London Show (March) Report & Photos (5 Viewers)

[UK_BOD]

Going through the photos now, I won't post anything Jeff has already done but I'll give my summary of the show as well. Sorry, I didn't post last night but the Missus dragged me out for dinner. I couldn't really say no could I.

Rgds

Andy

 

[aujj65]

Going through the photos now, I won't post anything Jeff has already done but I'll give my summary of the show as well. Sorry, I didn't post last night but the Missus dragged me out for dinner. I couldn't really say no could I.

Rgds

Andy

Andy, well I would like to see them! It was great to meet you and the others yesterday. You were taken out to dinner? Obviously you hadn't declared your stash I had to cook Chinese Take-a-way.

Jeff

 

[Capitolron]

OK - We all have seen the great pictures - thanks again ! Jeff - so tell us what you guys bought at the show !

What prizes went home with you ? Rob ? Jeff ?

 

[Rob]

OK - We all have seen the great pictures - thanks again ! Jeff - so tell us what you guys bought at the show !

What prizes went home with you ? Rob ? Jeff ?

Ron,apart from a few Gin and Tonics I took home nine more Arnhem figures and the FJ set 'Prisoner and Escort'.Would have liked to purchase more but am saving up some dosh for the summer,whatever it may bring.

Rob

 

[aujj65]

A couple of the Crimean War figures and a set from the SOHK.

Jeff

 

[Louis Badolato]

You would have great fun at the December show, not to say yesterday wasn't, the time just flys by when your having fun.

I didn't see any Heco, but then I don't know what they look like Sorry.

Jeff

Thanks Jeff,

I got a report from Clive that the couple that had been selling Heco Tinplate stuff at the London shows wasn't there this time, but he has a lead to locating them, so my hopes are not yet dashed.

Heco was a "mom and pop" company that made beautiful 1:32 scale (54mm) tinplate aircraft, vehicles and buildings, owned by a British couple named Tony and Adele (Tony cut and hammered the tin, Adele did the painting) back in the 1980's and 1990's. Tony had health problems, and Adele developed arthritis, so Heco went out of business in the late 1990's. In the 1990's, their products, which were sold through many of the best Toy Soldier Shops of the day, including Henleys Model Miniatures, Under Two Flags, and Classic Toys, were highly sought after, as they were very limited production, hand made works of art. Early on, they were the strongest competition for King & Country Wood, Resin and Metal vehicles and aircraft, and, like the early K&C offerings, were both beautiful and expensive.

I coveted them when they were in production, but bought the K&C vehicles and aircraft, which were marginally less expensive. About 6-7 years ago, I was able to obtain a Heco Tiger Tank on ebay for a fraction of the original cost. I bought several other Heco items from that seller, obtained a bunch of other Heco items at shows and on ebay, and recently bought a few really special Heco pieces from David Hazell, one of the former owners of Henleys Model Miniatures. Within a few days I will be receiving a copy of an old Heco Catalogue from David, and will try to get it scanned so it can be posted on the forum.

To give you an idea of what they made, in my collection I have been able to obtain the following:

German WWII Tiger Tank
British WWII AEC Matador Lorry
German WWII V1 Buzz Bomb & Crew
British WWI Mark IV Tank
Rolls Royce WWI Armored Car
Rolls Royce WWI Half Track Command Vehicle
15 WWI Aircraft, including: a Fokker Eindecker, 2 Fokker DR1 Triplanes, Vickers Pusher Plane, 4 Sopwith Camels (including one in 1:64 scale), SE5a, Spad, and a Curtis Jenny
A Royal Flying Corps Tower with a Wind Sock
A Zulu War Heliograph Team

 

[craig1985taylor]

Thanks for posting all the pics Jeff, you have done a great job loved flicking through them!!! the show looked fantastic as usual hope you managed to buy a few goodies yourself

 

[UKReb]

Thanks for posting these pics Jeff,you've done a fantastic job in covering the show.It was typical,i just learnt how to post pics and i forgot to take the b***** camera with me! .


Rob

Rob

Now come clean old mate-you know; I know and the rest of the Dirty Dozen Brit Brigade know that you were in no fit state to hold a camera let alone use one. When I left you there were still at least four G&T's lined up in front of you. How did you find the tube station to get home??

