Timpo Time#8 'The Iron Horse'

Of course it was only a matter of time before the stagecoach was superseded by something altogether more reliable and faster, in this case the 'Iron Horse'.  This one was the Timpo 'Prairie Rocket' and needs a bit of tender loving care to restore it to its form glory.  It has a tender but sadly a battery has leaked in there at some point in the past.  I managed to reunite this one with its crew and guard but at the moment they have come under attack from a roving band of Apaches, clearly not best pleased at the White Mans' shameless acquisition of their land.

Just when the crew and guard of the 'Prairie Rocket' feel they have got the upper hand, additional support arrives for the Timpo Apache Indians, summoned by smoke signal and a quick prayer to the Gods of war.

Finally got it to smoke!

Timpo Time#7 'The Stagecoach'

Sadly the Awdry pocket money didn't stretch to the luxury Timpo 'Overland Stagecoach' but this is rather nice example of their simpler version available from the late sixties.  The companies name clearly visible, Wells Fargo,  above the windows.  Stagecoaches employed for use in the 'Butterfield Overland Mail' would travel  across the United States continuously for up to twenty two days, whenever possible traveling at night.  The passengers would be crowded into the coaches and at the mercy of the elements and other possible dangers.  These conditions prompted Wells Fargo to post the following rules as guidance  passenger behaviour:

• Abstinence from liquor is requested, but if you must drink share the bottle. To do otherwise makes you appear selfish and unneighborly.
• If ladies are present, gentlemen are urged to forego smoking cigars and pipes as the odor of same is repugnant to the gentler sex. Chewing tobacco is permitted, but spit with the wind, not against it.
• Gentlemen must refrain from the use of rough language in the presence of ladies and children.
• Buffalo robes are provided for your comfort in cold weather. Hogging robes will not be tolerated and the offender will be made to ride with the driver.
• Don't snore loudly while sleeping or use your fellow passenger's shoulder for a pillow; he or she may not understand and friction may result.
• Firearms may be kept on your person for use in emergencies. Do not fire them for pleasure or shoot at wild animals as the sound riles the horses.
• In the event of runaway horses remain calm. Leaping from the coach in panic will leave you injured, at the mercy of the elements, hostile Indians and hungry coyotes.
• Forbidden topics of conversation are: stagecoach robberies and Indian uprisings.
• Gents guilty of unchivalrous behavior toward lady passengers will be put off the stage. It's a long walk back. A word to the wise is sufficient.

Perhaps our local Rail Networks would benefit from publishing something similar on their trains.

Faster than a speeding bullet.

So why was it that the Stagecoach would continue its relents pace across the states?  Well one of the reasons would be for fear of a hold up; perhaps from this bunch of colourfully clothed chaps.  The Mexicans or Mexican Bandits as they were later known, were Timpo's longest running unchanged range, available again from the late sixties.  They were distinctive in that their heads had a plug on top that would fit snugly into the sombrero.  I am very fortunate to have managed to have picked up a copy of shy, retiring types who feel the need to cover their faces with their neckerchiefs.  

Timpo Time# 6 'The First Casualty of War'

Of course at the end of every battle the wounded need to be cared for.  Here one of the fortunate is transported back to the camp.  The 1974 Timpo Cavalry Medical Orderly utilises a running cavalry trooper leading a mustang in turn dragging a travois with our wounded hero represented by a bloodied and bandaged head.

Look closely at the Trooper in the background; also in need of medical attention as he has an arrow stuck in his side!

Timpo Time#5 'Unleash Hell!'

Nothing can be more daunting than marching towards the fortified position of a battery of artillery.  The 1971 Timpo Civil War cannon evokes such childhood memories of massed ranks been decimated by matchsticks launched indiscriminately across the bedroom carpet.  Never try this with a lighted match!

A little bit of conversion work here with the torso of a fourth series cowboy used as the artilleryman, his lasso exchanged for an artillery sponge.

But wait, as the smoke begins to clear, who is this young Cavalry Officer?  Perhaps destined for greatness?  More conversion work with the bandaged head used to create a walking wounded; the joy of 'swoppets'.

Not enough to flatten the troops with cannon, the dastardly Blues wheel out their latest super weapon, the Timpo gatling gun!  If you turn the handle at the back it actually makes a realistic battle sound; well it clicks anyway! 

Timpo Time#4 'The Civil War'

I thank you all for sticking with this somewhat self indulgent nonsense but it is rather nice seeing them up on the screen in all their glory.  Next up the boys in blue; the Timpo U.S. 7th Cavalry.  Well I say that but of course with the later issue of the chaps, some of which with their plug in kepi, they become suitable opposition for the Confederate Soldiers.  Here is one of the rare occurrences when Timpo actually used the exact same models but just changed the colours of the plastics to create a new series.

Ist, 2nd and 3rd series cavalry on show

The Confederate Soldiers do not seem to have fared well, many having to find alternative headgear and all seemed to have sadly misplaced their blue neckerchiefs. 

That said I was able to swell their ranks  with the sneaky addition of these wonderful Britain's Deetail figures.  This is pretty much all I had of these iconic soldiers; it was simply cheaper to by bucket loads of Airfix.  Quality will out especially when you compare the dynamic poses to that of their earlier Timpo cousins.

Timpo Time#3 'Fire! Fire!'

The Timpo world of 'Clay County' was fortunate to have its own Fire Service, first seen in 1972 and comes with a host of extras including ladder, bucket, fire axe and opening boiler doors.  The driver also has his own white fireman's helmet; what more could you want?

There is no smoke without fire!

Timpo Time#2 'All Work and No Play?'

It's not enough that you have to work all day, struggle home with the week's shop and clean out the tepee but then you find that the other half has invited round the boys for a rant and a smoke.  

Timpo Indian Travois

seated variants