The Military Workshop
1st Lieutenant
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2005
- Messages
- 4,778
I was at same show as Simpson (without his Donkey). That show was mainly a plastic model show so quite different to many of the US/UK Toy Soldier shows. Certainly there are fewer young people coming into model making due to all the other distractions available (TV, computer games, internet etc).
We did have a couple of specific Toy Soldier figure shows here in Brisbane about 6 years ago but did not go well as not enough support/interest and interstate traders did not do well.
I do have some parents who buy figures for their boys, even as young as 9. Some kids come in with their own money to buy them. Some may not know much of the historical background so I will try to explain it and point out they can easily research the items on the internet.
I still have most of my plastic Airfix figures and Timpo's from when I was a kid. I bought my first toy soldier when I was 12 on a overseas trip to Europe. Since my Dad saw I bought one myself he started buying some for me. I noted Tony's clever but evil ploy to give the K&C figure to the kid. Like giving out free drugs to kids to get them hooked. I might have to try it myself !!
My 14 year old son quite happy to play the WWII computer games but unfortunately not so interested to find out more about the actual history. Finally got him to read something "historical" which was the first Flashman book and he is looking forward to the next one (I wonder why !).
The figures (and tanks, planes etc) are a good starting point to get kids interested in history. Unfortunately history is much overlooked in Australian schools. My daughter is 16 and still has very little knowledge of history from school. Napoleon does not get a mention but the Aztecs and Incas do. Even fairly significant Australian military acheivments don't rate a mention in school. Possibly don't want to offend any kids/parents whose family may have been on the opposing side. Hence teach about Incas who had no impact on our history compared to Napoleon, Hitler, etc.
I love history and the figures conjure up battles and brave deeds.
Regards Brett from Brisbane Australia.
We did have a couple of specific Toy Soldier figure shows here in Brisbane about 6 years ago but did not go well as not enough support/interest and interstate traders did not do well.
I do have some parents who buy figures for their boys, even as young as 9. Some kids come in with their own money to buy them. Some may not know much of the historical background so I will try to explain it and point out they can easily research the items on the internet.
I still have most of my plastic Airfix figures and Timpo's from when I was a kid. I bought my first toy soldier when I was 12 on a overseas trip to Europe. Since my Dad saw I bought one myself he started buying some for me. I noted Tony's clever but evil ploy to give the K&C figure to the kid. Like giving out free drugs to kids to get them hooked. I might have to try it myself !!
My 14 year old son quite happy to play the WWII computer games but unfortunately not so interested to find out more about the actual history. Finally got him to read something "historical" which was the first Flashman book and he is looking forward to the next one (I wonder why !).
The figures (and tanks, planes etc) are a good starting point to get kids interested in history. Unfortunately history is much overlooked in Australian schools. My daughter is 16 and still has very little knowledge of history from school. Napoleon does not get a mention but the Aztecs and Incas do. Even fairly significant Australian military acheivments don't rate a mention in school. Possibly don't want to offend any kids/parents whose family may have been on the opposing side. Hence teach about Incas who had no impact on our history compared to Napoleon, Hitler, etc.
I love history and the figures conjure up battles and brave deeds.
Regards Brett from Brisbane Australia.
