Plastic Figure Showcase Show, we do a preview of the Chicago which is next weekend. Next, we look at some interesting plastic figures. Finally, I have to clarify something for the saddest person in the UK.
Plastic Figure Showcase Chicago Toy Soldier Show
The Chicago Toy Soldier Show will be on September 22, 2019. The dealers’ comes in as early as Wednesday and open their rooms. This can lead to finding various treasures for the collection. Also, you can sit back with room owners and talk about the hobby. Besides the old material, there will be many new items. Here again, what Mike Kutnick said will be there on the new plastic items.
We will have the new Mexican Revolution playset from AIP on display. Rumor is there may be new German Para’s? Steve Weston should have the new Replicant Texas Rangers and all the latest EB figure sets. Rick Berry/ Michigan Toy Soldier Co. and Matt Murphy from Hobby Bunker should have all the latest EF and Chin Toys figure sets.
Playset Magazine will have its new ” Battleground” DVD for sale. Austin Miniatures may have their new Japanese. Jeff Imel from Victory has a lot of new reissue product and some new prototypes/test shots of various future products for display and preview. That’s not counting all the new metal from Britain’s, King and Country, Sierra Toy Co, etc. Almost forgot, we will have very limited sets of never before released Barzso Alamo Shako Hat attackers; four in four different poses in resin-based on official pewter Barzso master sculpts.
If you are going please send your thoughts and photos.
Plastic Figure News
Rahway pointed out the following Charley Elsden noticed that MTS has a set of WWI British by Urfin Jus on the upcoming release page. You can see the figures here.
Sad Boy Time
Over the years I have been called many things, most are unprintable here. Then I get called something that just does not make sense. The latest from sad Hughie is a case in point. He has called me Penn State Mafia. When I saw it I had to laugh. Clearly someone did not do his homework. Penn State does not mean the state of Pennsylvania for most people. Penn State for most people means Penn State University of which I am not a fan. This goes back to my state college days of seeing them always crying for more state money. I do not even support their sports teams.
I know Facebook has a Penn State Mafia group, I do not belong to it. So where Hughie could have gotten this term I have no idea. I do know that the late owner of Toy Soldier Thoughts call me Pennsylvania Mafia. That term is wrong as the word mafia is defined as a closed group of people in a particular field having a controlling influence. My site has always been to share news and information. I have no interest in controlling the hobby, I let that to other people.
Hughie amazes me with his calls of me damaging the hobby. I don’t see it from no one else saying the same thing. Also, he gets into fake news about me trying to top his showing of two Jim figures. On this matter, I just put two figures at random. they happen to be Jim from France. I look over his diatribes to see his latest silly attacks and care less about what he is talking about.
Well enough of this attention on a very sad person back to the positive things of the hobby.
I can’t wait for the Chicago show as I’ve said elsewhere on the forums. There look to be quite a few new releases of note for the show. I am still interested to find out what the playset Austin is debuting will have in it. One of the great things about shows like those is getting to talk to the many vendors and longtime supporters of they hobby. It is always nice seeing everybody and the show usually has many good finds. The displays and dioramas that are set of for the show are always amazing as well.
Have a good time.
My experience is that “self-proclaimed experts” usually are not experts. I enjoy this site and that is why I come here for information and fellowship in the hobby. I don’t even know about this other “character” you mention, so I won’t waste time looking at his site.
My friends in the toy train hobby often talk about “lifers.” These are the individuals who can only talk about the hobby, and cannot have discussions on other topics. Usually the price to be admitted to the local club is to put up with these individuals until you learn to get away from them. Maybe we have an individual like this who wants to compete with Paul.
I didn’t get a chance to echo what the others said but we all very much appreciate this site and the work you do on it (plus the commentary from others). You do much to inform collectors of upcoming releases and also provide needed information on vintage figures. The sense of community here is strong and is very much appreciated. I imagine the manufacturers also appreciate you showcasing their products.
