It has been already reported in various places that Paragon will have their take on Fort Apache. (which from the pictures I have seen is very impressive.) Paragon noted on Hobby Bunker’s forum they will have a new playset The Apache Wars. Paragon will also have five new terrain pieces and latest set of cavalry figures. The final offering has me intrigue Paragon is doing foam pieces of dead horses and a dead trooper.
I went to the Paragon Scenics and Miniatures site in response to this post, and you’re right —- it’s a very impressive offering. I initially thought that why would we need a new Fort Apache when Barzso did one just a couple of years back, which itself was quite a neat fort. But this from Paragon is completely different. I note from the website that “prices are coming”, and it will be at OTSN. Since I’m now on an approximate 36 hour countdown before I arrive in Chicagoland, I expect to see it there, and hopefully acquire it. I guess the playset money that used to go to Barzso will go to Paragon this year.
By this time tomorrow I’ll be all set up and ready for business.
Ed
Have a good time and let us know how it goes. As I was not planning on going, I thought the show was next week.
Don
Yes the Fort Apache is nice, but I have no room for it, so I will have to look at the pictures and dream. Enjoy the show and see if Hobby Bunker has anything new in reissues.
Chicagoland, here I come! Actually, Paul, I don’t have any more room for a big new fort either, which raises the question as to why I keep acquiring this stuff. I’m planning on seeing Bill Murphy. He doesn’t know it yet, but I’m planning on buying him breakfast at the Hyatt-Regency breakfast buffet, since he was so helpful at the Michigan Toy Soldier Show in providing me with some additional table space I needed. Ed Borris, I expect I’ll be seeing you sometime on Friday. I wonder if Kent (Ken?) Sprector (not sure I’m getting the spelling correct) comes to OTSN. I’ve never met him, and don’t even know what he looks like, but I consult his figure identification website regularly, and would like to meet him.
Don
Kent last name is Sprecher. It is an honest mistake. Kent has been at OTSN several times. He set up at least once. From the one picture I have seen of Kent he is tall. I am sure Kent will give more details on his OTSN experience.
Here is Kent’s Facebook Website. No, the owner of ToySoldierHQ will not be at OTSN this year. It will be interesting to see how the show turns out, new products and all …
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pEEgEE
Which raises the question: Is Paul Gruendler going to be at OTSN this year?
I used to have a job in medical sales and my territory included Chicago. So…. I would plan a sales trip to Chicago to overlap OTSN and only have to pay 2 days hotel. I would ship some boxes to the hotel and do room trading. One year I set up and sales were low due to the recession. I am now making a living on toy soldiers due to corporate greed and can not afford to go to shows where I can’t at least break even. OTSN was a monster in the 80s but due to the economic downturn has faded. If I go north it will be to the Indianapolis show or to the Marx WV show which I think are the two best shows to sell at now. Stad you are correct, I am 6’4″ 310lbs a true 60mm figure 🙂
Kent
It is great when you can mix business with pleasure. Sadly to do OTSN is a big expense if you are from outside the area. Hopefully I will get back one of these years.
I agree. Coming from Florida I would need to stop one night each way + 3 nights at the show so $500 for hotels, $300 for gas, $180 for two tables. You have to eat anyway but food on the road would add maybe $100. So about $1,100 in expenses. So you would need to sell $2,200 just to break even if you can double your money on inventory, I sell mostly single figures for $1-5 each so it would be very hard to make money, You need to be selling complete playsets or higher dollar metal figures and scenic pieces to do well. I have been doing the Palm Beach show where I have 5 tables only one night in a hotel and with gas my expenses are $300-350. Last year I made a profit but the year before I did not.
Kent
For me I have to make it in the items I buy as I do not do a table at a show. I have been staying close to base this year with one exception as I can find enough items for resell and I have no hotel expenses. The one expectation was Plastic Warrior. We went over as we had not been over there in three years and we wanted to see friends from Europe after my health scare last year. OTSN has become cost prohibitive either flying or driving.
The Paragon Fort Apache, I didn’t confirm this but it was told to me by someone that did, that to have a complete Paragon Fort Apache the price would be in the $300.00 range, it is very nice and very impressive. I also heard that he will be doing Alamo figures in the future and that they will be the true 54mm size, I look forward to them.
Paragon had a full, impressive Fort Apache on display by Saturday morning at OTSN, but it was a prototype, not for sale. The whole display was marked with prices per piece (wall, tower, HQ building, stable, etc.) which Paragon didn’t have added up, but a quick glance at the list of separate prices very well would have totaled in the $300.00 range. The room was crowded so I wasn’t able to corner the owner of Paragon to ask about availability or timelines or if they were taking orders. All I ended up purchasing there was a single bag of their new unmounted cavalry with horse holders. The owner’s wife was there to take payment and explained they only had the light blue for the show, with the medium blue having been delayed for a week. If memory serves me correctly, Ron Barzso’s price for his Ticonderoga-like “stone fortress” and then the Fort William Henry star fort was $329.00. This new, painted Fort Apache is so big and so unique in appearance from any other toy soldier fort ever made that a $300.00 price won’t strike those who see it in person as unreasonable. Had the fort been available for purchase at OTSN I very well might have made an impulse purchase of it there on the spot. As it is, now that I’ve cooled down, I think I’ll think about it, and give it another look at the Indiana show in March. You can always order it, but I bet shipping costs alone will be $40.00.
Confirmation from another source, I feel like I have reliable sources now. It was VERY impressive indeed. I also like the horse handlers, I think they’ll make a nice addition to anyones Custer’s Last Stand or any other Cavalry versus Indians battle that you have planned. I may have to buy another bag or two.
Don
Sometimes I am glad when makers show prototypes only as it gives me a chance to pull back and decide do I need an item. The fort looks impressive, I just do not have the space for it. I wish them luck on it.
Hmmm, no comments on the TSSD Alamo figures. I may be predjudiced because I like anything Alamo ( the exception being the BMC figures), but I thought they were very good. Two of the Mexican poses are pretty standard ( firing up and running with rifle across the chest), but the other two are indeed unique poses full of action. The Texans indeed look like folks trying to repell an attack, one seemingly firing down a ladder and another with a rock/stone about to see if he can crack someone’s crown. Another one appears to be warding off a sword swipe while readying his pistol or knife. The last one , my least favorite looks to either be gathering up his weapons to rush to the walls or realizes he’s done for is getting ready to meet his fate, but will try and take someone with him on his journey. All in All I was satisfied.
Ed
I am curious what other people think of the new TSSD Alamo as well. I like the Mexican poses, but the Texans I am not thrilled with. First it is the poses, while it is nice to have a figure shooting down, it would have been better if they could have had a figure where the arm could have been positioned either shooting down or could be position to shoot straight. The guy thrown the rock is a limited pose, I am sure people will not want many of him. Also the hats on two of the figures look way too big.
Yeah, but the guy throwing the rock has great conversion possibilities, with a little cutting and pinning he could be swinging a pistol, a tomahawk or even a rifle, plus his arms could be attached to other figures and swinging the same objects. Besides he has a lot of life in him. You’re right about the guy shooting down if he had a movable plug arm he’d be very versatile
We have posted good images of all the new 1/32 sets on our blog and upcoming pages
These photos are at Michigan toy soldier Site for those who want to see the figures. Other dealers should have the figures as well and you can check them for prices and photos.