Mike Tarantino's Toy Soldier Collection (3 Viewers)

[ucla1967]

I started collecting toy soldiers 20 years ago. In 1992, my wife and I flew from California to San Antonio, Texas, to see our son graduate from U.S. Air Force Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base. We also visited the Alamo and the Menger Hotel next door. There, I came across King's X Toy Soldiers Shop. I promply bought four Tradition and Alymer Napoleonic and Zulu War sets. Now, more than 7,000 figures later, I am still going strong adding 300 to 400 figures a year to my collection. I almost exclusively collect traditional, 54mm glossy toy soldiers with some Frontline Figures exceptions (e.g., ACW, Napoleonic, WWI, WWII, F & I W, & SYW). I only have 3,000 plus figures on display; the remainder are still in their boxes. I have also had to rent a storage space to keep my empty boxes and other stuff. The five most prominent manufactuers in my collection are Hiriart, Trophy of Wales, Frontline Figures, Imperial Productions, and Blenheim.

Here is a general view of my toy soldier room which use to be my son's bedroom. No, I didn't talk him into joining the Air Force so I could have his room.

 

[waynepoo]

Mike, love your display mate, it is a great thing to see others passion for this hobby......{bravo}}
Wayne.

 

[ucla1967]

More general views, two table top displays of Frontline Figures ACW & Napoleonic, and Trophy of Wales Boxer Rebellion.

 

[ucla1967]

Mike, love your display mate, it is a great thing to see others passion for this hobby......{bravo}}
Wayne.

Thank you Wayne. One might argue that it is more than a passion, maybe an obsession. But who cares?

 

[ucla1967]

Trophy Boxer Rebellion and Frontline Battle of Austerlitz.

 

[ucla1967]

Frontline's Battle of Austerlitz continuing.

 

[wadepat]

Hi Mike,

I have very much enjoyed viewing your impressive collection as presented in your photographs. Your displays are nicely arranged and I love the diversity of the topics, events, and eras represented. Congratulations for having such a superb collection! And, thanks for sharing it with us!

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[ucla1967]

Frontline matte Austerlitz and glossy Charge of the Light Brigade.

 

[ucla1967]

Hi Mike,

I have very much enjoyed viewing your impressive collection as presented in your photographs. Your displays are nicely arranged and I love the diversity of the topics, events, and eras represented. Congratulations for having such a superb collection! And, thanks for sharing it with us!

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

Thank you Pat for your kind words.

 

[ucla1967]

Frontline Charge of the Light Brigade continuing and Trophy's Battle of Isandlwana.

 

[Louis Badolato]

Absolutely fantastic display, Mike!:smile2:

 

[jazzeum]

Mike,

You have one of the most amazing collections I've ever seen. How do you keep the ones not in the cases free from dust.

Brad

 

[ucla1967]

Absolutely fantastic display, Mike!:smile2:

Thank you Louis, your comments are much appreciated. However, I certainly don't have the artwork, military accrutements, and professionally made display spaces that Bob Walker, Ed Ruby, and several other collectors I know have, which really makes their collections very special. I make do with furniture curios, bookcases, and inexpensive Ikea tables.

 

[ucla1967]

Mike,

You have one of the most amazing collections I've ever seen. How do you keep the ones not in the cases free from dust.

Brad

Brad,

Thank you for the complement. The truth is that I don't/can't keep them free from dust even in the curios. I just very infrequently dust them since they get dusty again within a few weeks. However, the two recent earthquakes, whose epicenters were very close to my house, forced me to dust them, since so many figures were knocked over anyway.

 

[ucla1967]

Imperial Productions Egypt & Sudan square including Heirloom set No. 2. Trophy Egypt & Sudan Highland square.

 

[ucla1967]

Trophy Egypt & Sudan Highland square continuing. Frontline Figures Zulu War Rorke's Drift.

 

[Al Fisher]

That's quite a display you have there, Mike! Looks like you've got everything except the USC football team.

Just bought myself some Frontline 1914 Parade sets of the Highland Light Infantry. I'm really big on these figures, but like so many sets, they're no longer produced so I'm at the whims of eBay to get more. Speaking of eBay, there are some HLI and FFL for sale as we speak.

Bosun Al

 

[ucla1967]

That's quite a display you have there, Mike! Looks like you've got everything except the USC football team.

Just bought myself some Frontline 1914 Parade sets of the Highland Light Infantry. I'm really big on these figures, but like so many sets, they're no longer produced so I'm at the whims of eBay to get more. Speaking of eBay, there are some HLI and FFL for sale as we speak.

Bosun Al

Thanks Al, but I wouldn't take the USC football team even if it was for free! I have a number of Frontline's 1914 Parade sets including the HLI band, the Black Watch big box set with add-ons, and the USMC big box set with add-ons. I have the FFL colour party that is currently on eBay.

 

[aujj65]

Hi Mike, I would just like to add my Wow! to the list, a very nice collection you have there. :salute::

Jeff

 

[GICOP]

Beautiful collection Mike :salute::, I think you'll guess my favourites {bravo}}

Cheers

Martyn