Every since the wild west theme was introduced I have been collecting everything about it, (except lone ranger sets), but still after all these years not once did TLG make a confederate soldier. I seems almost as if they think its taboo???

Other toy company's always create both sides, so what is stopping TLG?

I would imagine it involves some modern political and racial minfields that Lego would prefer not to step into. At it's most basic a blue vs grey theme seems simple. But some of the iconography is still being used today to very conflicting and very argumentative purpose. While it isn't something that Lego would probably have any strong opinions on, child play interest in the subject is most likely low enough that they can effectively quietly ignore the whole subject. Like a Napoleanic theme it would be more of a niche product attracting mainly older history buffs and not so much the modern children.

Edited September 27, 201410 yr by opn2

I have no idea why there aren't any confederate soldier minifigs. I wouldn't say it's because they were racist but they all weren't. Many just wanted to be separate from the Union. In the South, Union soldiers are depicted just as bad as how the Union saw the Confederates. If LEGO is ever going to make more products based around the Civil War era, at least make it seem appealing and not as bad joke. Personally, I'd love Confederate soldiers for even purer MOCs so I don't have to make them.

Here's the thing: none of the Western themes Lego has done have been Civil War-based. They're all Old West, ostensibly set after the war, so that's why there are no Confederate soldiers. All the boys in blue are technically US Cavalry, not "soldiers of the North".

I considered all these thing to, but then I wondered why they made a American Indian theme... There have been many conflicts between the US and the original native people, it even continuous today in a way, so if TLG doesn't' want to walk into a political minefield they sure failed on that one!!

Here's the thing: none of the Western themes Lego has done have been Civil War-based. They're all Old West, ostensibly set after the war, so that's why there are no Confederate soldiers. All the boys in blue are technically US Cavalry, not "soldiers of the North".

You are right, but they could release it as a subtheme, ore standalone theme...

I considered all these thing to, but then I wondered why they made a American Indian theme... There have been many conflicts between the US and the original native people, it even continuous today in a way, so if TLG doesn't' want to walk into a political minefield they sure failed on that one!!

This is very true, I agree.

LEGO could always do a Cuusoo thing with Confederate soldiers and encampments or something, just spit-balling ideas here!

I considered all these thing to, but then I wondered why they made a American Indian theme... There have been many conflicts between the US and the original native people, it even continuous today in a way, so if TLG doesn't' want to walk into a political minefield they sure failed on that one!!

You are right, but they could release it as a subtheme, ore standalone theme...

When Lego did that they were very very careful to keep the sets seperate so there was never even a hint of Indian vs Fort Legorado. You had some sets with Indians. Some with Cavalry and some with a Western Town. Never the three shall meet except in the child's hands. And even then that was 20 years ago, when worldwide hypersensitivity to everyone's feelings had not yet become a thing. But this would be harder to do with what is clearly a direct conflict war of North vs South subject.

But the real point is, it's not that they have any policy that clearly spells out that they won't do a US Civil War era theme, or against confederate figs. It's just that they have no compelling reason to even lightly wander in that direction. There is no compelling business case behind such things, so they can quietly ignore the subject, and thus not risk stirring up controversy. Traditionally interest in the US civil war is not displayed by a high percentage of their core customer market. (Civil war being mainly 40+ year old men! Lego being 6-16 year old children.)

Edited August 6, 201410 yr by Faefrost

Build them yourself the way I do:

Best Torso

This one works too

Gray Kepi

And either light bley or dark bley leg assembly, or the same leg assembly from the Lone Ranger Cavarlymen, as some states often used the same material as the Union for pants. Also remember that from 1863 onwards everything was hard to get a hold of, so cowboy, slouch or boler hats work as well. The hat from the CMF Skarecrow is great too. Western units and those from poorer states will look very much like vagabonds, so a lot works for these units, while Virginia units were a little better off for uniforms. Between my son and I we now have about 180 Confederates using these techniques and they look great. See my posts for The Battle of The Wilderness or Defense of Little Round Top. Hope that helps!

Cheers,

Gary

Edited August 6, 201410 yr by Gary The Procrastinator

I think with the continued success of collectible minifings we might eventually see some American Civil War figures

I think with the continued success of collectible minifings we might eventually see some American Civil War figures

That is what I was thinking!!

I cant imagine TLG touching the American Civil War. It was a real-life conflict, whose consequences live on to this day. Which means the morality of both sides is nuanced, thus making it unsuitable for TLGs style of conflict. TLG prefers fictional conflict with rather unambiguous good vs bad sides. How would TLG handle it? No one in their right mind would make the Confederates the good guys because of the slavery issue, and making them the bad guys would kick off a storm in the US South far worse than the Friends or Jabba Palace "controversies".

And any attempt to avoid making either side good or bad would kick off another storm by progressive and civil rights groups accusing TLG or relativising slavery and the war. The same would happen if TLG released a standalone Confederacy subtheme or set or even a lone CMF, portrayed in a positive or neutral way, like for example sidestepping the slavery issue. And for the record, I would agree with such criticism.

I find it as unlikely as TLG tackling the crusades, or the World Wars, or any real-life war, actually.

The most I would hope for is a Western theme with a bandit wearing grey vaguely militaristic clothing.

I always wondered though, are there any Civil War toy soldiers sold in the US? Like your classic green plastic soldiers, or cowboys and indians, but specifically Civil wWr. I dont remember seeing any when I lived in the States...

