Former Toy Soldier Chat member (1 Viewer)

[wadepat]

Hi Skipper,

Your provide sad news regarding Twinky and his collection. While I miss the presence of a number of the regular Toy Soldier Chat members, I have expecially missed Twinky. He brought something special and different to the forum. He will be greatly missed by those who were fortunate enough to know him.

Your description of the behavior of those collectors who sought of sweeten their collections from Twinky's huge holdings is especially disturbing to me. While it is understandable that collectors constantly seek to enhance their personal collections, you would hope they could be more sensitive to the circumstances surrounding the sale of so many beautiful and special items. Let us hope that the reaction of Twinky's daughter will be a lesson for all of us.

Once again, let me say I am glad you have joined Treefrog. And,...thanks for remembering me.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[skipper]

Good afternoon Treefrog members. Its Sunday and summertime in the midwest. I just returned from a fall festival event and it certainly did not feel like fall. Not the least sign of frost on the pumpkin today or anytime soon. Tomorrow I make a visit to Marc T. and his basement for an update on building broken and bombed out building walls from styrafoam. How difficult can it be to make a wall look broken? Well, we shall see. Allmost all the diorama builders seem to have mastered the project so I suspect that I can as well. The Chicago show will certainly be a topic of conversation while we work. We had several conversations at the show. We TSC guys invited him to dinner with us but he declined. Which brings up a topic of conversation. Andy had made the remark several times that Gordon's landscape work was the hit of the show. I would be in disagreement with that statement. Gordon's work building dioramas for Andy were more than exciting to view but certainly no show stoppers. You KC guys may disagree but the show had much to offer other than Gordon's work displayed in Andy's room. Over dinner, we TSC guys agreed that Figarti made a bigger impression with thier new offerings than the usual KC products. It would be hard to walk by their German torpedo boat without stopping for a second and third look see. If you found yourself in the Conte room how could you not do a double take over the Spartans collection of 300. Then what about the new Russian figures from the St Petersburg collection. I could go on and on but I have made my point. KC is not the only game in town. That does not mean that I am selling off my KC collection but Andy does not own the Chicago show as of yet. His show in San Antonio may be another story-----------.
So now I have made my views know about KC and will have to live with it untill proven wrong. Until then, be well and stay dry.

Captain Skipper.

 

[Steven Chong]

Dear Captain Skipper,

As you may know, Rick Wang of Figarti posted invitations to the Lunch with Figarti last year on Toy Soldier Chat. Because it was down, he was unable to do so this year. When a future invitation is posted on this Forum, I hope you can alert the TSC guys who go to Chicago. As you may have seen on the videos of the Lunch posted by K&C UK, Figarti hosts a very interesting launch of new products -- or just go for the free lunch.

Regarding what is the "hit" of a show, every manufacturer will use advertising speak to describe their show experience ... "its been a good year" ... "this has been a great show" .... etc. It is part of doing business for them. For those who appreciate the artistry of Gordon's scratch-built Junkers or hotel, the K&C dioramas were the "hit" of the show. For those who like a 1/32 B-17 or 1/30 E-boat or V-1, Figarti was the "hit" of the show. I am just glad to be a collector at this time with so many choices.

 

[skipper]

Good evening Treefrog Members. We baseball fans of the Chigago Cubs will have to wait another year for any hopes of a playoff series. That ****ed billy goat problem continues to haunt the team. I am presently in residence with Marc T as I continue to learn the art of broken buildings and enjoying every minute of it. Likewise he too had high anticipations for our teams success. His French wife sure brews a mean cup of French tea during break times from work. She remembers the Germans in her local town. She views her husband work with less than a great deal of enthusiam. For her the war was all to real with memories that trigger an emotional response that makes one think twice before developping any opinion about the Germans and their conduct during the war. In a sense the second world war has never ended for her and the word forgiveness is a poor noun in the English language. The question she raises is wether the guilty were adequately punished. Marc T drove me by a house that still holds a gold star in the window from 1944. He has visited with the owners of the house. Apparently the second generation of the family continues to honor the star and suggests that the missing family member may return home at any time. The suggestion being that the government may have made an error in the reporting of the veterans death in of all places, Russia.

I must close as we are off for some entertainment for the night before work begins again tomorrow. Until then stay dry and be well.

The Skipper.

 

[Capitolron]

Skipper

I was rooting for your Cubs and hoping that they would make it to the Series - As a NATIONALS fan - I share your heartache over a non-productive team. Remember - We always have next Season !!

Cheers, Ron

 

[skipper]

Good afternoon Treefrog members. Yes, for the Cubs fans, their is always "next year" to look forward to. We have had 99 years in a row of "next year" to reflect back on. Thanks for the thought though.

Today is clean up day in Marc T. basement. He still will not let me inquire as to what is behind his secret door just off the work room. Just like the Cubs, maybe next time. Tonight I head for home and then try to practice what I have learned. Marc can resume his own work after I am gone. He is working on a massive train landscape that will entail at least 300 figures, to say notlhing of the vehicles it will require. The scale is massive. He intends to use two of the Figarti B17 overhead. Whom ever he is building it for, it will be spectacular to view. Bill Moore used one of his landscapes at the Chicago show. His buildings are built with exact figures in mind and are completely viewable inside and out. I am certain that more than a few of you saw it at the show. This afternoon Marc will take me out to the WW II museum for a tour. He said that you have complete acess to all kinds of military vehicles. Sounds like fun.

Steven may be correct about KC not meaning to toot his own horn regarding Gordon's work. There are any number of good builders out there to pick and choose from. Gordon's work has the KC stamp of approval on them which makes them very desireable in the marketplace. Those that are not up the task will be weeded out of the equation quickly enough.

Stay dry and be well.

The Skipper.

 

[Leadmen]

Welcome Skipper. I also participated on Toy Soldier Chat. I talked to Mark at the show. I assume you will be going to Catigny museum and grounds. I have not been there been over 30 years. I bet there are new displays and maybe more armor. Leadmen