New Resins at the Grey Goose Colllectables LTSS today (1 Viewer)

[Obee]

No, after the fiasco in December I decided to pass.

I thought I would wait and see if it gets any better.

That said, the school halls and being so spread out mean it has no atmosphere now.

Count yourself lucky that you have a toy soldier show that is accessible to you .....

I have attended about 5 times, both to the Royal Nation Hotel and the Design Centre, and loved being there to meet makers, collectors and sellers and to get some bargains and rummage amongst the trays to find something that I have been able to bring back to it's former glory with a new paint job.

I really don't care where it is located, as long it's within walking from a London Tube Station ....

The 17 hour plane journey from Australia and paying London Hotel prices pales into insignificance after a day at the Show !!!!

So all you guys in UK, keep on supporting it, so it keep on going as for many of the makers and sellers, this is their only exposure to the customers and for us visitors, the only way to meet up.

John

 

[Obee]

I’ll be at the June show, if we don’t support it, we WILL lose it.

Just my thoughts.

Roy

Good on you Roy,

hope to meet up again when next I'm in London, which will (of course) be when the show is on

John

 

[Old Bill]

Good on you Roy,

hope to meet up again when next I'm in London, which will (of course) be when the show is on

John

Look forward to it John - here's one from last time ^&grin

 

[Naps...just Naps]

Well those were my feelings upon leaving the December show. Upon reflection however, I decided to give it one more chance. Hey – use it or lose it!

I’m glad I did, I thought the March show was much improved. the repositioning of the show entrance inside the school in particular. (Although it must be said the area where Grey Goose and others were positioned played havoc with their card readers. The time taken up trying to get a reading cost Clive and Sue (and I’m sure others) a few sales.

This venue is far from perfect, but let’s be honest – the Royal Nation Hotel and the Design Centre all had their faults as I recall. As for lack of atmosphere – well that is as much up to the attendees as to the Traders/Organsisers/Venue surely? I have been to concerts/shows where the entertainers have been on top of their game but received a so-so response from their audience.

If you think of how much the cost of Toy Soldier product has gone up since the Royal National days, think how much it must be to rent a venue in London now. The organisers obviously thought this new venue the most viable…………… I wonder if anyone else would want the hassle of organising an alternative?

I’ll be at the June show, if we don’t support it, we WILL lose it.

Just my thoughts.

Roy

Roy,
I agree with you.
I don't like the area of London the show is in and the December show was chaotic, I bought nothing and left very early.
The March show layout was far better and the organisers addressed a lot of the issues experienced at the December show.
There were fewer customers this time which also made access much better. Not good for the dealers though.
To sum up I don't like the area, I can put up with the venue and I will be going again.
Like you say the alternative will probably be no London shows which is detrimental to all concerned especially as there are so few high street shops in the UK selling our product now.
Paul

 

[Gazza]

The 'use it or lose it' comment is all well and good but if you want me (and others) to spend money and make time going to a show then you have to make it worthwhile.

Last December was anything but; and let’s be honest the show has been gradually declining now for some time with less and less dealers present, less visitors and only some manufacturers show casing new products.

The event organiser, manufacturers and dealers need to work together to put on a show that makes people want to attend and rolling out Rifleman Harris once a year might not be enough :wink2::wink2::wink2:

 

[nysoldiers]

I have been to a few London shows in the past and really enjoyed finding items we don't generally see in the US. For example JG, ATS, Little Legion, Morgan's Miniatures, Tommy Atkins/Fusilier, many other smaller makers and definitely more old Trophy of Wales sets.
I think having the manufacturers at the shows is a big draw. Getting to meet your favorite toy soldier maker and pick their brains, give suggestions and just socialize is a great experience. I remember when Len Taylor of Trophy visited the Hackensack show in the US,
along with Richard Conte, Andy from K&C and John Jenkins among others. Really added to the experience along with picking up old and unique items.

