Embarrassed about Collecting Toy Soldiers? (1 Viewer)

[Alexdakar]

The only time I'm embarrassed is when my room is a mess because I'm working on some toy soldier project. If my room is clean then I like to show off my collection.

 

[Louis Badolato]

Beautiful set up, Alex!

 

[wadepat]

Gentle Friends,

I have never been able to relate to the question of being embarrassed about collecting toy soldiers. I have always taken pride in my collection and I have never hesitated to share my interest with others. Further, I have never encountered any ridicule and/or negative responses from others who, for the first time, learn of my interest in the hobby.

A frequent response I do encounter, however, is a person saying "I had no idea such figures existed." Many times, someone will tell me their image of toy soldiers were of "the little green plastic men." Perhaps I am simply fortunate to encounter persons who demonstrate an opennes and/or an interest in the hobbies that are meaningful to a particular individual.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[Spitfrnd]

The only time I'm embarrassed is when my room is a mess because I'm working on some toy soldier project. If my room is clean then I like to show off my collection.

Beautiful display indeed Alex. Any chance for some larger pictures?

 

[debrito]

Gentle Friends,

I have never been able to relate to the question of being embarrassed about collecting toy soldiers. I have always taken pride in my collection and I have never hesitated to share my interest with others. Further, I have never encountered any ridicule and/or negative responses from others who, for the first time, learn of my interest in the hobby.

A frequent response I do encounter, however, is a person saying "I had no idea such figures existed." Many times, someone will tell me their image of toy soldiers were of "the little green plastic men." Perhaps I am simply fortunate to encounter persons who demonstrate an opennes and/or an interest in the hobbies that are meaningful to a particular individual.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

Pat, you have a talent to express yourself, you are a truly gentlemen.

I second your comments, when I tell people that I collecting Toy soldiers they think the green plastic 0,99 Cents a cheap soldier, then when I show the quality of a K&C metal soldier, they say…WOW I did know that exist.

Cheers

 

[Wraith]

The only time I'm embarrassed is when my room is a mess because I'm working on some toy soldier project. If my room is clean then I like to show off my collection.

Alex,

Your room when it's messy is still far tidier than my room when its at it's tidiest.

Great showroom mate.

Simon

 

[bromhead]

The only time I'm embarrassed is when my room is a mess because I'm working on some toy soldier project. If my room is clean then I like to show off my collection.

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If I can come over I ll help clean your room,,,,,The only embarrassment I ever had was explaining to some goober looking at my display of Lady Bunthorn firing her victorian single shot muffpistol from the legation balcony ,among other scenes,,,what the Boxer rebellion was. A later public school grad.

 

[trooper]

In Britain people used to be fairly reticent about their hobby, a frequent comment being "Still playing with toy soldiers at your age?" but in the 1970's there was a TV series called "Callan" starring Edward Woodward about a tough Secret Service agent who painted model soldiers and played wargames and suddenly everyone found they could talk openly without ridicule. It did a lot for the hobby at that time.

 

[1879fanatic]

In Britain people used to be fairly reticent about their hobby, a frequent comment being "Still playing with toy soldiers at your age?" but in the 1970's there was a TV series called "Callan" starring Edward Woodward about a tough Secret Service agent who painted model soldiers and played wargames and suddenly everyone found they could talk openly without ridicule. It did a lot for the hobby at that time.

Is that the same actor who played "The Equilizer" in the "80s? and Breaker Morant?
Mike

 

[Wraith]

Is that the same actor who played "The Equilizer" in the "80s? and Breaker Morant?
Mike

That's the one. Except in Callan, he was a hard, cold blooded b*$&%rd.
Top film, if you get the chance to watch it.

 

[maloyalo]

I ran into people looking down at the hobby from time to time, but less frequently now. So many people have gotten into figure or doll collecting, whether its soldiers or action figures or beanies its not considered unusual anymore.

I will never forget a conversation I overheard by two biker types next to me at a flea market around 1998. One was showing a beanie to the other bragging at how he had just picked up 'Clarence' (I really don't remember the name) for $10.00 or something like that.

There's a funny scene in the movie 'Stripes' with the Commander playing with Green Army Men in the office. I think that was how some used to view it.

 

[Alexdakar]

Beautiful display indeed Alex. Any chance for some larger pictures?

Here are some closer and larger pictures.

 

[mk26gmls]

Well, I sure am not shy about my collection. I have almost all of it now in my office. It sure brings up a lot of conversation from all of the people who come by here on business.

 

[VID_soldiers]

I was born in the collection of tin soldiers, because my father was collector for it since he was 16 years old. My friends who comes to my home saw his collection and they are always laugh but alsways got interest for it. When I was 20 years old and later my friends and peoples who saw that colection of tins and plastics at my home also smiled but when they are knew that it is our business they stay seriously attitude for the collection and soldiers and models. Part of them stay collectors too.

 

[Shannon Reuss]

It is always worth reminding oneself that 95% of the male adult population (a rough estimate) who are non-collectors is that the hobby has moved forward a thousand fold since those guys played with their green plastic GI's in the dirt. Which is always evident when they see my collection in the flesh for the first time or view pictures of the various dios I've knocked up-to a man they are dumb-struck-finally saying "Where on earth did you get these from?"

Reb

And you reply "Treefrog Treasures, here's the web address. They ship world-wide" right?

 

[Leadmen]

I use to keep my collection quiet but through the years more people admired the little men then the few that thought they were "war toys". I been collecting and military modeling for over 30 years and never found a better hobby. My fishing equiptment sits idle for the last few years because I would be going to shows or buying figures.

The reading of history also goes well with collecting figure and vehicles. I remember years ago when I went into a hobby shop to buy Airfix plastic figure boxes while my partner waited in the squad car. When he saw what I bought he smiled and said "well I collect collector plates". Go figure.

 

[Lewey Gun Vick]

Here are some closer and larger pictures.

Alex, you have such a great collection!!!

Vick

 

[Currahee Chris]

My fatal flaw is that I have no problem speaking my mind- good bad or indifferent- got me in plenty of hot water in the army and now in my "professional life" -which many veteran frogs here can attest to I have said so many things in my life that bring embarrassment that toy soldiers pale in comparison. At 36, I just don't have any interest in trying to find another hobby or the energy to do so really. It's toy soldier collecting till I die.

My wife and kids get embarrassed when I am at Target, Toys R Us, etc and some kid wants the same toy soldier tank, figure or airplane I want and I bump him out of the way or otherwise do whatever I can to make sure I get and he/she doesn't ( KIDDING!! - I think ).

 

[sceic2]

I have been reading this thread since it's beginning and being hesitant to say anything. I thought what I have to say might be a bit of nonsense. However, I have worked up the energy to type this and so here goes nothin ....

After being in the USN for 20 years and gone through everything someone in the military does - boot camp physicals en' mass (naked except for jocks and socks and you have to loose the jocks), living in a space that normally would be smaller than most living rooms and having 36 to 40 guys living in racks of three with only 18" of head space on a 3' by 6' mattress, common showers without stalls, common toilets without stalls, and on and on. And having been examined for intestinal polyps, gone through surgery for a rectal fissure, and enduring many annual prostrate examines --- embarrassed about collecting toy soldiers???? I DON'T THINK SO.

 

[HistoryfortheAges]

Good points, all!