Pages

Wednesday 14 September 2022

Sorting the button box

During my first teaching practice in a junior school in Harlow, Essex, I was on a very rapid learning curve. Luckily, I was teamed up with a very experienced teacher who taught me many useful lessons in the art of teaching. One of these was to always have what he called a ‘sorting the button box’ exercise ready.

Despite what some educational ‘experts’ might have the general public believe, the learning dynamic in a classroom is not always good, and as a teacher one has to recognise that and to accordingly adjust whatever they expect their class to do. For example, if there has been a fight during break time or rain has poured down at lunchtime and the children have not been able to go outside to run about and let off steam, trying to get the children to concentrate on anything difficult can be counterproductive to learning. In these circumstances having a ‘sorting the button box’ exercise can help them to calm down and prepare them for productive learning. (Such exercises are also good things to give to individual children who are upset or need to calm down, especially if they have been in a confrontation with another child or a member of staff.)

There are times when I need to have my own ‘sorting the button box’ exercise, usually on days when I am feeling a bit depressed or tired and unable to concentrate on reading, writing, or painting. Yesterday was such a day … and I spent what turned out to be a productive couple of hours sorting out a boxful of Axis and Allies Miniatures. I inherited them some years ago and had never sorted them out properly. I have now rectified that … and it has made me realise just quite how much stuff I own.

The complete list of Axis and Allies Miniatures that were produced was as follows*:

Australia

  • Australian Officer (North Africa; Commander; Uncommon)
  • Carro Armato M11/39 (Early War 1939–41; Tank; Uncommon)
  • Lend Lease Stuart (Counter Offensive; Tank; Uncommon)
  • Owen SMG (North Africa; Infantry; Uncommon)
  • Veteran SMLE Riflemen (Contested Skies; Infantry; Common)
Belgium

  • Belgium Bicycle Troop (Early War 1939–41; Infantry; Uncommon)
  • Belgium Infantry (Early War 1939–41; Infantry; Common)
  • Belgium Officer (Early War 1939–41; Commander; Uncommon)
  • T-13B3 (Early War 1939–41; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
Canada

  • Canadian Infantrymen (D-Day and 1939–1945; Infantry; Common)
  • Churchill III (Counter Offensive; Tank; Rare)
  • Eagle-Eyed NCO (D-Day and 1939–1945; Commander; Uncommon)
  • Entrenched Antitank gun (Reserves; Artillery; Common)
  • Intrepid Hero (Reserves; Hero; Uncommon)
  • Ram Kangaroo (Eastern Front; Armoured Personnel Carrier; Rare)
  • Sherman DD (D-Day; Tank; Rare)
  • Sherman VC 17-Pounder (1939–1945; Tank; Rare)
Nationalist China

  • Kuomintang Machine-Gun Team (Set II; Machine-Gun Team; Uncommon)
  • Kuomintang Officer (Set II; Commander; Uncommon)
  • Kuomintang Riflemen (Set II; Infantry; Common)
  • T-26 Series 1933 (Set II; Tank; Rare)
Independent State of Croatia

  • Croat Infantry (Counter Offensive; Infantry; Common)
Finland

  • Finnish Infantry (Eastern Front; Infantry; Common)
  • Finnish Machine-Gun Team (Eastern Front; Machine-Gun Team; Uncommon)
  • Finnish Officer (Eastern Front; Commander; Uncommon)
  • Finnish Ski Troop (Early War 1939–41; Infantry; Common)
  • StuG III Ausf. G (Eastern Front; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
  • T-26E (Early War 1939–41; Tank; Rare)
France

  • Bold Captain (Contested Skies; Commander; Uncommon)
  • Canon de 75 modele 1897 (Early War 1939–41; Artillery; Common)
  • Char B1-bis (Contested Skies and 1939–1945; Tank; Rare)
  • FCM 36 (Early War 1939–41; Tank; Rare)
  • Free French Infantrymen (D-Day; Infantry; Common)
  • French Alpine Troop (North Africa; Infantry; Uncommon)
  • French Resistance Fighters (Reserves; Partisan; Common)
  • Hotchkiss H39 (Eastern Front; Tank; Rare)
  • Hotchkiss Machine-Gun Team (Eastern Front; Machine-Gun Team; Uncommon)
  • Lebel 86M93 Grenadier (Contested Skies; Infantry; Common)
  • MAS 7.5 mm Rifle (Base Set and 1939–1945; Infantry; Common)
  • Morane-Saulnier MS.406 (Early War 1939–41; Aircraft; Rare)
  • P107 Half-Track (Early War 1939–41; Half-Track; Uncommon)
  • Panhard et Levassor P 178 (Reserves and 1939–1945; Armoured Car; Uncommon)
  • Renault R-35 (Base Set and 1939–1945; Tank; Rare and Uncommon)
  • Somua S-35 (D-Day, 1939–1945 and Early War 1939–41; Tank; Rare)
Germany

  • 20mm Flak 38 (Contested Skies; Anti-aircraft Gun; Uncommon)
  • 7.5 cm LEL G1818 (North Africa; Artillery; Common)
  • 88mm Flak 36 (D-Day and North Africa; Anti-aircraft Gun; Rare)
  • 88mm with Gun Shield (Eastern Front; Anti-aircraft Gun; Rare)
  • BMW R75 (Contested Skies; Motorcycle; Uncommon)
  • DAK Infantry (Counter Offensive; Infantry; Common)
  • Disciplined Spotter (D-Day; Spotter; Common)
  • Dornier Do335 (Reserves; Aircraft; Rare)
  • Elefant (Reserves; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
  • Panzer IV Ausf. D (Contested Skies; Tank; Uncommon)
  • StuG III Ausf. G (Counter Offensive; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
  • Fallschirmjäger (Reserves; Paratrooper; Common)
  • Flakpanzer IV Wirbelwind (Contested Skies; Anti-aircraft Vehicle; Rare)
  • Flammenwerfer 35 (Eastern Front; Flamethrower; Uncommon)
  • Focke-Wulf Fw 190A (D-Day; Aircraft; Rare)
  • Fortress Defender (D-Day; Infantry; Common)
  • Grizzled Veteran (D-Day; Hero; Uncommon)
  • Hummel (Eastern Front; Artillery; Rare)
  • Jagdpanther (Base Set and 1939–1945; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
  • Jagdpanzer IV/48 (Contested Skies; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
  • Jagdpanzer IV/70 (Eastern Front; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
  • Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer (D-Day; Tank Destroyer; Uncommon)
  • Jagdtiger (D-Day; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
  • Junkers JU 87B Stuka (Early War 1939–41; Aircraft; Rare)
  • Junkers JU 87G Stuka (Contested Skies and 1939–1945; Aircraft; Rare)
  • King Tiger (Set II, 1939–1945 and Eastern Front; Tank; Rare)
  • Kubelwagen V (North Africa and Early War 1939–41; Transport; Uncommon)
  • Luftwaffe Infantrymen (Contested Skies; Infantry; Common)
  • Light Mortar (Base Set; Mortar; Common)
  • Marder II (D-Day; Tank Destroyer; Uncommon)
  • Marder III Ausf. M (Eastern Front; Tank Destroyer; Uncommon)
  • Mauser Kar 98k (Base Set and 1939–1945; Infantry; Common)
  • Messerschmitt Ace (North Africa; Aircraft; Rare)
  • Messerschmitt Bf109E (Contested Skies; Aircraft; Rare)
  • Messerschmitt Bf 110 (D-Day and North Africa; Aircraft; Rare)
  • Messerschmitt Me 262 (Reserves; Jet Aircraft; Rare)
  • MG 34 Machine-Gun Team (Counter Offensive; Machine-Gun Team; Uncommon)
  • MG 42 Machine-Gun Team (Base Set, 1939–1945 and North Africa; Machine-Gun Team; Uncommon)
  • Motorized Schützen Infantry (Early War 1939–41; Infantry; Common)
  • Nashorn (Set II and Counter Offensive; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
  • Nebelwerfer 41 (Reserves and Eastern Front; Artillery; Uncommon)
  • Opel Blitz 3Ton (North Africa; Truck; Uncommon)
  • PaK 35/36 Antitank Gun (Eastern Front; Artillery; Common)
  • PaK 38 Antitank Gun (Base Set; Artillery; Common)
  • PaK 40 Antitank Gun (Set II; Artillery; Uncommon)
  • Panther Ausf. D (Reserves; Tank; Rare)
  • Panther Ausf. A (Eastern Front; Tank; Rare)
  • Panzer IB (Early War 1939–41; Tank; Uncommon)
  • Panzer II Ausf. C (Base Set; Tank; Rare)
  • Panzer II Ausf. F (Eastern Front and Early War 1939–41; Tank; Uncommon)
  • Panzer II (F) "Flamingo" (Set II; Tank; Uncommon)
  • Panzer III Ausf. F (Set II, 1939–1945 and Early War 1939–41; Tank; Uncommon, Rare)
