Hackensack 2010
Getting to a show can be adventure. Usually before a show I do not sleep well as I do not want be late. Next I have to get Laurie going and then I have to get the dogs out for a walk. With three dogs now that can be a challenge. Sparky is still not thrill with Quinn and gets annoyed when Quinn wants to be next to him. Coming back from the walk Quinn's harness broke which I caught in time and picked him up so he could not scamper away.
Once that was done Laurie and I got into her car and headed for the show. We had not gone a block and I felt something wrong with one of the tires. We drove home and saw that the right tire was low. We got into the other car and headed to the show. Because we had to stop for gas we got at the show 45 minutes after the show opened. As we got to the entrance of the show we saw Bill Lango the promoter of the show and said hello. He told Laurie about his dog and we swap stories on our new dog.
As soon as we got in the show I could feel a difference. I have been doing shows for 32 years and can sense the mood of the show. We got up to our very good friend Gerry Watts table and did not see the usual crowd looking over his goodies. We left our coats and started walking. We walked the room and noticed missing dealers and people. This was no fault of the promoter Bill Lango as shows around the country this year have seen the number of dealers and and people attending drop.
That said we still had a good time as we found many great items for the collection and resale. I went to the table where I had gotten the MPC Green Berets last year and found a partial Marx Nativity Set reasonable priced. We walked down the row and Laurie found three Troll animals for sale that she saw as child but never had which we picked up. In another row we found Edwin Sell who always has great buys. We found enough items for the collection and resale.
If you wanted new items you had the new Paragon set of Apaches, TSSD Dismounted Cavalry with Causalities and AIP Figure Groups. If you need to get any AIP Figure sets this is the place get your fix on these figures. Because of my budget, I only bought the Paragon Apaches Set 2.
We tried to stop and talk to Francis Turner to see the latest on his Marx Museum project we mention back in June, but he was always busy. We talked to our very good friend Gerry Watts and he had a good day. I found some great items there including a Britains Karate set that went to Greece. It was the last purchase before we headed out.
Hackensack is a great show we have a good time. We decide to leave early to get the tire on Laurie's car fix. On our way back to the main highway we discovered White Manna hamburger spot open. In all the years we have been going to Hackensack they have been closed on a Sunday. We made a quick detour and tried their burgers. They do a burger called a slider. People like or hat the White manna's slider as I review a web site later. We like it and will stop there again. We got home got the other car and took it to Sears which was opened and repaired the tire. I was also able to get an oil change done for Laurie's car as well.
Here some photos and Comments on the show.
King George was on Hand
We stop to talk with Bill McMasters of BMC. Bill has done a change on his playsets. He made them smaller and easier to ship at half the price. As you can see in the picture below you can see the first one he has done Utah Beach Show Box Playset. In the playset you get a landing craft, figures and a bunker. I am sure we will see others in the near future.
A look at the new Shoe Box Playset
There was another dealer selling buildings this year. His name is Chris Mintze. He has several tables of damaged and destroyed buildings for sale
Still more damage buildings from Chris including a three story building
Once again our old friend Don Ducotte of Heritage Toy Figure was at the show with his Swappable Figure line. These are plastic figures in the tradition of Timpo and Britains. I had purchased some of the figures last year and was looking to add to my collection. This year Don had some civilians that I bought in top hats. One had cup and a bottle which would be great in a western theme. Mike Westbay was thrilled to have Don Back as he loves these figures. Mike feels that Don is one of the hobby's best kept secrets. I agree these figure are get additions to your scenes. Don also sold some of his figure unpainted.
Don Was Selling some of the figures unpainted.
Don Ducotte and Friend
The elusive Marx terrain pieces and the PX building
Rick Eber is the place to stop if you are looking for hard to find Marx. It is amazing the items Rick finds for the advance Marx Collector
Richard Conte and one of his helpers Zack
We ask Richard Conte on the status of plastic figures. Right now the plastic figures are on hold due to the cost of the production of his style of figures and the economy. For now he is concentrating on metal figures including a western line. The western figures will include a Steve McQueen figure. Richard Conte is licensing from Steve's son Chad. Also in the western line up are Earps and much more. The Northern Frontier metal line which Richard thought would be a small endeavor has actually been the opposite. Once again Conte had some great buys on his metal, plastic and resin line.
Some of the metal figures of Conte Collectibles
Some of the special issued metal figures and resin figures from the Conte Collectibles Playsets
Allan Ford with his playsets and loose figures. He has a great selection of Reamsa and Jescan reissues
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