Paying it forward. Or the Art of Random Kindness (1 Viewer)

[kilted vampire]

Gentle Readers,

Some of you know that I work part time in a Toy Soldier Shop. Many of you have heard that the hobby is dying. You have also heard that we need new blood! Yes I know but this is the kind that comes and revitalizes a hobby, not for drinking!

So there are many times that I see kids who are just wowed by the figures all over in dioramas. Of course they want to touch!{eek3} Now I am big on rewards for well behaved children. I like kids in general just not the brats.


Before I digress (Too late) If we are going to save the hobby we need to encourage youngsters and there parents into the hobby. This can be done by giving a kid a figure or two. If I am honest. And I am. I have lots of figures. It is nothing to me to hand over a few detail figures to a couple of 5 year olds who express an interest. (Or well behaved)

There are other instances of me giving stuff away on a whim. Once a Britain's Coronation Coach (True Story) to a woman who had been asking about a little souvenir one we had for sale. Practice the Art of Random Kindness.

What's the point? (You might ask?)(Well you might) I have a lot of figures. Sometimes people bring me things, sometimes I like to give things away because of the joy I see in their eyes! Look in the mirror after you do so. You will see the same joy in yours. If you see a kid at a show or a store try it out.(parental permission required) It might just be the beginning of a life long interest because some kindly person gave them some figures. The hobby you save just might be your own.

 

[Bessieres]

The hobby of collecting "figures" is not totally dead, it's simply evolved..

There's Fisher-Price figures, Playmobils, Legos, GI Joe and all sorts of movie figures like Star Wars, Star Trek and of course all the Disney movies figures.. There's many, many more.

METAL soldiers were never really kid friendly being (potentially) toxic and certainly fragile.

Kids want to touch and play with figures - something that the modern, realistic figures are not ideal for.

Toy soldiers and Military miniatures are best suited for set-up and display; an activity which older children and adults are more likely to enjoy.

 

[Poppo]

In my opinion, it is not only the question of giving a kid a soldier or 2...This hobby is closely connected to the interest of history, and I think that young people aren' t so interested in it. Sure ,the only way to find new young collectors is that the retailers , sellers give some free soldiers, even if I don' t know in what way.

 

[kilted vampire]

You guys are missing the point. It is getting involved with them. Being a happy man sharing a passion. New thread into this .

 

[Bessieres]

I played with PLASTIC soldier figures from toddler to about 12...

It was interest in HISTORY, real battles and the beauty & function of UNIFORMS which made me want to start collecting METAL Toy Soldiers at around 16..

These days, much of that is available on the computer & on line... Have you ever checked it out?

Mount & Blade Warband Napoleonic

I believe a major evolution of the Toy Soldier hobby has been the photographing of dioramas..

Further evolution then, is creating virtual Toy Soldiers and then animating them under your control..
It's actually a lot of fun!