Is toy soldier collecting dying. (1 Viewer)

Heck, I may have met some of you already, but wouldn't recognize nicknames versus real names. Anyway, shows are much more fun then shopping on the internet, sort of boggles ones mind when going from room to room seeing what people are selling.
 
The local newspaper was complaining about the new generation of youngsters who hang out at our Malls and take drugs and have sex with their boyfriends. I thought to myslef damit where were girls like that when I was 15Sounds like they are having fun;).

Regards
Damian Clarke
 
No way is it dying; not only are there kids collecting but there are many adults getting into or back into toy soldiers!
With regards to Internet it has a place and a strong future but people like to speak and meet other people which is why the London Show is so important to us......human contact!
What we have to do is go that extra mile, try things out, offer more, not be afraid of change and remember above all else to have FUN!:D
 
Hey Bob,well that if i may say is one of the great things about K&C UK.You do go the extra mile and you do make collecting fun....er thats two things...the two great things about K&C UK.:D

Rob
 
chalklands said:
Harry,
They're still being published today seemingly by DC Thomson (Well Commando is anyway, 8 issues per month):

http://www.dcthomson.co.uk/subscriptions/default.asp?pageName=productDetails&productID=45

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/6599139.stm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commando_comic


Even in our politically correct society!

I always remember reading loads in the summer holidays in the 70s as well as looking forward to Saturday mornings and arguing with my brother over who got to read 'Victor' or 'Warlord' first!

Achtung Minen!
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Rob,
I must admit that I didn't know Commando comics were still being published. I kind of went off them when they started featuring Space, Cowboy, etc. adventures. WW2 was where it was at.

For me, the Victor always came first - then I got the Hornet after my Dad was finished with it. In fact, it was the Hornet that first sparked off my interest in the Sepoy Mutiny when I read a cover story set in Meerut. I was all of six years of age...!!!

I found the Amazon site with both the "Battle" and the "War" titles. Think I'll also order up the "Achtung Schwinehund" title as well cos it looks like it'll be a hoot. :D:D I noticed some "Charley's War" compendiums in there too.
Och, nostalgia, where would we be without it. :)
 
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damian said:
The local newspaper was complaining about the new generation of youngsters who hang out at our Malls and take drugs and have sex with their boyfriends. I thought to myslef damit where were girls like that when I was 15Sounds like they are having fun;).

Regards
Damian Clarke
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Well, actually Damian - they were with me....:eek::D:eek:
 
I love all the makes of War comics,as you say pure nostalgia.Memories of a more simple time (sound of violins in background:D).I just recently got the first Charleys War compendium and its very good.

Rob
 
Rob said:
I love all the makes of War comics,as you say pure nostalgia.Memories of a more simple time (sound of violins in background:D).I just recently got the first Charleys War compendium and its very good.

Rob
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Collecting takes a special kid these days. Most of them need the constant action and input of the video game. Imagination is what is dying.
 
Cheers Forum Squadron members:

I have made a point to teach both of my nephews aged nine and ten respectively about WW II in particular via books, movies, memorabilia, etc. I have also given them some 21st Century & FOV items to play with to see if this would further prompt their interest. "Operation Future Toy Soldier Collector" is going well as they are fascinated by the history especially when they can read about it, see it & finally touch it via a scale reproduction. I feel that in time they may graduate to the "Big League" of K&C, HB, NMA, etc. and I will be there to help them along.

Hang Tough,
Beaufighter
 
Every single kid who comes to my house and gets a look at the museum is immediately hooked. My wife's counsin Benjamin (11) has about 35 sets of Frontline Civil War, and got a K&C Summer Panther for his birthday. My cousin Michael (also 11) can't wait to come visit my soldiers. Guess what he's getting for Christmas? I think getting kids to actually see toy soldiers in person, along with access to the history channel and the military video games will hook an entire new generation, as long as they see the product and know its out there. Sadly, there are not a lot of brick and mortar shops around anymore. Lets hope kids find them and learn to love toy soldiers as much as we do.
 
I thought the young people were not interested in toy soldiers but now I am seeing slight changes in some of them. I think the history channel and video games stir up an interest. While the lack of shops where they can actually see the figures cuts down on access unless they know of a shop in their area.
The signs I noticed is my grandson for instance who is nine years old is more interested now. I was surprised when he was here last month that he actually ask to paint some figures. He had a good time and took his figures home. Something he never done before and I did not coax him. This was his idea and he wanted to do it.
On Tuesdays, I meet with retired guys from work for morning coffee and some of their grandsons were there. I showed them my collection before and they did not forget. They like the history channel and know about wwll. I did not go last week to coffee and they asked where I was. They like to talk to me about it and one said to my wife who went, that all the guys just talked about when they worked and he wished I was there to talk with him. I also had people call me to see the figures and had no idea that they made such interesting stuff. Leadmen
 
Well I'm 25 years old so I'm from a younger generation, though I'm hardly representative of young people today.

I do agree that generally hobbies and physical toys are on the decline among children and youth in favour of electronic entertainment and some questionable social activities. I think parents are to blame for a lot of this - babies are now raised in front of the television and then kids are introduced to computers at an early age. I think electronic games are wonderful but there is generally less emphasis in them on the kind of creative play that comes from tactile toys. As soon as a kid turns 13 most parents and peers shame them into giving up their toys as part of the "growing up phase", and this seems to be happening younger and younger. Some people then only return to toys in their thirties initially out of nostalgia. The whole rise of the "geek" subculture sees toys being placed around office spaces etc.

However, I think we're too narrow here in our definition of "toy soldiers". Does it have to be metal to be a toy soldier? Plastic is the new medium of choice because it is more durable. Also, very few kids or parents could ever fathom spending $25 on a single toy soldier that is going to get broken within 10 minutes - K&C figures are simply not aimed at that market. The price is absolutely out of the range of kids and some adults too.

When I was growing up finding toy soldiers was tough because of the anti-Vietnam backlash. So I had to actively seek them out and so I still have my finger on the pulse of the industry. The latest Sears Wishbook is full of cheap generic military toys. There are many companies making plastic knights like Papo and Schleich (granted these are more popular in Europe). Stikfas makes various toy soldier kits. Also don't forget the 1/6th action figure hobby.

Then there are the old stalwarts Lego and Playmobil which are still very popular (the latter more in Europe). After several years in the red Lego is now having trouble making enough sets to meet demand. Check out these fun links:

http://store.playmobilusa.com/on/de...nk-Category?catalog=STOREFRONT_US&name=Roemer (playmobil's awesome new Roman theme)
www.brickarms.com (you can buy custom Lego WW2 guns and figs - next year Lego is making official Indiana Jones sets but the Nazis will be generic goons)
www.brickshelf.com or www.mocpages.com (you can search for kids and adult's lego creations, including many military ones)
 
chalklands said:
I always remember reading loads in the summer holidays in the 70s as well as looking forward to Saturday mornings and arguing with my brother over who got to read 'Victor' or 'Warlord' first!
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Memories :) Yes, the Victor every Saturday morning delivered by the paperboy and only 6d (2.5p). I had hundreds stored away in the bottom of my wardrobe when I was a kid.

Jeff
 
I think not as I see a lot of new younger people being encouraged in the right way...

Some of the other comments made me look back a few years when I started going out with my girlfriend, her little boy(10), was into Farm tractors which he had a good collection and knew his combine harveresters also into Buses again what he did not know about buses put me to shame!!

In time he came over to my house (as an ex army man) had a few military things about, including my King and Country collection which was in it early days. Over the next few months I got him the odd Toy soldier magazine he slowly took an interest in King and Country, so at the first show I took him to Birmingham we went to the impressive as always display at that time run by Mike and Sue Neville( I blame Mike for this next part!!!)

He chated to Joshua and explained about the different sets and the collecters club well the next bit is History, he now collects American DD Sets and has also started to collect Germans.

At Last Years Toy Soldier show in London he was lucky enougth to win a prize at the evening show got his picture taken and was in the Toy Soldier collector Magazine, that night will stay with him for along time and imagine the smile it brings to him, again Toy Soldier collecting is in his blood so lets all encorage just one young person along and well as the say the rest will just be History .....

He appreciates his sets and will I am sure collect a a slower rate than I do the expense lol......

As many people have commented on we the collecters of today can keep it going by showing off our collections that are our pride and joy long Live Toy soldiers in particular the King and country sets
 
The WestCoaster last March had quite a few kids about a hundred and fifty or so through the gates. Most were collectors or joint collector with a parent or sibling.
I live with my GF's daughter and she has grown up around my collection. She loves toy soldiers and has a small collection of her own. The key factor in this has been getting down on the rug with her and playing together.
Toy soldier have to be Toys, albeit respected toys. With in my displays are "salted"in repaired and reclaimed figures that she can handle under direct supervision.
The same type of play was encourged with my nephews and the're big fans also.
We the collector of today have to encourage support, and share with the collector of the future.
O.C.
 
It may be dying somewhat but not dead by a long ways. Any boy and most any girl that looks at my toy soldier collection appreciates them by saying wow how cool. Most probably wont become collectors but I am sure I have persuaded a couple into the hobby. My Grandsons all got a starter set from my lesser items. I give bags of clones away at halloween most kids love them. I have a toy soldier yard sale twice a year and sell quite a few bags of soldiers and vehicles each time. I also take bags of toy soldiers to my family reinuion each year and the younger boys spend most of there time out side in the dirt. There is still a interest out there and it is up to us to help keep it there.
Get them in the dirt.
Charlie:p
 
Part of the synopsis on Amazon for "Commando": The Dirty Dozen: The Best 12 "Commando" Books of All Time:

''Achtung!', 'Gott in Himmel!', 'Donner und Blitzen!' For the generations of men whose obsession with military history was triggered by reading war comics in their youth, here at last, is Commando's ultimate collection of Second World War stories. The Dirty Dozen showcases the best of the best - and 25 per cent bigger than the originals, so old guys can read the strips without their glasses!..........Aaarrghh!'

Says it all methinks.

Pete:D
 
chalklands said:
Part of the synopsis on Amazon for "Commando": The Dirty Dozen: The Best 12 "Commando" Books of All Time:

''Achtung!', 'Gott in Himmel!', 'Donner und Blitzen!' For the generations of men whose obsession with military history was triggered by reading war comics in their youth, here at last, is Commando's ultimate collection of Second World War stories. The Dirty Dozen showcases the best of the best - and 25 per cent bigger than the originals, so old guys can read the strips without their glasses!..........Aaarrghh!'

Says it all methinks.

Pete:D
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Its brilliant isn't it Pete? I copied the covers and synopsis for Battler Britton, All Guns Blazing, True Brit, Unleash Hell, The Dirty Dozen, Death Or Glory and Achtung Schwinehund into a WORD document and put it on my desktop as a reminder to get these ordered up. I'm going to send them to my Dad, who can enjoy them while I try and fast-talk my company into sending me to the UK for a few days in January. Might be able to pick up The Crimea War Set 2 while I'm at it. :)
 
If most of the youngsters are hanging around malls taking drugs and makin whoopee then I am afraid a whole lot of grumpies arguingabout Paton vs Monty probably cannot compete with that:)
 
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