HIRIART Order Arrives! (2 Viewers)

[ucla1967]

I suspect that like many of you, I almost revert to being a little boy when I receive a shipment of toy soldiers. It's like Christmas in March. I placed my 2011 annual order with Hiriart last March. It was for 161 sets of toy soldiers. I received two shipments last summer and have just received the third and final shipment today. This shipment has 87 pounds of toy soldiers in 50 blue boxes to include 40 single sets, nine double sets, and one box of mixed extra figures. This order includes 28 sets for 12 other collectors, including several on the Forum. There are ten sets for me and 11 for re-sale.

The order left Montevideo, Uruguay at 1830 Hrs Pacific Standard Time on February 29th. It followed a tortuous route to Bueno Aires, Argentina; Santiago, Chile; Campainas, Brazil; Memphis, TN; Los Angeles, CA, and City of Industry before arriving a my house at 1330 Hrs PST today, March 2nd. Boy, FedEx Air is effecient and fast. However, they are not cheap. It cost me $466 plus $50 that I paid Hiriart for the two special shipping boxes.

 

[ucla1967]

Oh, no. The shipment was scheduled for delivery at 1030 hrs, but the delivery truck left before the shipment arrived at the City of Industry and it is now going to be delayed. Three hours later, I hear the FedEx truck pull up in front of my house. My wife says: "Oh no, not more toy soldiers." I ignore this minor complaint---we all have our faults, after all, she doesn't put the cap back on the toothpaste. Here comes the Turkish driver with my stuff.

 

[ucla1967]

Here he comes and now it is safely in my house. My dog, Kassie, looks at me like I am crazy.

 

[ucla1967]

Let's see whats inside. Messy, but worth it.

 

[ucla1967]

I've got to go through each set to make sure that nothing is damaged. No damage found. I also have to organize the sets before tomorrow morning before I take them to Bob Walker's house to be distributed. I am expecting about half a dozen other collectors to be there. These sets are for Fred.

 

[ucla1967]

These sets are for Gus.

 

[glossman]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for a great set of pictures to share your excitement.

I know the feeling of anticipation and joy. It sure brings the little kid out of me.

Now you know what I mean when I say I enjoy your posts.:wink2:

This hobby sure has its moments.....

Cheers, Raymond.

 

[ucla1967]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for a great set of pictures to share your excitement.

I know the feeling of anticipation and joy. It sure brings the little kid out of me.

Now you know what I mean when I say I enjoy your posts.:wink2:

This hobby sure has its moments.....

Cheers, Raymond.

Raymond,

I am glad that you can enjoy this even if it is vicariously. I intended to take some more photos of the sets I will be distributing tomorrow, but it got too dark and every photo I took was out of focus. I'll try again when there is some daylight. I also will take photos tomorrow at Bob's house. Yes, this hobby sure does have its moments.

 

[ucla1967]

Here is a photo of the box with the extra mixed figues. From left to right, the five Germans are for Bob, the two French Foreign Legionnares are for Niels, the Ecuadorian cadet is for me, the Arab is for Per, and the modern FFL figure is for me. Fred is going to want the empty box.

 

[ucla1967]

Here is a special add-on set of 1042 TUAREGS ordered by Brian.

 

[GICOP]

Great pictures Mike.

I agree with Raymond, it brings out the big and little kid in me when I get a delivery

Cheers

Martyn

 

[johnnybach]

Hey Mike - look at the size of those parcels! Now I know you will be distributing them around - but just for those few hours after they have arrived - and when you are opening the boxes "To check everything is okay" (Oh! yeah!) - they are YOURS. Isn't that THE BEST feeling in the World. There they are - quietly shining up at you. Lovely.

I get smaller parcels - but I think the feeling is EXACTLY the same. Enjoy - johnnybach

P.S. It's only toothpaste!

 

[ucla1967]

Great pictures Mike.

I agree with Raymond, it brings out the big and little kid in me when I get a delivery

Cheers

Martyn

Thanks Martyn. Toy soldiers and my four-year- old granddaughter, Chloe, are keeping me young. The anticipation kills me though. I was expecting the order in December, then January, then early February, but did not receive it until March! But to receive 87 pounds of toy soldiers, is like being a little kid let loose in a toy soldier shop.

 

[ucla1967]

Hey Mike - look at the size of those parcels! Now I know you will be distributing them around - but just for those few hours after they have arrived - and when you are opening the boxes "To check everything is okay" (Oh! yeah!) - they are YOURS. Isn't that THE BEST feeling in the World. There they are - quietly shining up at you. Lovely.

I get smaller parcels - but I think the feeling is EXACTLY the same. Enjoy - johnnybach

P.S. It's only toothpaste!

Yes, I love to look at each and every set in the order even though the majority of them are not for me. But for the moment, they are all mine. That feeling is hard to explain. Okay, JB, you are too smart for me. They never arrive damaged. It is just an excuse. I love to look at them---you caught me. Later this morning at Bob's, we will all be sitting around his kitchen table passing the sets from collector to collector. I also very much look forward to our little get together to share the excitment of the arrival of the new toy soldiers. As a bonus, afterwards, we get to look at his collecion again. I will enjoy---thanks.

Yes, it is only toothpaste, but I didn't mention the worst---she also removes the spring loaded toliet paper holder when we run out of toliet paper and carries it off some where. It seems much more logical to bring the new roll of TP to the holder rather the other way around. This is not trainable---I have been trying for 45 years. But I have decided to keep her anyway.

 

[Dragoon]

Great thread. Very fun to read. And those shiny Hiriart figures are quite eye-catching. Just what a good glossy toy soldier should be. - Ken

 

[Buster]

Mike, thanks for letting us share in all the excitement, it's like being a little kid on Christmas morning ..... are we going to get see all 161 sets? Please!:tongue:

I could overlook (maybe) the not putting the cap on toothpaste deal, but the missing TP holder ..... {eek3}

B.

 

[ucla1967]

Great thread. Very fun to read. And those shiny Hiriart figures are quite eye-catching. Just what a good glossy toy soldier should be. - Ken

Thank you Ken, I am glad you are enjoying it. I agree---they are just what a traditional glossy should be. Some other matte manufacturers bury their figures deeply in foam cut-outs and then tissue wrap each figure to boot . That does take away some of the shock and awe compared to opening the box and seeing all the glossy figures at once, in all their glory, tied into their box.

 

[ucla1967]

Mike, thanks for letting us share in all the excitement, it's like being a little kid on Christmas morning ..... are we going to get see all 161 sets? Please!:tongue:

I could overlook (maybe) the not putting the cap on toothpaste deal, but the missing TP holder ..... {eek3}

B.

Hi Buster,

I am glad to share the excitment---it is like Christmas only better since I didn't receive a necktie that I will ever wear. Unfortunately, I don't have enough time to photograph all the sets I received since I am taking them over to Bob's house this morning. I still have to put post-it-notes on each set to identify who it belongs to, otherwise I might make a mistake or get confused as to who gets what. Once, before I started using post-it-notes, I mistakenly sold, what I though were some re-sale sets to other collectors which were really my own sets. It took me a year to get their replacements.

I don't even mention the missing TP holder, if I did, she would only bring up my faults which are much worse. It is just not the toothpaste, we have drawers full of various asundry tubes with no caps.

 

[ucla1967]

On post #10, I forgot to include Brian's other regular catalog set of Turaregs.

 

[thebritfarmer]

I think we all feel that way Mike when toy soldiers arrive


Some lucky collectors will also be getting the same feeling I see. Thanks for showing us the photos of your latest shipment. Beautiful !! and you also have a cute dog.