TSSD

_____________________________

NOTES, QUOTES and COMMENTS

___________________________

MORE NEWS FROM THE MANUFACTURERS CORNER

"SLOW STEAMING"

The contents of this article do not constitute legal advice. You should always consult an experienced attorney
about legal issues that arise from particular situations as the individual facts may warrant different legal
conclusions in a given case. Mr. Street is a partner at the law firm of GKG Law, P.C and has served as Toysa’s
legal counsel since 1991.
 

Slow steaming, which is a deliberate reduction by ocean carriers of the speed at which their vessels operate, first began two or three years ago as some carriers adopted the practice as a means to reduce their fuel costs. Its popularity has grown to such an extent that it now represents an important strategy for the ocean carrier industry. The FMC’s Notice of Inquiry states: “More than half of the 45 weekly services operating between U.S. West Coast ports and Asia are currently slow steaming, while more than three-fourths of the 15 weekly services operating between U.S. East Coast ports and Asia are doing so.” The practice is also prevalent in the U.S. Atlantic trades, but not to as great an extent. According to the FMC, “Just 20% of the 15 weekly services operating between the United States and North Europe are currently slow steaming.”

What accounts for the burgeoning popularity of this practice? For the vessel operators, the answers seem pretty simple. It reduces costs of fuel, which goes directly to the bottom line. One
Maersk executive has stated that the largest ships burn 320 tons of fuel a day when traveling at full
speed, but only 40 tons a day when they sail as slowly as possible. This results in huge savings.
Slow steaming also effectively reduces vessel capacity, thereby driving up prices. One analyst,
Alphaliner, reported that slow steaming had effectively reduced the capacity of the container fleet by
4.4% as of late 2010. Thus, slow steaming reduces carrier’s costs wile increasing freight rates. What
could be better for carriers? Actually, there is something. That is, slow steaming is also beneficial to
the environment because it reduces greenhouse gas emissions from the ships. In 2009, Maersk
Lines was named Sustainable Shipping Operator of the Year, largely as the result of the impact of
slow steaming on its environmental emissions. Maersk issued a press release stating:
Whenever we are able to cut fuel consumption we achieve two things at the same time:
we lower our emissions of greenhouse gases and we save costs. Super slow steaming
enables us to reduce costs with the additional advantage of benefiting the climate and
without diminishing our service. This really has a lot of potential for us.

No kidding. Reduce costs, increase rates and become an environmental superhero. What could be
better than that?

For shippers, as usual where the carriers are concerned, the story is quite different. In fact, it
may appear that, for shippers, the impact of slow steaming is a virtual mirror image of the carriers.
Where the carriers have reduced their costs, the costs to shippers have risen. Indeed, ocean freight
rates have generally risen in conjunction with the large scale adoption of slow steaming by the
carriers. It appears the carriers have been happy to pass on the price increases associated with the
capacity restrictions that result from slow steaming but have thus far neglected to pass on the cost
savings arising from lower fuel utilization.

Moreover, there are other impacts of slow steaming that are increasingly of worry to shippers.
For example, in addition to effectively reducing the capacity of vessels, slow steaming also reduces
the availability of containers. Lack of containers makes ocean carrier services more expensive and
less reliable. Further, it even appears that one of the claimed benefits of slow steaming - - increased
service reliability - - has not been happening. According to a respected shipping analyst, Drewry
Shipping Consultants, reliability of vessel services has actually decreased as slow steaming has
become more prevalent. For example, according to Drewry, 60% of vessels arrived on time or a day
early during the first three quarters of 2009. However, in the fourth quarter of 2009, vessel
punctuality dropped to 54% in the Transpacific, 55% in the Transatlantic, and 50% in the
Asia/Europe/Mediterranean trades. According to Drewry, these results were especially disappointing in light of the fact that reliability of transit times should improve with slow steaming because there are extra buffers in the schedule. In other words, with slow steaming, vessels can increase their speeds to make up for delays and to achieve on-time arrivals. Apparently, this has not been happening.

There are other, less evident, problems with slow steaming for shippers. For example, slow steaming means longer transit times and longer transit times increase inventory tied up, which has a cost associated with it. Shippers may have to purchase more inventory to keep their supply chains running smoothly. Longer transit times also impact planning. For shippers who rely on just-in-time delivery of products, either for manufacturing plans or for meeting advertised store sale deadlines, longer transit times combined with decreased service reliability can cause massive headaches. All in all, slow steaming as it has developed in practice may be giving shippers the worst of all possible worlds; higher costs with worse standards of service. As the new Chairman of the Maritime Transport Council for the European Shippers Council stated in his inaugural address:

“The ocean carrier industry is one of the few sectors that believes it can reduce service quality while simultaneously increasing prices.”

This is the arena into which the FMC has jumped with its Notice of Inquiry. It appears the FMC has some understanding of the problems caused by slow steaming. In the Notice of Inquiry, the agency states:
These trade offs for U.S. importers and exporters assume that carriers pass at least a portion of the cost savings from slow steaming on their customers. In the U.S. trades, where the vast majority of liner cargo travels under annual service contracts, it is unclear whether ocean carrier’s customers have received those savings - - either through adjustments to bunker fuel surcharges or the underlying rates.

However, the FMC appears to be approaching this subject with an open mind, stating that slow steaming is a complex issue with advantages and disadvantages for both carriers and shippers depending on trade conditions and commodity transported.” The FMC also notes that while a good deal of commentary and analysis have appeared in the trade press regarding the benefits that carriers derive from slow steaming services, information about how this practice has affected American exporters and importers is limited.” The Notice of Inquiry is designed to help remedy this lack of knowledge. In the Notice, the FMC has set forth a series of questions directed to shippers and another series of questions directed to ocean liner carriers.

It has also posed specific questions to
rate agreements that establish bunker surcharge guidelines and other questions directed to all interested parties. Responses to the Notice of Inquiry are, however, totally voluntary. Thus the Commission will be informed only to the extent that knowledgeable participants in the industry take the time to submit comments.

One possible disadvantage of the Notice of Inquiry is that the Commission intends to make the comments publicly available. Only commercially sensitive information may be treated as confidential. This may have obvious drawbacks for some shippers who may not wish the ocean carriers to know that they are providing negative comments to the FMC. Nevertheless, anybody that wishes to submit comments may obtain a copy of the Notice of Inquiry on the FMC’s website at www.fmc.gov. Comments may be submitted to the FMC via email sent to Secretary@fmc.gov as an attachment to an email submission.
At the end of the day, it is not obvious that the FMC has authority to do anything about slow steaming. To date, it does not appear that any of the major carrier agreements have actually discussed or reached internal agreement on instituting slow steaming practices. Thus, the FMC will not be able to use its authority over vessel operator agreements to encourage changes in practices. To the extent that individual carriers make their own decisions about slow steaming, it will be very difficult for the FMC to do anything more than focus public awareness on the pros and cons of the practice. Simply doing this, however, may be of benefit to shippers if they can use the knowledge gained from this publicity to negotiate better service contract arrangements with their carrier partners.

________________________________

NO.  I AM NOT A COMING ATTRACTION.

I LIVE IN THE EASTERN WOODS, AND IT'S HUNTING SEASON.

( I HAVE MY EYE ON FARMER BROWN'S BIG COW...JUST STANDING THERE....CHEWING..... )

________________________________

A BIG "THANK YOU"!

TO ALL COLLECTORS, DEALERS, MANUFACTURERS, AND THE SHOW PROMOTERS FOR MAKING THE 30th ANNUAL "OTSN" SHOW A ROARING SUCCESS!!

THE EVENT WAS WELL RUN AS ALWAYS, WELL ATTENDED, WITH BRISK SALES ALL WEEK, AND TOTAL EXHAUSTION GUARANTEED!

THANKS DON & STEVE!!

( GREAT CALENDAR, BY THE WAY! )

_________________________________

SCENES FROM CHICAGO

PANORAMIC SEAWALL

 

NORMANDY VILLAGE DIORAMA

THE ALAMO NORTH WALL AND MORE.

IN THE LEFT REAR CORNER ARE THE WHITE MOCK-Ups FOR THE "GRANARY AND CONVENTO" - 2011

FRONT RIGHT IS THE NEW "NORTHWEST CORNER BUILDING" WITH 2 ROOF MOUNTED GUNS & RAMP.

CENTER-FRONT IS THE LARGE "NORTH WALL GUN EMPLACEMENT" WITH 3 CANNONS.

DOWN THE LEFT SIDE ARE THE "MODEL MASTERS" FOR THE "NE CORNER BLDG" AND THE "STABLE".

ALSO PICTURED ARE A "LONG BARRACK" PIECE, AND THE 4 PIECE CHURCH BUILDING.

PAINTED GUYS

_______________________________

"1776"

THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR SERIES

 COMING IN 2011

OOOPS! SORRY, AND MY APOLOGIES.

WHILE ATTENDING THE CHICAGO SHOW, WE DISCOVERED THAT A FRIEND AND FELLOW MANUFACTURER ALSO HAD PLANS TO DO THIS PERIOD, AND SIMILAR FIGURE SETS TO WHAT WE HAD SCHEDULED.

( GREAT "TOY SOLDIER" MINDS THINK ALIKE!! )

RATHER THAN DUPLICATE THE EFFORT, WHICH WOULD NOT BENEFIT THE COLLECTORS, WE HAVE "WITHDRAWN FROM THE FIELD OF BATTLE", AND WE WILL CONCENTRATE ALL OF OUR EFFORTS ELSEWHERE.

( PERHAPS IN THE NEAR FUTURE WE WILL RE-ADDRESS THIS PERIOD OF AMERICAN HISTORY.  WE REALIZE THAT THERE WERE MANY DIFFERENT UNITS FOR ALL SIDES, PLUS CAVALRY, ARTILLERY, AND ETC.  THE SIZE, SCALE, POSE SELECTIONS,  COLORS OF THE FIGURES, AMONG OTHER THINGS, ALL NEED TO  BE CONSIDERED.  I'M SURE WE WILL DO SOME "REV WAR" AS I LOVE THE PERIOD MYSELF.  I HAVE YET TO MAKE A SET THAT WAS FOR "ME";  AS A BUSINESSMAN, I CANNOT AFFORD TO DO THAT.   WHILE FLYING HOME YESTERDAY FROM CHICAGO, DeANNA AND I DID SOME BRAIN ( dead ) STORMING, AND CAME UP WITH OUR ENTIRE 2011 YEAR.  [ MAYBE IT WAS THE BLOODY MARYS? ].  I HOPE YOU'ALL WILL LIKE IT.  IT IS "DIFFERENT", BUT I CANNOT ELABORATE ON IT AT THIS TIME; ALL IN DUE COURSE. )

JUST KNOW THAT NEXT YEAR WILL BE GREAT FOR ALL PLASTIC COLLECTORS!