  • Panzer III Ausf. N Commander (Counter Offensive; Tank; Rare)
  • Panzer IV Ausf. A (Early War 1939–41; Tank; Rare)
  • Panzer IV Ausf. E (North Africa and Eastern Front; Tank; Rare and Uncommon)
  • Panzer IV Ausf. F2 (1939–1945; Tank; Uncommon)
  • Panzer IV Ausf. G (Early) (Eastern Front and Counter Offensive; Tank; Rare)
  • Panzer IV Ausf. G (Base Set; Tank; Uncommon)
  • Panzer IV Ausf. H Commander (North Africa; Tank Commander; Rare)
  • PzKpfw 38(t) (Reserves; Tank; uncommon)
  • Panzerjäger I (Early War 1939–41; Tank Destroyer; Uncommon)
  • Panzerjäger Bren 731 (e) (Reserves; Anti-Tank Vehicle; Uncommon)
  • Panzerfaust 30 (Base Set and 1939–1945; Infantry Antitank Team; Common)
  • Panzergrenadier (Set II; Infantry; Common)
  • Panzerschreck (Contested Skies; Antitank Team; Common)
  • Panzerspähwagen P204 (F) (North Africa; Armoured Car; Uncommon)
  • Pioneers (Eastern Front; Engineer; Uncommon)
  • Recon BMW R75 (Counter Offensive; Motorcycle; Uncommon)
  • Sandbagged Machine-Gun Team (D-Day; Machine-Gun Team; Uncommon)
  • Sd Kfz 222 (Base Set; Armoured Car; Uncommon)
  • Sd Kfz 234/2 "Puma" (Contested Skies; Armoured Car; Uncommon)
  • Motorcycle Half-Track (North Africa and Early War 1939–41; Motor-Cycle Half-Track; Uncommon)
  • Sd.Kfz. 7/1 (North Africa; Anti-Aircraft; Rare)
  • Sd.Kfz. 231 (North Africa and Early War 1939–41; Armoured Car; Uncommon)
  • Sd.Kfz. 234/4 (Eastern Front; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
  • Sd.Kfz. 250 (D-Day; Half-Track; Uncommon)
  • Sd.Kfz. 251 (Base Set, 1939–1945 and North Africa; Half-Track; Uncommon)
  • Sd.Kfz 303 Goliath (Reserves; Demolitions; Uncommon)
  • sGrW 34 81mm Mortar (D-Day and Eastern Front; Mortar; Uncommon)
  • sIG 33 (Base Set; Assault Gun; Rare)
  • SS-Haupsturmführer (Base Set and 1939–1945; Commander; Uncommon)
  • SS-Jagdpanther (Eastern Front; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
  • SS-Panther Ausf. G (Base Set; Tank; Rare)
  • SS-Panzer IV Ausf. F2 (Set II; Tank; Rare)
  • SS-Panzergrenadier (Base Set and Eastern Front; Infantry; Common)
  • SS Stormtroopers (Contested Skies; Infantry; Common)
  • StuG III Ausf. D (Contested Skies and 1939–1945; Assault Gun; Uncommon)
  • StuG III Ausf. G (North Africa; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
  • Sturmpanzer IV "Brummbär" (Set II and 1939–1945; Assault Gun; Rare)
  • Tiger I (Base Set, 1939–1945 and Eastern Front; Tank; Rare)
  • Veteran Fallschirmjäger (North Africa and Counter Offensive; Paratrooper; Uncommon)
  • Veteran Panzer III Ausf. L (North Africa; Tank; Rare)
  • Veteran Tiger (D-Day and North Africa; Tank; Rare)
  • Volkssturm Infantrymen (Reserves; Infantry; Common)
  • Wehrmacht Expert Sniper (Set II; Sniper; Uncommon)
  • Wehrmacht Oberleutnant (Set II and Eastern Front; Commander; Uncommon)
  • Wehrmacht Veteran Infantrymen (D-Day and North Africa; Infantry; Common)
  • Werwolf Partisans (Reserves; Partisan; Common)
  • Wespe (North Africa; Artillery; Rare)
Greece
  • Greek Cavalry (Early War 1939–41; Cavalry; Uncommon)
  • Greek Mountain Infantry (Counter Offensive; Infantry; Common)
  • Greek Officer (North Africa; Commander; Uncommon)
  • Greek Soldier (North Africa; Infantry; Common)
Hungary

