Detroit Show 2006 (1 Viewer)

[Leadmen]

Just returned from Detroit Show sponsered bt Michigan Toy Soldier. No snow or blizzards, just rain and 50 degrees (very unusual). It seems to me that turnout was very good. Richard Walker had Britains and half year catalogs he was handing out. The new stuff seems nice and I liked the Pak gun and crew and German truck but not guy sitting shooting in truck? Imperial sets were flying off the tables and I got good deals on old Steadfast gun sets. I did not buy too much-Fov stuff, Steadfast sets (6),Del-Prado Afrika-Korp Sgt. Much Del Prado stuff there. See dealers like Marxmen, Hobby Bunker and others. Only one room but other room had some nice militia stuff and reenactors walking around- neat WWll British para's in field smocks. Another room had Miniature painters and kids could paint figures. Hotels are going up to $400.00 a night starting tonight when press arrives for Super Bowl week. Lot filled with shuttle busses. I would like to see wider aisles and more room in hall. Lots of old stuff and bargains could be had. I think Mich toy did a good job. Leadmen

 

[ucla1967]

Hi Leadman,

I was interested in your comment that Imperial sets were flying off the tables. Was that because Imperial is were no longer in business and collectors wanted to pick sets while they still could or were they being sold at fire sale prices? I have been an Imperial collector for years.

 

[Leadmen]

I did not see any "fire sales" but only a few dealers carried imperial. I know my friend bought $900.00 dollars worth of Imperial Napoleonics. I only have two sets. Leadmen

 

[ucla1967]

Thanks. I have a large Imperial collection, but all the stuff up to the Crimean War---no Napoleonics. I had bought so many of Frontline's Napoleonics before Imperial introduced theirs, I didn't want to mix them since they are so different. Were the Zulu War Imperials selling? I have the whole series set up with the Rorke's Drift building.

 

[Leadmen]

I only saw Napoleonic sets. I like the Sudan and Zulu series- wish I had more of the sets. Paul Herman of Toy Soldier Shoppe in Wis. had sets at show- I don't know if he got more at shop. I got the Naval Gatling gun set from Sudan period. My friend who got the Napoleonics also has a large Zulu collection- almost every type of Zulu manufactured and won the Britains Zulu diorama at Chicago a few years ago. He also won 2 sets of Britains- royal coach and another set through Toy Soldier & Model Fig. magazine. Lucky?? I never win nothing. I heard Imperial might keep civilian and Napoleonic range in production according to magazine. Wish I could go to West Coast show but probably settle for Indianopolis show. John

 

[ucla1967]

John,

It's too bad you can't make it to the West Coaster. The weather is a LOT nicer here than in the midwest. BTW, I have duplicate set of almost the entire Imperial Zulu War series including the 18 figure Rorke's Drift set, the storehouse, Zulu set 30 which has been out of production for 10 years, etc.

I just got my copy of the magazine last night. That is good news for us Imperial collectors that they are going to at least keep those two lines.

 

[Leadmen]

I have a niece that lives in Aleiso-Veijjo and she says I can come anytime. Been there before and wife thinks it would be neat. Maybe next year, seems like I been to a show every month- being retired I have to cut back and save for the "Golden Years"- yeah right. Glad you told me you got TS&MF magazine yesterday. I got mine but last fall my friend and me live in same town did not get any for 3 issues, but delivery has been better after complaining to postal inspector. Not missed an issue so far. Do you get Avery's Toy Soldier collector also? I got Jan. issue so maybe one will come soon. I joined Britains Collector Club today- did not join when they were in England. Wife ask what I am going to do with my "monument of plastic figures and model kits in middle of basement floor. She went through all my empty metal boxes and stored them. Have to get rid of the plastics. John - I think the glossy sets have character and I do like matte figures also I still can't resist traditional guys.