....AND GET OUT AND SUPPORT THE SHOWS AND THE HOBBY!!

THANK YOU AS ALWAYS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!!

______________________________

RESIN

ON ANOTHER FRONT, IF YOU HAVE SEEN, AND TOUCHED, STEVE WESTON'S "CATTLE DRIVE" SET, YOU KNOW THAT IT IS VERY COOL, THE CATTLE LOOK & FEEL GREAT, AND IT IS RESIN.  THE KIND USED FOR "TRAIN SET-UP FIGURES AND BUILDINGS", ETC.   IT CAN ALSO BE PAINTED.

THIS CAN BE DONE FOR SMALLER SET IDEAS, AND IN SMALLER QUANTITIES, THAN INJECTED MOLDED PLASTIC, AND FOR LESS DOLLARS.

THIS COULD BE USEFUL IN MAKING SUCH THINGS AS: TEXAS RANGERS, COWBOYS, WESTERN STREET PEOPLE, WESTERN WOMEN, CIVILIANS OF ALL ERAS, COMMAND SETS, SPECIALTY FIGURES OF ALL TYPES, CHARACTER FIGURES, MORE "OBSCURE" SETS.   I'M SURE YOU GET THE PICTURE.

I WOULD LOOK FOR MORE OF THIS IN THE FUTURE, AS CHINA COSTS CONTINUE TO RISE STEEPLY FOR INJECTION MOLDED PLASTIC, PLUS THE SHIPPING, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TESTING REQUIREMENTS - FOR UNPAINTED AS WELL AS PAINTED - AND ALL THE OTHER COSTS THAT WE OVERSEAS MANUFACTURERS PAY.

STEEL MOLDS AND INJECTED MOLDED PLASTIC FIGURES ARE VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE TO MAKE WHICH IS WHY YOU SEE SUCH A DROP-OFF IN RECENT PRODUCTION, AND WILL SEE EVEN MORE DROP-OFF IN THAT TYPE OF PRODUCTION FROM NOW ON.

IT'S FUN TO SUGGEST SETS TO BE MADE, WHAT MIGHT BE MADE, WHAT WE WANT TO BE MADE, BUT THE REALITY IS, THE COSTS ARE JUST TOO EXTREME TO MAKE IT ALL, AND IN A HURRY. 

A SET IN CHINA NOW TAKES NEARLY A YEAR, FROM SCULPTING TO ACTUAL DELIVERY.

JUST AN "FYI".

_____________________________

FESS PARKER

1924 - 2010

I WAS SIX.  I HAD THE HAT.  THE RECORD.  THE T-SHIRT.  THE LUNCH BOX. THE ATTITUDE.

I HAD THE MARX DAVY CROCKETT ALAMO PLAYSET.  TWICE.

I HAVE BEEN TO LOS OLIVOS. TO THE WINERY.  I HAVE BEEN TO THE SANTA BARBARA RESORT.

TRULY, "THE GREATEST GENERATION" - AND "OUR" GREATEST "HEROES"

ARE DISAPPEARING FAR TOO FAST - FAR AHEAD OF WHEN WE ARE READY TO REPLACE THEM OR LET THEM GO.

THESE LYRICS FROM THE DANIEL BOONE TV SHOW SAY IT ALL:

Daniel Boone Was A Man,
Yes, A Big Man!
And He Fought For America
To Make All Americans Free!

YEP.

FESS PARKER WAS A BIG MAN

_______________________________

TSSD's 12th ANNUAL

CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE

MANY THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT ATTENDED THE TOY SOLDIER "OPEN HOUSE" THIS PAST SATURDAY.  DESPITE MISSING SOME OF THE "REGULARS" DUE TO WORK, SWINE FLU AND THE CRAPPY ECONOMY - WE HAD A VERY GOOD TURN OUT!!  THANK YOU!!

AND WE HAD "NEW PEOPLE" WHICH IS ALWAYS A GOOD SIGN FOR THE HOBBY.  PLUS PEOPLE WITH HAIR THAT WASN'T GRAY, AND AS ALWAYS WE HAD YOUNG KIDS!!

CONSUMING MANY PIZZAS, SALAD AND CHRISTMAS COOKIES, THE COLLECTORS SEEMED TO FAVOR THE AIP FRENCH & INDIAN WAR SETS, TSSD INDIANS & CAV, COLLECTORS SHOWCASE METAL, AND THE NEW HaT NAPOLEONIC SETS.

THE "BITS `N PIECES" BOX WAS VERY POPULAR!!

BRUCE CHEW AND DAVID KLUECK BROUGHT ALONG A LOT OF HAND PAINTED, CONVERTED FIGURES FOR WWII RUSSIANS, WWII U.S. MARINES, REV WAR AND EVEN PIRATES.  DAVID HAD DONE SOME NICE WORK WITH THE MPC RING HAND PIRATES AND A VARIETY OF WEAPONS.  AND CONGRATULATIONS TO DAVID'S SON FOR ATTENDING NOTRE DAME ON AN ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP THIS YEAR!! HE USED TO BE 8 YEARS OLD; WHERE DOES THE TIME GO!!??

THANKS TO DEANNA FOR DECORATING THE TREE & HOUSE FOR CHRISTMAS, AND FOR HELPING THE CUSTOMERS WITH HER KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOBBY AND PRODUCTS.

WE "THINK" IT WAS OUR 12th ANNUAL - GOING BACK TO THE "BONSALL" DAYS.

THE IMPORTANT THING TO US WAS - MANY HAD BEEN TO ALL THE SHOWS, AND OUR VERY FIRST CUSTOMER, TONY WRIGHT, WAS THERE AS WELL!!

YOU GUYS ARE "THE BEST"!!

THANK YOU ALL!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR, 2010!!

___________________________

DID YOU KNOW THAT...

THE CONSUMER PRODUCTS SAFETY COMMISSION

HAS ESTABLISHED SOME NEW REQUIREMENTS - THAT INCLUDE PLASTIC TOY SOLDIERS.

AUGUST 14, 2008

"BATCH NUMBERS" REQUIRED ON ALL FIGURES

WE COMPLIED WITH THIS REQUIREMENT, AND YOU CAN SEE THE "BATCH NUMBER" ON THE BASE OF EACH FIGURE IN SET # 15.

UNFORTUNATELY, IN THE NEXT SET

# 16 MOUNTED INDIAN WARRIORS

THE FIGURES DO NOT HAVE BASES????

LOOK FOR THE "BATCH NUMBER" ON THE BASES OF THE HORSES AND ON THE PACKAGING.

FEBRUARY 14, 2010

TESTING AND CERTIFICATION

ALL EXISTING PLASTIC FIGURES - PAINTED OR UNPAINTED

MUST BE TESTED AND CERTIFIED BY THIS DATE

TESTING INCLUDES:

 A TEST FOR LEAD CONTENT IN UNPAINTED FIGURES

LEAD IN PAINT - IF PAINTED

AND A TEST FOR PHTHALATES IN ALL FIGURES

( WE ALL HAD PHTHALATES IN OUR TOYS WHEN WE WERE KIDS - RUBBER DUCKIES - WHICH IS WHY WE ARE BRAIN DEAD!? )

THIS ALL HAS TO BE PAID FOR, OF COURSE, BY THE MANUFACTURER.

THE COSTS DO RUN INTO THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

WE HAVE COMPLIED WITH THIS IN THE PAST AND WE WILL COMPLY WITH THIS IN THE FUTURE.

UNFORTUNATELY, I'M AFRAID THAT THESE REQUIREMENTS, DUE TO COSTS, WILL HAVE A VERY BAD EFFECT ON MANY SMALL BUSINESSES; MANY HAVE ALREADY CLOSED.

THIS PERTAINS TO "MOM & POP" AT HOME "ARTS & CRAFTS" FOR KIDS, ITEMS IN THRIFT STORES, EVEN CHURCH STORES, FOREIGN MANUFACTURERS OF TOY SOLDIERS, ALL DOMESTIC MANUFACTURERS OF TOY SOLDIERS - IN SHORT - ANYTHING THAT A CHILD AGED 12 AND UNDER MIGHT GET THEIR HANDS ON.

CALL ME CRAZY, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE A REALLY BAD TIME TO BE HURTING EVEN MORE SMALL BUSINESSES?

CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN, OR WOMAN, OR SENATOR IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS.

__________________________

Virginia Francis Webb Shahan 

Feb 15, 1916  -  June 23, 2009 

"Virginia Francis Webb Shahan, age 93, entered into rest June 23, 2009, at
her residence in Brackettville, Texas. She was born February 15, 1916 in
Del Rio, Texas. She was a long time pioneer rancher, along with husband "Happy" Shahan and their family."

"Owner of The Movie Set and tourist location ALAMO VILLAGE"

HI P-G AND THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE.

WE WERE JUST THERE JUNE 3rd AFTER THE TEXAS SHOW.

VIRGINIA HAD JUST TAKEN A FALL AND WAS IN THE HOSPITAL, BUT NOTHING BROKEN.

WISH WE COULD HAVE TALKED WITH HER AGAIN; SHE WAS A GREAT LADY. I TOOK MY
MOM ( VIRGINIA ) TO MEET HER A FEW YEARS AGO, AND WE USED TO HELP HER GET
"ALAMO" TOY SOLDIERS WHEN THE BMC SETS DISAPPEARED.

THERE IS ALSO A "HOTEL" IN THE MOVIE TOWN NAMED "VIRGINIA".


WE MET WITH RICH CURILLA DURING OUR RECENT VISIT ( THE SHERIFF of ALAMO VILLAGE ), AND HE SHOWED US THE MODEL FOR WHAT EVERYONE HOPES WILL BE THE CONTINUATION AND IMPROVEMENTS OF ALAMO VILLAGE.

