A Guy Walks into a Bar.

[OldManModeler]

Circa 2010;

Well, actually, I walk into a swap meet at a VFW, (Veterans oF Foreign Wars), not a bar. Sorry.

Anyway, I walk the few aisles at the VFW swap meet and meet a bearded man selling model kits. And he was also selling space to sellers and takers at a small price to a model swap meet and wargamers show. Which was to take place a few months later.

We spoke a bit and I said that I have some kits to sell. His eyes grew dark, then they shown like a star. He said, "What have you got"? I said, "Mostly 1/35th WWII stuff, Dragon, Tamiya, etc, etc. And a couple 1/6th scale kits as well". I asked what the buy-in would be to have a sales table. He asks, "How many kits are we talking about"? I says: "About (50) 1/35th, and (2 ) 1/6th. A few 1/48th and 72nd and an odd 1/56th scale or two. Maybe 100 kits in total".

So, the man signs me up for a sales table at his up-and-coming model kit and wargamer show, as a seller with a table. I pay the man in cash, ask for a receipt, (never got one), and I go on my way. It was only $50. He says, "I'll remember you brother"

I say "Semper Fi" and go on my way.

Anyway.

Marking my phone calendar with the model show date. I get home and tell the wife that I am going to a plastic model show as a seller and I can unload some of these kits that I will never build. I am getting old.

I was excited also, because I used to wargame in 1/285th scale, WWII era, and I have been too busy living life with the wife and kids to wargame much since I married and had children. And a mortgage or two. And debt. Heck, I want to experience a wargamers show. And I have some kits in the stash to unload because life is too short to build a kit that you don't think that you will ever actually build.

The novelette, but true story continues... With GI Joes and lots of beer...

Until next time, Be well. Model on.

Eric

 

[OldManModeler]

So, Game Day, or model / wargame Day comes.

My wife and I pack up my model kits into boxes and load up the truck the night before.

The model and wargame show is held at a German Beer Garten in the states. I have lots of panzer kits to sell, so I am thinking that bit is a good sign.

We pull in, and I tell the concierge that we are registered sellers. He checks his manuscript, and we are in the log and he tells us what table to set up at. All is good. The bearded man at the VFW swap meet was legit!

We set up our kits for sale and I go order a beer for me and my wife.

i walk the aisles and see some wargamimg getting started. 72nd scale and some sci-fi stuff. And Goblins and Orcs too. I am amused.

 

[OldManModeler]

Then come the rows of the 12" action figures. Well known as GI Joes. Massive 1/6 scale vehicles. Including halftracks and Jeeps. And then the specialists are there too. You can buy a head, or just a torso, of a 12" (1/6th) action figure. Weapons and mess kits and uniforms and boots or shoes and.... it was off the wall.

 

[OldManModeler]

Switching gears from action figures to wargaming: If you don't know, wargaming is a living and moving diorama. With multi sided dice, game books and rulers these folks are waging war where nobody actually dies, and smallish model kits are the shining star.

These guys have towns and villages and trees and shrubbery. Bridges and overhead aircraft on little stick holders. Hills and rivers. It was awesome to see. It was and is: Beautiful.

It brought back memories.

 

[BlackSheepTwoOneFour]

WarHammer… I know it's a game. You wouldn't believe how some of them are pure die hards. I call them WarHammerhead Nerds. LOL !

 

[OldManModeler]

WarHammer… I know it's a game. You wouldn't believe how some of them are pure die hards. I call them WarHammerhead Nerds. LOL !

Yep, Nerds galore. But I am there selling scale model kits, so I fall into a certain scale model nerd niche myself. Not quite as nerdy or needy, in my own mind. But still, I am a fan of scale model kits and war gaming too, from the past in 1/285th scale. I fit, but I don't. If you know what I mean. I have a wife and a life.

Most of my friends and family do not understand my love of scale models. Why I build them and what my attraction is to these kits. I tell them that it's my release from life's stress and that it is historical, fantasy, and a 3-dimensional art form. Which I love. It is an escape, of sorts. Sure, one of my brothers-in-law thinks that I am still a kid at heart. He is 100 percent correct in a way. It is an art form. Sadly, I am no artist. But I try and love the path.

Back to the show:
I wanted to ask a couple dudes, especially in the 12" action figure area, if they ever actually kissed a woman. But I thought better not to say anything because I was guessing that some of them were not into girls / women at all. So, it wasn't my business, and I didn't and don't care. If they are having fun with a peaceful hobby of GI Joes. Go for it.

 

[OldManModeler]

So, the bearded man from post #1 comes by our table. He asks my wife who she was and why she was there. I walk up a minute later and greet him, he asks me who are you and how did you get this sales table.

Oh crap, really?

So, I explain the history of our meeting at a VFW swap meet and yada yada. And that I was in the manifest log with an assigned table. He says, I don't remember you. But carry on.

 

[OldManModeler]

Finishing it up.

The bearded guy comes by and asks the same questions a couple times. ""Who are you and why do you have a table at my show"? The explanation from me is the same. He eventually leaves us alone. I think the German beer is strong with him.

We sell 4 kits in total. Four, as in (4)! I sold them at about 1/2 of retail prices. Nobody was buying.

The last kit I that "sold" there was an old 1970's era Tamiya Panzer 2. We've all seen them. It comes with about 4 figures running alongside of it. A young man, 8 or 9 years old, comes by with his dad. It was awesome. Dad says that his son wants to get into building kits, and he doesn't have much money to spend. As I am packing up my stash of kits back into boxes, I hand the young man the panzer II. The boys eyes light up and he wants it. I whisper to the young man's dad, it's free. On the house. Take it. Then dad slips me a 5-dollar bill on the sly. I whisper, no Sir. Please. It's free to a young future model maker. He will help keep this hobby alive and strong. I hand the Fiver back.

 

[OldManModeler]

That young man may be a master model maker of scale kits today. Maybe even on this forum. Either way, I hope that he found a place with his dad to build together and make memories.

Be Well. God Bless.

Eric

 

[Pantherman]

That young man may be a master model maker of scale kits today. Maybe even on this forum. Either way, I hope that he found a place with his dad to build together and make memories.

Be Well. God Bless.

Eric

Great story. Pantherman

 

[BlackSheepTwoOneFour]

Finishing it up.

The bearded guy comes by and asks the same questions a couple times. ""Who are you and why do you have a table at my show"? The explanation from me is the same. He eventually leaves us alone. I think the German beer is strong with him.

We sell 4 kits in total. Four, as in (4)! I sold them at about 1/2 of retail prices. Nobody was buying.

The last kit I that "sold" there was an old 1970's era Tamiya Panzer 2. We've all seen them. It comes with about 4 figures running alongside of it. A young man, 8 or 9 years old, comes by with his dad. It was awesome. Dad says that his son wants to get into building kits, and he doesn't have much money to spend. As I am packing up my stash of kits back into boxes, I hand the young man the panzer II. The boys eyes light up and he wants it. I whisper to the young man's dad, it's free. On the house. Take it. Then dad slips me a 5-dollar bill on the sly. I whisper, no Sir. Please. It's free to a young future model maker. He will help keep this hobby alive and strong. I hand the Fiver back.

View attachment 126871

That's awesome! The perfect armor kit for any 9 year old can do.

 

[airdave]

 

[Down Time]

Great thread!!!!