  • 8mm Huzagol 35M (Reserves and Eastern Front; Infantry; Common)
  • 37mm Light Antitank Gun (Reserves; Anti-Tank Gun; Common)
  • PzKpfw 38 (t) (Eastern Front; Tank; Rare)
  • Solthurn 31m MG Team (Counter Offensive; Machine-Gun Team; Uncommon)
  • Tenacious Officer (Reserves; Commander; Uncommon)
  • 38M Toldi IIA (Counter Offensive; Tank; Rare)
  • Turan I (Reserves; Tank; Uncommon)
  • 40/43M Zrinyi Assault Howitzer (Counter Offensive; Assault Gun; Rare)
Italy

  • 47/32 Anti-Tank Gun (North Africa; Artillery; Common)
  • Autoblindo AB41 (North Africa and Early War 1939–41; Armoured Car; Uncommon)
  • Blackshirts (Set II; Infantry; Common)
  • Breda Modello 30 LMG (North Africa; Infantry; Uncommon)
  • Breda Modello 37 (North Africa; Machine-Gun Team; Uncommon)
  • Brixia M35 45 mm Mortar (Contested Skies and Eastern Front; Artillery; Uncommon)
  • Cannone da 75/27 modello 11 (Early War 1939–41; Artillery; Common)
  • Carro Armato M11/39 (North Africa; Tank; Uncommon)
  • Carro Armato M13/40 (Base Set and 1939–1945; Tank; Rare and Uncommon)
  • Fucile Modello 1891 (Base Set and 1939–1945; Infantry; Common)
  • Italian Alpine Troop (North Africa; Infantry; Uncommon)
  • Italian Conscript (North Africa; Infantry; Common)
  • L3/35 (D-Day; Light Tank; Uncommon)
  • L6/40 (Eastern Front; Tank; Uncommon)
  • Macchi C.202 Folgore (North Africa; Aircraft; Rare)
  • Semovente L40 da 47/32 (Early War 1939–41; Assault Gun; Rare)
  • Semovente 75/18 (North Africa; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
  • Semovente 90/53 (North Africa; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
  • Stalwart Hero (Reserves; Hero; Uncommon)
  • Stalwart Lieutenant (Contested Skies and 1939–1945; Commander; Uncommon)
  • Veteran Carro Armato M13/40 (Eastern Front; Tank; Rare)
Japan
  • 47mm Anti-Tank Gun (Base Set; Anti-Tank Gun; Uncommon)
  • 70mm Type 92 (North Africa; Artillery; Uncommon)
  • Arisaka Rifle (Base Set and 1939–1945; Infantry; Common)
  • Azad Hind Fauj Infantrymen (Reserves; Infantry; Common)
  • Honour-Bound Hero (D-Day; Hero; Uncommon)
  • Imperial Engineer (Counter Offensive; Engineer; Uncommon)
  • Imperial Sergeant (Base Set; Commander; Uncommon)
  • Imperial Sniper (Set II; Sniper; Common)
  • Japanese Bicycle Trooper (Early War 1939–41; Infantry; Uncommon)
  • Jungle Spotter (Early War 1939–41; Spotter; Uncommon)
  • Kawanishi N1K-J Shiden-Kai (Reserves and Counter Offensive; Aircraft; Rare)
  • Mitsubishi A6M Zero (Contested Skies and 1939–1945; Aircraft; Rare)
  • Nakajima Ki-43 Oscar (Early War 1939–41; Aircraft; Rare)
  • SNLF Captain (Set II and 1939–1945; Commander; Uncommon)
  • SNLF Fanatics (Contested Skies; Infantry; Uncommon)
  • SNLF Paratroopers (Set II; Paratrooper; Common)
  • Type 1 Ho-Ni (Set II; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
  • Type 2 Ka-Mi Amphibious Tank (Set II; Tank; Uncommon)
  • Type 3 Chi-Nu (Reserves; Tank; Rare)
  • Type 4 Ho-Ro (Counter Offensive; Assault Gun; Rare)
  • Type 87 Armoured Car (Contested Skies; Armoured Car; Uncommon)
  • Type 88 75 mm AA Gun (Counter Offensive; Anti-aircraft; Rare)
  • Type 89A Chi-Ro (Contested Skies; Tank; Rare)
  • Type 89B Chi-Ro (Early War 1939–41; Tank; Rare)
  • Type 89 Mortar (Base Set and 1939–1945; Mortar; Common)
  • Type 92 Machine-Gun Team (Base Set and 1939–1945; Machine-Gun Team; Uncommon)
  • Type 95 Ha-Go (Base Set and 1939–1945, Counter Offensive; Tank; Rare and Uncommon)
  • Type 97 Antitank Rifle (Reserves; Soldier; Common)
  • Type 97 Chi-Ha (Set II and 1939–1945; Tank; Rare)
  • Type 97 Te-Ke Tankette (Set II; Tank; Uncommon)
  • Type 99 LMG (Early War 1939–41; Infantry; Common)
New Zealand
  • Daimler Dingo Armoured Car (Counter Offensive; Armoured Car; Uncommon)
