Why does it seem we are not having fun anymore. (4 Viewers)

[Simpson & his donkey.]

Is it just me or are we not having much fun these day's. There seems to be a lot of negativity lately about alot of things. Are the price

increases the thing that has made the over all change in the mood on the forum. I for one have been pinched by the increases and have

adjusted my budget to match . I have moved onto other brands that match my budget a little better . What are your thoughts guy's.

Simmo.

 

[Mitch]

I think the prices have taken their toll on many and made a lot re-evaluate how they see the hobby. I think some sets with big issues of innacuracy etc and broken items, seemingly on the increase, attitudes of manufacturers its tough times.

I think things like this take a front seat but, there is still fun about and having briefly looked at some older threads and posts it seems as much acrimony and deletions were about in times gone by as there are now. I would say the hobby is like most things in life, issues are cyclical and, we are just in a phase where people see the so called negative issues a bit more.
Mitch

 

[wayne556517]

Up to the individual Simmo some on here give me the ***** with there comments as i probarly give others the *****.
I still enjoy having a read and a laugh and trying to take all the seriousness out of things sometime some forget there are more important things in life that the price etc of a toysoldier.

 

[maddadicus]

Up to the individual Simmo some on here give me the ***** with there comments as i probarly give others the *****.
I still enjoy having a read and a laugh and trying to take all the seriousness out of things sometime some forget there are more important things in life that the price etc of a toysoldier.

I truly believe that it is a generational thing, as new and newer collectors have mostly become more demanding and more instant in their wants for the perfect toy soldier or vehicle. Many of us who grew up only able to afford and play with plastics, were appreciative to have even that and as we graduated into Britains and other early gloss TS, we did not care about the absolute correct uniform or color details. Whatever was gifted to us or we might afford to save up for, was good enough. Then K/C came along with a new look. Those big blocky sculptures of polystone then, were the most wonderful vehicles that we had ever seen and a number of early collectors fell in love with their figures. The older guys were more than content with having this stuff, especially in the times when limited runs and expected return on investments meant some future worth to collecting these toys. As the new folks got into collecting TS, THEIR REASONS FOR COLLECTING GOT MURKY. There is a whole generation in the states that could care less about history and even less about gratitude. They have always got what they wanted , when they wanted it. Value was measured in the five minutes of satisfaction that any new possession gave them. We are seeing this in TS today with the never ending demand for new releases, forcing mfg. to increase production and create greater overhead expenses than the times when a more patient collector allowed TS mfg. to space offerings out. And then there is the accuracy thing, where the older guys were satisfied to build ,detail and paint their own. Now the new guys are not. Add the demanding nature of the new collector to the increase in pricing across the board of most primary TS mfg. and we end up with frustration among the collecting masses ,who no longer can own it all. This new generation of collectors seem more confrontational, less acknowledgment of other collectors choices and less supportive of the TS community as a whole. This creates the territorial rifts of the never ending brand wars among matte collectors. Go to the gloss side and you will really see what the TS fraternity used to be and can be again. But then again, most of the new collectors do not collect gloss, so maybe there really is no hope for harmony..:rolleyes2: Michael

 

[ostrein]

Is it just me or are we not having much fun these day's.

Well, I'm still having lots of fun with my new and still small TS collection. Of course I want to expand my collection in the future but I think "less is more" works for me very well. Currently I'm only able to buy a small number of TS every month. But every figure I add is enjoyable and fun.

Oliver

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Guys,

Me I am still really enjoying what I collect and the hunt to find sets that I may have missed or declined in days gone by! Oliver's post sums how the newer guys should be collecting! Michaels post also has some very good points. I always tell new collectors that they need to go easy and make sure they budget their collecting funds to a level that is going to fit with their income. I think the guys who see it as a life long hobby are far less likely to be grousing over price increases and will more than likely be far less into a single brand and will have much more interesting collections. So unless you are a Rockerfeller or Murdock who can be completionists because money is no object you need to be much more picky. Eventually every sets shows up on ebay or at an auction house so if you bide your time you will be rewarded.

