2012 December London show!! (2 Viewers)

Have a great show guys.

Rob, we are counting on you for the full details and exaggerated stories about the bar maid in what ever place of doubtful reputation you and the other guys find to hang out in {sm4}.

Brett
Oh and a few photos would be greatly appreciated. Of the figures that is !^&grin
 
I feel like Eisenhower waiting for the intial reports to start coming in on D- Day, or the London show:)...Sammy
 
My primary observation of the London Show is bound to upset some but I must tell it like it is and it is this; many of the people attending, in terms of buying were quite old and this is certainly borne out by the pictures everyone has kindly provided. That's not to say everyone there was old, far from it, but the good majority were 'silvertops'. The younger people attending seemed to be behind the other side of the tables i.e. selling and displaying.

Therefore, I left somewhat confused about the future of the hobby. In terms of manufacturing, it looks nice and rosey. In terms of collecting, I'm not nearly so certain. It was an eye-opener.
 
thing is most of the manufacturers are not making their products for younger collectors its exactly these older or, better off customers who they target. disposable income, money to burn types maybe. None of the products in this hobby are things you would give younger people as they are not toys per se they are collectables.

How can you attract younger people to a hobby where AFV's cost £215 per item on average? the problem of attracting younger people to the hobby is an interesting one. as historical interest dwindles for many over video games and social networks etc why would younger people come into this hobby. Most of us, well, I speak for myself, are young but, have grown up with family who served in WWII and, been exposed to an interest in WWII that's not the case.

Even through genealogy people find out about relatives but, how does that equate with suddenly collecting toy soldiers? I don't see the link

Guess the silver tops will have to keep propping up the hobby
Mitch
 
Hi Mitch,

I hear you , and yes the segment has moved to a collectors stage in most cases, but do not under estimate the volume of attention that the plastic kit market generates....Here I am referring to TAMIYA, DRAGON and the likes.
I was fortunate to have had the genealogy factor...And this lead me to start building AIRFIX planes, tanks and painting plastic AIRFIX, REVELL armies. Only once I had grown to a stage were additional disposable income came, did I migrate to the major league ( JJ, TGN, K&C, Britains, and the others). Needless to say that my plastic armies ( what is left of them ) are now with my boys and they know that they will have to live through the plastic kit war before they are entitled to the major league....
Let us not kidd ourselves, there are also those young collectors whose pocket money are healthy enough to take to collecting JJ, TGN, K&C right away,that is also very good although I would assume this to be a minority, given that those funds compete with the video games and the TECH stuff kidds love.
I still think that the biggest risk is the loss of historical interest.....and the Educational System is the one to be blamed.....this is our main enemy....
Cheers
Luiz


Mitch said:
thing is most of the manufacturers are not making their products for younger collectors its exactly these older or, better off customers who they target. disposable income, money to burn types maybe. None of the products in this hobby are things you would give younger people as they are not toys per se they are collectables.

How can you attract younger people to a hobby where AFV's cost £215 per item on average? the problem of attracting younger people to the hobby is an interesting one. as historical interest dwindles for many over video games and social networks etc why would younger people come into this hobby. Most of us, well, I speak for myself, are young but, have grown up with family who served in WWII and, been exposed to an interest in WWII that's not the case.

Even through genealogy people find out about relatives but, how does that equate with suddenly collecting toy soldiers? I don't see the link

Guess the silver tops will have to keep propping up the hobby
Mitch
Click to expand...
 
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Expensive metal factory painted figures are NOT going to save the hobby - Historical plastic soldiers sold to kids in toy shops will and at present is isn't happening
 
Luiz...

I agree fully about the model hobby and, I do think its still as vibrant as ever and, it could be said that its becoming more popular. I think that's the point hit clearly on the head when you mention education. If History is not seen as a priority in the educational establishments (which, I know its not in the UK) then you cannot expect there to be any interest in such hobbies from young people.

High prices in the hobby, lack of historical education will mean that by the time these people have the disposable income from working etc it will go elsewhere as they won't be interested in having the items on offer from the hobby and, will spend elsewhere.
Mitch

Artillery_crazy said:
Hi Mitch,

I hear you , and yes the segment has moved to a collectors stage in most cases, but do not under estimate the volume of attention that the plastic kit market generates....Here I am referring to TAMIYA, DRAGON and the likes.
I was fortunate to have had the genealogy factor...And this lead me to start building AIRFIX planes, tanks and painting plastic AIRFIX, REVELL armies. Only once I had grown to a stage were additional disposable income came, did I migrate to the major league ( JJ, TGN, K&C, Britains, and the others). Needless to say that my plastic armies ( what is left of them ) are now with my boys and they know that they will have to live through the plastic kit war before they are entitled to the major league....
Let us not kidd ourselves, there are also those young collectors whose pocket money are healthy enough to take to collecting JJ, TGN, K&C right away,that is also very good although I would assume this to be a minority, given that those funds compete with the video games and the TECH stuff kidds love.
I still think that the biggest risk is the loss of historical interest.....and the Educational System is the one to be blamed.....this is our main enemy....
Cheers
Luiz
Click to expand...
 
:) To ignore ones History means we are open to lossing more than just a few dates and passing by monuments that no one cares to know why they were put there in the first place......:confused:



Mitch said:
Luiz...

I agree fully about the model hobby and, I do think its still as vibrant as ever and, it could be said that its becoming more popular. I think that's the point hit clearly on the head when you mention education. If History is not seen as a priority in the educational establishments (which, I know its not in the UK) then you cannot expect there to be any interest in such hobbies from young people.

High prices in the hobby, lack of historical education will mean that by the time these people have the disposable income from working etc it will go elsewhere as they won't be interested in having the items on offer from the hobby and, will spend elsewhere.
Mitch
Click to expand...
 
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