Hello everybody (1 Viewer)

[ucla1967]

I have decided to join your forum. At first, I was hesitant, because I thought this might be some kind of insiders club, but clearly that is not the case. Thank you Jazzeum for alerting me to this forum's existence.

I have been collecting new (as opposed to vintage) metal toy soldiers for 15 years. My collection has grown to 5,000 figures, of which, I have over 3,000 on display in my toy soldier room (actually, my son Keith's former bedroom; he is 33 years old and if he wants to move back in, he will have to sleep on the couch). They are displayed in six curios, one book case, and on two tables.

I know may people in the hobby, mainly as a result of having attended the Chicago show and the West Coaster since 1993. In fact, although I am a collector and not a dealer, I have been selling at the latter for nine years. I do this not as a business, but as a means of selling off duplicate sets or figures that I want to recycle so that I can buy different sets as my interests have evolved. I am ecstatic if I break even when all is said and done. Most importantly, it gives me a chance to talk to other collectors!

Even though I started out with the best intentions of collecting only Queen Victory era (especially Highlanders) figures from the Zulu Wars, Sudan, the Crimean War, etc., that did not work out as I quickly expanded into Napoleonic, ACW, Boxer Rebellion, World Wars I and II. The top five manufacturers I have on display are as follows: Frontline 1115, Imperial 460, Trophy 450, Blenheim 250, and Bastion 210. However, that is all about to change as I just purchased 33 Hiriart sets with about 300 figures to add to the 100 already on display. I have a small King & Country collection of Andy's earlier (gloss 54mm) endeavors. If you don't kick me off this forum for being too wordy (is that a real word?), I would like to discuss my views on K & C based on some of the other earlier discussions regarding quality, figure size, sculpting & painting, run sizes, and investing vs. collecting.

 

[Leadmen]

Welcome aboard the forum. Sounds like you have similiar interests. I like early glossy figures from the different companies and wish I got more sets years ago- got sidetracked with models and Marx stuff. My friend has a nice Hirates collection. I also collect WWll K&C, Rev. war and some Napoleonics and everything else at times. Caution you will find this forum addictive and very informational. Leadmen (John)

 

[Louis Badolato]

Dear Mike,

Welcome aboard. I happen to love the Victorian Era glossy figures, and have a large collection of Imperial, Trophy, Britains, Tradition and other more traditional toy soldiers, as well as virtually all of the early glossy K&C stuff to go along with my matt King & Country collection. You mentioned Brad (Jazzeum) getting you involved. Are you located in New Jersey? If so, please think about coming to at least a part of the New York Symposium March 10-12th. While the dinners are pretty much booked up, lunch and cocktails at my house with a viewing of my collection and a talk by Andy Neilson of King & Country. Drop me a Private Message if you are interested.

Regards,

Louis Badolato

 

[sceic2]

Its always good to hear from another Mike. We both seem to be about the same age. My oldest, my son, is 30 this year. Also, it seems that in our generation just about every other male child born was named Mike. I work with five other Mikes and have many friends and acquantences named Mike. Someday we should start a Mikes Only Club. There would be many members.

It sounds like you have a pretty good head start on some of us. I started a few years ago when all three of my kids moved out of the house to start their own lives. That darn empty nest syndrome. I sure should have started earlier like you did. Most of those sets you mentioned, I imagine, can demand a pretty price if a person were to try to collect them now.

Glad to see you aboard, no its not a good old boys club. The more the merrier. Michael

 

[Njja]

Hi Mike

Welcome to the Forum!


Njja

 

[jazzeum]

Mike,

Glad you decided to take the plunge. We're always looking for people with not just K & C interests to join to try to make this a diverse a place as possible. With that big a collection, I'm sure you'll have a lot to say and that's good.

 

[fishead19690]

Welcome to the nut house!!!! And I don,t think its any kind of private forum(that i know of). When I joined I didn,t know anyone and haven,t stoped yapping since and no ones made me feel unwelcome yet(well except maybe that time i sugested making K&C in plastic). So i welcome you and anyone else who wants share in the hobby. I know that alot of you must read all the time but never post. I was the same way and one day i just decided to post and haven,t stop since. If there are any more napoleonic fans out there you are even more welcome!!!! _________________________________________________________________TIM

 

[sceic2]

Yeah, suggesting K&C in plastic. Tim, you blasphemer. Although I think we came to a truce and deceided that it really wasn't that bad of an idea to attract younger collectors. Michael

 

[OzDigger]

Hi Mike, and welcome to the forum. It sounds like your figure collecting interests covers a wide range of eras, do you have any military vehicles in your collection?

 

[Chuck Harris]

Hi Mike
Welcome aboard the forum. Looking forward to reading your interests and views.

 

[ucla1967]

Hi OzDigger,

Thank you, glad to be aboard. Yes, I have 20 1/50th scale Solido armoured fighting vehicles, plus about a half dozen I am selling at the West Coaster. I also have four Minichamps, six FOV 1/32 (and intend to get more even though I have no more room to display them), seven 1/72 Dragon AFVs (and intend to buy more), and about six Armour Collection AFV that I am also selling at the West Coaster. You probably noticed that I don't have any polystone AFV, I sold them last year. I am not overly fond of them due to the fact that they chip too easily and I don't like the tracks.

I am particularly interested in WW II German AFVs. That's why I can hardly wait to get my hands on the Wespe, Hummel, Nashorn, etc. that Dragon is producing. I really like the FOV line, but did not buy their SdKfz 251 at Kursk, which was fought in June, since they made such a gross error using winter comouflage. I hope FOV will also offer, at some point, Panzer 38(t), FIAT M13/40, Semovente, and armored cars, in general.