Dave

 

[lancer]

I am still having fun with what I buy, but as others have said, it is a matter of priority and being real selective. The price increases have all but driven me out of matte with only two exceptions. I have started to buy some gloss figures again, which I had gotten away from, and I find them just as fun and satisfying as ever, and quite a bit more affordable. Nothing catches my eye like a beautiful high gloss figure, (except, maybe, a Tiger tank or Fokker triplane:wink2 and I feel my collection will grow a lot shinier in the future. -- Al

 

[johnnybach]

Well - I for one am still having great fun with my hobby - which is painting castings in gloss. As far as I'm concerned, the only thing that has changed for me - is that I'm getting a lot more help and advice about what I do since joining the forum.

There are a few negative comments about from some people - but maybe that's just the way some people are. They don't bother me too much though, maybe because I don't collect what they do. So - my message is - beware of the all inclusive "we" in the sentence above. Some of us are doing fine thanks.^&grinjohnnybach

 

[Scott]

"....There is a whole generation in the states that could care less about history and even less about gratitude. They have always got what they wanted , when they wanted it. Value was measured in the five minutes of satisfaction that any new possession gave them. ..."


Dang those Hippie/Baby Boomers and their toy soldiers! :wink2: Maybe those 90's "Greed is Good" kids?

 

[Scott]

Well - I for one am still having great fun with my hobby - which is painting castings in gloss. As far as I'm concerned, the only thing that has changed for me - is that I'm getting a lot more help and advice about what I do since joining the forum.

There are a few negative comments about from some people - but maybe that's just the way some people are. They don't bother me too much though, maybe because I don't collect what they do. So - my message is - beware of the all inclusive "we" in the sentence above. Some of us are doing fine thanks.^&grinjohnnybach

Heck, I blog about my stuff. Fun! There are a few collectors and war gamers that add funny blog entries featuring their figures. It's fun for me to go though the loose figure bins at a local Hobby shop and pick plastic figures. I spent almost 50 USD on a small bag of plastics but I got the Conte, Replicant and Marx figures I really wanted from broken up sets and bags.

 

[trooper]

The problem is that the followers of one maker who has escalated his prices are running about screaming that ALL manufacturers are putting their prices up to unsustainable levels. Well for them the world revolves around that sole maker, but if they cared to look about they would find that most of the so called "small" makers have only made low or even no increase. Another thing is that the "small" companies never retire stock, they don't need to as all production is under their own control, they do not need to waste money shifting container loads all over the world, the moulds are put on the shelf and used whenever an order comes in. No need for mad panic buying, the figures will still be there in a years time or ten years. Which brings me on to another thing. Why are some companies designated as the"Big boys"? If you measure a company by the range of figures AVAILABLE then most of the "small" companies outstrip the others by a vast margin. Trooper

 

[desk11desk12]

Is it just me or are we not having much fun these day's. There seems to be a lot of negativity lately about alot of things. Are the price

increases the thing that has made the over all change in the mood on the forum. I for one have been pinched by the increases and have

adjusted my budget to match . I have moved onto other brands that match my budget a little better . What are your thoughts guy's.

Simmo.

No joke Simmo,

I'm havng the time of my life with the huge collection I've managed to accumulate. I must have 11 or 12 dioramas built and love to create You Tube video clips. Not sure many people like seeing them but I sure like creating them and sharing them. I wish more would do the same but no matter I'll continue doing them.


I still buy new sets (can't beat those new Figarti planes, Britains ACW and so much more) and augment them into existing dio themes.

Carlos

 

[Larry Allen]

I have to disagree that the Toy Soldier hobby isn't one of the greatest around. If you look at the stats there are something like 2,100 TFT users registered. There are something like 1/2 million posts growing and I would bet that 95% or more are talking about our hobby. (KEY WORD here is HOBBY).

Where else can you combine history, dioramas, movies, books, great debate, superior craftsmen, expert knowledge and more and be a kid again with all the imagination and creativity.

I bet the 2,090 guys who simply get up every day and hope to see a Stuka on the K&C release list or a new marching band or a WWI Folker are having a great time. Hey, maybe it is time for the silent forum members to post a note or two and let your thought be heard.

I have seen your work, collections and read you comments. You got a lot to offer!

So Simpson, take the advice of Wayne, ostrein, DMNamiot, lancer, johnnybach, Scott, desk11desk12 and the other 2000+ member here ( and probably 1000’s more elsewhere) and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!!!

Now where did I but my paint brush and X-acto knife ........ :rolleyes2:

 

[Obee]

I'm having fun...

fun painting toy soldier

fun researching uniforms

fun reading and posting on the Forum

fun emailing and corresponding with like minded people

fun meeting collectors here in OZ and worldwide when I travel overseas

fun going to the toy soldier show in London

fun showing off my painting on my website

fun showing my workshop and collection on National TV

All in all.. FUN ^&grin

John

 

[The Military Workshop]

Obee is clearly having too much fun !!! In fact if he carries on like that much more the Anti Fun Police might pay
him a visit.

We all know Wayne is having fun. He even dreams about Stuka's.

One of my collectors is having fun with his CS Hitler Office diorama. Whilst he has got a few LAH figures the central
figure, being painted for him, is the Andrea kit of Charlie Chaplin as the Great Dictator.

How about some fun with some totally historically incorrect dioramas with say British Redcoats or Zulus attacking Waffen
SS ?. That could be fun.

Regards
Brett

 

[wayne556517]

Obee is clearly having too much fun !!! In fact if he carries on like that much more the Anti Fun Police might pay
him a visit.

We all know Wayne is having fun. His even dreams about Stuka's.

One of my collectors is having fun with his CS Hitler Office diorama. Whilst he has got a few LAH figures the central
figure, being painted for him, is the Andrea kit of Charlie Chaplin as the Great Dictator.

How about some fun with some totally historically incorrect dioramas with say British Redcoats or Zulus attacking Waffen
SS ?. That could be fun.

Regards
Brett

Got my money on the SS.

 

[The Military Workshop]

Wayne,
Not if it is the Waffen SS guy crouching down by the road with his trousers down and say 5 Zulus charging towards
him. That would ruin his day but be fun for the Zulus.

I used to have a 4 man British Commando set coming around the corner of my LAH parade. The possibilities are
endless.

Regards
Brett

 

[uksubs]

Well after wayne556517 posted about Figarti V weapon range I've got the bug as well & had fun hunting down sets , reading books ,working out how I'm going to do the diorama & think are watch Operation Crossbow again ^&grin

 

[uksubs]

The problem is that the followers of one maker who has escalated his prices are running about screaming that ALL manufacturers are putting their prices up to unsustainable levels. Well for them the world revolves around that sole maker, but if they cared to look about they would find that most of the so called "small" makers have only made low or even no increase. Another thing is that the "small" companies never retire stock, they don't need to as all production is under their own control, they do not need to waste money shifting container loads all over the world, the moulds are put on the shelf and used whenever an order comes in. No need for mad panic buying, the figures will still be there in a years time or ten years. Which brings me on to another thing. Why are some companies designated as the"Big boys"? If you measure a company by the range of figures AVAILABLE then most of the "small" companies outstrip the others by a vast margin. Trooper

I think you make some very good points

 

[Northgate Woods]

I'm having fun...

fun painting toy soldier

fun researching uniforms

fun reading and posting on the Forum

fun emailing and corresponding with like minded people

fun meeting collectors here in OZ and worldwide when I travel overseas

fun going to the toy soldier show in London

fun showing off my painting on my website

fun showing my workshop and collection on National TV

All in all.. FUN ^&grin

John

Simmo mate,
Now see what you have done !!!!! You have got Obee having too much FUN. ^&grin

John mate,
Stop having so much FUN and get back to my repaints. More Halftracks on the way to you.^&grin

Cheers Howard.:smile2: