Minutemen Toy Soldiers Chicago Show pictures.......................... (1 Viewer)

[Warrior]

Settling back in today after getting home from the big Chicago Toy Soldier Show yesterday, all caught up on emails, now have to get caught up tomorrow on all pending orders.

So here we go, my show pictures; first up, my rooms. The Spanish church is a scratch built model from David at TM Terrain, the D-Day bunker was painted by yours truly and is a Classic Toy Soldiers model, the trees were one of the hits of the show, I built them onto small stands. Trees are so essential, so I decided to offer an affordable solution, 25.00 for the small ones, 30.00 for the larger ones, I almost sold out.

 

[Warrior]

More room trading pictures................

 

[Warrior]

Now the show tables; as much as I enjoy the room trading, setting all my inventory up the way I want it is always a challenge, it is much easier and it flows a lot better on the tables for the Sunday event.........

 

[Warrior]

Last of the table shots...........the Alamo chapel is a scratch built model, the winter terrain boards are from Jim Clouse at Battleboards.

 

[mikemiller1955]

George...

your tables looked good...

lots of color...lots of variety...very nice...

that's Larry's artistic touch I'm sure...

didn't you sell your Alamo diorama?

it was gone when I went to take pics of it...

 

[Warrior]

Last picture and it's my favorite; yours truly, Matt Pavone from First Legion and Mike Miller.............





Overall, this was a very good show for me. The room trading traffic was lighter than last year, but sales were still strong; it's not always quantity, but quality. The day of the show for a time was a true back to the future moment; it was crazy and I mean CRAZY busy for a good hour and a half.

Thanks to everyone who came by my rooms and tables and supported me, so many forum members; WadePat, Leadmen, Zach, Mike Miller, Jazzeum, Raider (Raider is the most consistent customer for me at OTSN; he shows up every Saturday with a big smile on his face, he loves his K & C WWII Americans, that is for sure), Andreas, Steven Chong (who once again got me off to a roaring start on Wednesday, thanks as always Steve, also had the chance to meet his wife, a wonderful woman, she looked like she was enjoying herself), Hans Hedrich (thanks for the food), TDubel, Gary Kuepfert, Konrad (I wore the German soccer jersey just for you), Brian Dietz, Greg Guy (you know I was just busting your snappers all week long ya big lug ya) on and on it goes, my apologies if I missed anyone.

I attended this show with a heavy heart for obvious reasons, but made the best of it under the circumstances, it was not easy. Not to mention I got sick, some sort of Mongolian flu I came down with Saturday as I packed, was all banged up on Sunday, but I fought my way through it.

I've come full circle on this show; in days gone by, it was all work, work, work, open from 9:00am till 11:00pm, room service for dinner as I did not want to close the room, no socializing after I shut the rooms down, I kept my nose to the grindstone.

Shannon taught me to enjoy the show more, get out to dinner, go socialize at night, don't be so concerned with sales and just let it happen; one of the many life lessons she taught me.

I got out to the bar three nights as the above picture shows, had a ball, especially Friday night (and don't forget Julie; "I WANT TO TALK TO MATT!!!".................:wink2:...............one of the other nice side benefits of the show is getting to see all the dealers and Manufacturers that I only get to see once a year; Julie from Treefrog, Mike from Sierra, Paul from The Toy Soldier Shoppe, Tim Tyler, Boyd Moore, Rick Berry, Nick from TSSD, Steve from the UK (the three of us in the corner on Sunday keep the comedy going) Andy from K & C, Gerard from Frontline, Ken from Britains, plus the other east coast guys I see all the time, Matt, Nick, Ted, John from the Marxman, Gary Green and the Jones Brothers just to name a few.

Thanks to everyone who made this such an enjoyable show. For those of you who came this year for the first time, I hope you enjoyed it; for those of you who've never gone, what are you waiting for, get off your backsides and come next year, you won't regret it and you'll be sorry you waited so long (and YES, I'm talking to you Sammy and Jason).

And last but certainly not least; I cannot begin to thank my sidekick Larry Allen, who was a great, great help to me all week long, he kept me going Saturday and Sunday when I was all banged up, is a HUGE asset for me and frankly, I could not have done this show without him..............love ya Larry, you second Dad to me you..................^&grin

 

[mikemiller1955]

good pic...

I remember that night...
I was buzzing pretty good...
we closed down the bar...
when you couldn't get another drink...
you actually smoked a cigarette to get a head buzz...

hahaha...

good times...

thanks for the dinner time and socializing...

I'm gonna steal that pic for my "Celebrity thread"...

 

[Warrior]

good pic...

I remember that night...
I was buzzing pretty good...
we closed down the bar...
when you couldn't get another drink...
you actually smoked a cigarette to get a head buzz...

hahaha...

good times...

thanks for the dinner time and socializing...

I'm gonna steal that pic for my "Celebrity thread"...

This picture was taken right in the middle of our in depth discussion about the recent improvements to the First Legion WWII German helmets.............:rolleyes2:...............good thing the adult beverages were flowing at that point and speaking of flowing, that's what Matt's beer is doing, flowing all over his shirt thanks to me and the helmet crack I made right before the picture was taken................^&grin............like I said Mike, I gotta be me, some may not like it, whatever, it is what it is..............

 

[Warrior]

George...

your tables looked good...

lots of color...lots of variety...very nice...

that's Larry's artistic touch I'm sure...

didn't you sell your Alamo diorama?

it was gone when I went to take pics of it...

Thanks Mike; setting the items up in the rooms first is a great help, it allows me to plan the table displays. Plus, a lot of the stuff sells in the room and it's gone and yes, I sold the Alamo to one customer, then the D-Day bunker, the bombed out aid station, the bombed out brick building and Kelly's Heroes Tiger and Sherman to another within ten minutes.................

 

[Raider]

Thanks for the kind words George,always love the way your room is set up.This was my 11th year at the show,and the amount of merchandise you bring still blows my mind.But as I've said before,I totally appreciate all the effort that all the dealers put into these shows.If you guys didn't show up with products,it wouldn't be very exciting.So,thanks again.Glad you got feeling better,that sounded like a rough early Sunday morning.See you next year. Jason

 

[zblang]

This was my first Chicago show. I expected to see great toy soldiers with great variety. What I didn't expect was the great friends I made after just a few nights. Hanging out at the bar and in front of the hotel was an absolute blast. I had no idea that I'd be getting back to my room st 2:30am! Friday night was a complete hoot! Beyond that, like we all said, what happens in Schaumburg stays in Schaumburg! Hahaha

I just want to extend a huge thanks to all who made my first trip such a fun memorable one!

 

[Warrior]

Thanks for the kind words George,always love the way your room is set up.This was my 11th year at the show,and the amount of merchandise you bring still blows my mind.But as I've said before,I totally appreciate all the effort that all the dealers put into these shows.If you guys didn't show up with products,it wouldn't be very exciting.So,thanks again.Glad you got feeling better,that sounded like a rough early Sunday morning.See you next year. Jason

Thanks Jason, I always appreciate your support; as Saturday wore on, I felt worse and worse, if it wasn't for Larry, I'm not sure I could have done the show, I was toast as it was just packing the room up. Humping it all downstairs would have done me in.....................

 

[Warrior]

This was my first Chicago show. I expected to see great toy soldiers with great variety. What I didn't expect was the great friends I made after just a few nights. Hanging out at the bar and in front of the hotel was an absolute blast. I had no idea that I'd be getting back to my room st 2:30am! Friday night was a complete hoot! Beyond that, like we all said, what happens in Schaumburg stays in Schaumburg! Hahaha

I just want to extend a huge thanks to all who made my first trip such a fun memorable one!

Glad you enjoyed yourself Zach; the social thing was a blast for sure, made for a couple of late nights, but what the heck, it only comes once a year.............

 

[sammy719]

Great photos and stories George!!! you know I love the big dioramas and as nice as some of the main manufacturers display some really nice stuff , I always find myself waiting to see the pics of what you have presented!! it's kind of my throw back days with my Marx battleground when I would set up huge battle scenes, (I had 2 playsets so indeed it's always a pleasure to view your dioramas.

And you know I'll be at the show next year!!!!!!! if I don't I'll change my screen name to Boston Sammy perminently!!!
told the wife if we/I take only 1 vaca next year it's gonna be in Chicago come late September, I know the proof is in the pudding, so I'll see ya in about a year's time ...Sammy

 

[RISORGIMENTO]

George, I agree with Mike, your tables were a wonder to behold, plenty of beauties, congratulations! What a shame not to be there!!
Carlo

 

[wayne556517]

Good stuff mate great pictures cheers for posting.

Hey how long to set all that up ??

 

[Empire MM]

This was my first Chicago show. I expected to see great toy soldiers with great variety. What I didn't expect was the great friends I made after just a few nights. Hanging out at the bar and in front of the hotel was an absolute blast. I had no idea that I'd be getting back to my room st 2:30am! Friday night was a complete hoot! Beyond that, like we all said, what happens in Schaumburg stays in Schaumburg! Hahaha

I just want to extend a huge thanks to all who made my first trip such a fun memorable one!

Ditto {sm4}

 

[Empire MM]

Last picture and it's my favorite; yours truly, Matt Pavone from First Legion and Mike Miller.............