We are looking forward to seeing John Jenkins at the MFCA show in Philadelphia in May, its been 5 years since he visited the US.
Hopefully the makers can afford the time to visit at least a few large shows each or every other year. That would certainly help to save this great venue.

 

[Old Bill]

The 'use it or lose it' comment is all well and good but if you want me (and others) to spend money and make time going to a show then you have to make it worthwhile.

Last December was anything but; and let’s be honest the show has been gradually declining now for some time with less and less dealers present, less visitors and only some manufacturers show casing new products.

The event organiser, manufacturers and dealers need to work together to put on a show that makes people want to attend and rolling out Rifleman Harris once a year might not be enough :wink2::wink2::wink2:

Very fair comment(s) Gazza.

I must admit living where I do in Essex - on a good run I can get to the new Venue in just over an hour or so. (Train/Tube) Same applied to the Royal National and The Design Centre, so I have been pretty lucky. Obviously an awful lot of folk have so much further to come.

And yes, if we are to be honest – (old age is no place for the fainthearted) – at least a little of the decline in dealers/customers you mention is down to people passing on and businesses ceasing…….. (due to lack of paying customers……..?)

I wasn’t being flippant in my “use it or lose it” and still stand by it. As Paul said in a previous post it’s one of the only places now in Britain where you can actually go to see and purchase - there and then, Toy Soldier product. Where does it leave us here in the UK if it goes?

It’s an ever decreasing circle. The less customers attend the shows the less reason for the Dealers to attend the less reason for the organisers to put on the shows. Such a shame. If anyone has any good suggestions for making the show more attractive to customers I’m sure the organisers would love to hear from them.

As for good old Rifleman Harris – patience of a Saint! If you remember, Malcolm of Empire Military Miniatures had a very brave stab at injecting a bit of life into the shows. One time he had a professional historical re-enactor at his stall, who wandered around the venue in full ECW regalia and his weapons. Another time his fellow WW1 1914 British Infantry re-enactors were at the entrance with their kit/weapons (including a WW1 British Maxim Machine Gun – I got to have a go on it!)

So people have tried to inject a little extra into the proceedings over time…….

We’ll see eh?

Roy

 

[vincent1973]

Is the German mechanic working on a DVII or an Albatros engine?

 

[lancer]

Is the German mechanic working on a DVII or an Albatros engine?

Interesting question. I certainly can't tell from what pictures we have. Anyway, the Albatros used the in-line 6 cylinder Mercedes D-3 engines, rated at 160 hp, while the Fokkers used the in-line 6 cylinder Mercedes D-3a engines rated at 180 hp, initially, then had a Mercedes D-3au, and finally a BMW 3a overcompressed in-line 6 cylinder engine (which was the much-preferred version by pilots). The difference in appearance is minimal to me since I'm not a gear-head so the mechanic could be working on any of those versions as far as I'm concerned. Perhaps John will provide more info when the figure is introduced. -- Al

 

[ivanmoe]

Is the German mechanic working on a DVII or an Albatros engine?

Shirley, Jenkins will tell us!

Found a website with pics of BMW and Mercedes engines:

http://www.wwi-models.org/Photos/Engines/bmwd3a/

http://www.wwi-models.org/Photos/Engines/Mercedes/index.html

It might be that the easiest way to discern one from the other is examining the carburetor setup and intake manifolds.

-Moe

 

[vincent1973]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the additional info.

 

[vincent1973]

Can't wait to see them painted. Gotta have 'em all. However, my wallet is telling me to pray for a somewhat less aggressive release schedule than we experienced with the BH and IWA sets.:wink2:

I'm assuming that the pilot figures will be usable with Allied models.

I was thinking that we'd see more WW2 sets, perhaps to go with the Jagdpanther. Maybe those will show up when John visits the East Coast in May.

I think the pilot getting into the DVII is wearing a Heinicke parachute though, rendering him incorrect for use with Allied planes.