This Plastic Soldiers were the most successful and high quality military plastic toykind in history

That said, this article refers to the originals (G1) from the Plastic World and not to the different types coming from the Real World, which vary in very different qualities.

These plastic Toykind beings are original from the Plastic World, but it is now suspected that they actually come from the Real World, or its roots come from there. They are the main Toykind of the Plastic World, in opposition to the Real World, where the Army Men are not the most relevant, and even less so today.

The scale

The scale of plastic soldiers and toy soldiers in general is expressed today in the standard human measuring system from the Real World as the approximate height of the soldier from head to toe in millimeters. Because many figures are not upright, the height is usually an approximation. The standard, originally adopted plastic soldier scale is 50 mm or 1:35 in the Real World scale. Among different manufacturers, the standard scale can vary from 54 mm (2.25 in) 1:32 scale, up to 60 mm (1:28 scale). 25mm and even smaller scales are available. At the larger end of the scale are many of the toy soldier figures produced at approximately 75 mm (3 in) 1:24 scale.

Different types

Currently there are different types of Plastic Soldiers, both in design and movement. Regarding movement, some Army Men do not enjoy full freedom of movement given their toughness and immunity to anti-plastrification serum. This can happen from the moment they come out of the mold and in some cases over time.

There are commonly 2 main types of Army Men known: those who are plastered and those who are not. But that it’s no longer the rule. Now there is also a type of Plastic Soldier in the middle, the semi-plastered or better known as “Stop motion” soldier.

These look the same as the plastered soldiers, with the base underneath joining their feet and the apparent lack of movement. But this is not entirely what it seems, rather they can move freely, although they cannot move their limbs completely freely.

These can aim and shoot with extreme precision and the hardness of their bodies is highly superior to those plastic soldiers who can move freely.

Although this state can last forever, it can also be reversible and there is even researches into ways to cause it on purpose, to gain more resistance.

This happens almost exclusively to plastic soldiers who come from the Real World, and those who came from other worlds and stay in the Real World for a while. Therefore, it is assumed that this has to do with something related to environmental issues or the functioning of the reality of that world. The reports in this regard are still subject to studies, but classic anti-plastrification vaccines and serums may be losing their effectiveness and work must be done on new versions to counteract these unwanted effects. But ironically some soldiers choose to remain this way because it helps them survive on the battlefield thanks to the great resistance they gain, to the detriment of their lack of physical mobility.

A current response to these predicaments was the creation of jointed troops. Each joint is molded separately and then the soldier is assembled. This has greatly helped the Army Men to keep one foot in this reality and the other in the other, like Stop Motion soldiers, but with much better mobility while enjoying high resistance to physical damage.

The original Army Men, the “G1”

This 5cm plastic soldiers were born in the early past of the Plastic World, unknown circumstances. The Generation 1 are made up of these soldiers, with some minor changes over time and some molds of particular design, such as Colonel Grimm, Plastro, etc.

These early Army Men, now called “G1” (for Generation 1) may not be the first to exist. They are believed to be a product of the Plastic World and not the Real World, due to its level of detail that was very difficult to achieve in the past of the human race and their ancient primitive forms of manufacturing. The existence of this Big World and other worlds was later known by the Army Men, so considering them as the first may be wrong. In any case, they consider themselves this way as a frame of reference and because they are the first to be known in the Plastic World. So at least the G1 are the first Army Men in the Plastic World. Although currently it is possible to design such detailed Army Men with the latest technology that was left behind by humans after their extinction.

The original molds were discontinued in 2006 (RW Time) in favor of faster and cheaper Army Men from the Real World molds. Currently many are broken, scratched and their color tone faded, but some have weathered the years relatively well, even being in combat all the time. Its slight deterioration cannot hide its air from another era, almost incomprehensible to new generations.

Although the G1 were discontinued, they are still produced on very rare occasions, as elite soldiers or special guard. Even some of the new ones are molded with joints, to serve as Stop Motion soldiers.

