The Toy Soldier Museum Open House Saturday October 29th - Cresco, PA (1 Viewer)

[Julie]

Just finishing up a few last minute details for this upcoming Event at Jim Hillestad's Toy Soldier Museum in Pennsylvania.


The Toy Soldier Museum
5459 Paradise Valley Rd
Cresco, Pennsylvania 18326
Saturday October 29th - 10am - 4pm

I will be flying out Friday morning and Tom gets the joy of picking me up at the airport and driving! Hope to see some of you there!

I will try and post photos as I can but it seems faster to post them to our Facebook page so check that out as I may just have an Adventure Photo Album for the entire Weekend

Julie

 

[theBaron]

Maybe I'll see you there. I may shoot up to Cresco, it depends on whether I get some other work done Saturday morning.

Prost!
Brad

 

[jazzeum]

Not me, can't do two events back to back, plus I like to go to Jim's when it's quiet.

 

[Andanna]

I plan to be there. Looking forward to it.

 

[Andanna]

Julie posted lots of great pictures from the event on FB. I have little to add. Julie had Tom Dubel in tow and I did load up on some of the new spectators for the Delhi Durbar. Ted Deddens represented Britains with his own stand. The good news he shared is that he will continue to run Ted Toys, actually picked up two more lines as a distributor - Little Legion and ATS - recently and hopes to be able to dedicate more time to his own line. I thought all were quite busy because this event is really about meeting people and admiring Jim's collection. I think it is a great move that TF now sponsors the event.

I did not expect it, but Jim is constantly creating new dioramas and retiring others. The new ones in my opinion were Britains heavy. Most were Clashes of the Empires and Independence War (see below). It appears Jim does not do either WWI or WWII - for good reason as his most stunning displays are just exploding with colors. My favorite is still the Delhi Durbar display. It got me ultimately into Toy Soldier collecting.

Over the years, I have become a purist in respect to authenticity, style and subject matter of toy soldiers. Having said that, I admire the art with which Jim mixes gloss and matt and 54mm and 60mm. And makes it work.

Below please find some examples. I was pressed for time and could only take few pictures, but set my albums of my visits to Jim's museum on "public" now:

http://s642.photobucket.com/user/Andanna_photos/library/Toy Soldier Museum

 

[Andanna]

New diorama on the aftermath of Isandlwana:

I thought the idea of depicting a mass grave for the Zulus was particularly creative.

 

[Andanna]

 

[Andanna]

The Delhi Durbar display. Check out Julie's photos or mine from previous years. This is just a humongous display.

 

[Andanna]

A couple of new dioramas. As Jim is running out of space (although a full house is dedicated to his collection), these are on the floor beneath the actual displays. There is therefore no lighting or poor lighting.

One is an attack by the Leni Lenape on settlers in Pennsylvania:

The other part of the Battle of the Brandywine at the Birmingham, Meeting House.

 

[Andanna]

 

[Andanna]

and mopping this session up now

 

[zblang]

I love the Trophy (?) figure of the soldier carrying the wounded guy on his back. I've never seen that.

Does anyone know who makes those egyptians? (not the K&C ones, the skinnier glossy ones)

 

[thebritfarmer]

I love the Trophy (?) figure of the soldier carrying the wounded guy on his back. I've never seen that.

Does anyone know who makes those egyptians? (not the K&C ones, the skinnier glossy ones)

Wonderful photos !!

I think the Egyptians are by John Eden?

 

[Partner]

I particularly like the dio with the officers in mess dress , and various undress uniforms . ( I like all the dios ! )


I have driven close bythe Museum but have never made plans to stop .
Must put it on my bucket list

Kirk

 

[theBaron]

...I think the Egyptians are by John Eden?

I think those are the original Russell Gammage Rose castings, though I think Eden has the molds now.

Though I recall that Jim had a contemporary Egyptian display on his tables, in the last couple of years that he did our show. By contemporary, I mean, it was something produced by one of the newer makers. That was in the early Aughts, before we moved the show to Wilmington for two years.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Julie]

It was great to see you as well Andreas! Very true I posted a lot of photos on the Treefrog Facebook page. It was the only method I could use to upload while Tom was driving us to Hackensack and our next adventure for the weekend!!
Not really sure if I had Tom in tow or he was dragging me along behind him ^&grin
Couldn't ask for a more fantastic chauffeur for the weekend though -- we had a blast!

Treefrog Facebook Photo Album

I have added captions on some but not all. Working on that yet! They are also in a rather 'random chaos' order as I started taking them and trying to be organized but then every time I went in for a coffee refill and what not I'd see a new random hidden item I liked in a case I'd already walked by several times! Out came the phone for more photos.....But the start was a diorama at our hotel we stayed in Friday night - the Crescent Lodge. Very 'lodge-y' but I believe that will be our go-to place to stay in the future!

For my first time there (Tom had been previously as a spectator) it was very fun! A great group of people to chat with throughout the day as well as Jim & Carol's hospitality to everyone that included a nice lunch, beverages, coffee and cookies. And when you needed a moment away their gardens are spectacular and then the hike to the gazebo and I went all the way down to the little waterfall as well. Beautiful area!

Once most had left for the afternoon Jim was kind enough to open all the lower Diorama cabinets and turned on lights and sounds for us! There are some really amazing works in his collection. There are just so many little details that really make it all top notch. A must see in person!



Once I arrive home tomorrow I will continue to update and finish up what I have not yet!

Julie

 

[theBaron]

Thanks for sharing those photos, Julie!

For anyone who has never been to Hillestad's, you really should make plans to visit some day. His collection is outstanding, and he has a lot of interesting and rare items that you might not otherwise get to see in person. And his displays and dioramas are excellent.

Prost!
Brad

 

[jazzeum]

Thanks for sharing those photos, Julie!

For anyone who has never been to Hillestad's, you really should make plans to visit some day. His collection is outstanding, and he has a lot of interesting and rare items that you might not otherwise get to see in person. And his displays and dioramas are excellent.

Prost!
Brad

That is an understatement!

Brad (the other)