“Coming to Shows…..Meeting Old Friends….Making New Ones” (1 Viewer)

[King & Country]

Hi Guys,

As I’ve said and written several times before….When you make the effort to actually attend a toy soldier show you quickly realize it’s about a lot more than just “toy soldiers”!

At this year’s recently-past “West Coaster” I had the good fortune to meet up with many old friends that I’ve attended toy soldier shows with in Chicago, Texas, New Jersey and previous “West Coasters”.

The sheer pleasure and fun of being able to discuss all topics “toy soldier” and….a heap of other subjects under the sun with an amazing variety of guys from all walks of life is more than worth the cost of the airfare.

At this year’s show among the familiar, friendly faces were several like Ed Curiel….Stephen Chong….Jason Englund….Joe (from L.A.)….the brothers Rob & Doug from up Sierra Way….Hans from Knoxville and John & Joanne from New York. Many long, happy hours were spent in their company enjoying the hobby, the laughs….and the occasional drink!

What was also great was to meet and make a new friend that I’ve heard a lot about but never actually met….Mr. Bob Walker….At this year’s show our mutual friend Mike Tarantino introduced us and I’m delighted to say we got on like the proverbial “house on fire”. Bob, as many of you will know, has a world class collection of toy soldiers, models, dioramas and other military memorabilia that is second-to-none. In his two California homes he has hosted gatherings of collectors from all over the States and elsewhere to see and enjoy his “passion”.

I was fortunate to be invited to see his L.A. collection after this year’s “West Coaster” and spent an entire day with Bob at his beautiful home viewing the exhibits and talking “toy soldiers” and a lot more besides. To say it was a whole lot of fun would be a gross understatement….It was amazing and over-whelming all at the same time. And it was truly inspiring to see the library of reference material Bob has built up over many years. And all because of toy soldiers. So, a huge thankyou to Mr. Bob Walker….muchos gracias to Mike for the introduction….grateful appreciation to all those other guys that made the show and helped make those days and nights a blast and….Let’s do it again SOON!

Best wishes and happy collecting!​

Andy C.​

P.S. If you’ve never done a show then you don’t know what you’re missing

 

[Obee]

Its pity that shows are SO far away from me....

I've managed 3 London Toy Soldier Shows since 2000, and enjoyed all of them.

Hopefully can make it there again soon, or to the US, which are the main places where they are held.

John

 

[PanzerAce1944]

That is 100% correct....If you never went to a show you really don't know what your missing !!!!!! See you all on the other end in San Antonio :salute::

 

[Louis Badolato]

I can't agree more with my old friend Andy (whom I first met in person at the old Valley Forge Show in 1996 or 97). I go the OTSN in Chicago every year to see Andy, Gordon, Steven Chong, Marc (Beaufighter), Ed Curiel, Hans Hedrich, Tim Tyler, Norman Joplin, and countless other friends I met and got to know at Toy Soldier shows. I also look forward to seeing friends from all over the world at the Symposium each March (and this year, besides a little event in March, we are going to London in June for a Symposium to coincide with the June London Show), as well as the local shows in King of Prussia, Hackensack, etc. Meeting old friends and making new ones is the best part of the shows (although finding the odd rare item is another perk!).:smile2: