LONDON TOY SOLDIER SHOW
Laurie and I left on Thursday for London. This time we took our time getting to the airport. We stopped at our favorite diner and thought we would get a sandwich. We discover if you get there before 4PM you get soup, salad, a class of wine, meal and desert for one price. We decided on the second option not knowing what the food would be on the plane. Also the price for everything was the same as if we bought a sandwich. We arrived at the airport and got to the check in line during lull and were check right in.
Our plane left on time, but was full so there was no room to stretch out. Virgin Airlines has the smallest seats in the airline business. It is the only airline I need a belt extender. Laurie was stuck with a rude person who put her seat back the minute she could. This person was upset she had put her seat for the meal and could not wait to put it down. We got very little sleep. The staff disappears unless you need something. The extra things Virgin does have gone away.
We arrived on time and were surprised to find our luggage waiting for us. Usually it is the last thing off the plane. We got our underground passes and headed for our hotel. When we got to the Royal National we got a surprise. They had complete modernize the lobby. We had to leave our luggage as the room was not ready. We went to change our money and found our usual place was too high. I had disagreement with another money changer. They advertise a price, but when he quoted a price it was a much lower price than I should have gotten. I know how to figure the price and Laurie will tell you I am playing with a calculator for days before the trip figuring what I should get. We finally went to my other exchange place and got near to what I was looking for in exchange.
We return to the hotel tired and got our room and slept. We got up and check the show some of the dealers were setting up and we said hello. I spotted a dealer with some plastic figures and decided to check tomorrow for Marx. We went to an Indian restaurant and turn in for the night.
I woke up an hour later than planned due an idiot outside the night before screaming until we call security. I also do not sleep well the night before. I got down to the show and made my rounds. The dealer who I had spotted the night before had four soft plastic Marx Roman figures. I purchase them. At another table I found a Marx 1812 sailor pointing. I was also found other items for myself and resale. I purchase some Fontanni natives, pirates and Indians. I got some nice Britains Herald knights kneeling firing the bow.
Going to the show is not only to find items but to see people. One of the people we were looking for was our very good friend Peter Bergner, who we had not seen in two years. He was with his new love in his life Ute. She is tall as Peter and was enjoying the show. We traded food stuffs from our respective countries and talk about things. I was able to get the new Timpo book by Alfred Plath. It is on the history of Timpo and we will do a review in the future. The book is loaded with pictures. Right now this book is in German, an English edition is planned for the new year.
We ran into our friend Peter Cole and I got him autograph a copy of the second edition. We also ran into the other half of Replicants our good friend Paul Morehead. He asked if we were coming to the get together at the pub I said yes. By this time Laurie had joined me and she seconded the motion.
We next went to see our very good friend Michael Smith. Michael had his table of plastic along with Timpo parts he has made. Michael owns many of the Timpo swoppet molds, which he saved from going to the scrap heap. I had seen Michael early and he had been the one who clued me on the Timpo book. Michael is preparing to sell his home then buy a home farther outside of London so he can have room for his family and his business.
Another good friend to see was Brian Carrick. Brian has been doing well with his job and was finding some bits for his collection. We talk to Eddie Oates and he told that he had taken a human job as things were slow. We talked to John Begg who had some rare Crescent Mohawks for sale. These figures are hard to find, but they were a little out of my budget. I did get some other items from John.
We got to see the new Battle of Trafalgar playset by Replicants. The playset is nice loaded with old and new figures from Replicants. The cannons done by Gun Ho are fantastic. Steven Weston showed the new Gun Ho cavalry and the AL miniatures. The Gun Ho was for sale and went quickly.
We got to talk to Richard Walker General manager of W. Britains. He said that old and new plastic would be coming out. One area where new plastic will be done is Civil War. We agree that this one area was long over due for an update.
The crowd quickly filled up the room. We walked around and talked to various people and dealers. We saw Paul from Belgium. He was a little upset as his partner had decide not to come at the last minute and Paul was stuck behind a table. We chatted with Michael Ellis of Marksman and several other dealers they seemed please with the results. After several hours of fun we decided to go over to the Plastic Warrior get together. We went up to our room left our items from the show. We stop off at the show and said some good buys. We stopped at Michael Smith’s table and found several items for the collection that we had missed. Three of the figures were science fiction figures from Italy. The fourth is an Elastolin 70mm knight turned into a game piece. I would like to find out what game it was done for.