The smaller & bigger G1

After the first portals opened to the Real World that contaminated with external elements the Plastic World, a small variety of small and large plastic soldiers appeared, with the same design as the G1. This could have come from new molds with modifications based on what was found in the Real World, or simply a limited edition Real World molds.

The lost G1 female prototype

A very interesting discovery during the Real World expeditions was a prototype G1 soldier, but female. This was confirmed by the plastic dating of the individual, the type of plastic with which she was manufactured and the level of detail she had. But her history is unknown and why she was not mass produced, ending up only with male soldiers in production. Her name was Gruna Weiblich.

The most accurate theory is that they were not manufactured in favor of the ease of mass mono-manufacturing of a single model, or simply because the mere fact of being women. They, like mothers, could not be put in danger under any circumstances, being protected at all costs.

Few years later a new soldier was molded in her look for the Violet Nation, called Juliet. After this the FG1 mold was available for any member of the Army Men Alliance. Today there are soldiers of all genders within the Army Men ranks, in a few different forms.

Real World Army Men

The Plastic Soldiers of this world come in a wide variety of shapes and abilities, these being one of the most affected qualities: the abilities for combat.

Their bodies are less resistant due to their low quality materials. Their aim is extremely imprecise, as is their coordination and physical dexterity.

The only good thing is that they can be produced at a high rate and they are capable of following orders, although they ignore orders under extreme pressure.

Army Men G2

This second wave of manufacturing made in the Plastic World was an attempt to improve the performance and costs of troop construction, since the 2004 incidents with the G1 and the opening to larger conflicts in the other worlds that demanded more troops.

But this “Generation 2” was a total failure, and was mass produced for a short time, ending the different armies producing inferior sub-products of the Real World, to their detriment. Technology of the Real World was used to mold this type of soldiers.

G4 / Murphy type: The Best of Both Worlds

The Generation 4 soldier, nicknamed “Murphy-type” after the first of his kind, is a type of plastic soldier made with the best of both worlds: The fine workmanship of the Plastic World and the new human technology of the Real World.

Murphy “Murph” Prime is one of the Army Men who has undergone the most phases of change, including an accidental one where he merged with a virtual pet, obtaining a golden arm, which functions as if it were part of his being.

Special Army Men models

There have been several different types of special Army Men throughout history, unique molds or modifications of some sort.

• Plastro: The original General Plastro was a unique mold. Like so many others, he was created with the purpose of being the supreme leader of the Tan. That purpose probably inflated his ego and helped make Plastro… Plastro.
• Col. Grimm: Happy Jack Grimm was a soldier of the so-called “G0”, which are actually the first version of the G1, but were modified when he became the military leader of the Green Army.
• Radiant Murphy: There are called this way the variations of Murphy Prime, who for reasons still unknown appeared in the Toyverse, approximately from 2023. They are believed to be clones of some kind, and they may be the result of some kind of malfunction of the portals.

Army Men Dolls?

Although the connection with other worlds brought with it a whole new variety of different Army Men and toys of all kinds, some time before this discovery a few very particular individuals appeared, mostly female, such as Vikki Grimm, Caramel Hazel, Violette Orchid, Brigitte Bleu, Moon Gray and presumably more. Unlike other female soldiers like White Army’s Ghost, Fang and Skull who, although they are now articulated, were always only one color.

In those times no one asked questions, no one questioned anything, much less to the high military commanders to whom these dolls were normally linked.

After learning about other types of toys from the Real World, they were called “dolls” because of their resemblance to these plastic women from the Giant World.

Their appearance and molding are a mystery, except for Vikki Grimm, of whom it is known from her father that she had a mother. But the final answer went to the grave next to the Grimms, father and daughter. The rest of the dolls don’t know or don’t answer.

Clones?: The meaning of their existence and their individuality

“We known no other way. The war gives us Plastic Soldiers all a mixed feeling. Many wish it never happened… but without the war, we wouldn’t exist.”

The Army Men, now also called Plastic Soldiers, were clearly created for war and constant conflict. They are soldiers first, but considered toys later, with very little individuality. Their sole desire is to follow orders and destroy the enemy.

The Plastic Dilemma: Clones, Individuality, Origin and the Battle Within

In the miniature world of Army Men, where plastic soldiers march across bedroom battlefields, after they find out the Portals and the Other World, a profound conflict simmers beneath their molded exteriors. These toy soldiers, despite their identical forms, grapple with questions of individuality, purpose, and the meaning of existence.

The Portals and the Real World detonated a storm of thought and individuality within the ranks of the colored armies. “You don’t think about this until you think about it” is a very common saying when it comes to asking yourself the reason for these internal questions. The dawn of the portals, the parallel worlds and the possible connection with the Army Men and their origin, raised fascination, curiosity and at the same time concern. It was an awakening for the collective consciousness of the Plastic World. In any case, in war there is no time to think, and those who make these thoughts are always a minority.

Moral and ethical struggles: the Clone Paradox:

Imagine an assembly line churning out identical plastic soldiers—each one a carbon copy of the next. They share the same mold, the same features, and the same purpose: to engage in epic battles.

Yet, within this uniformity lies a paradox. Are they truly unique beings, or mere replicas? Do they possess individual souls, or are they mere extensions tools of the Real World’s collective human imagination?

The clones wrestle with this existential quandary. They march in formation, but their thoughts sometimes diverge. Some seek meaning beyond the battlefield, while others embrace their sameness as a badge of honor.

The Quest for Identity:

Each clone yearns for distinction. They customize their uniforms—painting stripes, adding insignias, and etching initials. These visual alterations become their silent cries for recognition.

They march not only across bedroom floors but through the corridors of existence—their tiny footsteps echoing with questions, hopes, and the eternal quest for meaning.

• Murphy, the battle-hardened soldier, lost an arm but gained a golden one—a symbol of sacrifice and transformation.
• Iron Will and his bandana, once Green, now reflects the hues of valor.
• Omega Soldier, molded from the plastic of several individuals, he has even more to think about, which causes a more complex confusion that is difficult to shape.
• Victoria, the enigmatic officer, wears her red pistol like a talisman. It whispers secrets of duty and destiny. She wonders if her purpose extends beyond the battlefield.

The Battlefield’s Ethical Quandaries:

On the battlefield, ethical dilemmas collide with duty. The clones fight for survival, yet their desire to kill the enemy is correct?.

They grapple with justified violence, haunted by memories of both plastic battles and, maybe, Real World tragedies?. Their moral frameworks strain against the chaos.

Is valor measured in victories or in the moments when they hesitate to pull the trigger?

The Virtue of Unity:

The Army values—loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage—bind them together. These principles guide their actions. The Army Men are brothers in arms, their are family. And the concept of family seemed to be something very important to the creators, the extinct humans.

They form a brotherhood, a collective striving for purpose. Their shared identity as trusted soldiers transcends mere replication.

Perhaps individuality lies not in uniqueness of form, but in the courage to stand together, golden arms raised, bandanas fluttering, and hearts beating as one.

The mirror with humans

Humans, the possible creators of the Army Men of the Plastic World, believe that their creators molded them based on their own image. Which is ironic about the Army Men, since humans themselves didn’t seem to be conceived for war, lived in it, or prepared for it all the time (with exceptions). They were like the civilians and non-combatants of the Plastic World. Therefore it is logic to assume that the Army Men were created for war, and maybe like weapons.

Theories dictated that the Army Men were created by humans, although these are only based on the fact that in the Real World, a world long older than the Plastic World, the local plastic Army Men were created by them, and that does not mean that the same applies to those G1 Army Men in the Plastic World. However, it is clear that there is some kind of correlation, not yet clarified.

Over time there was an explosion of individuality among the Army Men, not only in their personalities, but in their appearance. Each soldier began to have more distinct unique attributes than before, including changes to his appearance. Then with the arrival of the other worlds, different types of Army Men began to be molded, some with improved physical characteristics, such as the Super Soldier program. They began to think about individuality and not about everyone being the same.

But with the arrival of the other universes, and especially the Real World, the simple existence of the Army Men changed radically, implanting existential unknowns in their society beyond the simple objective with which they were conceived. Something similar happened with humans, as they learned more about the stars in their sky and how small their planet was.

Currently the conflicts have diminished and former enemies are now allies that formed an alliance to face things much bigger than themselves: the vast existence of other worlds and the possible threats to their own world.

This make them start to think about “beyond the call of duty”, and what comes after the end of the war.

Although the Army Men are currently busy working hard to explore the other worlds and protect their own from threats such as monsters, insects and dissident toy factions. The peace achieved by Sarge Hawk and the lack of large-scale conflicts has caused them to start discussions about their future and their purpose.

“Salute to the clones, the Plastic Heroes.” – An Action Figure to another when Tan Army Men marching into the Real World

Plastic Soldiers history in the Real World

Plastic soldiers are widely available throughout the Real World, where they have been sold since the early 1950s, when Plastic started mass production.

According to the extinct humans records, a “toy soldier” is a miniature figure representing a human soldier. The term applies to depictions of uniformed military personnel of all humanity eras, and includes medieval knights, cowboys, pirates, and other combat-related subjects. Toy soldiers range from simple toys to very realistic and detailed models. The latter are of more recent development and are sometimes called model figures to distinguish them from traditional toy soldiers. Larger scale toys such as dolls and action figures may come dressed in military uniforms, but are not considered toy soldiers.

Toy soldiers are made of all kinds of materials, but most, in the Real World, are metal and plastic. There are many different types of toy soldiers in this world, including lead or flat soldiers, hollow cast metal figures, composite figures, and plastic soldiers. Toy soldiers were traditionally sold in collections, but these days, collectible figures are often sold separately. These types of toys can be seen in some museums.

They had their heyday from the 50s when plastic began to exist in their world, until the 80s where they were replaced by Blocko-Man and other figures.

During the human Vietnam War, sales and availability of military toys began to decline due to the considerable rejection of that war, although they have since made a comeback.

Army Men & Toy Soldier in Human history

Military figures have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs, and have appeared in many human cultures and eras. Tin soldiers were produced in Germany as early as the 1730s, by molding the metal between two pieces of slate. Toy soldiers became widespread during the 18th century, inspired by the military exploits of a king. Miniature soldiers were also used in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries by military strategists to plan battle tactics by using the figures to show the locations of real soldiers. In 1893, a toy company revolutionized the production of toy soldiers by devising the method of hollow casting, making soldiers that were cheaper and lighter than their German counterparts.

There have been many other manufacturers of toy soldiers over the years. For example, a Company produced hollow cast lead figures in the same style and scale. Other companies were well known for their composite figures made of glue and sawdust that included both military and civilian subjects. After 1950, rising production costs and the development of plastic meant that many shop keepers liked the lighter, cheaper, and far less prone to break in transit polythene figure. This led to the manufacture of greater numbers of plastic toy soldiers. The first American plastic soldiers were made as early as 1937. The first plastic toy soldiers produced in Great Britain were made in 1946.

One large historical producer in plastic was Morris Toy Company (Morris Toy Co.), which produced both realistic soldiers of great detail and also historical collections of plastic men and women. Morris Toy Co. also produced boxed playsets that featured many famous battles with armies of two sides, character figures, and terrain features. Some time later, many Morris Toy Co. figures were imitated by other companies and reproduced as inexpensive, bagged plastic Army Men. Morris Toy Co. main competitor in terms of sales and quality in the 1960s and 70s developed the ‘Over – Moulding’ system. Different coloured plastics were injected into the mould at various stages, creating a fully coloured figure without the need of paint.

During the 1990s, the production of metal toy-grade painted figures and connoisseur-grade painted toy soldiers increased to serve the demands of the collectors’ market. The style of many of these figures shifted from the traditional gloss-coat enamel paint to the matte-finished acrylic paint, which allows for greater detail and historical accuracy. The change was largely inspired by the introduction of very high quality human hand painted figures.