Overall, this was a very good show for me. The room trading traffic was lighter than last year, but sales were still strong; it's not always quantity, but quality. The day of the show for a time was a true back to the future moment; it was crazy and I mean CRAZY busy for a good hour and a half.

Thanks to everyone who came by my rooms and tables and supported me, so many forum members; WadePat, Leadmen, Zach, Mike Miller, Jazzeum, Raider (Raider is the most consistent customer for me at OTSN; he shows up every Saturday with a big smile on his face, he loves his K & C WWII Americans, that is for sure), Andreas, Steven Chong (who once again got me off to a roaring start on Wednesday, thanks as always Steve, also had the chance to meet his wife, a wonderful woman, she looked like she was enjoying herself), Hans Hedrich (thanks for the food), TDubel, Gary Kuepfert, Konrad (I wore the German soccer jersey just for you), Brian Dietz, Greg Guy (you know I was just busting your snappers all week long ya big lug ya) on and on it goes, my apologies if I missed anyone.

I attended this show with a heavy heart for obvious reasons, but made the best of it under the circumstances, it was not easy. Not to mention I got sick, some sort of Mongolian flu I came down with Saturday as I packed, was all banged up on Sunday, but I fought my way through it.

I've come full circle on this show; in days gone by, it was all work, work, work, open from 9:00am till 11:00pm, room service for dinner as I did not want to close the room, no socializing after I shut the rooms down, I kept my nose to the grindstone.

Shannon taught me to enjoy the show more, get out to dinner, go socialize at night, don't be so concerned with sales and just let it happen; one of the many life lessons she taught me.

I got out to the bar three nights as the above picture shows, had a ball, especially Friday night (and don't forget Julie; "I WANT TO TALK TO MATT!!!".................:wink2:...............one of the other nice side benefits of the show is getting to see all the dealers and Manufacturers that I only get to see once a year; Julie from Treefrog, Mike from Sierra, Paul from The Toy Soldier Shoppe, Tim Tyler, Boyd Moore, Rick Berry, Nick from TSSD, Steve from the UK (the three of us in the corner on Sunday keep the comedy going) Andy from K & C, Gerard from Frontline, Ken from Britains, plus the other east coast guys I see all the time, Matt, Nick, Ted, John from the Marxman, Gary Green and the Jones Brothers just to name a few.

Thanks to everyone who made this such an enjoyable show. For those of you who came this year for the first time, I hope you enjoyed it; for those of you who've never gone, what are you waiting for, get off your backsides and come next year, you won't regret it and you'll be sorry you waited so long (and YES, I'm talking to you Sammy and Jason).

And last but certainly not least; I cannot begin to thank my sidekick Larry Allen, who was a great, great help to me all week long, he kept me going Saturday and Sunday when I was all banged up, is a HUGE asset for me and frankly, I could not have done this show without him..............love ya Larry, you second Dad to me you..................^&grin

Hey George,

Great words and man, it was great to meet you. I know how heavy your heart was as, you came into the Treefrog room only minutes after I had arrived and I was still finding my feet. Didn't know what to say to you but hopefully that got better.

Avoided the bar as I spent some time with an old friend on Friday and some new ones on Sunday. Saturday I was just so ill with a migrane I took to my bed at 7pm having done a full day on mega strong pain killers.

Next year I WILL make the bar and get to know you better. And, one last thing. The comment you make about Shannon and her comment to you speaks volumes for a lovely lady. I am taking that comment on board for next year as this year, yeah, I was the new guy and (at times) felt out of my depth a little. Her legacy will live on in so many people.

Great meeting you man!

Malcolm. :salute::

 

[theBaron]

Thanks for sharing your photos, George! And I'm glad to hear you had a great show, keeping that Cal-Ripken, Jr-like streak going.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Warrior]

Great photos and stories George!!! you know I love the big dioramas and as nice as some of the main manufacturers display some really nice stuff , I always find myself waiting to see the pics of what you have presented!! it's kind of my throw back days with my Marx battleground when I would set up huge battle scenes, (I had 2 playsets so indeed it's always a pleasure to view your dioramas.

And you know I'll be at the show next year!!!!!!! if I don't I'll change my screen name to Boston Sammy perminently!!!
told the wife if we/I take only 1 vaca next year it's gonna be in Chicago come late September, I know the proof is in the pudding, so I'll see ya in about a year's time ...Sammy

Thanks for the kind words Sammy; my goal each year is to outdo the previous year, rolled out some show stoppers this year like the huge CTS bunker complex and David's Spanish church was well received too. I hope you can make it, I know it's expensive to come, but it's worth it, trust me........