Newbie to this wonderful hobby (1 Viewer)

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stevez0r

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Greetings from NYC,

As kid I played with little green toy soldiers and when I got older move on to GI Joe. However I haven't pick one up in god knows how long. I'm very interest in 1/30, 1/32, but have no clue as to where to start. Can you guys suggest a magazine or company.
 
Steve,

Welcome. Only about two years ago I was a newbie myself. You might, to get an idea, want to take a look at the Treefrog Treasures site to see what there is. I myself recommend King and Country (60 mm) (website is kingandcountry.com) but there are some other grat companies out there like Britains (1/32 or 54mm), Figarti (54 mm) and Honour Bound. This forum has a listing of the major manufacturers. I'd recommend going to the Hackensack Show. It's November 5 at Fairleigh Dickinson's Rothman Center in NJ and here's the site address, http://www.vintagecastings.com/#show

Hope that's somewhat of a beginning.
 
Steve,

I would like to add to Brad's suggestions. It may be important to you to consider what era, period, or military engagement you like. For example, Brad clearly states a preference for King and Country figures. Brad is also clearly a World War II fan. However, if you are interested in World War I, the American Civil War, the French and Indian War, the Boxer Rebellion, etc.,you will need to look toward other companies because King and Country does not make figures that address all interests. If you have specific interests, you might share those with members of the forum who can point toward companies that will accomodate your needs.

You asked about a magazine that might be helpful. I would recommend Toy Soldier and Model Figure Magazine. Each issue has interesting articles concerned with toy soldiering and the magazine provides reviews of new products. I think it is well worth the subscription price.

Also, Brad offers great advice when he suggests that you attend a toy soldier show. At such a show, you can examine figures closely and become a better informed collector. However, I hasten to add that you should take some money with you as it is almost impossible to resist purchasing figures at the show. And,...no matter how much money you take to a show, you always wish you had more to spend!

Finally, do not hesitate to ask questions on the forum. The forum is composed of many very knowledgeble collectors who are always willing to provide information and answer questions.

Good luck with your newly rediscovered hobby and, above all, have fun with it!

Warmest personal regards,

Pat
 
They figures I will mostly collect will be WWI, WWII and modern day figures. Thanks for the advice and I will attend the show.
 
Steve,

As usual, Pat gives thorough and great advice. I am planning to be at the Hackensack show and if you like can walk around with you and show you things and introduce you to some of the dealers.

The best way to find out about toy soldiers is to see them up close and unfortunately in the New York city area there are no longer any stores you can go to. So, this show is the next best thing.
 
jazzeum said:
Steve,

As usual, Pat gives thorough and great advice. I am planning to be at the Hackensack show and if you like can walk around with you and show you things and introduce you to some of the dealers.

The best way to find out about toy soldiers is to see them up close and unfortunately in the New York city area there are no longer any stores you can go to. So, this show is the next best thing.
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Brad,

I am really, really surprised at your comment about no brick and mortar stores in the New York City area. I am used to living where I do not have access to such stores, but I had no idea that not even one existed in the New York City area. It is just difficult for me to imagine that a city the size of New York no longer has a toy soldier store. Wow!

Warmest personal regards,

Pat
 
Hi Steve,

Welcome to the forum and the hobby! I, too, am relatively new to the hobby. I plan on attending my first show, which Brad mentioned will be at Fairleigh Dickinson in Nov. It's been said already, but let me add that this forum is a great place to visit throughout the day to keep up on the hobby and communicate with others. Treefrog is also a wonderful place to buy the items you seek. Peter & Shannon are great people.

While I cannot from personal experience recommend anything about WW1 & WW2, I think the new Britians figures for those lines look fabulous!

I wish you the best in your collecting and hope to run into you at the show next month.

Mark
 
WELCOME TO THE NUT HOUSE!!!!!:p

http://www.upnaway.com/~obees/soldiers/links.htm

Heres a link that has many different toy soldier sites, search around these links and find what looks good to YOU!!! There are many different companies and styles of soldiers both plastic and metal and also kit form that you can make and paint yourself. Painting your own stuff and making your own dioramas can be great fun to take your mind off a bad day.
Also chech out the stuff that treefrog has for sale. They carry lots of great stuff.
 
wadepat said:
Brad,

I am really, really surprised at your comment about no brick and mortar stores in the New York City area. I am used to living where I do not have access to such stores, but I had no idea that not even one existed in the New York City area. It is just difficult for me to imagine that a city the size of New York no longer has a toy soldier store. Wow!

Warmest personal regards,

Pat
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Pat,

I realized after I read your post that there is one, out on Long Island about 30or 40 miles from New York, Left Right Left. There's also the Barracks Gate in Nyack, NY, also about 30 or 40 miles and another, Alsands, in Deer Park on Long Island. However, Gideon closed his store in Greenwich Village this year and a King and Country dealer in my town, Colonial Toy Soldier also closed his store. So, that's it for New York city proper, unfortunately.
 