 

[OzDigger]

Hi Mike, your collection sounds a bit like mine, except I only have several hundred figures not thousands However I do have a wide variety of military vehicles in different scales, including Solido/Verem, Dragon, Corgi, Dinky, FOV, K & C, Britains etc. I have tried to fix on one scale but something comes up that takes my eye and I just have to get it.

I also have five 1/50 scale Polistil tanks: Centurion, King Tiger, Challenger, Leopard, T-62, they were made in Italy during the seventies and I can recommend them as having better detail than Solido - they have tin plate tracks, although they are rather hard to find. There were six in the series but I can't find the M-60 tank - one day.

In addition I've bought several Solido and Conrad (a German model maker) Low-loader trucks to transport a few of the tanks I noticed you didn't mention Corgi, you should check out their current range of 1:50 scale tanks and truck, the detail is great, similar to Dragon, and they issued a few specials such as Wittmans Tiger I (007) and Barkhorns Panther.

But wait that's not all: I also collect 1/72 scale diecast aircraft, diecast spacecraft and various 1/43 scale rally and sports cars including my favourite: a Ferrari 250 GTO. As for non-diecast, well that's to varied to list. I guess it's no wonder my wife has given up 'complaining' - they do eventually you know

 

[ucla1967]

Hi OzDigger,

I had looked at the Corgi before, but their scale seemed to be all over the place even within the same series. I'll give them another look.

I didn't mention it before, but I also have 10 1/32 scale WW II mahagony warplanes including two K & C (i.e., the Mark I Spitfire and the Bf 109G). The others are from a company called Toys and Models Corporation. To be honest with you, they all seem to be made by the same producer in the Philippines except that they don't have their wheels down.

 

[OzDigger]

Corgi have a few different military ranges, perhaps the largest is their 1/50 tanks and trucks which is mainly WWII based and includes Tiger I, T-34, Churchill, Centaur, Comet, M4/Sherman etc plus two Dodge tank transporters and other trucks.

There are also a few 1/43 scale M113's etc in the Forgotten Heroes Range which are well detailed for those into Vietnam and Korea and a lonely 1/50 M-48 Patton which is also well detailed. They won't hold their value as well as K & C vehicles being mass produced but are well worth tracking down.

I'm not into the early wooden K & C aircraft - thankfully for my wallet. However Corgi have an excellent range of 1/32 scale diecast aircraft that you can pick up cheap on eBay at times because they are to big for most people - but remember postage costs on the big stuff.

 

[Eazy]

I know what you mean about the FOV Hanomag at Kursk, all resplendent in winter camoflage! It's still a good piece though and has four well made figures especially the one you can balance leaping out of the half track.
It doesn't HAVE to be Kursk once you take it off the display base.


The Corgi 1/50 tanks aren't bad at all and are all die cast. The one i have are the deluxe boxed D Day range. It's a nice set though never going to sky rocket in value.

 

[Louis Badolato]

I think the new Figarti tanks are very nicely done, and hope that the soon to be released Honour Bound tanks are as nice as they look in the photos. I to am a little disappointed with K&C polstone vehicles, and hope that the competition out there will encourage Andy to take a step up in quality with regard to his tracked vehicles.

 

[ucla1967]

My thanks to each of you who were kind enough to welcome me to this forum. Hey Shannon, I am a little hurt! You welcomed Susan to the forum, but not me, even though we both joined on Saturday. I am taking this not to mean that you like women better than men, but that you are a USC fan.

 

[Shannon Reuss]

And a Big Hello to Mike as well!
Actually I'm a Northwestern fan (being married to a Wildcat alum) .

 

[serenitychimes]

Hi everyone. Thought I would leave a quick post and introduction. I am a Disabled American Veteran, who by necessity works only from my home. I am a hand painter of miniatures, specializing in Civil war figures with a very strong interest in marching bands.
I have left another post elsewhere, but perhaps someone here might help me out. I am always on the lookout for 1/32 (54mm) finely cast Marching Bands, either individual pieces or a whole band. I have customers waiting and have been looking for established casters for some time. I specialize in the Papal Swiss Guards, along with Flat-cap bands, Salvation (both male and female) Army bands. If you have any thoughts or suggestions, please respond here, or at streamofserenity@aol.com.
thanks,

steve

 

[fishead19690]

Hi everyone. Thought I would leave a quick post and introduction. I am a Disabled American Veteran, who by necessity works only from my home. I am a hand painter of miniatures, specializing in Civil war figures with a very strong interest in marching bands.
I have left another post elsewhere, but perhaps someone here might help me out. I am always on the lookout for 1/32 (54mm) finely cast Marching Bands, either individual pieces or a whole band. I have customers waiting and have been looking for established casters for some time. I specialize in the Papal Swiss Guards, along with Flat-cap bands, Salvation (both male and female) Army bands. If you have any thoughts or suggestions, please respond here, or at streamofserenity@aol.com.
thanks,

steve

Welcome to the nut house steve!!!!! Try Ebay type in kits, lead, casting,ect. I,m sure you,l find something on there. Awhile back there was a guy selling figures that he casts himself and had all kinds stuff if he,s still on there you could try and hit the contact seller button and work out a deal to buy in bulk and get a bigger discount from him. If i come across him again i,ll post a link for you or you could try and make some yourself. Ebay also has moulds for sale all the time.