  • New Zealand Commander (Counter Offensive; Commander; Uncommon)
  • New Zealand Infantry (Counter Offensive; Infantry; Common)
Poland
  • 7TP (Early War 1939–41; Tank; Rare)
  • 7TPdw (Set II; Tank; Rare)
  • Cavalrymen (Set II; Cavalry; Uncommon)
  • Cromwell IV (Counter Offensive; Tank; Rare)
  • Determined Infantrymen (Reserves; Infantry; Common)
  • Polish Mauser Kar 98 K (Reserves; Infantry; Common)
  • Polish Officer (Early War 1939–41; Commander; Uncommon)
  • TKS Ursus Tankette (Early War 1939–41; Tank; Uncommon)
  • wz.36mm ATG (Early War 1939–41; Artillery; Common)
Romania
  • Antitank Grenadier (Set II and Eastern Front; Infantry; Common)
  • Bohler 47 mm Antitank Gun (Contested Skies; Artillery; Uncommon)
  • R-2 LT-35 (Set II; Tank; Rare)
  • T4 Medium Tank (Eastern Front; Tank; Rare)
  • R35 (Eastern Front; Tank; Uncommon)
  • Romanian Cavalry (Counter Offensive; Cavalry; Uncommon)
  • Romanian Infantry (Eastern Front; Infantry; Common)
  • Romanian Mortar (Counter Offensive; Mortar; Uncommon)
  • Romanian Sd.Kfz. 251 (Counter Offensive; Half-Track; Uncommon)
  • Vigilant Lieutenant (Contested Skies and Eastern Front; Commander; Uncommon)
South Africa
  • Marmon Herrington Mk. II AC (Early War 1939–41; Armoured Car; Rare)
  • South African Infantry (Early War 1939–41; Infantry; Common)
  • Valentine II (Early War 1939–41; Tank; Rare)
Slovak Republic
  • Motorcycle Recon (Early War 1939–41; Motorcycle; Uncommon)
  • PzKpfw 35(t) (Counter Offensive; Tank; Uncommon)
  • Panzer 38(t) (Early War 1939–41; Tank; Rare)
  • Slovakian Infantry (Counter Offensive; Infantry; Common)
  • Slovakian Marder III (Counter Offensive; Tank Destroyer; Uncommon)
Soviet Union
  • 76mm Model 1942 (Eastern Front; Artillery; Uncommon)
  • 82mm PM-37 Mortar (Contested Skies and 1939–1945; Mortar; Common)
  • 85mm AA Gun (Counter Offensive; Anti-aircraft Gun; Rare)
  • BA-10M (Reserves; Armoured Car; Uncommon)
  • BA-64 (Eastern Front and Counter Offensive; Armoured Car; Uncommon)
  • BM-13 Katyusha Rocket Launcher (Contested Skies; Artillery; Rare)
  • BT-5 (Early War 1939–41; Tank; Rare)
  • BT-7 (Reserves; Tank; Rare)
  • Commissar (Base Set and 1939–1945; Commander; Uncommon)
  • Communist Partisans (Contested Skies; Partisan; Common)
  • Cossack Captain (Set II; Commander; Uncommon)
  • Cossack Cavalrymen (Contested Skies; Cavalry; Uncommon)
  • Degtyarev DP27 (Reserves; Infantry; Common)
  • Fanatical Sniper (Set II and Eastern Front; Sniper; Common)
  • Guards Infantry (Counter Offensive; Infantry; Common)
  • Guards T-34/76 (Counter Offensive; Tank; Rare)
  • Guards T-34/85 (Set II; Tank; Rare)
  • Hero of the Soviet Union (D-Day; Hero; Uncommon)
  • IL-10 Sturmovik (Contested Skies and 1939–1945; Aircraft; Rare)
  • IS-2 Model 1944 (Set II and 1939–1945; Tank; Rare)
  • IS-2 Veteran (Eastern Front; Tank; Rare)
  • IS-3 (Reserves; Tank; Rare)
  • ISU-122 (Eastern Front; Assault Gun; Rare)
  • KV-1 (Base Set and 1939–1945; Tank; Rare)
  • KV-2 (Counter Offensive; Tank; Rare)
  • KV-85 (Eastern Front; Tank; Rare)
  • Lend-Lease Half Track (Eastern Front; Half-Track; Uncommon)
  • Russian M1910 Maxim MG (North Africa; Machine-Gun Team; Uncommon)
  • Mig-1 (Early War 1939–41; Aircraft; Rare)
  • Mongolian Cavalry (Early War 1939–41; Cavalry; Uncommon)
  • Mosin–Nagant 1891/30 (Base Set and 1939–1945; Infantry; Common)
  • PolishSU-85 (Counter Offensive; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
  • PPSh-41 SMG (Set II and Eastern Front; Infantry; Common)
  • PTRD-41 Antitank Rifle (Set II and Eastern Front; Antitank; Uncommon)
  • Red Army Forward Observer (Contested Skies; Artillery Observer; Common)
  • Siberian Shock Troops (Counter Offensive; Infantry; Uncommon)
  • Soviet Conscript (Early War 1939–41; Infantry; Common)
  • Soviet Grenadiers (Contested Skies; Infantry; Common)
  • Soviet M3 Lee (Reserves; Tank; Rare)
  • Soviet-Polish Infantry (Eastern Front; Infantry; Common)
  • SU-76M (D-Day; Tank Destroyer; Uncommon)uSu-85 (Contested Skies and 1939–1945; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
  • SU-122 (North Africa; Assault Gun; Rare)
  • SU-152 (Reserves; Assault Gun; Rare)
  • T26B (1939–1945; Tank; Rare)
  • T-28 (Early War 1939–41; Tank; Rare)
  • T-34/76 (Base Set and 1939–1945; Tank; Rare and Uncommon)
  • T-34/76 Commander (North Africa; Tank Commander; Rare)
  • T-34/76 Model 1942 (Eastern Front; Tank; Rare)
  • T-34/85 (Eastern Front; Tank; Rare)
  • T-35 (Reserves; Tank; Rare)
  • T-38 Light Amphibious Tank (Early War 1939–41; Tank; Uncommon)
  • T-70 Model 1942 (Set II, 1939–1945 and Eastern Front; Tank; Uncommon)
  • Valentine VI (Eastern Front; Tank; Uncommon)
  • Veteran NCO (Eastern Front; Commander; Uncommon)
  • Veteran SU-76M (Counter Offensive; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
  • ZIS-2 57mm Model 1943 (Set II and 1939–1945; Anti-tank Gun; Uncommon)
  • ZIS-5 Ton (North Africa; Truck; Uncommon)
  • ZIS-42 Half-Track (Counter Offensive; Half-Track; Uncommon)
United Kingdom
  • 3-Inch Mortar (Counter Offensive; Mortar; Uncommon)
  • 2-Pounder Antitank Gun (North Africa; Antitank Gun; Common)
  • 6-Pounder Antitank Gun (Base Set; Antitank Gun; Common)
  • 17-Pounder Antitank Gun (Contested Skies; Antitank Gun; Uncommon)
  • 40 mm Bofors L60 (Contested Skies; Anti-aircraft Gun; Uncommon)
  • Archer (Set II; Tank Destroyer; Uncommon)
  • Bedford QL 3 Ton (North Africa; Truck; Rare)
  • Bren Machine Gunner (D-Day and North Africa; Infantry; Common)
  • BEF Infantrymen (Early War 1939–41; Infantry; Common)
  • Centurion A41 (Reserves; Tank; Rare)
  • Churchill IV (Eastern Front; Tank; Rare)
  • Churchill AVRE (D-Day; Engineer Tank; Rare)
  • Churchill Crocodile (Base Set; Tank; Rare)
  • Comet A-34 (Contested Skies; Tank; Rare)
  • Concealed Forward Observer (D-Day; Spotter; Common)
  • Cromwell IV (Set II and 1939–1945; Tank; Rare)
  • Crusader II (Base Set and North Africa; Tank; Rare)
  • Cruiser Mk IIIA13 (Early War 1939–41; Tank; Rare)
  • Defiant Paratroopers (D-Day; Paratrooper; Common)
  • Entrenched Antitank Gun (Eastern Front; Antitank Gun; Common)
  • Gloster Meteor (Reserves; Jet Aircraft; Rare)
  • Grant I (North Africa; Tank; Rare)
  • Gurkha Riflemen (Contested Skies; Infantry; Common)
  • Hawker Typhoon (D-Day; Aircraft; Rare)
  • Humber Scout Car (Base Set and 1939–1945; Armoured Car; Uncommon)
  • Inspiring Hero (D-Day; Hero; Uncommon)
  • Inspiring Lieutenant (Base Set and 1939–1945; Commander; Uncommon)
  • M3 Stuart (Base Set and North Africa; Tank; Uncommon)
  • M22 Locust (Reserves; Tank; Uncommon)
  • Mk.VII Tetrarch (D-Day; Tank; Uncommon)
  • Matilda II (North Africa and Early War 1939–1941; Tank; Rare)
  • Morris Reconnaissance Car Mk2 (North Africa and Early War 1939–41; Armoured Car; Uncommon)
  • PIAT Gunner (Set II; Anti-Tank Team; Uncommon)
  • Royal Engineers (Base Set; Engineer; Common)
  • Sherman IVC (Counter Offensive; Tank; Rare)
  • Sherman VC Firefly (D-Day and Eastern Front; Tank; Rare)
  • SMLE No.4 Rifle (Base Set and 1939–1945; Infantry; Common)
  • Staghound (Eastern Front; Armoured Car; Uncommon)
  • Sten Gun (North Africa; Infantry; Common)
  • Spitfire Ace (North Africa; Aircraft; Rare)
  • Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I (D-Day and 1939–1945; Aircraft; Rare)
  • Universal Carrier (Contested Skies and Counter Offensive; Transport; Uncommon)
  • Valentine I (1939–1945; Tank; Rare)
  • Valentine II (Set II; Tank; Rare)
  • Vickers Machine-Gun Team (Base Set and 1939–1945; Machine-Gun Team; Uncommon)
United States
  • 3" Gun M5 (Set II; Antitank Gun; Uncommon)