Thanks for the pics Jeff and your company and all the other guys who were there-it was great meeting up with you all in the bar and that really was a darn good laugh -hopefully Bob's film will never see the light of day Toy Soldiers Collectors Meet?????-more like like Chelsea or West Ham supporters on their way to a match

Catch you all again in June and Rob I owe you a pint of gin and tonic and don't bring your camera.

Reb

 

[Capitolron]

Ron,apart from a few Gin and Tonics I took home nine more Arnhem figures and the FJ set 'Prisoner and Escort'.Would have liked to purchase more but am saving up some dosh for the summer,whatever it may bring.

Rob

I might try for the JUNE Show - maybe do a lay-over from Germany or something - it would be very cool to see LONDON - I have never been there !

Anyone else go to the London Show ? - tell all about the goodies you got ??

 

[Rob]

Rob

Now come clean old mate-you know; I know and the rest of the Dirty Dozen Brit Brigade know that you were in no fit state to hold a camera let alone use one. When I left you there were still at least four G&T's lined up in front of you. How did you find the tube station to get home??

Thanks for the pics Jeff and your company and all the other guys who were there-it was great meeting up with you all in the bar and that really was a darn good laugh -hopefully Bob's film will never see the light of day Toy Soldiers Collectors Meet?????-more like like Chelsea or West Ham supporters on their way to a match

Catch you all again in June and Rob I owe you a pint of gin and tonic and don't bring your camera.

Reb

Hey Reb,

I must confess it was a shaky old journey home!.Was a real laugh wasn't it and as always was good to see you and your good lady.I think you may have just named our little group 'Dirty dozen Brit brigade'.I like it!.It was very nice to have quite a few of us all together at last,as you said until yesterday we were all always missing each other.I really hope that this will now be a regular get together.Only twelve weeks to the next one mate!

All the best

Rob

 

[UK_BOD]

Back home, dinner with the missus, sleep and now fully rested. I will try not to post the same images as Jeff, but apologies before hand if I do.

On a wet March day in London attendence was low, in fact it was very easy to snap away with the camera all day which is probably a good reflection on how low attendence was. The Christmas show was a complete contrast to yesterday. The recession (slump or worse) finally being reflected in the TS hobby, take a guess.

I cheated this time as I had already received my K&C UK order a few days before hand as I had to go into the City centre after the show for a few craft items. So armed with a somewhat diminished wallet and a camera I entered the show.

The first stop as usual was to see Clive at the Grey Goose/Figarti stand who showed me their latest wares. One of the items I did have an interest in was the new bridge but on first inspection, the thing that sticks out is the base, it is huge and to try and integrate that into a diorame would be some job. So passing on that I was drawn to the Desert Fox figure, which I immediately liked (and bought). Figarti figures on this forum are either liked or not, depending on your affilliations to other companies, but Figarti have made great strides in the last 12 - 18 months and if you haven't seen them in the flesh then don't knock them. Some of the new desert series figures are very good, particularly the 4 man holding the perimeter set and their V-2 series where I saw their tanker for the first time. Their new Wake Island sets were also on show.

 

[UK_BOD]

Figarti cont...

 

[UK_BOD]

Next stop was Mark and co at the TM Terrain stand. The star again at the show for me was their terrain, the new buildings they has created for the show were very impressive. I only wish I was as gifted as them when it comes to building creation. Jeff has already posted a couple of images so far but I think these were so good you can have another.....

I am now at a quandry as previously I had collected JJDs BOS but now my diorama is complete so even though I was pushed (and prodded) and bullied into starting the Jacobite series but I didn't break (Wifey would be impressed........as always ) Something I must get from these guys are some bases so i'll have to speak to them before the nest show so I can pick up 2 or 3 (snow, African grassland and meadow/woodland).

The new(ish) British Guards and artillery were available and they do look good, and I had previously decided that I might get a few but I decided to do K&C Naps in a small Nap Dio previous to the show and so decided no. Great figures but not for me......

 

[UK_BOD]

Now a couple of glossy manufactuers, firstly ATS...

 

[UK_BOD]

One more ATA and Dorset

 

[UK_BOD]

More Dorser and ErrolJohn

 

[UK_BOD]

More Errol John, Irregular and White Tower

 

[UK_BOD]

GNM, very nice figures

 

[UK_BOD]

Trophu and Little Legion- most of the images are the same as Jeff, here are some different ones

 

[UK_BOD]

The British Toy soldier Company