I don’t mean to bad mouth Austin Miniatures or anything that they’re trying to do but it seems the Pacific Theatre playset that they are bringing to Chicago is not going to be a great value. It seems that, likely due to cost, Austin is only casting a very small number of new marines and Japanese (and in resin; which is worse still). The playset, from what I’ve been seeing on facebook only has 23 (yes twenty three) figures in it and is going to retail for a whopping $385. I did the math for everything that comes in the set and it looks to me to amount to somewhere between $250-300 worth of product for $385. This is what was listed on Facebook to come with the set:
2 BMC Amtraks (29.60 for two if you buy from Jeff Imel)
3 Pegasus Palm Trees (not more than a $10 value
Pacific Terrain (Painted) (These two pieces retail for $100 unpainted, so let’s say the painted version is worth $160 (ish))
23 figures (3 sets of five marines in 15 poses and 1 set of Japanese in I believe 8 poses) (It is difficult to put a price tag on these but let’s be generous and say $4 a piece (or $92 for all 23 figures)
Best case scenario this stuff is all worth $300. I can’t see paying an $85 premium for a box and certificate of authenticity.
I must clarify how damned excited I was for this set. I had visions of the TSSD Tarawa set which was so amazing. I had reason to believe due to the fact that the Austin Marine Set 1 are (in my opinion) the very best WWII Marines ever done in plastic. The whole thing is just so disappointing. I can’t justify spending more than half of my show money on a playset that comes with 23 resin figures. So much for Army building and getting 60 or 80 Japanese. I don’t think most of us can readily afford the army building which is the whole point of me collecting to begin with.
I apologize if it seems like I am ranting but I’m just so damned disappointed. I showed my brother the proposed contents and price of the set and he laughed and said “hard pass”
What a bummer. No wonder they haven’t promoted the contents of the set here or on Warhorse Miniatures. For anyone planning to buy it regardless, I commend you but the value just isn’t there. At this point I’m considering passing on the figures outright as they will be brittle and likely require special storage. They won’t be good for those who actually like to ‘play’ with their figures.
Hey Stad! We collectors maybe take for granted and do not appreciate the forum you provide and the many ways you add to our enjoyment of the hobby. I so appreciate and respect the information you and all of our fellow enthusiasts provide, it really adds to our hobby. Your contributions and comments are always respectful, as well as insightful.
As for the ‘other guy’, you know ‘that guy’ (and none of us wants to be ‘that guy’) and his personal attacks on you, he’s somewhat belittling all of us and I am sad for him. Whatever he may be compensating for, just keep doing what you are doing and do not drop down to that level. After all there is room for all of us in this hobby.
And if I see anything of interest in Chicago I’ll try to forward to you to share with all our fellow collectors.
JJ in Reno, NV
PS: Doesn’t matter to me whether or not you post this but I feel the need to affirm what you are doing. Please keep on doing what you do.
The roman pose is astonishing super awesome .To hell with Publius,s!!.Sorry just an expression .
Mr assumption guy know as Hughie the “”expert”” of nothing really is a sick person wasting pages after pages talking about others ,he does not only attack stads ,but many here and even in other forums in Europe such from France ,Germany very well know true connoisseurs and collectors by dirent mentioning their names in mocking ways very often plus owners or admin of several other blogs.He uses every post to mingle with his political views making it a nuts trasvesty of what a true hobby forum should be .
It is a shame few only in his land let him be part of it .A person who uses this hobby as a personal agenda vendetta in public ways should be not permitted public to make post in other magazine as it stain the good fellowship we have and image in overall.
I say .Shame in those few supporting or permitting such disgraced person in hobby as well.!
I hope those enjoying Chicago show have a great day and fun !!!
Ahoy Paul, I just want to say thank you verry much for your site and all your information.You,ve been a huge help finding figures an identifing them. Pardon my spelling. but Thanks again.Keep up the good work.
Thanks for yhe info. Look forward to the new WW2 figures and any new Korean War figures. Any news as to who may be making the WW2 German Paras?
John Stengel Jr. / Action Castings is who is supposed to be making German Paras. I am hoping they end up being available at the show but we will see.
Yes, we will have to wait and see.
Thanks! Hope he gets them done and I will be able to get some.
Hi Paul
I also want to chip in.
Yours is the only site I respect, enjoy and visit every day.
Don’t ever listen to others..just jealous.
Of course that’s my opinion.
Thank you
Alan
Thanks for all you do, and for all you’ve done over the years for our hobby, Paul!
It is much appreciated and I, along with many others, look forward to visiting your site every day!
This is probably the Best Toy Soldier site going and i regularly visit almost daily, Keep up the good work Paul.
Great to have You as a friend Paul !
Likewise, Mark, we have had some great times.