JJDUK at the London Toy Soldier show 30th June 2012 (1 Viewer)

[Maj. Duncan Heyward]

JJDUK will be attending the London Toy Soldier Show in June; for show details please see here;
We are also lucky enough to have a few more pictures from our visit to see John in Hong Kong which we will be sharing in this thread, as well as a preview of our June show Exclusive figure.
We hope to keep adding updates between now and the show, and then post images from the event afterwards all in this same place.
(Please feel free to join in with this last part if you attend!)
We hope to add lots of content, so please be sure to check back once a week or so.

To get us going, our Burnaby's arrived a few days ago, and first ones should be with our customers tomorrow, as anyone who has been following my posts on here will know, I have become a little attached to the romance and death of Burnaby, immersing myself in his books, and studying the heres and whys, and feeling both a sense of sadness and admiration for the man who seemed to live life at full throttle, only to throw it all away. I certainly do not disagree with the view that he was irresponsible, a hothead and possibly worse, however I also view him with rose tinted spectacles, and am amazed at the man. On news of his death, Queen Victoria is said to have fainted.







and two more different images in our Gallery, HERE.

 

[villagehorse]

A must have figure, looking forward to getting one, thank you for showing, Cheers, Robin.

 

[mikemiller1955]

great photos of Burnaby James...

I just left your website and love all the pictures you have posted...

we have some really nice Bejas coming in the near future...

I especially like these two sets...

 

[Maj. Duncan Heyward]

This and other images were posted in our Intel and reconnaissance section some time ago, but we did eventually find the chocks that will come with the British ground crew and some other related bits as well! (picture to follow in next post)
We were really excited to see that John has created lots of accessories to go with the WW1 planes, not just ground crew, but oil cans, tool boxes, ladders and more! (Release date unknown, but I'd guess this year...along with the Hanger)



the lost chocks!

 

[Fraxinus]

WOW!!! Wonderful New Wagon shown in the Major's link below and take notice of the elephant!!!! or is it a mammoth?

 

[45thdiv]

WOW!!! Wonderful New Wagon shown in the Major's link below and take notice of the elephant!!!! or is it a mammoth?

Yes, I like that elephant. It is an Asian one. The Mammoth would have longer tusks, more hair and head even higher than the back of it's hind legs. Was looking at one in the Natural History Museum in Washington DC.

Matthew

 

[Larry Allen]

Wonderful figure as well as his story. I didn't know that much about Burnaby James until I saw this thread and did a bit-o-research.
Thanks for the information as pics!
Larry

 

[Maj. Duncan Heyward]

JJDUK are pleased to confirm that we will be previewing both the British and German hangers at the June show, (prepaint versions)

As promised a few images of the new WW1 Knights of the skies accessories set/s due later this year;



Each British hanger will come with numbers 1,2 and 3, so that they can be labelled, and multiples placed in a row!
We can't think of a better backdrop for the planes, whilst we haven't seen the German Hanger, we believe the difference is the way the doors fold.

 

[45thdiv]

These last photos are really nice. The number idea for the hangers is great. Do you know (an this is from my own lack of knowledge) do the chocks not have rope handles so they can be pulled away quickly? Again, maybe they are correct and in WW1 chocks did not have rope handles. I was just wondering.

Matthew

 

[Maj. Duncan Heyward]

Hi Matthew, re chocks not sure, we need an expert, would assume John has modelled them from some real reference...

 

[Maj. Duncan Heyward]

ACE-06 Nieuport 17, A213 Albert Ball

Sun finally shining here after lots of rain, and time to take a few pics! Enjoy!

 

[Maj. Duncan Heyward]

This plane does have the flight stand mount underneath.
I believe the stands will be available this year, sold in pairs (to help packaging)
They will all be hand made, and John was telling me about the quality control and packaging issues he has been working on, am sure he will do a great job and these will add a new dynamic way to display the planes!

 

[lancer]

Thanks for posting all these great pictures. The Ball Nieuport is really well done with a very attractive paint scheme. I look forward to the flight stands. They will open up display options in a big way. As to the wheel chock question, it is a matter of some did and some didn't have ropes. The vast majority of WW1 plane photos show NO chocks in evidence. Many of the photos that do show chocks are not focused on the chocks and it is impossible to tell if pull ropes exist or not. There are many different chock styles in evidence, from plain old squares of wood, to more elaborate skeleton triangles, and the more common solid triangles, and it seems likely many had no ropes but there are pictures with the ropes showing. Sorry for the vague answer but it is not a yes-no thing. -- Al

 

[45thdiv]

Thanks Al,

For me that answer is excellent. I am sure John did his research, I just thought it odd. Your reply helped to clear things up. I'm too use to WW2 and later photos.

Matthew

 

[Maj. Duncan Heyward]

As promised we have a few more images from my visit to John's workshop, offices and warehouse.

John is careful to choose only the most amazingly efficient staff, and I am pleased to learn that working at John's if often a dream job for those lucky enough to be picked, due to the hours and pay being far superior to alternative local employment.

I was surprised to learn that each figure turns up from the factory in a temporary box. John creates a card template for each new figure and then cuts the master foam, which is then cut by hand for every figure produced! Pictured below are the girls at work.
They are dynamo's of foam cutting and packing, in fact John regaled me with a funny story, he went out to rest his eyes and grab a coffee, and on his return found the girls with nothing to do. Much to his horror, they had been so fast, that they had cut and labelled every box in his warehouse for the same item!





In the picture below, behind the girls on the other side of the shelving is John's scultping desk.

 

[mikemiller1955]

James...thanks for those pictures and the insight into the factory and office...I really enjoyed learning some of the intricaies that are involved in the assembly line and the procedures of packing...I find this fascinating to get a first hand look into how the figures are boxed...this was a very informative group of pictures...

 

[kogu]

Thanks for these pictures, Major Heyward.
Very interesting to get a look at how it's done.
Cheers.
Konrad

 

[lancer]

I see that elephant, again.:wink2: -- Al

 

[45thdiv]

I see the elephant has lost his tail though. Now all the other elephants will make fun of him. :-(

It is really interesting to see how things are set up and work.

Matthew

 

[villagehorse]

Not often you get to see behind the scenes, really interesting, thanks, put the tail on and release that elephant please John, cheers, Robin.