Zach's Collection (2 Viewers)

[jazzeum]

Is that a JG backdrop. It meshes very well with everything in your photos. Thought the photos came out great.

 

[zblang]

It is. I glue them onto pieces of sheet insulation so they easily stand up behind the little mini scene

 

[zblang]

Another standard Bearer joins the ranks!

Imperial Roman Auxiliary Cavalry Standard Bearer - Ala II Flavia First Legion-ROM118

 

[zblang]

I was playing around today and thought I'd share some photos.
This is my ACW Camp Life diorama that I've been playing around with. I am still looking to add some more ground cover, brush etc. Nothing is permanently attached, so this one will be changing often.
The figures are both Britains and ONTC (including the huts - one from each company)
Trees are JG miniatures
Mat is Build-a-rama

 

[zblang]

 

[zblang]

I'm not sure why, but when people post dioramas, I like seeing the thing from afar and seeing what it looks like so....

 

[thebritfarmer]

Great job on the dio, love these camp scenes.

 

[jazzeum]

Great job. What did you use as groundwork or was that part of the mat?

 

[zblang]

It's the mat. It's the grass mat with clearing, or something like that

 

[jazzeum]

Thanks. I like those JG backdrops that are more art than photograph as they tend to give a scene an artistic look.

 

[zblang]

I find they blend better than photographic one - those are too real for the figures.
I've ordered some more. I've been affixing them to thin sheets of insulation and they are great. On the insulation, they are just thick enough to stand on their own and you don't have to worry them falling over or curling up on you

 

[zblang]

I finally got around to ordering some Kronprinz civilians for my "Assassination of Heidrich" set up. While I was on the website - I got a bit out of hand, as is the norm, and grabbed Rhett Butler, Scarlet O'Hara, "Slave boy" and some Romans.

The first photo is the new release in the Israel-Arab war series from Ready 4 Action. He is an Israeli medic

 

[zblang]

First Legion Mameluke and Takeda Standard Bearers...

 

[Andanna]

Zach, I was just wondering whether you would collect any NAZI standard bearers. I would not want them in my house, but I am sure they are being made.

I remember visiting a collector whose wife made him hide them when they expected guests. That must feel real odd getting a request like that.

 

[zblang]

Nope. Only nazis in my house are heidrich being blown up and the dead one with the partisans made by Thomas gunn (I think they were TG).
I had a beautiful aeroart Indian flag bearer that I loved. Brad informed me that group was nazi sympathizers and I got rid of it the next day.

 

[zblang]

As long as we're talking about them - here are my nazis...all having very bad days! {sm4}

 

[hotel3alpha]

Nope. Only nazis in my house are heidrich being blown up and the dead one with the partisans made by Thomas gunn (I think they were TG).
I had a beautiful aeroart Indian flag bearer that I loved. Brad informed me that group was nazi sympathizers and I got rid of it the next day.

Yeah, ZB I don't know how I ended up with some Nazi stuff but I am getting rid of it all. I got this SS set from 21st Century Toys I am selling and I really don't remember how I got them. I opened a box from storage and there they were with the rest of my 21st Century business!?! I think they came in a lot I purchased once from this weird lady in Central Texas. Any who, they are online for sale and what is crazy is that that set (which did not sell and had to re-list) had like 289 views and 14 watchers. I just don't get it. I have another creepy toy soldier story...but I will tell you that one in person.

Anywho, there's these two brothers-Jake and Dinos Chapman who created these really creeped out Nazi Hell dio's. I stumbled upon the photos one day reading The Huffington Post...ZB they are just weird man, but the massiveness of the dio reminded me of a project/dio I have been wanting to do for a long time. I remember watching (back in the day...turn dial TV) this old black and white PBS documentary's on WWII with my dad. At the conclusion of one of doc's there was this shot of the thousands of German soldiers walking in formation as prisoners. There up close shots of their scared faces and shots of kids amongst the grown men marching with their hand behind their heads. Anyway, American GI's were escorting them and there was a shot of one of the GI's kicking a German in the *** and another smacking passerby Nazis around. They were worn, defeated and rightly humiliated, but the size of the formation was huge and I just could not comprehend what I was watching. It was not until later in life when I really understood the history behind it and I have tried in vain to find that documentary but to no avail. However, as a kid I wondered how only a few GI's could escort thousands of dudes who would not fight back. Like I said, later in life I understood, but that documentary and those images stuck in my mind and I see it befitting that the only Nazi's I would display would be the defeated ones. So, I plan on doing a Nazi POW dio some day of that image I saw as a kid.

John from Texas

 

[Andanna]

Excellent story, John. Thank you for sharing it.

 

[zblang]

Yup - It's amazing how the defeated mind can be controlled by the few. Just look at the ratio of Nazis to Jews, etc in concentration camps. By sheer numbers, the "prisoners" easily over take the camp, but by that point you are so defeated, there is nothing that can be done. I too didn't understand this as a kid and it used to piss me off. I'd ask my father all the time how people can get to that point and lose the will to fight for freedom. He said I'd understand someday...I do.

I know there were young men in the "German Army" who were fighting for their country like any others would (there is some debate about this, I realize). But Nazis were a different story - that was a choice in my opinion. As such, I have no sympathy for any suffering they were forced to endure. I love it everyday I see news reports of Israel or other nations arresting 90 yr old men for war crimes...I don't care how old or sick they are - they should be punished (all of this is my opinion obviously).

All of this said, I don't understand the toy soldier world's fascination with Nazi collecting, but as a true blooded American, I will fight all day and all night for their right to collect this crap!

 

[zblang]

Ps
Before anyone shuts this down - as this thread is about my collection, i want it clear that I am A-OK with this discussion being in here