2019 Year in Review: Plastic Toy Soldiers was not a good year. We lost several people in the hobby. Two main dealers and makers retired. We have received notices several shows next year canceling. American production of new figures was down. Still there were some bright spots.
2018 Year in Review: Plastic Toy Soldiers Passing
We had several people die this year. The one that hit me the most was Bill Lango. Bill besides being the promoter of a great show the East Coast Toy Soldier Show, he was a very good friend. We would correspond via email and just talk about various things. Also at various shows beside his own we talked.
Two makers and dealer Nick Versteeg of TSSD and Ron Barzso of Barzso’s Collectibles retired. Nick has had ongoing health problems and along with his wife Deana sold their figure line to Dave and Kim cook. Ron just closed his business down after doing one more playset with Ken Chiak of LOD Enterprises.
2018 Year in Review: Plastic Toy Soldiers Shows
First we had two shows announce they would not be doing a show in 2019. Texas show stated that the hotel had new management and raised their prices. West Coaster Show is another one that will not be in 2019. I can not say why at this time. Any information will be appreciated.
East Coast Toy Soldier Show also at this time is done. With its promoter Bill Lango gone, the family did it one more time in 2018. There have been rumors that it may continued but nothing definite.
2018 Year in Review: Plastic Toy Soldiers Figures
Another company that was prolific this year was Expeditionary Force. They did figures in various historical periods. Next year they plan to have more figures out enhancing their line.
2018 Year in Review: Plastic Toy Soldiers Stad’s
2018 was up and down year for us. Sales were slower on Ebay. Finding items was harder at flea markets. Still we had a great year. We had a great year. After many years Laurie and I were able to get the Plastic Warrior show. We did not tell anyone and it was a great surprise. The show was great and it was great to see are old friends. Sad part we could only be over for a few days. Hopefully we can get back again next year.
2018 Year in Review: Plastic Toy Soldiers Stadsstuff
I have been very pleased on the ongoing success of Stadsstuff. Stadsstuff has come to be the go to place for information on new product and shows. Another pleasure has been to see people comment on our various posts. They have been interesting at times.
We could not do Stadsstuff with out the help of you the readers. I would especially like to thank my friends from Europe have shared their photos of shows with us. Also a thank you goes out to Markus Lecksheid, Peter Bergner and Erwin Sell among others for their contributions.
In 2019 Stadsstuff will continue its task of sharing and helping the hobby. One fun thing will be learning more how to use WordPress new Gutenberg system.
In close Laurie, boys and I wish you all a Happy New Year.
A good, interesting report.
When you get to be my age, you see time going by as a continuous stream of events and developments, rather than segmented calender events. But when you look at 2018 as a entity all by itself, it’s undoubtedly true the year has been marked by some sad and/or discouraging occurences which were unforeseen: the loss or departure of Nick VerSteeg, Ron Barzso, and Bill Lango to the hobby, with the resultant demise of two big shows (East Coast Show and Texas Show). These two shows may or may not ever come back, and the regular, annual contributions of Nick and Ron are hard to replicate.
As your report notes, however, LOD, ExForce, Paragon, and several new East European/Russian/Ukranian companies are now making outstanding contributions, with CTS continuing to operate as the great, established, dependable business it always has been.
And the arrival in the mail today of the January/February issue of Rusty Kern’s
Playset Magazine once again reminds me of what a truly great, colorful publication our hobby is now blessed with. So, anyway, time goes on, never standing still.
The next big toy soldier event for my personally is the Midwest Toy Soldier Show in Lafayette, Indiana, now barely three months away the first week of April. I just confirmed my weekend reservations at the show’s location with the Marriott Inn and Conference Center, where I’m hoping this year to see Ken Ciak of LOD, with his new Trojan War Amazons — as well as all the other regular attendees, like John Stengel Jr., Rick Eber, and so many others — both dealer/collectors, along with just plain collectors.
Again, good report, Paul — and happy New Year to you, your wife, and those three beloved little dogs.
unfortunate that for some of us prices of plastics let alone metal,are getting absurd,,the quality is great
You are right, Mr. Smith. I recently was getting ready to order two small bags of one of the less expensive 54mm soft plastic figures today —- MARS, each bag containing 16 figures. I noticed the price for the two bags together was $45.00. With postage, the total price was in excess of $50.00. I think that’s a pretty substantial price to pay, even today, for two small bags of current production.
In other words, while Plastic Platoon is VERY EXPENSIVE, even some of the other run-of-the mill figures like MARS have also gotten fairly pricey.
Well done realistic report.
Not as some I had seen that looks fairly tale.The hobby is down as been in past 5 years or so.
Companies are closing and few surging in the US least.
Europe is more active minus UK.
Specially east Europe as Paul says.
Yet with east Europe high and lower prices plus EXF making more sets than any per year in history of this hobby,Lod and few others here it is still alive and struggling.
In my opinion the quick transition to short run productions will be the key x subsecess and survival by most makers and collectors.
Long run will be x a person w money to spend or waste as far does not hurt and because process making each set else take longer will be more sporadically .
Meanwhile we got stads w the best update in new products in hobby as blog.
plus so many old stuff.
my though
best
In my opinion the differences between vintage figure prices and new production had become almost same and on many cases new figures maker set are more expensive.
it looks like inflation but same time is like hobby market has adjusted to what a true collector hobby is.
To collect special limited particulates items x a percentage of clients, the market has to adjust versus demand and cost.
Commodity and collect is a price often high than low.
To collect you have to be willing spend.
In the other side of coin.
For those not strict collectors such war gamers .the price rise in new figures is bad and affect them.
my thoughts.
Many thanks to you Paul and to Laurie for your contributions to our hobby, in 2018 and before. I always look forward to the Stad’s Stuff postings! All the best for a happy & healthy New Year 2019