Having finished my first desert warriors, my next Pound Store figure conversion job is a paint one.
One of my favourite of the Poundland penny plastic warriors (£1 for a bag or tub of 100) is this unusual figure.
Is he supposed to be WW2 US tank crew? Is he supposed to be modern infantry? Hard to tell. The laser type rifle was intriguing though!
Interestingly this figure crops up again in a bigger near 54mm size in another badly moulded set, so I can have space marine forces in two sizes: https://poundstoreplasticwarriors.wordpress.com/2016/10/06/pound-store-space-marines/
The poor moulding, copying or sculpting has inadvertently created a figure who looks like he belongs to the future.
I might try a little face wash with darker flesh or weak brown to bring out the ruggedfacial features along with a watery blue wash to bring out the white equipment, hopefully without losing the toy soldier look. Tiny pink dots on the cheeks aid or restore this toy soldier look.
The Romanesque helmet looks a little like the odd space armour in the 1930s black and white Flash Gordon serials repeated on Saturday TV when I was a child. The heavy moustache is a little Freddy Mercury nod towards the equally odd 1980 film of Flash Gordon with its pounding Queen soundtrack. Dan Dare, Buck Rogers – a quick Pinterest scouting and YouTube session should provide some design ideas. Orange jumpsuit and silver or gold? So very Star Wars rebel pilot …
Several other figures in the tub have space police or space marine sci-fi potential such as the centre figure with laser pistol. The distorted left arm looks well placed to hold a riot shield (made of clear plastic or a bronze drawing pin).
Some of the other helmeted figures could pass muster as Star Wars type rebel figures or green faced, caped cloaked aliens.
https://manoftinblog.wordpress.com/2016/05/28/more-pound-store-warriors/
Early unpainted pound store space marines in interplanetary action can be seen here on my away team. More on the painting table here too.
If all other figure conversion Imagi-Nation or inspiration fails, there is always the current trend for zombies. Flesh, aah, aah! Dum dum dum dum dum dum dum …
Blog posted by Mark, Man of TIN for my Pound Store Plastic Warrior blog, 24 October 2017.
Pound Store Plastic Warriors 
That’sa great idea. I especially like the retro space look.
Yet with the fast rate of change it is increasingly difficult to tell SF from the present. We already have working lasers, fully enclosed army combat gear and exoskeletons although we don’t yet have laser rifles and pistols.
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Thanks James, that is the retro 1930s 1950s s sci-fi comic book look that I wanted.
I think you are right in how futuristic the recent modern (pound store / pirate) infantry figures look. Perfect for future troops.
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