We got over to the Plastic Warrior get together. It was
held at the Brewmaster at Leicester Square. As we got out of the underground
stop we wondered where the pub was. We turn around and there it was. We went
upstairs and met the other people. The group was small, only a few people had
come, but it was a wonderful time. It was a time to swap stories, have great
food and drink and enjoy. One of the interesting stories was a collector who had
found a strange 6” Napoleon figure at a Plastic Warrior show. He did not find
the figure until late in the day. The figure did not look Napoleon. The
collector found out later the figure made by Marx. The reason the figure did
look like Napoleon, it was made to look like Louie Marx. The collector paid less
than 5 pounds and nearly fell over when I told him it was worth 1000 dollars.
We had more time to talk to Peter Cole and Paul Morehead. As always they were
quiet with their future plans for Replicants which is fine with us as we always
like their surprises at Plastic Warrior show and the London Toy soldier show.
Another friend we caught up with was Brian Carrick. Brian had been very kind the
first time I was in London to take time to me to a toy show before I got my
train to the airport. He gave us good news that his wife had given up smoking.
The time past quickly and soon it was time to leave. You will see more about the
get together in a future Plastic Warrior.
The next day we decided to forego a toy show and do the Globe Theater. We found to get to the Globe Theater we needed to cross the Millennium Bridge. We found that funny as we had talked about it on the plane we had never been on the bridge. We walked across to the bridge and went to the theater. The theater besides having tours of the theater had a frost fair, a sort of renaissance fair. We saw how they do sword fighting and they showed how people dressed in Elizabethan times using a member of the audience. After the fair we took a tour of the Globe. The globe is an exact recreation of the theater. It was great fun.
After the theater, we walked up the east side of Thames to the Tower Bridge. We walked across to the Tower of London Bridge then pass the Tower of London to the underground. That evening we went to an Indian restaurant Laurie like and called it an evening.
Then next day Laurie and I got up and had breakfast at the hotel. The hotel gives a breakfast with your room. The breakfast is cereal, toast or roll. The food is okay and you find yourself in cacophony of foreign tongues. After breakfast we check out some hotels for May then headed toward Convent Garden. We headed down to Punjab Laurie’s favorite restaurant. The last time it was packed, this time it was empty. Despite being empty the food was great. Once we were done, I want to find Forbidden Planet. The premier comic book shop of London had move and I wanted to find it. As we walked out of Punjab I looked out to our right and found the shop!
We walked in and had a fabulous time. The store is on two levels. The store is loaded with surprises. On the first floor I found a series of metal figures they are doing of Marvel Comic Book Figures. On the lower level I found various books and magazines. They have a small but nice section of military history. Then I got Laurie two of her Christmas presents. The shop had Ray Harryhausen books signed by both Ray and his co author. Ray is 85 and he is doing less shows. Not only were the books signed, they were discounted. I found some other items and we headed back to our hotel.
That night we shared dinner with our friends Ricky Thaxter and Peter Evans. One of the things I enjoy doing on our trips is sharing time with good friends. Peter and Ricky are great friends. We had a great time sharing stories and exchanging gifts. Peter gave me an unusual item a paint toy soldier set. The set was made in Italy, but the figures are MPC. The figures are original MPC not copies. How this company got these figures would make an interesting story. Peter also showed figures he picked up in the last few months. We looked at the figures and marveled on the different figures. Peter has been collecting figures from France. The figures are very inexpensive if you know how to buy. Peter also said there is a shop near the British Museum that sells Resin figures. We hope to check out the next time.
The next day was spent getting to the airport and waiting for the plane. One of the things I do is go to the book store at the airport and see if I can find some interesting books for reading. The flight back home was relaxing as the plane was not crowded. I saw three movies; the first was War of the Worlds which I found very disappointing. The story was bad, I did not relate to the characters. I find myself still liking the 1950 version even with its weakness. The next film I watch was Fantastic Four which I found also disappointing as the characters seem flat unlike the original book. The finally movie I watch was Sky High which I found cute. It was like an old Disney movie and had good ideas in it.
The plane landed on time and we head for home and another happy day at work.