Human Collecting

There was a substantial Human hobby devotes to collecting both old and new toy soldiers in the Real World before they were extinct, with an abundance of small manufacturers, dealers, and toy soldier shows. There were even specialty magazines devoted to the hobby. Collectors often specialized in a particular type of soldier or historical period, though some people enjoy collecting many different kinds of figures. The most popular humanity historical periods for collecting was Napoleonic, Victorian, American Civil War, World War I, and World War II. Many collectors modify and paint plastic figures, and some even cast and paint their own metal figures.

In recent years, the collectors vintage toy soldiers made of polythene PE and polypropylene PP thermoplastics as well as PC/ABS plastic blends have reported brittling and disintegration of collectible miniatures or components thereof.

Varieties

Different types and styles of toy soldiers have been produced over the years on the Real World during human reign, depending on the cost and availability of materials, as well as manufacturing technologies. Here is a list of some of the most commonly collected varieties of toy soldiers.

Army Men – plastic unpainted, soft plastic toy soldiers sold inexpensively in bags or with terrain pieces and vehicles in boxed playsets.

Aluminum – slush-cast aluminum, made chiefly in France during the early and middle 20th Century.

Composition – made from a mixture of sawdust and glue, manufactured mostly in Europe, Austria and Germany. Made in the US during WWII metal rationing.

Connoisseur – high quality, collectible figures featuring highly detailed paint jobs.

Dimestore – hollow- or slush-cast iron, sold through five and dime stores from the 1920s to 1960 in the United States.

Flat – thin, two dimensional tin soldiers cast in slate molds.

Hollow cast – cast in metal, usually a lead alloy, which cools and sets as it touches the mold; the excess molten metal is poured out leaving a hollow figure.

Paper – printed on sheets of paper or cardboard, frequently mounted on blocks of wood (similar to Plastic World Decoys and shooting range targets).

Plastic – hard and soft plastic, generally painted figures.

Solid – cast in solid metal, usually lead, common in Germany during the 19th and early 20th Century.

Wood – From the 19th century Germany produced large amounts of wooden fortresses and toy soldiers sometimes working on a scissors mechanism.

Color Classification and History

In the Army Men Toyverse, the colors of the soldiers are not just for aesthetics; they carry historical and strategic significance. The journey of these plastic warriors began with the earliest Army Men, who were Black, White, and Grey. These were the foundational colors from which all others emerged.

Primary Colors: The Pioneers

The first pigmented Army Men were created in Yellow, Blue, and Red. These primary colors formed the basis of the early toy armies, each with unique traits and roles on the battlefield.

The Great War and the Birth of Secondary Colors

During the Great War of the Army Men, necessity drove innovation. Green Army Men were formed by combining Yellow and Blue soldiers, Orange Army Men emerged from the union of Yellow and Red, and Purple and Violet soldiers were created by mixing Red and Blue. These secondary colors were essential in creating semi-independent armies to fight against the Black, White, and Grey forces. After the war, these armies gained full independence, contributing to the diverse and vibrant Toyverse.

Tertiary and Beyond: A Spectrum of Warriors

Further combinations led to the creation of additional armies:

• Tan Army Men: Formed by mixing White and Yellow.
• Cyan Army Men: Resulting from the combination of White and Blue.
• Pink Army Men: Created by blending White and Red.
• Brown Army Men: Emerging from the mixture of Black and Red.

These tertiary colors and beyond highlight the complex and evolving nature of the Toyverse. However, the Army Men themselves do not fully understand their origins. Their classification of colors into primary, secondary, and tertiary categories is a practical system they devised for creating new soldiers. In this universe, once colors are mixed to form new armies, they cannot be reverted to their original primary colors, symbolizing the irreversible nature of their evolution.

Behind the scenes:

Educational Insight

This classification serves as an educational tool within the game, teaching players about color theory and the relationships between primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. It underscores the creativity and adaptability of the Army Men, reflecting the endless possibilities within the Toyverse.

By exploring the formation and significance of these colorful armies, players can appreciate the rich history and strategic depth of the Army Men Toyverse.

Sources for this article:

https://revistadelibros.com/soldados-de-plastico
https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Soldado_de_juguete
https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Toy_soldier
https://armymen.fandom.com/wiki/Green_Soldier