What eras do you collect and why? (1 Viewer)

[Napoleon1er]

I collect Napoleonic primarily, with a side of Sudan and a dash of whatever colorful ting I think I can make a great dio out of (matt Durbar, FFL, holiday sets)!

I collect the other stuff for antithetic reasons and as a nod to books, movies, and exploits I like.
I collect Sudan because my colelction is incomplete without camels and gunboats. Seriously, gunboats are awesome and fun to build!
I collect Napoleonics simply because I have an unhealthy obsession with Napoleon and the Napoleonic era for inexplicable reasons.

-Sandor :salute::

 

[bradleyl30]

I love this thread, Warrior!

I started with Britains soldiers and vehicles and Corgi diecast vehicles from WWII as a kid in the late 70s and early 80s. My father and I spent a lot of time talking about military history and watching old war movies and shows. Even though I firmly hated the 'Nazis' as the evil enemy I knew I secretly found them, their uniforms and equipment fascinating.

In the 90s, right after college, I really began to discover my Highland roots and became fascinated with all things, "Highlander." I returned to collecting toy soldiers once secure in my career after visiting Williamsburg and the toy soldier store. I started with the Frontline Gordon Highlanders from the Crimea which I paired with a print of "The Thin Red Line."

I now have Jacobites and FIW Frasers Highlanders from JJD, Black Watch from K&C, Gordons from FL and few other miscellaneous Highlanders from here and there.

One day while watching "Band of Brothers" I was deeply struck by the German General's speech. Somehow I stumbled on the "Forgotten Soldier" and began voraciously reading about the Eastern Front and German army of which I was deeply ignorant. I soon began collecting K&C, TGM and Honour Bound WWII Germans from all phases of the conflict. I first started just collecting any Panther I could get my hands on, and then expanded to anything. It was actually the shock of the scale differences between HB and K&C Panthers compared to the TCS Panther, Panzer IV and StuG that led me to this forum as a place to help me avoid those kinds of things again.

Lately, I have been scaling down my WWII purchases other than the TGM winter releases (especially the Gerbirgsjaegers and Luchs) and First Legion Stalingrad lines.

To finish WWII, I have started giving my father Battle of the Bulge sets from K&C. Especially, the 105mm set since he is an old Red Leg himself!

Now, I am mostly collecting FL and Aeroart Crusaders and Romans with occasional Highlander and WWII purchases.

Really enjoyed reading everyone's posts. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!

Thanks,

Larry

 

[Warrior]

I love this thread, Warrior!

I started with Britains soldiers and vehicles and Corgi diecast vehicles from WWII as a kid in the late 70s and early 80s. My father and I spent a lot of time talking about military history and watching old war movies and shows. Even though I firmly hated the 'Nazis' as the evil enemy I knew I secretly found them, their uniforms and equipment fascinating.

In the 90s, right after college, I really began to discover my Highland roots and became fascinated with all things, "Highlander." I returned to collecting toy soldiers once secure in my career after visiting Williamsburg and the toy soldier store. I started with the Frontline Gordon Highlanders from the Crimea which I paired with a print of "The Thin Red Line."

I now have Jacobites and FIW Frasers Highlanders from JJD, Black Watch from K&C, Gordons from FL and few other miscellaneous Highlanders from here and there.

One day while watching "Band of Brothers" I was deeply struck by the German General's speech. Somehow I stumbled on the "Forgotten Soldier" and began voraciously reading about the Eastern Front and German army of which I was deeply ignorant. I soon began collecting K&C, TGM and Honour Bound WWII Germans from all phases of the conflict. I first started just collecting any Panther I could get my hands on, and then expanded to anything. It was actually the shock of the scale differences between HB and K&C Panthers compared to the TCS Panther, Panzer IV and StuG that led me to this forum as a place to help me avoid those kinds of things again.

Lately, I have been scaling down my WWII purchases other than the TGM winter releases (especially the Gerbirgsjaegers and Luchs) and First Legion Stalingrad lines.

To finish WWII, I have started giving my father Battle of the Bulge sets from K&C. Especially, the 105mm set since he is an old Red Leg himself!

Now, I am mostly collecting FL and Aeroart Crusaders and Romans with occasional Highlander and WWII purchases.

Really enjoyed reading everyone's posts. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!

Thanks,

Larry

Glad you like it, thanks for chiming in, missed you at the recent Annandale show, hope to see you in February of 2014...................the 15th actually..................

 

[Cyber Field Marshall]

Simple answer is TOO MANY! :redface2: My interest in history is just too wide and my collection reflects that. My emphasis is on WWII (especially D-Day and Arnhem), Napoleonics and the Crusades but I have a smattering of many other areas too. When I see a great piece I have a hard time resisting it. For 2014 I fear my biggest test will be resisting getting into WWI in a bigger way.

 

[Mirof]

Everything that catch my eyes
Painted, unpainted, metal, plastic, resin 25mm to ...............

Actualy, I have an eye on this one ( an Ubisoft product from Assassin Creed )

 

[4th Hussar]

Victorian British thru WW1 and only in gloss, but occasionally I will deviate for something really special like a 1/32 corgi warplane or a Figarti tank or..................................{sm4}

 

[emilsson]

I begun collecting glossy ceremonial figures by Britain due to an interest in events like coronations. Then, about a year ago, I also started buying figures from the Napoleonic era. I have become extremely interested in this particular era ever since I started teaching a unit on it. When I discovered that there were so many varied ranges I started dreaming about setting up dioramas about this time period. The result is that I now have figures from Britains, K & C, Thomas Gunn and the Collector's showcase. There are both British and French infantry and I am looking to expand this collection during 2014.

Another goal is to have a collection of USMC-figures. I got most of the ceremonial ones Britains have made as well as some from the Museum collection.

 

[wds0855]

As far as wargamming, I think have too many interests to make a coherent list.

Toy Soldier wise though I have two main interests. ACW and Alamo. My main interests are always confilicts that took place here in the US. But I do not have the funds to collect other periods like FIW, AWI, etc.
I do not think enough people realize how certain pivotal battles shaped this nation into what it is today, like Gettysburg, and Trenton.

Being from PA I have visited Gettysburg many times. So I have a keen interest in the ACW. I have only visited the Alamo once, but was always fascinated by Disney's Crockett movies as a kid, as well as John Wayne's Alamo. Other than US conflict I would love to collect the Zulu War. I remember my dad taking me to see the film "Zulu" when I was a kid. I still remember being in awe of how brave the small band of defenders were against thousands of warriors, and how courageous the Zulus were. Really made an impression on me.

Happy collecting.

Walt

 

[Denver]

WW2 is my main area of interest.
I grew up listening to war stories from my father and my uncles and others.
ACW is another because growing up around Philly we often visited Gettysburg.
For a time we also lived in North Carolina.
It had ACW from a different perception.
I would like to collect more Vietnam War because I was there.

 

[thrawn]

I for one grew up in a household dedicated to a love of history. My father and I spent many hours watching war movies, documentaries, reading history books and visiting sites of historical importance throughout my childhood. I mainly collect Napoleonics from Britains and First Legion, although I do have a small collection of AWI by Britains. I would love to have a bit of everything as my interests are extremely varied, but given that the budget isn't limitless and I wish to build large scenes I stick to just buying my Naps these days. I've slowly sold off my ACW collection and my WW2 sets in favor of having a more impressive Naps collection. I always had a deep interest in Roman history and the age of Napoleon, but I distinctly remember watching the Richard Sharpe series on Master Piece theater with my dad, after that I was hooked! Given that my father had once upon a time been in the hobby business himself I was given an early and thorough exposure to toy soldiers. Frequent were the days spent massing my 54mm and 1/72nd plastics in battle across the breadth of my home or anywhere on my parent's farm that looked right. Great to see how many of us arrived at out interests.
Best,
Josh

 

[Davout71]

I like 18th and early 19th Century British units mainly because I am fascinated with British history at that time period and I think the uniforms of the army then are pretty sharp (though impractical).

I also like World War II, especially Afrika Korps. I know there have been discussions before but I tend to avoid collecting the war zones of Nazi atrocity. While not entirely true or straight forward the North Africa campaign comes off as a more soldierly campaign and I feel that the protagonists were there to fight but also with a respect for life and humanity. In addition to that the uniforms and vehicles look awesome.

 

[Larry Allen]

Hey George ... I bet you can guess what my area of interest is ..... Since you sold me probably 85% - 90% of them.

*** The American Revolution *** and all from King and Country! As of the last batch I am now getting close to 2000 K&C AWI sets. I'll add it up some day.

The reasons are multifold.

Living in NE I am in the area that is home to the American Revolution and many of the battlefields and historical sites are near by! [Lexington Concord; Bunker Hill; Boston itself ... to name just a few.]

Second, I think that they are some of the most colorful and attractive pieces that Andy and K&C folks have made. The British and their traditional RED; the Hessians and their colorful Blue/Red uniforms; the 42nd Scottish Highlanders; the Indians; the White of the French; the Greens of the Colonial Marines and the Blues of the Colonial regulars. Also throw in the militia and the Backwoodsmen and you have quite a colorful setup.

Third is the romantic history of the Revolution and the fascinating and "colorful" personalities of the people ... Revere; Gage; Cornwallis; Washington; Knox; Arnold and so many more.

Fourth is an economic consideration in that the sets generally consist of ONE figure so I can easily afford that price as opposed to a $300 - $400 tank, plane or AFV.

Finally, to make many of my dioramas I simply walk out into my back field and pick up all the sticks, leaves, stones and [bush] that I need ..
I do wish Andy would come out with some new sets faster than he does but it enables me to collect multiples of the same figure without getting to far behind. (Still it seems I am always in debt to you ..{sm2})

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My second collection is closely related to the AWI and it is the JJD War of 1812 and Raid on St. Francis. Actually for many of the above reasons. My JJD collection is not as prolific at the AWI (yet) but with the JJD Marines and new RSF Indians will give me some new sets to add.

Larry