The most I would hope for is a Western theme with a bandit wearing grey vaguely militaristic clothing.

I always wondered though, are there any Civil War toy soldiers sold in the US? Like your classic green plastic soldiers, or cowboys and indians, but specifically Civil wWr. I dont remember seeing any when I lived in the States...

Agreed, that's why AFOLs who want to recreate the Civil War should build them, as I said above; an official LEGO fig isn't going to happen for PC reasons, and wouldn't sell anyway. A cowboy as you said, or a "hillbilly" CMF (but even that will draw some criticism) perhaps...

Yes, they make Civil War soldiers both in metal and plastic. The best are likely to be W.Britain in metal and IMEX for plastic, and just about any store associated with a National Battleground Park will have a cheapie plastic pack or two for the kiddies to get a memento. But after seeing many of them, LEGO minifigs built carefully actually look the best IMHO.

I cant imagine TLG touching the American Civil War. It was a real-life conflict, whose consequences live on to this day. Which means the morality of both sides is nuanced, thus making it unsuitable for TLGs style of conflict. TLG prefers fictional conflict with rather unambiguous good vs bad sides. How would TLG handle it? No one in their right mind would make the Confederates the good guys because of the slavery issue, and making them the bad guys would kick off a storm in the US South far worse than the Friends or Jabba Palace "controversies".

And any attempt to avoid making either side good or bad would kick off another storm by progressive and civil rights groups accusing TLG or relativising slavery and the war. The same would happen if TLG released a standalone Confederacy subtheme or set or even a lone CMF, portrayed in a positive or neutral way, like for example sidestepping the slavery issue. And for the record, I would agree with such criticism.

I find it as unlikely as TLG tackling the crusades, or the World Wars, or any real-life war, actually.

The most I would hope for is a Western theme with a bandit wearing grey vaguely militaristic clothing.

I always wondered though, are there any Civil War toy soldiers sold in the US? Like your classic green plastic soldiers, or cowboys and indians, but specifically Civil wWr. I dont remember seeing any when I lived in the States...

You do make a good point but LEGO did release the Aztec Warrior minifig in one of the CMF series and the Aztecs did believe in human sacrifice and killed over 80,000 people within a few days.

Now that's pretty bad. I'm sure other minifigs based off of real life types of people are bad too like Conquistadors and few more. The Civil War was brutal but if they can't make a Confederate soldier, why make a Union soldier?

Now that's pretty bad. I'm sure other minifigs based off of real life types of people are bad too like Conquistadors and few more. The Civil War was brutal but if they can't make a Confederate soldier, why make a Union soldier?

Lego has never made a Union soldier; they've made US Cavalry. It's a slim but important distinction.

A roman soldier, a gladiator, a viking, a revolutionary soldier, a hun warrior, a barbarian, a Celtic warrior, female warrior, female viking, Cleopatra, Julius Ceaser, Aztecs, Native American warriors not all the CMF have been warm cuddly characters And do not get me started on the scary ones - Mimes and clowns

I really think with the British Guard, the American Revolutionary soldier, I think a Napoleonic or American Civil War soldier can't be out of bounds. I think 20th century warriors would be too much for lego

as for Union vs US Cavalry, having a masters in Civil War History, there is not a distinction similar equipment,uniforms, training, recruitment and leaders.

It's amazing how the professional offence-taking industry has trained people to self-censor their own thoughts and desires. I'd like some confederate minifigs and don't much care if it offends someone. Same as I'd like WW2 figs. You don't heal wounds and past conflicts by pretending they never happened or ignoring them. They must continually be re-examined so we don't make the same mistakes again. And yes - that includes teaching kids about them - and kids learn alot through play.

Edited August 8, 201410 yr by Missing Brick

Well, many Confederate soldiers didn't even wear official uniforms, so you could probably use the cowboy minifigures from the Lone Ranger theme to build up an army. If you really want Confederates in uniform, you may be able to use Imperial Officer figures from the Star Wars theme (or at the very least their hats).

I always wondered though, are there any Civil War toy soldiers sold in the US? Like your classic green plastic soldiers, or cowboys and indians, but specifically Civil wWr. I dont remember seeing any when I lived in the States...

I don't know for the US, but over here we have confederate playmobil http://toysoldiersfo...-playmobil.html.

I even own some of these guys, though I have not seen them in 15 years or so... They must be hiding from the union soldiers.

Edited August 11, 201410 yr by Cyberbricker

You also have to remember Lego is a European company. The ACW is not much of a big deal here, and certainly it does not fuel much controversy. Even the Confederate battle flag is more associated with bikers and country music than with political issues. Of course you could make a political controversy out of it, especially since there are people whose only job is to be offended and sue somebody for it. (Remember the Vienna representatives of the Turkish immigrant community complaining about Lego Star Wars's Jabba? This kind of low life.).

But as others have said, you can create such issues on the basis of many Lego sets and figures; I mean there is even a Conquistador iirc. I don't think the ethnic ambiguity of a Confederate army is a problem for Lego. They are just the baddies and that's it.

Btw., like Cyberbricker I had my share of Confederate Playmobil soldiers and I liked the gray suits and the flag, even though I knew they were the bad guys. (A bit like the Stormtroopers, I knew they were evil but they were cool).