 

[ucla1967]

Just returned from Detroit Show sponsered bt Michigan Toy Soldier. No snow or blizzards, just rain and 50 degrees (very unusual). It seems to me that turnout was very good. Richard Walker had Britains and half year catalogs he was handing out. The new stuff seems nice and I liked the Pak gun and crew and German truck but not guy sitting shooting in truck? Imperial sets were flying off the tables and I got good deals on old Steadfast gun sets. I did not buy too much-Fov stuff, Steadfast sets (6),Del-Prado Afrika-Korp Sgt. Much Del Prado stuff there. See dealers like Marxmen, Hobby Bunker and others. Only one room but other room had some nice militia stuff and reenactors walking around- neat WWll British para's in field smocks. Another room had Miniature painters and kids could paint figures. Hotels are going up to $400.00 a night starting tonight when press arrives for Super Bowl week. Lot filled with shuttle busses. I would like to see wider aisles and more room in hall. Lots of old stuff and bargains could be had. I think Mich toy did a good job. Leadmen

I just noticed you also bought some Steadfast sets. I have a bunch of them that I got from Stone Castle and at the shows. I have been trying to sell them for the last two years at the West Coaster, but have only sold four sets. I paid round $45 each for them, but could not move them at $30 each and buy four and get fifth free. I guess there is not to much interest in them, even though I like them (don't have room to display them).

 

[Leadmen]

Mike: I like the Steadfast gun team sets, not too many figure sets. Earlier figures are nice but ones made now by RP models are not as good. I sent back a Gardiner gun set. I bought 2 sets of gun figures and 3 gun sets at Detroit. Two sets no boxes. John

 

[ucla1967]

John,

I also like the artillery sets and have heard that the new offerings are not as good as the old. Many of the early sets were sculpted by Andrew Rose who subsequently established his Bastion brand and who also has the Wessex brand produced by Dorset. He was also involved with Peter Cowan (Kingcast) early on with the Marktime brand and did many Nostalgia figures for Shamus Wade after about the 100th offering.

 

[Leadmen]

Thanks for information about Andrew Rose. I did not know he did others beside his Bastion figures. I use his book all the time for reference when getting castings or repairing figures. I like the early Steadfast and still interested in Sudan period. John

 

[ucla1967]

I have a niece that lives in Aleiso-Veijjo and she says I can come anytime. Been there before and wife thinks it would be neat. Maybe next year, seems like I been to a show every month- being retired I have to cut back and save for the "Golden Years"- yeah right. Glad you told me you got TS&MF magazine yesterday. I got mine but last fall my friend and me live in same town did not get any for 3 issues, but delivery has been better after complaining to postal inspector. Not missed an issue so far. Do you get Avery's Toy Soldier collector also? I got Jan. issue so maybe one will come soon. I joined Britains Collector Club today- did not join when they were in England. Wife ask what I am going to do with my "monument of plastic figures and model kits in middle of basement floor. She went through all my empty metal boxes and stored them. Have to get rid of the plastics. John - I think the glossy sets have character and I do like matte figures also I still can't resist traditional guys.

I am a charter subscriber to both TS&MF and Toy Soldier Collector magazines. I met the editors of both magazines, Stuart Henssney and Mark Avery, at the 2005 Chicago Show. Spoke with both of them at length (separately) and both asked me to write an article for their respective magazines on my collection.

 

[Leadmen]

I am a charter subscriber to both TS&MF and Toy Soldier Collector magazines. I met the editors of both magazines, Stuart Henssney and Mark Avery, at the 2005 Chicago Show. Spoke with both of them at length (separately) and both asked me to write an article for their respective magazines on my collection.

I met Mark Avery at the shows and ordered his new magazine and managed to get all the back issues(5). Stuart talked with me for over an hour while we had a drink Sat. night at Chicago. We both like Fort Ticonderoga and French/ Indian war period. I would like to see you do a story for magazine. Enjoyed Ruby's story and collection- I guess I am a acculmator instead of a collector who enjoys the best they can find.Would liked to have said "hello" at Chicago. I got my reservations for 2006 show. West coast is tempting but I don't think it is possible this year. John