THERE IS A GENTLEMAN WHO WAS IN NEGOTIATIONS TO BUY ALAMO VILLAGE, BUT
THERE WAS A QUESTION OVER WATER RIGHTS.

IF HE DOES BUY IT, THE PLAN IS TO TAKE TWO EXISTING BUILDINGS AND MAKE
THEM INTO FUNCTIONING, "PERIOD" HOTELS ON THE PROPERTY.

PLUS AN OFFSITE HOTEL LOCATION WITH A TRAM / TRAIN THAT WOULD TAKE PEOPLE
TO AND FROM THE TOWN.  ALSO A LARGE STABLE FOR ABOUT 100 HORSES - FOR
BOARDING OR RENTAL.


WHEN WE WERE THERE SEVERAL BUS LOADS OF KIDS WERE JUST LEAVING, AND THERE
WERE MAYBE 10 OTHER VISITORS IN THE TOWN. SO AT LEAST IT IS STILL GETTING
SOME VISITORS.

THIS IS THE END OF AN ERA; PEOPLE LIKE HAPPY & VIRGINIA SHAHAN HELPED TO BUILD TEXAS, BUILT AN ALAMO, AND ALWAYS KEPT THE HERITAGE OF TEXAS ALIVE AND WELL.

SO RAISE A TOAST TO THE SHAHANS, THE DUKE AND EVERYONE INVOLVED WITH THE MAKING OF ALAMO VILLAGE 50 YEARS AGO!!

CHEERS,

NICK VERSTEEG
TOY SOLDIERS OF SAN DIEGO

ALAMO VILLAGE

BRACKETTVILLE, TEXAS

JUNE 2009

_________________________

CONSUMER PRODUCTS SAFETY COMMISSION

( CPSC )

HERE THEY GO AGAIN!?

BEGINNING AUGUST 14th, ALL TOYS ARE TO BE IMPRINTED WITH A "BATCH NUMBER", ALONG WITH OTHER INFORMATION.

THIS APPLIES TO TOY SOLDIERS.

I'M NOT SURE WHERE WE ARE SUPPOSED TO "PRINT" A BATCH NUMBER ON A TOY SOLDIER?

AND OF COURSE, NO ONE HAS SAID.

WHAT IF HE IS A MOUNTED FIGURE WITH NO BASE?

ACROSS THE FOREHEAD????

THIS IS GETTING RIDICULOUS!!!!

HANG ON TO YOUR TOYS, AND GUNS, AND FREEDOMS.....

  WHILE YOU CAN!!

__________________________

SALUTE OUR MILITARY

Have you ever seen one of our military walking past  you and wanted to  convey to them your thanks, but weren't sure how to do this?  Or it  felt awkward?  Recently, a gentleman from Seattle created a gesture which  could be used  and has started a movement to get the word out.  Please everybody take just a moment to watch....   The Gratitude Campaign;   .......and then forward it to your friends!   

THEN START USING THE SIGN.    CLICK  HERE:

  http://www.gratitudecampaign.org/shortmovie.php

___________________________

21st CENTURY TOYS

THE PHONE LINE HAS BEEN DISCONNECTED.

WHAT A SHAME.

GREAT PRODUCT AT FAIR PRICES.

BEST OF ALL, NICE PEOPLE.

I HATE TO SEE THIS, AND I WISH THEM ALL WELL.

WE HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY A COMPANY IN CHINA. BASED ON THE PHOTOS AND LISTS THEY SENT US, IT ALMOST APPEARS TO BE "21st" STUFF.

SO, MAYBE THE TORCH HAS BEEN PASSED?

BUT THEY ARE ALSO "PUSHING" 1:18 SCALE?

MORE LATER......

___________________________

CONSUMER PRODUCTS SAFETY COMMISSION

( CPSC )

TESTING & CERTIFICATION

THIS PAST FEBRUARY THE CPSC WAS TO START A PROGRAM OF TESTING ALL PRODUCTS - FOR CHILDREN - UNDER THE AGE OF 12.

THIS WOULD INCLUDE TESTING PAINTED PRODUCTS FOR LEAD AND PLASTIC FOR PHALATES.

THIS WOULD INVOLVE ALL PLASTIC TOYS, AND TOY SOLDIERS.

REALIZING THAT IT MIGHT BE A REALLY BAD TIME TO PUT MORE SMALL BUSINESSES OUT OF BUSINESS, THEY DELAYED THE START OF THE PROGRAM UNTIL NEXT FEBRUARY, 2010.

( I GUESS WE ARE ALL SUPPOSED TO GROW TO BE THE SIZE OF "MATTEL" BY THEN? )

WHAT THIS MEANS - AS AN EXAMPLE:

"FORCES OF VALOR" HAS 100 PRODUCTS.

IF TESTING IS REQUIRED ON ALL ITEMS THIS WOULD COST FOV $ 200,000.

OBVIOUSLY NOT SOMETHING THEY CAN OR WOULD DO.

EACH TSSD SHIPMENT, AND EACH DIFFERENT ITEM IN A SHIPMENT, WOULD REQUIRE TESTING. THIS WILL COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

BASICALLY FOR US, IT HAS MEANT AND WILL MEAN, NO MORE FACTORY PAINTED SETS DUE TO TESTING COSTS. OUR PRODUCTS DO NOT CONTAIN LEAD PAINT OR PHALATES, BUT WE STILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TESTING.

( EVEN FOR UNPAINTED SETS! )

WHEN WE HAVE FACTORY PAINTED SETS MADE, WE USUALLY JUST RUN 500 SETS OF EACH AT A TIME, DUE TO COSTS AND TIME ISSUES. THE TESTING WOULD ADD ABOUT $ 5 TO $ 6 "COST" PER BLISTER PACK, BEFORE MARK-UP TO COVER THE COSTS, AND ULTIMATELY MAKE THE PAINTED SETS UNAFFORDABLE.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE 4 DIFFERENT PAINTED SETS FOR WWII FIGURES - EACH SET WOULD REQUIRE TESTING WITH COSTS RUNNING INTO THE 10's OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

THIS APPLIES TO ALL MOM & POP BUSINESSES THAT MAKE PRODUCTS FOR KIDS, EVEN THRIFT STORES THAT SELL TOYS, AND ETC.

METAL SOLDIERS WILL PROBABLY BE "OK" AS THEY ARE LISTED AND AGE GRADED AS AN ADULT HOBBY OR COLLECTIBLE.

FOR OUR PART WE ARE TRYING TO GET OUR PRODUCTS AGE GRADED TO 14 OR 14+, SINCE WE ACTUALLY SELL TO AN ADULT COLLECTOR MARKET. SO FAR, NO LUCK.

I'M SURE YOU HAVE NOTICED SOME COMPANIES BEING VERY QUIET, OR RELEASING ONLY 1 OR 2 NEW ITEMS THIS YEAR. BESIDES THE ECONOMY, THIS IS ANOTHER REASON WHY.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE CONTINUED PRODUCTION OF NEW PLASTIC TOY SOLDIERS WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU CONTACT YOUR GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS AND TELL THEM THAT THIS MATTER NEEDS THEIR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION!

DON'T BE SHY! THIS IS WHAT THEY WERE HIRED TO DO!

THE "CPSC" NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER IN MUCH MORE DETAIL AS TO CAUSE & EFFECT, AND WHATEVER RULINGS ARE HANDED DOWN NEED TO BE MEASURED WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF MORE LOST JOBS AND BUSINESSES IN THE USA.

IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, THE HOBBY WILL COME TO A SCREECHING HALT IF THIS HAPPENS NEXT YEAR.  I DON'T KNOW OF ANY MANUFACTURER THAT CAN AFFORD THIS, OR IS WILLING TO PAY THIS.

AND I'M SURE THE "ECONOMY- CHALLENGED" COLLECTORS OF AMERICA DO NOT WANT TO PAY HIGHER PRICES DUE TO MORE GOVERNMENT REGULATION AND RED TAPE.

KEEP THE KIDS SAFE - YES - BY ALL MEANS - BUT DON'T PUT INTO PLACE RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT WILL DESTROY BUSINESSES NEEDLESSLY.

SO, IT'S REALLY UP TO YOU TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD! OTHERWISE YOUR CURRENT COLLECTION WILL ALSO BE YOUR FUTURE COLLECTION!

AT THIS POINT THEY DO NOT EVEN SEEM TO KNOW HOW TO MAKE THIS PROCESS HAPPEN, OR HOW TO ENFORCE IT?  IT ALL SEEMS PRETTY HALF BAKED.  MORE RED TAPE.

SEEMS LIKE THE LAST THING WE NEED IS TO HAVE MORE SMALL BUSINESSES FAIL!?

___________________________

THE 3rdANNUAL

"TEXAS TOY SOLDIER SHOW"

MAY 30 - 31, 2009

"CROSS THE LINE"

ALL YOUR FRIENDS WILL BE THERE!

( THE CAST OF THE MOVIE "THE ALAMO" WITH JOHN WAYNE )

NEW VENUE!!  NEW DATE!!

CLICK BELOW

THE TEXAS SHOW 2009

___________________________

TSSD's SET # 12 "ACW"

THE REVIEWS ARE IN:

... your new set "ACW"  is out of this World ....a Must Have for every ACW Collector !!!!

All the Best
 -PJR

......Your new set is very nice.  The ramrod guy looks just like a friend of mine so he will be getting a set.

Hi Nick, My items arrived today - your new ACW set.  Needless to say, I'm very impressed, very happy.

___________________________

THE 3rd ANNUAL

"TEXAS SHOW"

2009

IN 

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

DEALER INFO WILL BE SENT OUT SOON TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES

NEW VENUE!!

THE HISTORIC

"MENGER HOTEL"

( HOME TO THE FAMOUS "ROUGH RIDERS" BAR AND NEXT TO THE ALAMO!! )

http://mengerhotel.com/

THE DATES:

SATURDAY MAY 30, 2009

SUNDAY MAY 31, 2009

( FRIDAY DEALER SET-UP - MAY 29th )

( THIS IS NOT MEMORIAL WEEKEND; IT'S THE WEEKEND AFTER )

THIS WILL BE A TWO DAY

"GRAND BALLROOM"

SHOW!!

FOR THE DEALERS:

EASY ACCESS FOR UNLOADING AND LOADING

NO ELEVATOR MOVING

SET-UP FRIDAY - LEAVE UNTIL SUNDAY

UPS / FEDEX SHIPPING TO THE HOTEL

RETURN SHIPPING PICK-UP ON MONDAY

6 FOOT TABLES WITH "REAL" TABLE CLOTHS AND SKIRTS

WE EXPECT TABLE COSTS TO BE ABOUT THE SAME

PARKING AT THE HOTEL, OR NEARBY, OR DON'T EVEN DRIVE

GREAT ROOM RATES!!!!

A GREAT PLACE TO STAY AT A GREAT RATE!

THE REGULAR ROOM RATES OF $ 250.00 TO $ 300.00,

ARE OFFERED FOR THE SHOW AT $ 130.00

CALL A.S.A.P. TO RESERVE A ROOM NOW: 210 - 223-4361

( OR STAY WHEREVER YOU WISH! )

CHEAPER AND EASIER TRAVEL THAN A MEMORIAL WEEKEND

PLUS STAY HOME WITH THE "FAM" FOR THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND

FREE INTERNET IN ALL ROOMS; WIFI ACCESS IN HOTEL AREAS

AIRPORT SHUTTLE EVERY 30 MINUTES

FOR THE COLLECTORS:

A GREAT PLACE TO STAY AT A GREAT RATE!

THE REGULAR ROOM RATES OF $ 250.00 TO $ 300.00,

ARE OFFERED FOR THE SHOW AT $ 130.00

CALL A.S.A.P. TO RESERVE A ROOM NOW: 210 - 223-4361

( OR STAY WHEREVER YOU WISH! )

NO "HOLIDAY" TRAVEL - SPEND YOUR TIME WITH THE "FAM"

IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN, VIRTUALLY NEXT DOOR TO THE ALAMO

SAME LOW ADMISSION PRICE

GREAT "ROUGH RIDERS" BAR

REAR EXIT LEADS TO THE RIVERCENTER MALL AND THE IMAX THEATER

( STAY IN AIR CONDITIONING THE WHOLE TIME!! )

RIVER WALK RIGHT OFF OF ALAMO PLAZA

VALET PARKING OR SELF PARKING

DINING, THEATERS, COMEDY CLUB, RIVER WALK, ALAMO, BUCKHORN, HEMISPHERE AND MORE!!

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

email:   tssd@sdsoldiers.com

PHONE:  760-723-6583

__________________________

PHIL COLLINS - MUSICIAN

AND

TOY SOLDIER COLLECTOR!

PHIL COLLINS RECENTLY VISITED THE "KINGS X" STORE IN THE MENGER HOTEL, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

TURNS OUT HE IS A HUGE ALAMO GUY!!

HE PURCHASED SOME OF THE "KING & COUNTRY" LINE OF "ALAMO" PAINTED METAL FIGURES.

OTHER "FAMOUS" COLLECTORS

STEVEN SPIELBERG, DIRECTOR

PETER JACKSON, DIRECTOR

( LORD OF THE RINGS )

__________________________

MY APOLOGIES....

FOR NOT VISITING THIS PAGE FOR AWHILE!

BETWEEN THE CHICAGO SHOW, NEW RELEASES, PLANNED RELEASES, AND "LIFE IN GENERAL" - WE HAVE HAD A BUSY FEW MONTHS!

WITH THE ECONOMY THROWN INTO A TAILSPIN, THE ELECTIONS AND "GLOBAL ECONOMY" ISSUES - WHICH INCLUDES CHINA - WE ARE CHANGING OUR APPROACH A BIT - AND HOPE IT HELPS SOME.

FOR NOW - OUR NEW SETS WILL HOPEFULLY INCLUDE MORE POSES OVERALL AND BE PRICED FOR LESS.

AS AN EXAMPLE - OUR UPCOMING RELEASE

"ACW"

( Artillery - Cavalry - Wounded )

WILL CONTAIN 10 ALL NEW POSES INSTEAD OF THE USUAL 8 POSES.

AND THERE WILL ONLY BE 10 POSES / FIGURES IN THE SET, PLUS 2 HORSES ( in New Colors ).

NO DUPLICATES IN THIS SET, AND PRICED AT $ 18.00

I CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH THE COST INCREASES AND "TOY INDUSTRY" PROBLEMS THAT ARE CURRENTLY GOING ON IN CHINA.

HALF OF THE CHINESE TOY FACTORIES HAVE CLOSED; MANY WORKERS ARE NOW LAID OFF. FACTORIES ARE OPERATING WITH LESS PEOPLE, WHICH CAUSES DELAYS IN PRODUCTION AND SHIPPING.

IN SHORT - IT'S A MESS; SIMILAR TO CERTAIN PROBLEMS HERE.

OUR AGENT IN CHINA IS DOING THE BEST THAT HE CAN UNDER VERY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES. HE HAS BEEN IN THE TOY BUSINESS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND HE HAS NEVER SEEN THIS.

WE HOPE TO PRODUCE 3 NEW PLASTIC SETS NEXT YEAR; TWO SETS WILL BE A "# 1 - A", AND A "# 1 - B" IF YOU WILL.

A 12 POSE SET ISSUED IN TWO HALVES.

WE ARE DOING THIS TO HOPEFULLY SPEED THE PRODUCTION ISSUES.  AS A SET OF 6 IS SCULPTED, IT IS SENT TO THE FACTORY; RATHER THAN WAITING FOR THE NEXT 6.

THE THIRD SET WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL 6 POSES THAT WILL TIE INTO THE ABOVE SETS.

PERHAPS IT WILL ALL END UP IN A PLAYSET; THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

JUST KNOW THAT WE ARE STILL AT IT, AND TRYING TO BRING NEW FIGURE SETS TO MARKET IN THESE DIFFICULT - AND EXPENSIVE - TIMES.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE HOBBY - METAL, PLASTIC, COLLECTIBLES, YOUR FAVORITE DEALERS & MANUFACTURERS. IT'S IN YOUR HANDS TO SEE EVERYTHING CONTINUE.

AS ALWAYS WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!

__________________________

GERMAN ELITE TROOPS

A "REVIEW" FROM A 4 1/2 YEAR OLD

Hi Nick and Deanna,

Just a quick line to say received the new Germans-wow!  My young son has already sent them into battle against a wide variety of foes; mostly dinosaurs and bugs (that’d be the ‘Starship troopers’ DVD influence). Anyway, we love the new additions and also I’d thought you’d like to know we got the Italeri Germans from the local hobby shop, and side by side with the TSSD guys there is no comparison. Your sculpts and plastic quality are far superior, and when a 4 and a half year old tells you, ‘We need to paint those yellow guys so they look cooler….’.

 Keep up the great work!

Regards,

Terry

NEW ZEALAND

___________________________

THANKS!

TO EVERYONE THAT BURNED SOME GAS, TOOK SOME TIME OFF AND CAME TO THE

"SUMMER OPEN HOUSE"!!

I WAS ACTUALLY SURPRISED AT THE GREAT TURN-OUT, CONSIDERING THE BUSY SUMMER SCHEDULES EVERYONE HAS, PLUS THE HIGH COST OF DRIVING THESE DAYS.

WE HOPE THAT THE PRODUCT DISCOUNTS, "GAS MONEY BACK", AND LUNCHEON HELPED TO MAKE IT A PLEASANT EXPERIENCE!  WE HAD A GREAT TIME.

ONCE AGAIN, I MISSED GETTING SOME OF YOU WITH THE CAMERA, BUT HERE ARE A FEW SHOTS FROM THE EVENT:

ROGUE'S GALLERY

GARY FOURNIER OF BRESICA MINIATURES * THE DANIS FAMILY - SAN DIEGO * TONY & SARAH WRIGHT - LONG BEACH

GLENN SHOWS OFF HIS OWN AIR BRUSHED, PAINTED TANK * PAUL FINALLY "GPS's" HIS WAY HERE!

SOME OF "THE REGULARS" ( Denver hid from the camera!? )

DAVID KLUECK - SAN DIEGO * FATHER CARL- OCEANSIDE * BRUCE CHEW - L.A.-ish

BRIAN MINEAR FAMILY - WITH DENVER "LURKING" IN THE BACKGROUND * START THEM YOUNG!!

LONGTIME CUSTOMERS THE SANDOVALS * FRED SMITH WITH HIS NEWLY PUBLISHED BOOK * DR. FRITZ AND FAMILY

THANKS ALSO TO THE BRIAN BLUME FAMILY - LONG TIME CUSTOMERS, AND OTHERS THAT I MISSED WITH THE CAMERA.

THANK YOU TO ERIC & VICKY JOHNS FOR THE FRIDAY VISIT AS WELL.

DENVER FORRESTER SERVED UP TWO TABLES FULL OF DIORAMAS WITH ALL CONVERTED FIGURES!!

THE "FORT APACHE" DIORAMA ABOVE

PACIFIC WAR DIORAMA

MANY OF THE "ON SALE" ITEMS AND NEW ITEMS WILL BE LISTED ON THE WEBSITE SOON TO ALLOW OTHER CUSTOMERS TO "SHOP & SAVE"!

THANK YOU AND SEE YOU IN CHICAGO!!

___________________________

PHILLY NEWSPAPER ARTICLE

ABOUT THE MARX TOY MUSEUM

http://www.philly.com/philly/travel/25513209.html

___________________________

"I'LL BE BACK"!!

NOT MEANT TO SCARE YOU...

BUT

BUY OR ELSE!!!!

( DEANNA MADE ME DO IT! KINDA REMINDED ME OF `NAM - RAMBO!? )

ONE OF OUR "SHERIFF's" DEPT. CUSTOMERS CAME BY TODAY.....

HE UNLOADED HIS "ARMOR" AND WEAPON ON US.......

IT FELT PRETTY COOL - EVEN IN THE SoCaL HEAT!!

( THE VEST IS VERY HEAVY!! )

THE "ARMOR" WILL "STOP" A 'NATO ROUND' 7.62

THE "MAGS" IN THE VEST ARE LOADED WITH .223 AMMO

MAYBE BEST TO JUST BE A "CIVILIAN"!!!!

___________________________

DATELINE - FALLBROOK, CA

06/24/08

GAS PER GALLON $ 4.65

__________________________

THANKS!!

TO ALL WHO ATTENDED, PARTICIPATED IN, AND WORKED FOR - THE 2nd ANNUAL TEXAS SHOW, AND FOR MAKING IT A SUCCESS!!

CLICK BELOW

THE TEXAS SHOW 2008

_____________________________

DATELINE - FALLBROOK, CA

04/29/08

GAS PER GALLON $ 4.01

_____________________________

04/23/08

FROM HANNANT'S

IN THE U.K.

Dear Customer, 

Following the recent decline in value of the £ against most other currencies we buy from we have been faced with implementing large price increases on most ranges.

 We have decided that rather than increase the price by 20% to 28% it would be better to stop supplying certain ranges with a full trade discount. These are mainly resin kits. No other ranges are effected at the moment. 

The following ranges now have 10% trade discount rather than 33.33%. Many overseas customers will have a stronger currency against the £ so will probably pay about the same as you did a few months ago and so will not be effected by this change. 

Thank you for your understanding. Because of the fluctuating currency market we have decided to delay the printing of our paper lists indefinitely.

_____________________________

03/10/08

CHINA PRICE INCREASES

COLLECTORS SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THE RECENT PRICE INCREASES FOR MOLD MAKING AND PRODUCTION IN CHINA.

THIS APPLIES TO PLASTIC AND METAL PRODUCT.

THE OVERALL INCREASE SEEMS TO BE ABOUT 30%.

THIS WAS ACTUALLY THE MAIN TOPIC OF DISCUSSION AT THE RECENT WEST COASTER SHOW. EVERYONE FROM TSSD TO KING & COUNTRY ARE SCRATCHING THEIR HEADS OVER THIS ONE, AND THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS ON THE HOBBY.

WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN SOME EFFECTS:

FORCES OF VALOR / UNIMAX - IS ONLY RELEASING 3 NEW DIE CAST MILITARY VEHICLES THIS YEAR. THEY HAVE QUIT THE "HISTORICAL LEGENDS" PAINTED, PLASTIC FIGURE SERIES ALTOGETHER.

UNIMAX ALSO MAKES REMOTE CONTROL ITEMS, PLUSH TOYS AND DOLLS; PERHAPS THEY ARE GETTING OUT OF THE "MILITARY MODE" ALTOGETHER?

( Panache Place is the Distributor, located in Southern California; they are NOT "FOV" )

IMEX - HAS YET TO RELEASE THE LONG AWAITED ALAMO MEXICAN INFANTRY AND CAVALRY SETS IN 54mm. "IMEX" IS A LARGE MANUFACTURER OF REMOTE CONTROL PARTS AS WELL.

21st CENTURY TOYS - HAS EXCLUDED THE FIGURES FROM THEIR NEWER BOXED TANKS / VEHICLES, AND THE TANKS / VEHICLES NO LONGER CONTAIN ANY METAL.

RELEASES FROM CERTAIN OVERSEAS MANUFACTURERS HAVE SLOWED IN THEIR RELEASE DATES TO THE USA.

A CALL-TO-ARMS - IS ONLY RE-RELEASING CURRENT PRODUCT, AND IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING THEY ARE NOT RELEASING ANYTHING NEW FOR AWHILE.

I THINK WHAT YOU WILL SEE OVERALL, IS A GENERAL SLOWING OF NEW PRODUCT RELEASES BY MOST COMPANIES, WHICH MAY ACTUALLY BE A GOOD THING.

THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH NEW PRODUCT RELEASED, IN BOTH METAL & PLASTIC, THAT MANY COLLECTORS SIMPLY CANNOT KEEP UP WITH THE QUANTITIES OF NEW STUFF.  THIS WAS ECHOED BY SEVERAL COLLECTORS AT THE RECENT WEST COAST SHOW.

PRICING:

HARD TO SAY HOW ALL OF THE INCREASED PRODUCTION COSTS WILL AFFECT METAL AND PLASTIC PRICING.

FOR OUR PART, WE WILL TRY TO RELEASE AT LEAST 2 NEW FIGURE SETS THIS YEAR, AS WE DID LAST YEAR, AND TRY TO KEEP THE PRICING REASONABLE. BUT WE HAVE TO CHARGE ENOUGH TO COVER COSTS AND STAY IN BUSINESS.

WE WILL ALSO BE RELEASING SOME NEW "ACCESSORY" PIECES AS WE DID LAST YEAR, AND MOST OF THAT PRODUCT IS MADE IN THE USA. BUT THOSE "FOAM" MANUFACTURERS COSTS HAVE GONE UP AS WELL.

EVERYTHING IS TIED TO OIL & GAS, SHIPPING COSTS, MANUFACTURING COSTS, LABOR COSTS, THE U.S. DOLLAR, ETC.

IN OTHER WORDS, THE "GLOBAL ECONOMY" IS AFFECTING NICK & DEANNA, WORKING OUT OF THEIR GARAGE IN FALLBROOK, CA!!??

IF ANYTHING NEW DEVELOPS, WE WILL ATTEMPT TO KEEP YOU POSTED.

_____________________________

03/10/08

PHOTOS FROM THE RECENT

WEST COASTER SHOW

FIRST ROW:  SUNSET AT THE HOTEL, PATRICK & JONAH ORTIZ, "BUFORD", THE SUNDAY BALLROOM.

SECOND ROW:  VINTAGE PLASTIC, JOHN/DEANNA/ED FROM TSSD, ST. PETE WAR ELEPHANT, SANDY AT B-A-R.

THIRD ROW:  HELMETS & OLD STUFF, CHARLES MOORE, KEITH ROCCO ART, ED COE FOR TSSD.

FOURTH ROW:  BRYAN LEVY "COLLECTORS SHOWCASE", GERARD FROM "FRONTLINE", PAM BRUNTON, THOMAS VIDA.

FIRST ROW:  REENACTORS ( TssD Cav!? ), BRUCE ( that's his WWI helium balloon ), DON PIELIN, OWNER, OTSN.

SECOND ROW:  MATT - HOBBY BUNKER, DARRELL & WOODY "OLD TOY SOLDIER HOME", KING & COUNTRY WWI LINE.

THIRD ROW:  PETER & GORDAN ( remember them from the `60's!!?? ) AND ANDY FROM K & C, PLUS K & C DIORAMAS.

FOURTH ROW:  THE TALENTED KEN OSEN, SCULPTOR, FIGARTI'S B-17, SEAN LOOKS OVER THE TSSD PAINTED CAV.

THANKS TO EVERYONE!!

_____________________________

03/07/08

OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO OUR

GOOD FRIEND AND FELLOW COLLECTOR

CARLOS CODINA OF SoCal

WHO WAS INVOLVED IN A VERY BAD AUTO ACCIDENT

WE WISH HIM A SPEEDY RECOVERY, AND OUR BEST TO NANCY

AND

OUR FRIEND AND DEALER / COLLECTOR

RUSSELL SCHULTZ 

AND 

( HIS SON TANNER )

RUSSELL PASSED AWAY THIS PAST DECEMBER

GOD BLESS HIM

AND

TSSD's "TOP DOG"

BUFFY VERSTEEG

WHO UNDERGOES SPINAL / VERTEBRAE SURGERY TODAY

_____________________________

THE WEST COASTER

IS COMING

IN

48 DAYS!!

MAKE YOUR PLANS NOW TO ATTEND. IT IS ONLY ONCE A YEAR, AND THE ONLY SHOW IN THE WEST - SO YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS IT!!

FEBRUARY 27th THROUGH MARCH 2nd

_____________________________

NOW WE KNOW HOW TO GET 20,000 PEOPLE AT A TOY SOLDIER SHOW:

CALL IT A TRAIN SHOW!!

_____________________________

_____________________________

Good Evening Nick and DeAnna

Ten Years !  It doesn't seem like that long.  That means that it has been such a Great Time.

Only Ninety More to go.

Thanks for everything!

Denver

_____________________________

TSSD

WILL BE CELEBRATING OUR

10th YEAR IN THE HOBBY

DURING THE NEW YEAR!

_____________________________

HAPPY "2008" NEW YEAR!!

WE HOPE THAT THE COMING YEAR IS GREAT FOR ALL OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES!

_____________________________

2007

MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO ATTENDED THIS PAST WEEKEND'S "OPEN HOUSE".

THIS WAS OUR BEST "OPEN HOUSE" IN ABOUT 5 YEARS, AND WE COMMEND EVERYONE THAT BRAVED THE COOL & RAINY WEATHER TO ATTEND 

 WE SET A NEW ATTENDANCE RECORD FOR "OPEN HOUSES"!!

THANK YOU!! 

SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL THE MOMS & DADS!!!!

OUR GOAL 10 YEARS AGO WAS TO BRING IN MORE YOUNG PEOPLE TO THE HOBBY, AND I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT IT IS HAPPENING!!

MY ONLY REGRET IS THAT - AS USUAL - I DIDN'T GET ALL THE PHOTOS I WANTED; WE WERE EXTREMELY BUSY.

AND KIDS CAN REALLY BLOW THROUGH SOME PIZZA!!!!

"OLD TIMER" DAVID KLUECK INSPECTS SOME PHOTOS, CINDY SANDOVAL AND GRANDCHILD ( she and Husband Joe have never missed a Show!! ), AND "NEWCOMER" BRUCE ADAMS GRABS A "CAVALRY CHARGE" PLAYSET HEADED FOR KIDS IN CHICAGO.

A PLEASANT SURPRISE WAS A "SURPRISE" VISIT BY CRAIG COVNER- ON THE RIGHT! MANY HOBBYISTS KNOW CRAIG FROM HIS YEARS OF HOBBY INTEREST AND HIS ACTIVITIES WITH THE ALAMO AND THE ALAMO JOURNAL & SOCIETY. SHOWN WITH THE AFOREMENTIONED DAVID KLUECK. ( I FORGOT TO ASK DAVID HOW TO GET A 14' POOL BACK INTO A 12" x  30" BOX!? )

AS ALWAYS THERE IS SOMETHING "SPECIAL" AT THESE SHOWS. THIS YEAR'S EVENT WAS PROVIDED BY TSSD's VERY FIRST CUSTOMER EVER ( 10 year ago!! ) - TONY WRIGHT FROM LONG BEACH, CA.

TONY HAD DESIGNED AND BUILT AN AMAZING "FIRING" TREBUCHET!!  HERE, HE PULLS THE FIRING MECHANISM, AND WATCHES AS IT HURLES A METAL LUG NUT 20 FEET ACROSS THE YARD!! TOO COOL!!

AS ALWAYS, BRUCE CHEW BROUGHT ALONG SOME OF HIS AMAZING "CONVERSIONS". SHOWN ABOVE ARE SOME OF HIS TSSD CIVIL WAR UNION CONVERSIONS. MORE PHOTOS WILL BE POSTED LATER ON THE "WHAT GUYS DO..." PAGE . GREAT STUFF AND THANK YOU BRUCE!

I FAILED TO GET ANY PHOTOS FROM THE UPPER LOFT DISPLAY AREAS, BUT I HAVE TO MENTION THE RETURN OF FRIEND AND COLLECTOR ANDY DELANEY. HE SINGLE-HANDEDLY WIPED OUT THE PAINTED NAPOLEONIC ARTILLERY SETS, AND THE BEAUTIFUL "BRITISH SQUARE"!

THANKS ALSO TO DENVER ( who came a day early due to work ) GLEN, ANTHONY & FAM, CONNER & FRIENDS, CARL & GEORGE, THE BLOOM FAMILY, THE FULLERS & THE STONES,  THE MOORE FAMILY ( now in Italy ), CARLOS AND NANCY CODINA ( and for their support of Christmas Gifts for Children! ), LORETTA, KEVIN & SON, JOHN, DAVID H., BARBARA, JOHN & HELEN, ROBERT, THE HEIRES FAMILY, ERIC JOHNS & PUPPY, AND MANY OTHERS - THANK YOU ALL!!  GARY - HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER. FRED - WE MISSED YOU.

DON'T FORGET - "THE WEST COASTER" IS COMING IN MARCH!!

THANK YOU!

_____________________________

TSSD

GOES "HOLLYWOOD"!!

THIS PAST FRIDAY EVENING THE TSSD's WERE HOME CHANNEL SURFING.  WE STUMBLED UPON A DETECTIVE / CRIME DRAMA CALLED "NUMBERS".

THERE WERE A SERIES OF SMALL ITEMS LEFT AT A MURDER SCENE, AND ONE OF THE ITEMS WAS A TOY SOLDIER.

AT FIRST ALL I COULD SEE WAS THE BASE OF THE FIGURE, AND IT LOOKED LIKE A CONTE AIRBORNE FIGURE. BUT THEY SHOWED IT AGAIN, AND I THOUGHT I RECOGNIZED THE "BAR".

WHEN THEY SHOWED THE FIGURE A THIRD TIME, FROM THE BACK, I REALIZED THAT IT WAS INDEED A TSSD GI - "BAR-MAN"!!

PRETTY COOL SEEING ONE OF YOUR OWN CREATIONS USED IN A TV SHOW OR MOVIE. I REMEMBER SEEING AIRFIX AND BRITAINS IN THE PAST. GUESS THEY ARE "MODERNIZING" THEIR PROPS, AND I WONDER WHERE THEY GOT IT?

THE ONLY PROBLEM IS, "BAR-MAN" HAS GONE A.W.O.L.

WHEN LAST SEEN, HE WAS CRUISING RODEO DRIVE IN BEVERLY HILLS WITH "THE GOVERNATOR"!  "B-MAN" WAS WEARING HIS OAKLEYS, A STETSON, AND DRIVING A RED HUMMER!!??

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/numb3rs/

_____________________________

WILDFIRES!

A VERY CLOSE CALL, BUT WE CAME THROUGH OK.

MOSTLY DUE TO THE AMAZING EFFORTS OF THE FIREFIGHTERS AND AIR SUPPORT PEOPLE.

WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR THE HUNDREDS OF EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS TO CHECK ON OUR WELL-BEING; VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.

OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE 2,000 "HOMELESS" FIRE VICTIMS.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP, PLEASE SEND A DONATION DIRECTLY TO THE RED CROSS OR SALVATION ARMY.

THANK YOU!!

_____________________________

COACH GETS ONE WILD POOL GUEST

_____________________________

2007

OTSN

I FORGOT TO MENTION ONE OF THE MANY GREAT MOMENTS ( for me ) OF THIS PAST SHOW.

FRANK THOMPSON, AUTHOR AND ALAMO HISTORIAN, CAME BY OUR TABLES ON SUNDAY.

IT WAS GREAT TO MEET HIM AND BRIEFLY DISCUSS THE ALAMO AND OTHER MATTERS.

HE ALSO LIKED OUR ALAMO CHAPEL BUILDING, WHICH WAS NICE.

TO VISIT FRANK'S WEBSITE

CLICK BELOW

http://www.frankthompson.tv/

_____________________________

_____________________________

Hello, Nick & DeAnna!

This is only to say my most recent order just arrived and I am amazed at the
quality of the ACW Cavalry you made. These are perfect! But one has to hold
them, to look very close at the details, to understand how much perfection
can fit into one 1/32 escale toy soldier. There's no comparison between
these and other ranges that came before. I guess this proves beyond
reasonable doubt you guys LOVE toy soldiers as much as the collectors who
buy them. Both the cavalrymen and the horses are master pieces as far as
plastic toy soldiers are concerned and someone would have a lot of problem
trying to improve them. How can you improve perfection?

Maybe you could paint these ACW ranges to sell them as "Soldiers of the World"
too? I'd like that.

What else can I say? Congratulations on a job very well done. You deserve
them.

My only regret, as usual, is that no such toys were available when I was a
boy. At least now I can buy them, don't have to ask Mom and Dad, right? It
makes things a whole lot easier!
:-)


All the best,
Marcelo

BRASIL

_____________________________

_____________________________

Nick,

 Just received a set of your New Cavalry from Steve, absolutely fantastic. Congratulations once again on raising the standard yet again! 

Regards and Thanks,

 Paul at Plastic Warrior

_____________________________

Arrived last night...I found them this morning...Absolutely the best work
y'all have produced to date...And the best plastic Cavalry pieces ever...

of any time period...

SKINNY FROM McKINNEY ( TX )

_____________________________

Hi Deanna & Nick

 The Cavalry arrived yesterday and they were impatiently waiting for me when I came home from work last night ( I work 2nd shift). 

These guys seem to literally EXPLODE from the bag!!! The poses & detail of both horses & riders is SENSATIONAL!   

My compliments to your sculptor - he has done a GREAT job in capturing the essence & dash of cavalrymen - you can almost hear them hollering!!! 

THANKS SO VERY MUCH for these TERRIFIC FIGURES!!!!!! 

Rich

_____________________________

_____________________________

YOUNGSTERS IN THE HOBBY

I'M NOT SURE WHAT IS GOING ON, BUT LATELY WE HAVE HAD LARGE NUMBERS OF "YOUNG COLLECTORS" VISIT US HERE AT THE "STORE".

WHICH IS GREAT!

I THINK EVERYONE AGREES, IF WE DON'T GET MORE YOUNG PEOPLE INVOLVED, THE HOBBY WILL BE PRETTY SAD WHEN THE "BOOMERS" START FADING.

WHAT'S COOL IS THAT A LOT OF THE NEW CUSTOMERS ARE COMING BY WAY OF "WORD OF MOUTH".

THERE IS A COMMUNITY NORTH OF US, TEMECULA IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY, AND WE NOW HAVE A LARGE CONTINGENT OF YOUNG COLLECTORS ( and the Mom's and Dad's that bring them ) COMING ON A REGULAR, MONTHLY BASIS FROM JUST THAT COMMUNITY ALONE.

THE KIDS COME WITH THEIR OWN MONEY THAT THEY HAVE EARNED. WHEN THEY HAVE ENOUGH SAVED TO BUY A BAG OF FIGURES, THEY CALL AND A NICE MOM OR DAD BRINGS THEM - USUALLY A GROUP OF NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS.

WITH SUMMER, WE ARE NOW GETTING A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE ON VACATION FROM AROUND THE U.S.A., AND OVERSEAS. IF THEY ARE IN SAN DIEGO, THEY CALL TO COME OVER, AND THEY BRING THE KIDS, OF COURSE.

WE ALSO SEEM TO BE MEETING A LOT OF YOUNG GUYS IN THEIR 20's, 30's and 40's ( yes, that's Young! ) - WHO ARE DISCOVERING AND ENJOYING THE HOBBY. MANY ARE MARINES FROM NEARBY CAMP PENDLETON.

I AM JUST "REPORTING" ON THIS BECAUSE WE HEAR SOME "NEGATIVE" STUFF ABOUT THE HOBBY, BUT TO DEANNA AND I, THE FUTURE LOOKS PRETTY BRIGHT. WHETHER WE ARE STILL RUNNING THIS BUSINESS, OR "RETIRED" AND JUST COLLECTING OURSELVES,  IT ALL LOOKS VERY EXCITING FOR THE FUTURE.

WHILE WE DO NOT HAVE A "REAL STORE" AT A STRIP CENTER, ETC. - WE DO HAVE ABOUT 2,000 SQUARE FEET OF STUFF ON DISPLAY AT ALL TIMES. PLUS THE WAREHOUSE IN TOWN.

KIDS AND ADULTS "OOH" AND "AHH" AS THEY WALK INTO THE 2 LOFT ROOMS OF DISPLAYS, DIORAMAS, THOUSANDS OF PAINTED GUYS, ROWS OF TANKS, AWESOME BUILDINGS, ETC. IT'S GREAT!!

MY HAT IS OFF TO THE FEW GUYS THAT HAVE REAL "BRICK & MORTAR" STORES FOR JUST TOY SOLDIERS. I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY DO IT? I GUESS IF WE HAD STARTED THIS 20 YEARS AGO INSTEAD OF 10 YEARS AGO, WE MIGHT HAVE DONE THAT AS WELL. BUT NOT IN CALIFORNIA, AS THE COSTS, REAL ESTATE, RULES & REGS ARE INCREDIBLE.

WE ACTUALLY GOT TURNED DOWN BY A "DISTRIBUTOR" IN CALIFORNIA THE OTHER DAY, BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE A "TRUE" BRICK & MORTAR STORE. THEY ONLY SELL TO "STORES". I CAN CERTAINLY SEE THEIR POINT, BUT NOT EVERYONE CAN AFFORD THE HIGH COSTS OF A "HOBBY SHOP".

BESIDES, WE ONLY SELL "TOY SOLDIERS". NOT REMOTE CONTROLLED CARS, PLANES, HELO's, ETC. NOT PAINTS, BOOKS, PLASTIC & WOOD MODEL KITS, TRAINS, TROLLS, AND ETC.  JUST "TOY SOLDIERS", AND ONLY "PLASTIC" AT THAT.

BUT I DIGRESS.

THE MAIN THING IS, MORE YOUNG PEOPLE WILL EQUAL LONGEVITY FOR THE HOBBY. WE WILL BE HANDING OUT APPROXIMATELY 130 FULL BAGS OF PLASTIC TOY SOLDIERS TO KIDS ON SUNDAY AT "OTSN", AND I HOPE THERE ARE 130 KIDS THERE TO TAKE `EM!  IN TEXAS WE HANDED OUT ABOUT 75 BAGS, SO IT WAS A GREAT "KID TURN-OUT" FOR A FIRST TIME AFFAIR.

REMEMBER, WE WERE ALL KIDS ONCE. WE LOVED THE HOBBY THEN, AND WE LOVE IT NOW - SO WHY SHOULDN'T WE PASS IT ALONG TO THE NEXT GENERATION!

_____________________________

_____________________________

2007

THANK YOU!!

TO ALL WHO CAME AND PARTICIPATED IN THE ANNUAL SUMMER "OPEN HOUSE"!

WE HAD A GREAT TIME AND WE HOPE YOU DID AS WELL!!

WHAT HAS BECOME ENCOURAGING TO US ARE THE NUMBERS OF YOUNGSTERS WHO NOW COME HERE ON A MONTHLY BASIS.

I BELIEVE THAT THROUGH THEM AND THE 20, 30 AND 40 AGE GROUPS - THE HOBBY WILL CONTINUE FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

BRUCE CHEW - AS HAS BECOME "TRADITION" - BROUGHT ALONG SOME OF HIS WONDERFUL CONVERSIONS - THIS TIME "SPARTANS"!! SHOWN ABOVE WITH A NEW ROCK WALL FROM "FORM TECH", THEY ARE DERIVED FROM THE HaT # 9040 ITALIAN ALLIES.  WE WILL BE POSTING HIS CONVERSIONS ON THE "WHAT GUYS DO WITH THEIR GUYS & STUFF" PAGE SOON!!  THANKS BRUCE!!

WHERE THERE ARE TOY SOLDIERS, THERE ARE GUYS.

AND WHERE THERE ARE GUYS - THERE IS FOOD!!!!

BRUCE CHEW, DAVID KLUECK, ARMAND ( he's like Sting and Madonna - just 1 name says it all!! ) ERIC JOHNS, AND FRED SMITH ENJOY SOME MUNCHIES AND TALK TOY SOLDIERS.

WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THE MILES THAT THESE GUYS TRAVEL TO VISIT US HERE, AND THE WIVES THAT LET THEM DO IT!!!!

MARINE DOCTOR MOORE WITH SONS COLE & DAIN & FRIEND. "DOC" MOORE AND FAMILY ARE HEADED TO A NEW ASSIGNMENT IN ITALY!!  WE WILL MISS THEM!

( CONGRATULATIONS TO MARINE JOHN "RED" TURNER ON HIS MARRIAGE THIS WEEKEND!  WE ARE SORRY TO HAVE MISSED IT.  ALL THE BEST!! )

MITCH & "MOM". VERY MUCH "REGULARS" ALONG WITH SON COLE ( not pictured ) AND THE GIRLS. UNFORTUNATELY, THE GIRLS RAN AND HID WHEN THE CAMERA CAME OUT!?

BUSY WEEKEND FOR THEM AS THEY ATTENDED OUR SHOW, WENT ICE SKATING AND PLANNED FOR THE CIVIL WAR REENACTMENT ON SUNDAY!!   CAR POOL, ANYONE?

LONG TIME CUSTOMER PETE GOYDOS AND THE AFOREMENTIONED "ARMAND"

( Unfortunately, Armand has GONE TO THE DARK SIDE and Collects 1/6th Scale! But he also makes really Cool Stuff! )

FATHER & SON TEAM UP FOR THE "UNTOUCHABLES"!!                    ERIC JOHNS

LONGTIME FRIEND AND COLLECTOR FRED SMITH. WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE HIM BACK AFTER A VERY SERIOUS ILLNESS, AND PLEASED TO HEAR THAT HE WILL SOON HAVE HIS BOOK PUBLISHED!!

UNFORTUNATELY ( AND AS USUAL ) I FAILED TO GET PHOTOS OF EVERYONE.  MY APOLOGIES TO "USC" JOE, MICHAEL, ANNA, "CONNOR" AND FRIENDS, MR. & MRS. JOE SANDOVAL & SON, RANDY & BEV, PAUL, JOHN, ANDREW AND OTHERS. NOW YOU HAVE TO COME BACK AT CHRISTMAS!

MISSING IN ACTION, BUT WITH NOTES FROM THEIR MOMS: GARY FOURNIER, CARL CWIKLINSKI, CHARLES MOORE, JACK MARANTO, THE BLUMES, EUGENE & JOEY et al

SUMMERTIME IS TOUGH!!

BOWIE KNIFE AND PLAQUE PRESENTED TO TSSD FOR THE TEXAS SHOW BY GARY BEADEL, AND SIGNED BY THE DEALERS.  UNFORTUNATELY, THE "SAP" FROM THE WOOD IS REARING IT'S UGLY HEAD, AND WE ALSO NEED ROBERT COWGILL TO SIGN IT!    THANKS AGAIN GARY!!

THE FUTURE COLLECTORS OF AMERICA!!!!

_____________________________

TSSD IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE NEW 

MARINE CORPS HERITAGE MUSEUM

IN

QUANTICO, VIRGINIA

WILL NOW BE CARRYING OUR PAINTED WWII U.S. MARINES AND JAPANESE INFANTRY SETS.

SEMPER FI!!

____________________________

"TOY SOLDIERS"

FINALLY - ON TV!!

THERE WAS A STORY /  SEGMENT ON BOTH "FOX NEWS SAT", AND "FOX NEWS DALLAS" THAT WE KNOW OF, RELATING TO THE TEXAS SHOW.

THOSE WOULD BE "BARZSO" TRIPOLI PIRATES IN THE BACKGROUND!!

____________________________

TSSD IS PLEASED AND PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE 

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS ASSOCIATION

HAS APPROVED THE TSSD MARINES AND JAPANESE

FOR THEIR BOOKSTORES!

AND

THE TSSD PAINTED MARINE & JAPANESE SETS

ARE NOW CARRIED AT THE NEW

U.S. MARINE CORPS MUSEUM

IN QUANTICO, VA

SEMPER FI!!

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BEST LAWYER STORY OF THE YEAR, DECADE AND PROBABLY THE CENTURY 

 Charlotte, North Carolina

  A lawyer purchased a box of very rare and  expensive cigars, and then insured  them against, among other things, fire.  Within a month, having smoked his entire stockpile  of these great cigars and  without yet having made even his first premium  payment on the policy the  lawyer filed a claim against the insurance  company.  

In his claim, the lawyer stated the cigars were  lost "in a series of small  fires."  The insurance company refused to pay, citing the  obvious reason, that the  man had consumed the cigars in the normal fashion.  

The lawyer sued.. and WON!  (stay with me) 

 Delivering the ruling, the judge agreed with the  insurance company that the  claim was frivolous. The judge stated  nevertheless, that the lawyer held a  policy from the company, which it had warranted  that the cigars were  insurable and also guaranteed that it would insure  them against fire,  without defining what is considered to be  "unacceptable fire" and was  obligated to pay the claim. 

 Rather than endure lengthy and costly appeal  process, the insurance company  accepted the ruling and paid $ 15,000 to the lawyer  for his loss of the cigars  lost in the "fires".  

NOW FOR THE BEST PART..  After the lawyer cashed the check, the insurance  company had him arrested on  24 counts of ARSON!!!  With his own insurance claim and testimony from  the previous case being used  against him, the lawyer was convicted of  intentionally burning his insured  property and was sentenced to 24 months in jail  and a $ 24,000 fine. 

 This is a True Story and was the First Place  winner in the recent Criminal  Lawyers Award Contest. 

 ONLY IN AMERICA! 

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"WITH ALL DUE RESPECT SIR, THEY HAVE DAVY CROCKETT INSIDE THAT FORT."

GENERAL CASTRILLON TO GENERAL SANTA ANNA

"WE WILL SHOW THE WORLD WHAT PATRIOTS ARE MADE OF."

WILLIAM B. TRAVIS

_____________________________

"YOU MAY ALL GO TO HELL,

AND I WILL GO TO TEXAS"

DAVY CROCKETT, 1835

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"ON BEING A TEXAN"

BY 

BUM PHILLIPS

( FORMER HOUSTON OILERS HEAD COACH )

Dear Friends,

 Last year, I wrote a small piece about what it means to me to be a Texan. My friends know it means about damned near everything. Anyway, this fella' asked me to reprint what I'd wrote and I didn't have it. So I set out to think about rewriting something. I considered writing about all the great things I love about Texas. There are way too many things to list. I can't even begin to do it justice. Lemme' let you in on my short list. It starts with The Window at Big Bend, which in and of itself is proof of God. It goes to Lake Sam Rayburn where my Granddad taught me more about life than fishin', and enough about fishin' to last a lifetime. I can talk about Tyler, and Longview, and Odessa and Cisco, and Abilene, Seymour and Poteet and every place in between. Every little part of Texas feels special. Every person who ever flew over the Lone Star thinks of Bandera or Victoria or Manor or wherever they call "home" as the best little part of the best state.

 So I got to thinking about it, and here's what I really want to say. Last year, I talked about all the great places and great heroes who make Texas what it is. I talked about Willie and Waylon and Michael Dell and Michael DeBakey and my Dad and LBJ and Denton Cooley. I talked about everybody that came to mind. It took me sitting here tonight reading this stack of emails and thinkin' about where I've been and what I've done since the last time I wrote on this occasion to remind me what it is about Texas that is really great. 

