New Guy Onboard. (1 Viewer)

[Ruggles]

(Opps I guess I orginally posted this in the wrong forum so here I go again!)

Hi all,

Just started in this very interesting looking hobby

Just got back from San Antonio on a mini vacation and went to Kings X after looking them up on the internet. Very nice store and I picked up 3 pieces, could have picked 100 if I had the money

I then ordered 2 more pieces online that night as the 1 of the 2 pieces I went to Kings X to get was not in stock. Treefrog had it in stock so I ordered it as well as 1 more piece just for good measure.

My 1st question is;

I now have purchased 5 pieces and only 2 of them are related as far as time / historical era. 2 x from the Alamo (Hey I am from Texas!), 1 x WWI, 1 x WWII and 1 Crusades era. Is it normal for most collectors to concentrate on one era? It seems that would be a much more efficient way to collect but I am interested in so many different historical eras it seems impossible

So what is the "norm" for most collectors?

My 2nd question is;

Any good website, paper magazines or other forums that anybody can suggest?

Thanks in advance for your help

 

[mikemiller1955]

Ruggles...welcome to the forum...I'm Texas too...Galveston...

I personally collect entire series..I like to be a completest and finish series...

but lots of guys collect select pieces...

some guys only artillery...some guys flagbearers...some guys celebrity figures...

you do what pleases yourself...and I'm sure you'll stay happy...

 

[Louis Badolato]

Welcome Ruggles.:smile2:

As far as what eras to collect, collect the eras that interest you.

I am mostly interested in 20th and 21st Century warfare, and collect WWII heavily, as well as Vietnam, modern warfare, and WWI armor and aircraft.

I also dabble in some mid to late 19th Century British Imperial warfare.

Also a bit of Ancient Roman and Mideaval/Crusades stuff.

Oh heck, I have no willpower and collect whatever strikes my fancy. Don't listen to my advice about collecting, unless you have both a lot of space for display and a very understanding wife.{sm2}^&grin

Toy Soldier Magazine, the Old Toy Soldier Newsletter and King & Country Collector Quarterly are all excellent publications which cover the hobby. If you really, heavily get interested in collecting King & Country Toy Soldiers, there are a couple of books which cover the history of K&C products . . . but I hesitate to recommend them as they are expensive, and, well, I wrote them (and don't believe self-promotion is necessarily the best means of disseminating information).:redface2:

 

[MapleLeaf]

There's no guideline for collecting than ur own
Some will concentrate on one line or range
Some will get 3-4 of their choice of every range
Some will stick with same maker
Some will mix
The bottom line it's what u like and what ur wallet dictate
Welcome aboard and happy collecting
Beware of the addiction
Maple Leaf

 

[10TH LA.]

Welcome aboard.......join the King and Country toy soldier club on line ....they will send you magazines and inform you on line .....it's hard not to buy every thing ....TRY to look at periods of history you like.....this forum is great to find lots of information........good luck.^&grin

 

[Ruggles]

Wow thanks guys, I already feel welcomed ^&grin

I know Galveston well, I am in West Columbia which is 1 to 1 1/4 hours from you, 1 hour south of Houston. Any shops in the Houston area you can recommend?

Thanks to everyone for the collection info, glad I am not the only one jumping thru time collecting! I can see myself continuing to do so :smile2:

This is the main one I went after at Kings X

James Butler Bonham of the Alamo. My 16 year old son's first name is Bonham I admired JBB's courage so much. Who knows the kid might even get it when I pass on ^&grin

Also went to pick this one up

I am a big 1911 style handgun fan and of the USMC, they were out of the USMC but Treefrog had one so I bought it from them :smile2:

Thanks to everyone for the publications info, I will look into them. I will join online today at K&C. The books I can see myself getting someday as well. I tend to get a little obsessive when I latch onto a new hobby LOL.....

Really looking forward to getting to know everyone around here. Thanks Again!

 

[Larry Allen]

A big welcome, Ruggles, to the BEST hobby around.

There is no right or wrong in this hobby, just what is **n. I live in the heart of the American Revolution territory (BOSTON) so as you might guess I am BIG into AWI sets. You will find that different manufactures produce similar type series so you can "generally" mix and match figures from one vendor to the next. I started collecting on a wide spectrum, but big the determining factor to focus on a few was $$$$, followed by space requirements.

I am also a "completest" so I like to have 001 thru the latest. The only piece of advise I can offer, beyond what has been stated here is NOT TO WAIT to long to get the figures you really want. Many manufacters either release series with a limited number of sets, or they retire the series after a period of time. OH yea, you might want to remember to "KEEP THE BOXES" that the figures come in for **ture resale or trade value.

Look forward to seeing your collection grow and your posts.
Larry

 

[Ruggles]

A big welcome, Ruggles, to the BEST hobby around.

There is no right or wrong in this hobby, just what is **n. I live in the heart of the American Revolution territory (BOSTON) so as you might guess I am BIG into AWI sets. You will find that different manufactures produce similar type series so you can "generally" mix and match figures from one vendor to the next. I started collecting on a wide spectrum, but big the determining factor to focus on a few was $$$$, followed by space requirements.

I am also a "completest" so I like to have 001 thru the latest. The only piece of advise I can offer, beyond what has been stated here is NOT TO WAIT to long to get the figures you really want. Many manufacters either release series with a limited number of sets, or they retire the series after a period of time. OH yea, you might want to remember to "KEEP THE BOXES" that the figures come in for **ture resale or trade value.

Look forward to seeing your collection grow and your posts.
Larry

Thanks, good advice! I can see how waiting could be a mistake, plus it is a great reason to go ahead and buy now instead of latter

 

[rws591]

You can't generally everything you want, but if you concentrate on one line you could probably get everything you want within that line with perhaps a purchase outside of the line on occasion.

 

[Ruggles]

You can't generally everything you want, but if you concentrate on one line you could probably get everything you want within that line with perhaps a purchase outside of the line on occasion.

True and good advice but how can I decide? LOL.....

Maybe I can stay within the 1800s, that would cover a lot of what I am interested in......but then the 1900s is pretty interesting as well.....LOL oh I am in trouble....

 

[PanzerAce1944]

True and good advice but how can I decide? LOL.....

Maybe I can stay within the 1800s, that would cover a lot of what I am interested in......but then the 1900s is pretty interesting as well.....LOL oh I am in trouble....

Welcome Texas !!

 

[lancer]

Welcome to the forum. Glad to have another fan of the M1911A1 on board. The variety available in this hobby is what makes it **n. Buy what you like and enjoy it. - Al

 

[ecuriel]

Is it normal for most collectors to concentrate on one era?
No one on this forum is normal. Welcome!

 

[Guy]

Hi there,
I joined the forum just over a year ago.I only collect WWII figurines ,AFV, and tanks. But my advice is: When you are struck by the beauty of a piece, buy it . When there is an immediate connection between the figurines and you, it means that you have found something worth having in your collection.
guy:smile2:

 

[Rob]

A warm welcome to the forum Ruggles, good to have you with us.

Rob

 

[Jagdpanther]

Welcome to the forum Ruggles.

 

[Ruggles]

Thanks for the warm welcome everybody

The mail order came in today, thanks Treefrog for the quick shipping!

Here are the "boys" so far.......small start but a start

Looks like a time machine gone wrong so far {eek3}

I need some more WWII and some Napoleon era English, and some RAF......

 

[Iron Brigade]

(Opps I guess I orginally posted this in the wrong forum so here I go again!)

Hi all,

Just started in this very interesting looking hobby

Just got back from San Antonio on a mini vacation and went to Kings X after looking them up on the internet. Very nice store and I picked up 3 pieces, could have picked 100 if I had the money

I then ordered 2 more pieces online that night as the 1 of the 2 pieces I went to Kings X to get was not in stock. Treefrog had it in stock so I ordered it as well as 1 more piece just for good measure.

My 1st question is;

I now have purchased 5 pieces and only 2 of them are related as far as time / historical era. 2 x from the Alamo (Hey I am from Texas!), 1 x WWI, 1 x WWII and 1 Crusades era. Is it normal for most collectors to concentrate on one era? It seems that would be a much more efficient way to collect but I am interested in so many different historical eras it seems impossible

So what is the "norm" for most collectors?

My 2nd question is;

Any good website, paper magazines or other forums that anybody can suggest?

Thanks in advance for your help

Dear "Ruggles":
Welcome to the Forum! In addition to all the prior good comments given by others I would add that "Toy Soldier & Model Figure" (TS&MF) magazine is really splendid and I would highly recommend it. They also have a less expensive Online version you can get. TS&MF magazine is published in England, but the editor is located in upstate New York, USA. They have an office in Kasson, MN, USA with toll free telephone#1-866-606-6587 which you could call to buy just one issue to try it out. First issue of TS&MF was for August/September 1995. Since 2002 they have publish monthly issues. Lastly, I would note that King & Country is the largest "toy soldier" or military miniature manufacturer. W. Britain is the second. It has been my experience that retired K&C sets tend to sell very well on eBay. So they are "sort" of an investment. But only buy what you want to display & worry about resales later.
"Iron Brigade"

 

[Ruggles]

Dear "Ruggles":
Welcome to the Forum! In addition to all the prior good comments given by others I would add that "Toy Soldier & Model Figure" (TS&MF) magazine is really splendid and I would highly recommend it. They also have a less expensive Online version you can get. TS&MF magazine is published in England, but the editor is located in upstate New York, USA. They have an office in Kasson, MN, USA with toll free telephone#1-866-606-6587 which you could call to buy just one issue to try it out. First issue of TS&MF was for August/September 1995. Since 2002 they have publish monthly issues. Lastly, I would note that King & Country is the largest "toy soldier" or military miniature manufacturer. W. Britain is the second. It has been my experience that retired K&C sets tend to sell very well on eBay. So they are "sort" of an investment. But only buy what you want to display & worry about resales later.
"Iron Brigade"

Thanks for the info, I will look into that magazine tonight Only K&C so far but the W. Britain looks good online, are they the same size as the K&C? I am not set on just K&C but those are the only ones I have seen so far in person. Thanks again.

I am really looking to collect more than invest but growing in value is always good

 

[Ruggles]

Welcome to the forum. Glad to have another fan of the M1911A1 on board. The variety available in this hobby is what makes it **n. Buy what you like and enjoy it. - Al

Yes sir I do like the 1911

We will have to go shooting sometime