show in 2026 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter johnhj
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jazzeum
Four Star General
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Not only defunct but dead and buried v
jazzeum
Four Star General
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- Apr 23, 2005
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- 39,139
There is a show in Wayne, NJ that runs every few months but it’s not a great show. Is there something you’re looking for specifically?
Warrior
Lieutenant General
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- May 12, 2005
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There is a club out of Freeport NY, the Long Island Model Figure Club if I am not mistaken, it's not a toy soldier club but rather a modeling club, they run a show every November at the Freeport REC Center, there is also a show held four times a year at the Wayne PAL in Wayne NJ, next one is in June again if I'm not mistaken.
The problem with trying to bring back the East Coast Toy Soldier Show formerly held in Hackensack at the FDU campus is when it was running, there were close to 200 dealer tables in the college gym.
Let's say Matt from HB, who runs three other successful shows, tried to bring it back in the same location; in 2026, I don't see anyway he can fill that gym. Towards the end of the shows run in 2019, I'd venture to guess it was 65%/35% toy soldier dealers to general toy dealers.
If Matt, myself, Julie from TFT, Mike and Dan Jones, Joe Saine and Rick from MTS did the show, that's what, 30 tables? Where are the other 170 or so coming from?
theBaron
Major
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How do you participate in the hobby, John? That is, are you strictly a collector, buying finished figures, or do you also paint your own? I ask because I don't know of any clubs today that are just people who collect toy soldiers. As George mentioned, there is the Long Island Miniature Collectors Society (https://www.liminiaturecollectors.com/) who stage a show every November. But it is a club of painters, and their show comprises an exhibition of painted figures, and a dealer area. There are dealers who sell old and new toy soldiers there, but also dealers selling figure kits and supplies to painters. Now, there is some toy soldier representation at their show, but again, it's more people who paint their own, and focused more on classic toy soldiers like Stadden, Imrie-Risley, and other makers from the 50s through the 90s.
I belong to another such club, the Miniature Figure Collectors of America, MFCA. We just had our annual show two weekends ago; next year's will be April 30/May 1. It's a juried exhibition of painted pieces, with a vendor area. As with the Long Island club, we're primarily a club of painters, though we have a toy soldier contingent, too. But again, we don't really have members who just collect, but also paint their own. The National Capital Society in DC, the Military Miniature Society of Illinois, the Atlanta Military Figures Society, and a number of smaller clubs that host shows, are all similar.
There are shows that are strictly for toy soldier collectors; the Midwest Toy Soldier Group stages a couple of them, including the Gettysburg Toy Soldier Show (just held 2 weeks ago) and the Midwest Toy Soldier Show. Here is the group's contact info: http://www.mwtoysoldier.com/contact-info.html You might try reaching out to them. But apart from the Gettysburg show, you'll have to travel out to Indiana to attend.
There is also a show held annually in Schaumburg IL, the Chicago Toy Soldier Show. That one is probably the largest toy soldier show in the country. Contact info is https://chicagotoysoldiershow.com/contact/ There is also the West Coaster, held out in California each year. Matt Murphy of Hobby Bunker is the promoter of those shows. You could contact him if you're interested in those and other shows he promotes that are closer to home.
Hope that helps!
Prost!
Brad