light tank destroyer. Pop the turret and with a little work you have an open-top command car. You could also mount katyusha type rockets.

The armored car could also be a futuristic sci-fi vehicle. A little work can render that cannon into a large ray gun. One might also make it a rocket launching vehicle. Paint it white with black markings and you have an Imperial Stormtrooper support vehicle. Use other colors, and you can have a land car for the Galaxy Laser team figures. All you would need is a cunning paint job to make a Klingon battle car. Use your imagination.

Sci fi fans might consider weird looking tires to complete the effect.

A sharp hobbyists can convert these cars into an entire fleet of combat vehicles including standard cars, anti-tank defense, command cars, armored ambulances and indirect-fire rocket batteries.

There are many other ways to enhance the cars. Camouflage will look great on them. Woodland, jungle, desert and winter camo schemes can be applied. Details are prominent enough  that they can also be painted, right down to the straps,

Obviously, the Tim Mee armored cars are one of the more attractive vehicles for the toy soldeir hobby.

The cars come with stickers. Jeff Imel has done a lot of work adding stickers to both Timmee and BMC products. Hard to see in photos, the stickers include thee large and six small stars and three serial number panels in OD green.

These are cool modern recon vehicles. I also like their potential for sci-fi skirmish gaming.

Presently, you can order yours here: https://www.amazon.com/TimMee-RECON-PATROL-Armored-Cars/dp/B076ZQCRN3

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Armored cars like these are generally used for reconnaissance and infantry support. They are lightly armored and generally lightly armed, although some anti-tank versions have heavier guns. The armored cars are made for speed. Classic armored cars include the German SD Kfz 222 and 234 series, the German “Puma”, British “Saladin” and American “M8 Greyhound.” The modern Stryker vehicles are eight-wheeled armored cars used as personnel carriers wit ha few heavily-armed support versions.

Review: Tim Mee M41 Walker Bulldog Tank and Tactical Troops

The reissued Tim Mee Walker Bulldog tank with troops is BIG. The body is 10.5 inches long by 6.5 inches wide.  With barrel, the length is 14.5 inches. For a plastic toy tank, it is a very good representation of the M41 Light tank. Open the turret and there’s the commander. And the engine compartment opens. For kids, it’s a good place to stash army men.

Back in the early 1960s, a popular toy was a battery-operated “Walker Bulldog” tank that  moved and fired plastic toy bullets. It was big, as toys go. The toy was made by Remco. The toy was only marginally like the tank for which it was named.

The Tim Mee M41 looks very much like the real thing ,through it is neither battery operated, nor does it shoot.

I estimate the scale as between 1/18 and 1/20.

Back in the 1990s, this same tank was advertised as an M60. Any resemblance to the M60 series of US tanks is tenuous, at best. Those who know US armor can see that it is the venerable M41.

Tim Mee packed in a dozen figures. These are the 60mm sized Tim Mee SWAT team cast in olive drab plastic. They are described as “tactical troops.” I find that intriguing, as the predecessor to SWAT police were the “tactical units.” And if you look at these figures closely, you get a blast from the past. The helmets are the older tactical helmets which look like motorcycle headgear. Three figures are carrying pistols. These are revolvers. Police preferred revolvers because they were less prone to jamming than automatics. That changed in the 1980s.

Two officers have billy clubs on their belts. One man holds a riot shotgun, one a sniper rifle and the other a tear gas grenade launcher. These are unique figures and they are very accurately detailed for the time they were originally sculpted. For the plastic toy soldier collector, the tactical troops are worthy additions to your collection. They are unusual, unique, and accurately reflect tactical officers in the late 70s - early 80s.

BTW - six of these tactical troops were included in the Tim Mee black helicopter Strike Force a couple years ago. They were molded in black plastic. Indeed, one of the things that the early SWAT cops brought to the table were helicopters, used for both observation and to insert teams.

Frankly, the Tim Mee M41 tank is too big for tabletop wargaming. On the other hand, it is a great toy for both indoor and outdoor play. Large, sturdy and attractive, the Walker Bulldog can provide kids with the centerpiece of many a sandbox battle. It is big, it looks good - and realistic - and it is made well. I’ll keep this around to entertain small visitors. This is one toy they can play with in the backyard.

By the way, I have been told that the small 3.5 inch G.I. Joes and similar sized figures are a perfect for this excellent tank!

Here is a link to buy one for yourself:

https://www.amazon.com/Tim-Mee-Walker-Bulldog-Playset/dp/B01N9QR2Z7/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1493386181&sr=8-15&keywords=victorybuy