Toy Soldier Collector Magazine

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Old Northwest Trading Company - WWI & ACW releases

Review taken from 'New Releases Part 2'

I was very pleased to recently receive an email from Rick Berry, one of the team behind the Old Northwest Trading Company. ONTC formed a couple of years ago and began producing some nicely detailed sets for the WWI, WWII and ACW periods.

It has been quite some time since TSC has covered any ONTC sets so it was good to hear from Rick and receive details of these new sets. There are a total of three new WWI and two ACW releases.

Starting with the period ONTC are possibly best known for, WWI, there is one figure set and two vehicle sets. Firstly there is TGW-004 ‘Over There’ a set which includes four US Dougboys in action and comes with its own nicely detailed scenic base. Although not the most original set these figures are very sculpted and painted and with the inclusion of the scenic base would make a nice stand alone set or could be incorporated in to a much larger WWI display. Expect to pay around £60/$90 for this set.

Next up is set TGW-006 British Mark IV tank. This set needs little introduction as the Mark IV is a rather iconic piece of armour, and it’s good to see ONTC producing it as I believe they could well be the first company to have done so in matt for the mainstream market. This set also includes two Tommies, who appear to be using the Mark IV for cover, as well as a small section of terrain base. If you wish to add this set to your collection then you’ll need to find £90/$125.

The final new set for WWI collectors is the infamous, and equally iconic, German A7V (TWG-007). Again, and please correct me if I’m wrong, I believe ONTC are first company to do this particular vehicle for the mass market in matt, and what a great job they’ve made of it! Like its British counterpart this tank comes with two figures, German infantry, and a small section of scenic groundwork. Priced at $135 (no UK price at time of writing) it’s a little more costly than its British equivalent but it is well worth it.

To sum up all of these latest WWI sets by ONTC I would say they are extremely well conceived, well produced and fairly priced and well done chaps you are to be commended for producing some much needed WWI armour.

Moving away from WWI we come to the two new ACW sets. ACW is, I would say, a trickier period for newer makers to break into these days simply because companies such as W. Britain have been doing it for so long. ONTC seem to have come at this period from a good angle, and rather than trying to compete with the larger companies by simply producing large numbers of Union and Confederate figures they have chosen to do more unusual little sets which could fit in with collectors existing displays.

The first new set ACW-006 ‘O be joyful’ is a fun little set featuring three figures and small cabin and a scenic table. The premise behind the set is that during the ACW there were often many weeks or months between battles and as such both Union and Confederate troops began brewing their own alcohol, giving the drinks names such as O be joyful. This scene depicts three Union soldiers enjoying a little of their favourite tipple which they have brewed up in their cabin. A great set with an interesting story behind it, expect to pay £125 (no UK price at time of writing).

The final set is actually more a single figure rather than a complete set, ACW-007 is simply titled Civil War Photographer and really needs little explanation. An ideal figure for use with the O be joyful set, or in fact he can be used within pretty much any ACW display. This is a very useful, well made figure that should appeal to just about every ACW collector. He’s priced at $30 (no UK price at time of writing) so a little costly but worthwhile if you want to add a little bit of interest in to an area of your display.

Date Published Tue, 11/25/2008 - 17:17
Author: Andy Whittaker

Contact
The Old Northwest Trading Company
1406 East 11 Mile Road
Royal Oak
MI 48067
USA

Tel: +1 248 544 3088
www.oldnwtc.com

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