Britains Deetail
Britains Deetail was a British range of 1/32-scale plastic toy soldiers, vehicles, weapons and playsets produced mainly from the 1970s through the early 1990s.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Britains Deetail was a range of mass-market toy soldiers and accessories made by W. Britain, the British company best known for its long tradition of hollowcast metal figures. The range became especially prominent during the 1970s and 1980s, offering durable 1/32-scale figures, usually described as approximately 54 mm high, at a price and level of playability suited to children while also attracting adult collectors. The defining construction of Deetail figures combined moulded PVC bodies, separately fitted arms on many early releases, hand-painted details and a substantial Zamak metal base. A T-shaped foot lug on each figure locked into the base, giving the models more stability than many competing plastic soldiers. The heavy rectangular bases also recalled W. Britain's earlier hollowcast metal products and gave buyers a perception of greater value. Figures were commonly sold loose, in counter boxes for retailers, in blister packs, or in boxed playsets. Deetail replaced and supplemented the company's Herald Miniatures plastic products. Herald figures had been produced in Hong Kong from 1966, but W. Britain began phasing that line out in 1971, with Herald production ending in 1976. The first Deetail subjects focused on Second World War American and German infantry. The range subsequently expanded across military history and popular adventure themes, including the American Civil War, Waterloo-era British and French forces, medieval knights, Turks, the American Wild West, French Foreign Legion troops, Arab tribesmen, British and Commonwealth forces, Japanese and German units, vehicles, motorcycles, combat weapons and space-themed characters. The range's play value was extended through accessories with moving or firing features. Mortars, recoilless rifles, Gatling guns and Vickers guns could include spring-loaded mechanisms and plastic or metal ammunition. Vehicles included jeeps, scout cars, Land Rovers, motorcycles, half-tracks and aircraft-related products, while larger sets added buildings and battlefield scenery. Mounted figures were also important, with riders attached to horses in several historical themes. In 1978 W. Britain introduced Super Deetail, using overmoulding to combine different coloured plastics in one figure. The initial concept involved modern British paratroopers, although manufacturing difficulties limited the number of early figures that reached broad distribution. Later products represented paratroopers, commandos and SAS-style troops through different berets and base colours. A Space range ran from 1981 to 1985, and a Task Force range introduced in the mid-1990s reused selected Deetail moulds with new colour schemes. Production moved from England to China in the early 1990s before the original Deetail line was phased out. W. Britain later reintroduced related hand-painted plastic figures as Super Detail Plastics in 2006, incorporating features associated with the earlier range. In 2016 W. Britain was sold to The Good Soldier LLC of Holland, Ohio. Some figures based on original Deetail moulds have also been manufactured in Argentina. Original Deetail figures remain active in the vintage toy and military-figure collecting market, where condition, paint, packaging, rarity and completeness strongly affect demand.
History
Britains Deetail emerged during a transition in W. Britain's plastic-figure business. The company had used Herald Miniatures products made in Hong Kong from 1966, but began phasing that range out in 1971. Deetail figures were made from PVC rather than the polythene used in earlier products, and many early figures used plug-in arms that were glued to the body. This construction allowed poses that were difficult to achieve with a single-piece mould. A major visual and functional feature was the metal base. Each figure had a T-shaped foot lug that fitted into a rectangular Zamak base. The arrangement made the figures stable during play and gave them a heavier, more substantial feel. It also echoed W. Britain's historic metal figures. Early Deetail subjects included American and German infantry of the Second World War. Sculptor Rod Cameron used rented theatrical uniforms as references, with model Les Harden posing for the figures. The range expanded rapidly. Historical subjects included medieval knights and Turks, British and French forces of the 1815 Waterloo campaign, American Civil War troops, American Wild West characters, French Foreign Legion soldiers and Arab tribesmen. Military subjects covered British, American, German and Japanese forces in the Second World War, together with British 8th Army and Afrika Korps releases. The line mixed foot figures with cavalry, horses, artillery and other equipment. It also included police, farm, wildlife, hospital, Robin Hood, karate and other non-military themes. Deetail was designed as a toy system rather than only a figure series. Retailers could sell individual figures, counter boxes and blister packs, while boxed sets and patrol packs offered ready-made groups. Combat Weapons products included mortars, recoilless rifles, field guns, Gatling guns and Vickers guns, frequently with spring-loaded firing functions and supplied ammunition. Vehicles and motorcycles expanded the scenarios, with examples including jeeps, scout cars, Land Rovers, Kettenkrads, Kubelwagens, motorcycles, boats and a submarine. Buildings and battlefield scenery supported larger playsets. In 1978 W. Britain developed Super Deetail using overmoulding, a process intended to create figures from multiple coloured plastics. Modern British paratroopers were shown as a prototype at a London toy fair, but manufacturing difficulties prevented all of the original concepts from reaching wide release. A smaller commercial group appeared around 1980, later joined by commando and SAS-style figures differentiated by headgear and base colours. The Space range, introduced in 1981, broadened the brand into science fiction and continued until 1985. Military Deetail production continued through the 1980s, with some German figures made into 1989. During the early 1990s production moved from England to China, and the original range was eventually discontinued. A Task Force range introduced around 1995–96 reused selected American and British Second World War moulds with revised colour schemes. W. Britain returned to related hand-painted plastic products in 2006 under the Super Detail Plastics name. In 2016 the company was sold to The Good Soldier LLC. Original Deetail figures remain collectible, particularly unusual mounted figures, rare weapons, early colour variants, complete sets, counter boxes and products retaining their packaging.
- 2016
W. Britain acquired by The Good Soldier
[1]The Good Soldier LLC acquired W. Britain, the company historically associated with the Deetail range.
- 2006
Related plastic figures reintroduced
[1]W. Britain reintroduced hand-painted plastic figures as Super Detail Plastics, drawing on characteristics associated with Deetail.
- 1990
Production moves to China
[1]Manufacturing of the range moved from England to China in the early 1990s before the original line was phased out.
- 1981
Space series launches
[1]Stargard Commandos, cyborgs, aliens, mutants, spacecraft and accessories extended the product family into science fiction.
- 1980
Limited Super Deetail figures reach the market
[1]A smaller set of modern military figures was commercially released after production problems affected the original prototype plans.
- 1978
Super Deetail developed
[1]An overmoulded figure concept was created, beginning with modern British paratrooper designs.
- 1974
Waterloo series produced
[1]British and French foot and mounted figures representing the 1815 campaign were produced during the mid-1970s.
- 1971
Deetail introduced during Herald phase-out
[1]W. Britain began moving from Herald Miniatures toward the PVC Deetail range, initially concentrating on Second World War American and German infantry.
Products and positioning
Durable, affordable 1/32-scale historical and military toy figures combining play features with the visual weight and display stability of metal-based models.
Toy soldiers · 1971
Core Deetail historical figures
The core range consisted of approximately 1/32-scale PVC figures with hand-painted details and metal bases. Subjects covered medieval knights, Turks, Waterloo-era British and French troops, American Civil War forces, Wild West characters and twentieth-century military units. Figures were commonly issued in six standing poses, with mounted variants adding horses, saddles, reins and themed equipment.
Military figures and accessories · 1971
World War II military range
The Second World War range included American, German, British, Japanese, Afrika Korps and British 8th Army figures. Associated products included mortars, guns, recoilless rifles, jeeps, scout cars, motorcycles, half-tracks, Land Rovers, boats and other equipment. Some national or specialist subjects were produced only for limited periods.
Overmoulded military figures · 1978
Super Deetail
Super Deetail used overmoulding to combine coloured plastics within a figure. The best-known subjects were modern British-style paratroopers, commandos and SAS figures, identified partly through different beret and base colours. Manufacturing difficulties restricted the first release and made several early figures particularly sought after by collectors.
Science-fiction toys · 1981
Space
The Space range moved beyond historical military subjects and included Stargard Commandos, cyborgs, assault squads, aliens, mutants, spacecraft and accessories. It was produced during the early 1980s and provided a science-fiction setting using the same general play-oriented approach as the historical lines.
Military figures · 1995
Task Force
Task Force was introduced around 1995–96 and reused American and British Second World War Deetail moulds with different colour schemes. It represented a later attempt to extend the usefulness of the established mould library after the main Deetail production era.
Brand decisions
2006
Reintroduce related hand-painted plastic figuresProduct launchBackground
W. Britain retained interest in plastic figures after the original Deetail line had ended.
Action taken
The company launched Super Detail Plastics, incorporating several attributes associated with the earlier Deetail format.
Aftermath
The reintroduction preserved a connection between the modern W. Britain business and the historic Deetail concept.
1990
Move Deetail production to ChinaStrategyBackground
The established British production phase was coming to an end as the range entered its later life cycle.
Action taken
Manufacturing was transferred from England to China before the original Deetail line was eventually phased out.
Aftermath
Original English-made figures became important vintage collectibles, while selected moulds continued to support later or regional production.
1978
Develop Super Deetail overmouldingGeneration changeBackground
W. Britain sought finer detail and more visually distinctive modern military figures.
Action taken
It developed an overmoulding process that combined several coloured plastics in one figure.
Aftermath
Production difficulties limited the first paratrooper concept, although a smaller range of modern military figures reached retail.
1971
Replace Herald Miniatures with DeetailProduct launchBackground
W. Britain was discontinuing its earlier Hong Kong-made Herald plastic line and needed a new plastic figure format.
Action taken
The company introduced PVC Deetail figures with plug-in arms, hand-painted details and heavy metal bases.
Aftermath
The format became one of W. Britain's most recognizable toy-soldier ranges and expanded into numerous historical and fictional themes.
Recent events
- 2016
W. Britain sold to The Good Soldier LLC[1]
M&A
W. Britain was acquired by The Good Soldier LLC, based in Holland, Ohio, while the original Deetail line remained a vintage and collector product.
- 1981
Space range launches[1]
Product launch
Britains added science-fiction figures, spacecraft and accessories to the broader Deetail product family.
- 1978
Super Deetail range introduced[1]
Product launch · Product generation
W. Britain developed an overmoulded successor-style range, initially based on modern British paratroopers.
- 1971
Deetail production begins as Herald Miniatures is phased out[1]
Product launch · Product generation
W. Britain began replacing its earlier Herald plastic figures with the new Deetail construction and range.
Sources2 sources
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