Welcome to the Hobby. I live in the area, and if you are interested in having a look at some incredible collections which would expose you to all of the major manufacturers, from K&C, Figarti, Honour Bound, Trophy, Imperial, Britains, the Russians, etc., drop me a PM. I will be happy to let you have a look at my collection, and will try to arrange a tour of the collections of a couple of friends in Manhattan (one of which is probably the largest collection of artillery related figures in the world).
 
I might just have to take you up on your offer Louis. Can someone tell what are the most popluar size for collecting, and what company do you guys collect the most. Are the K&C about 2.5 inches?
 
Many people, including Louis and I, collect King and Country. Most of my collection (about 95% is King and Country) and as my family says "I'm obsessed." That's probably due to Louis, no doubt but it's a lot of fun.

Here's a link to pictures that I took this March of Louis' incredible collection. This was from the Symosium that Louis and two of Louis' close friends, Lawrence Lo and Hans Hedrich, put on. Enjoy the photos. You'll get an idea of what King and Country is all about, http://www.treefrogtreasures.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1205&highlight=louis+badolato+collection
 
I think that in your stated areas of interest (WWI, WWII and on to the present) your best choices are as follows:

WWII to the present: 1/30 scale (60mm) figures, vehicles and diorama materials by K&C, Honour Bound and New Model Army. These companies all produce substantial WWII ranges.

K&C is really the only company to produce substantial modern war (Vietnam, Gulf War, Afghanistan and Iraq) metal figures, with complimentary armored vehicles [M113 APC, Duster from Vietnam, HumVee and hull down T72 Tank from Iraq & Afghanistan] aircraft [Huey Cobra and Kiowa helicoptors and F4 Phantom and Mig Aircraft from Vietnam, F14,F15, F16, Harrier, & several other modern jets from the Gulf War through today] and diorama materials [Vietnam Firebase, Tet Offensive Street Scene, Afghanistan special forces mountaintop diorama].

Figarti also produces excellent WWII, Korean War, Vietnam and Modern Iraq ranges, with absolutely superior vehicles, but in 1/32 scale.

As far as WWI is concerned, Trophy, Toy Army Work Shop, & Tommy Atkins all make very nice traditional glossy toy soldiers, vehicles and diorama pieces in 1/32 scale (54mm). NWTC and Frontline have done some WWI in matt, and I believe K&C intends to do some in the near future. I hope this helps.
 
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Louis Badolato said:
I think that in your stated areas of interest (WWI, WWII and on to the present) your best choices are as follows:

WWII to the present: 1/30 scale (60mm) figures, vehicles and diorama materials by K&C, Honour Bound and New Model Army. These companies all produce substantial WWII ranges.

K&C is really the only company to produce substantial modern war (Vietnam, Gulf War, Afghanistan and Iraq) metal figures, with complimentary armored vehicles [M113 APC, Duster from Vietnam, HumVee and hull down T72 Tank from Iraq & Afghanistan] aircraft [Huey Cobra and Kiowa helicoptors and F4 Phantom and Mig Aircraft from Vietnam, F14,F15, F16, Harrier, & several other modern jets from the Gulf War through today] and diorama materials [Vietnam Firebase, Tet Offensive Street Scene, Afghanistan special forces mountaintop diorama].

Figarti also produces excellent WWII, Korean War, Vietnam and Modern Iraq ranges, with absolutely superior vehicles, but in 1/32 scale.

As far as WWI is concerned, Trophy, Toy Army Work Shop, & Tommy Atkins all make very nice traditional glossy toy soldiers, vehicles and diorama pieces in 1/32 scale (54mm). NWTC and Frontline have done some WWI in matt, and I believe K&C intends to do some in the near future. I hope this helps.
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I think I will start with K&C as they meet my needs. Is there a database to see everything that K&C produced?

Are these figures about 2.5" inches tall?
 
Steve,

The one indispensible website for K & C and you should bookmark it -- I have it bookmarked at work and at home -- is www.toysoldiersusa.com

It has practically everything K & C has produced to date. Take a look at the brochures section. What I don't have in brochures, I've printed out.

Welcome to the club and be prepared to lose your wallet.

One word of advise, if you're going to start with K & C WW 2, when the limited editions are announced, as the Sherman just was, don't delay and preorder them with your dealer.

If you don't yet have a dealer and want to work with some nice folks, I suggest Shannon of Treefrog and/or George Guerriero of Minuteman Toy Soldiers. Great people and good friends.
 
To see what K&C is presently producing, check out www.kingandcountry.com. The website that Brad pointed you to shows almost everything K&C ever produced, much of which is extremely rare and difficult to obtain. That (Sager's Toy Soldiers) website is an excellent way to trace the development of the company from its early glossy days through its mid-1990's matt WWII and Vietnam stuff to todays incredibly well sculpted and painted figures.

As far as size is concerned, 60mm figures are about 2 and 1/2 inches tall.
 
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