  • 37mm Gun M3 (North Africa; Antitank Gun; Common)
  • BAR Gunner (Set II; Infantry; Common)
  • Bazooka (Base Set and 1939–1945; Antitank Team; Common)
  • Buffalo Soldiers (D-Day; Infantry; Common)
  • GMC CCKW (North Africa; Truck; Uncommon)
  • DUKW (Counter Offensive; Transport; Uncommon)
  • Early M4A1 Sherman (North Africa; Tank; Rare)
  • FO Jeep (Contested Skies; Artillery Observation vehicle; Uncommon)
  • Higgins Boat (D-Day; Transport; Rare)
  • Hunting Sniper (Contested Skies; Sniper; Uncommon)
  • Jeep (Base Set and Eastern Front; Transport; Common)
  • F4U Corsair (Reserves and Counter Offensive; Aircraft; Rare)
  • Lockheed P-38G Lightning (D-Day; Aircraft; Rare)
  • LVT (D-Day; Amphibious Transport; Rare)
  • LVT (A)-1 (Counteroffensive; Amphibious Tank; Rare)
  • M1 81mm Mortar (D-Day; Mortar; Common)
  • M1 Garand Rifle (Base Set and 1939–1945; Infantry; Common)
  • M3 Half-Track (D-Day; Half-Track; Uncommon)
  • M3 Light Tank (1939–1945; Tank; Rare)
  • M3 Lee (Base Set; Tank; Rare)
  • M3A1 Scout Car (Counter Offensive; Armoured Car; Uncommon)
  • M3A5 Lee (Eastern Front; Tank; Rare)
  • M4A1 Sherman (Base Set and 1939–1945; Tank; Uncommon)
  • M4A1 Sherman Commander (North Africa; Tank Commander; Rare)
  • M4A3 (105) Sherman (Base Set and 1939–1945; Artillery; Rare)
  • M4A3E8 Sherman Easy Eight (Base Set; Tank; Rare)
  • M4 Sherman T-38 Calliope (Reserves; Tank; Rare)
  • M5A1 (Eastern Front; Tank; Uncommon)
  • M5 Half-Track (Set II, 1939–1945 and North Africa; Half-Track; Uncommon)
  • M7 105mm Priest (D-Day and Counter Offensive; SP Artillery; Rare)
  • M8 Greyhound (Reserves; Armoured Car; Uncommon)
  • M16 Half-Track (D-Day; Half-Track; Uncommon)
  • M8 75mm Pack Howitzer (North Africa; Artillery; Common)
  • M10 (North Africa; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
  • M12 GMC (Eastern Front; Artillery; Rare)
  • M18 Hellcat (Base Set; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
  • M18 GMC (1939–1945; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
  • M20 Recoilless Rifle (Reserves; Artillery; Common)
  • M24 Chaffee (Set II; Tank; Rare)
  • M26 Pershing (Contested Skies and 1939–1945; Tank; Rare)
  • M36 MGC (Contested Skies; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
  • M1919 MG (North Africa; Machine-Gun Team; Uncommon)
  • Marine Riflemen (Contested Skies; Infantry; Common)
  • Marine Sergeant (Counter Offensive; Commander; Common)
  • Marines M2-2 Flamethrower (Base Set; Flamethrower; Common)
  • Mortar M2 (Base Set; Mortar; Common)
  • P-51D Mustang (Contested Skies and 1939–1945; Aircraft; Rare)
  • Quad 50 (Contested Skies and 1939–1945; Antiaircraft Gun; Uncommon)
  • P40 Tomahawk (North Africa; Aircraft; Rare)
  • Rangers (Reserves; Infantry; Common)
  • Red Devil Captain (Base Set and 1939–1945; Commander; Uncommon)
  • Resourceful Hero (D-Day; Hero; Uncommon)
  • Screaming Eagle Captain (Set II; Paratrooper Commander; Uncommon)
  • Screaming Eagle Paratroopers (Set II; Paratrooper; Common)
  • Thompson Sub-Machine Gun-Gunner (Reserves; Infantry; Common)
  • Untested Recruit (North Africa; Infantry; Common)
  • U.S. Engineer (Eastern Front; Engineer; Uncommon)
  • Veteran M4 Sherman Rhino (Set II; Tank; Rare)
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
  • Yugoslav Partisan Infantry (Counter Offensive; Infantry; Common)
  • Yugoslav Partisan Commander (Counter Offensive; Commander; Uncommon)
Obstacles and Support Units
  • Ammo Dump (Reserves; Support; Uncommon)
  • Barbed Wire (D-Day; Obstacle; Common)
  • Fuel Depot (Reserves; Support; Uncommon)
  • Headquarters (Reserves; Support; Uncommon)
  • Minefield (D-Day; Obstacle; Common)
  • Pillbox (D-Day; Obstacle; Uncommon)
  • Tank Obstacle (D-Day; Obstacle; Common)

I am having little trouble identifying which tanks and artillery I have in my collection, but the figures are presenting me with a problem. I hope that a trawl through the Internet will help ... but if someone out there has a link to a source of photographs that show each figures, I would be very grateful for the link.

Once I have identified what I have in my collection, I will publish a list as a blog post.


* The information in brackets indicates which set the miniatures formed part of, what the miniature represented, and how common (or not) they were.

10 comments:

  1. Hello there Bob,

    Blimey! You were not kidding about the collection - that is Mahoosive! As an aside there are some quite valuable items in there - anything rare, especially if you have the accompanying cards. There is certainly sufficient material for all manner of PW forces and certainly for an imagi-nations style set up you are definitely spoilt for choice!

    If I can find out anything further about the individual figures I will let you know - I am sure the Axis and Allies forum or possibly BoardGameGeek may be of use. There may even be a facebook group or two.

    I am very intrigued as to what you will do with this lot!

    All the best,

    DC

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. David Crook,

      I should have pointed out that this is as complete a list of everything they produced as I could assemble (most of it copies from online sources) and not what is in my collection! I’ll publish a list of what is in my collection once I’ve identified all the figures.

      I don’t have any of the cards that go with the models that I do own, which reduces their value, but as they will probably only be used for for PW games, that isn’t a problem.

      I’ve looked a BoardGameGeek, which has hundreds of photographs that might be of help.

      More news as it come in …

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  2. Hello again Bob,

    I forgot to mention that I shall be sharing your ‘sorting the button box’ tip with Holly as she has just started her teacher training year!

    All the best,

    DC

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. David Crook,

      I somehow suspect that the way teaching is now delivered, there is no place for ‘sort the button box’ exercises anymore. It’s only old codgers like me that were able to change what we were going to do and deviate from our lesson plans. Nowadays I don’t think that teachers are allowed to do this anymore as it doesn’t tick the right ‘learning objective’ boxes.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  3. Hello Bob,

    While BoardGameGeek can help identify figures, secondary market dealers are also good references. Noble Knight Games (https://www.nobleknight.com) has a good search engine for specific game lines and lists in stock items as well as out of stock pieces; so if something ever passed through its shop, there's still a photo and description available. I've looked for Axis & Allies miniatures there before with some success.

    Cheers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Peter Schweighofer,

      Thanks for the link to the Noble Knight Games website. I’ll certainly see if it can help me with my quest to identify what figures etc., I have in my collection.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  4. Have never heard the expression before, but I have found this sort of exercise useful sometimes when roleplaying - the catch being that often the most studious player works on the puzzle alone while the rest keep asking questions.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jennifer,

      The first time I ever heard the expression was during that teaching practice … back in the early 1970s.

      We used to be able to use all sorts of ways to get individual pupils out of the classroom to defuse difficult situations. For example, sending them to another teacher for a ‘short stand’ or a ‘long weight(wait)’. It sounds cruel, but it gave everyone involved time to calm down.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  5. That is a good thought for how to processs a 'down' day - a low-stress task but something to mark as achieved. I suspect we all have some 'button-boxes' lurking - in my case, sorting the book backlog pile and filing cuttings from hobby magazines spring to mind. Looking at the 'lead pile' may be a bit too stressful(!) Glad it worked for you, and an interesting insight into good teaching too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. David in Suffolk,

      It really helped me to de-stress … and I had something positive to show for it at the end. In fact, sorting the figures made me realise that the collection was much bigger than I thought and had lots of wargaming potential … so it was a double-plus-good result!

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete

Thank you for leaving a comment. Please note that any comments that are spam or contain phishing messages or that come from Google Accounts that are 'Unknown' will be deleted.