You see, this last month or so I finally went to Europe for the first time. I hadn't ever been, and didn't too much want to. But you know all my damned friends are always talking about "the time they went to Europe." So, I finally went. It was a hell of a trip to be sure. All they did when they saw me was say the same thing, before they'd ever met me. "Hey cowboy, we love Texas." I guess the hat tipped 'em off. But let me tell you what, they all came up with a smile on their faces. You know why? They knew for damned sure that I was gonna' be nice to 'em. They knew it 'cause they knew I was from Texas. They knew something that hadn't even hit me. They knew Texans, even though they'd never met one. 

That's when it occurred to me. Do you know what is great about Texas? Do you know why when my friend Beverly and I were trekking across country to see 15 baseball games we got sick and had to come home after 8? Do you know why every time I cross the border I say, "Lord, please don't let me die in ______"? Do you know why children in Japan can look at a picture of the great State and know exactly what it is about the same time they can tell a rhombus from a trapezoid? I can tell you that right quick. You. The same spirit that made 186 men cross that line in the sand in San Antonio damned near 165 years ago is still in you today. Why else would my friend send me William Barrett Travis' plea for help in an email just a week ago, or why would Charles Stenciled ask me to reprint a Texas Independence column from a year ago? 

What would make my friend Elizabeth say, "I don't know if I can marry a man who doesn't love Texas like I do?" Why in the hell are 1,000 people coming to my house this weekend to celebrate a holiday for what used to be a nation that is now a state? Because the spirit that made that nation is the spirit that burned in every person who founded this great place we call Texas, and they passed it on through blood or sweat to every one of us. You see, that spirit that made Texas what it is, is alive in all of us, even if we can't stand next to a cannon to prove it, and it's our responsibility to keep that fire burning. Every person who ever put a "Native Texan" or an "I wasn't born in Texas but I got here as fast as I could" sticker on his car understands. Anyone who ever hung a map of Texas on their wall or flew a Lone Star flag on their porch knows what I mean. 

My Dad's buddy Bill has an old saying. He says that some people were forged of a hotter fire. Well, that's what it is to be Texan. To be forged of a hotter fire. To know that part of Colorado was Texas. That part of New Mexico was Texas. That part of Oklahoma was Texas. Yep. Talk all you want. Part of what you got was what we gave you. To look at a picture of Idaho or Istanbul and say, "what the Hell is that?" when you know that anyone in Idaho or Istanbul who sees a picture of Texas knows damned good and well what it is. It isn't the shape, it isn't the state, it's the state of mind. You're what makes Texas. The fact that you would take 15 minutes out of your day to read this, because that's what Texas means to you, that's what makes Texas what it is. The fact that when you see the guy in front of you litter you honk and think, "Sonofa*****. Littering on MY highway." 

When was the last time you went to a person's house in New York and you saw a big map of New York on their wall? That was never. When did you ever drive through Oklahoma and see their flag waving on four businesses in a row? Can you even tell me what the flag in Louisiana looks like? I damned sure can't. But I bet my ass you can't drive 20 minutes from your house and not see a business that has a big Texas flag as part of its logo. If you haven't done business with someone called All Tex something or Lone Star somebody or other, or Texas such and such, you hadn't lived here for too long. 

When you ask a man from New York what he is, he'll say a stockbroker, or an accountant, or an ad exec. When you ask a woman from California what she is, she'll tell you her last name or her major. Hell, either of 'em might say "I'm a republican," or they might be a democrat. When you ask a Texan what they are, before they say, "I'm a Methodist," or "I'm a lawyer," or "I'm a Smith," they tell you they're a Texan. I got nothin' against all those other places, and Lord knows they've probably got some fine folks, but in your gut you know it just like I do, Texas is just a little different. 

So tomorrow when you drive down the road and you see a person broken down on the side of the road, stop and help. When you are in a bar in California, buy a Californian a drink and tell him it's for Texas Independence Day. Remind the person in the cube next to you that he wouldn't be here enjoying this if it weren't for Sam Houston, and if he or she doesn't know the story, tell them. When William Barrett Travis wrote in 1836 that he would never surrender and he would have Victory or Death, what he was really saying was that he and his men were forged of a hotter fire. They weren't your average everyday men. 

Well, that is what it means to be a Texan. It meant it then, and that's why it means it today. It means just what all those people north of the Red River accuse us of thinking it means. It means there's no mountain that we can't climb. It means that we can swim the Gulf in the winter. It means that Earl Campbell ran harder and Houston is bigger and Dallas is richer and Alpine is hotter and Stevie Ray was smoother and God vacations in Texas. 

It means that come Hell or high water, when the chips are down and the Good Lord is watching, we're Texans by damned, and just like in 1836, that counts for something. So for today at least, when your chance comes around, go out and prove it. It's true because we believe it's true. If you are sitting wondering what the Hell I'm talking about, this ain't for you. 

But if the first thing you are going to do when the Good Lord calls your number is find the men who sat in that tiny mission in San Antonio and shake their hands, then you're the reason I wrote this tonight, and this is for you. So until next time you hear from me, God Bless and Happy Texas Independence Day. 

May you be poor in misfortune, rich in blessings, slow to make enemies and quick to make friends. But rich or poor, quick or slow, may you know nothing but happiness from this day forward. 

Bum Phillips

( MY FAVORITE "BUM" LINE FROM WHEN I LIVED IN HOUSTON, AND HE WAS "THE COACH" )

"I ALWAYS TAKE MY WIFE WITH ME, `CUZ SHE'S TO UGLY TO KISS GOODBYE"!!

TRULY SPOKEN ON THE JOHNNY CARSON SHOW!

_____________________________

2007

EVERYTHING IS MOVING FORWARD QUICKLY NOW WITH

"THE TEXAS SHOW"

15 DEALERS REPRESENTING NEARLY ALL "TOY SOLDIER PRODUCTS" WILL BE TRAVELING TO THE ALAMO CITY FOR MEMORIAL WEEKEND.

TABLE SPACE IS "SOLD OUT" FOR THIS YEAR'S "FIRST EVER" TEXAS SHOW, AND A WAITING LIST FOR 2008 HAS BEEN STARTED.

ALL THE DEALERS ARE BRINGING A LOAD OF STUFF, SO WE EXPECT THE "OFFERINGS" TO BE VERY SUBSTANTIAL.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR NEED MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL US AT:

760 - 723 - 6583

_____________________________

 UNDERESTIMATING THE AMMO REQUIREMENTS

AS REPORTED EARLIER THIS WEEK, SOME DIRT BAG WHO GOT PULLED OVER IN A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP IN FLORIDA ENDED UP "EXECUTING" THE DEPUTY WHO STOPPED HIM.

THE DEPUTY WAS SHOT EIGHT TIMES, INCLUDING ONCE BEHIND THE RIGHT EAR AT CLOSE RANGE.

ANOTHER DEPUTY WAS WOUNDED AND A POLICE DOG WAS KILLED.

A STATEWIDE MANHUNT ENSUED. THE LOW-LIFE PIECE OF HUMAN GARBAGE WAS FOUND HIDING IN A WOODED AREA WITH HIS GUN.

"SWAT" TEAM OFFICERS FIRED AND HIT SAID LOW LIFE 68 TIMES.

WHEN ASKED WHY THEY SHOT THE GUY 68 TIMES, POLK COUNTY SHERIFF GRADY JUDD TOLD THE ORLANDO SENTINEL:

"THAT'S ALL THE BULLETS WE HAD"

GOD BLESS SHERIFF JUDD!!

_____________________________

WE'RE BACK!

TSSD HAS BEEN IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS LOOKING AT VENUES FOR A "TEXAS SHOW" IN MAY.

THERE ARE 3 DIFFERENT VENUES UNDER CONSIDERATION.

WE SHOULD HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT SOON, IF ONE OF THE VENUES WORKS OUT.

_____________________________

FROM A FRIEND AND FELLOW COLLECTOR

_____________________________

THE BEST COMEBACK LINE EVER! 

 Marine Corps General Reinwald was interviewed on the radio the other day and you have to read his reply to the lady who interviewed him concerning guns and children.

 Regardless of how you feel about gun  laws you gotta love this!!  This is one of the best comeback lines of all time. It is a portion of National Public Radio (NPR) interview between a female broadcaster and US Marine Corps General Reinwald who was about to sponsor a Boy Scout Troop visiting his military installation. 

  FEMALE INTERVIEWER: 

So, General Reinwald, what things are you going  to teach these young boys when they visit your base?  

GENERAL REINWALD: 

We're going to teach them climbing, canoeing,  archery, and shooting. 

 FEMALE INTERVIEWER: 

Shooting! That's a bit irresponsible, isn't it? 

 GENERAL REINWALD: 

I don't see why, they'll be properly supervised on  the rifle range. 

 FEMALE INTERVIEWER: 

Don't you admit that this is a terribly dangerous activity to be teaching children? 

 GENERAL REINWALD: 

I don't see how. We will be teaching them proper rifle discipline before they even touch a firearm. 

 FEMALE INTERVIEWER: 

But you're equipping them to become violent  killers. 

 GENERAL REINWALD: 

Well, Ma'am, you're equipped to be a prostitute,  but you're not one, are you? 

 The radio went silent and the interview ended. 

 You gotta love the Marines!

_____________________________

CONGRATULATIONS!

TO "TARGET" STORES

THEY HAVE ACTUALLY USED THE WORDS

"MERRY CHRISTMAS"

IN THEIR TV AD's!

PERHAPS SOME COMMON SENSE IS COMING BACK......

_____________________________

A CHRISTMAS POEM

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light, 

I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight. 

My wife was asleep, her head on my chest, 

My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

 Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white, 

Transforming the yard to a winter delight. 

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe, 

Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

 My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep, 

Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep. 

In perfect contentment, or so it would seem, 

So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream. 

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near, 

But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear. 

Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, 

Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow. 

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear, 

And I crept to the door just to see who was near. 

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night, 

A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight. 

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old, 

Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold. 

Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled, 

Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child. 

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear, 

"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here! 

Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve, 

You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!" 

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift, 

Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.. 

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light 

Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right, 

I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night.

It's my duty to stand at the front of the line, 

That separates you from the darkest of times. 

No one had to ask or beg or implore me, 

I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me. 

My Gramps died at 'Pearl' on a day in December," 

Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers." 

My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam', 

And now it is my turn and so, here I am. 

I've not seen my own son in more than a while, 

But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile. 

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag, 

The red, white, and blue... an American flag. 

I can live through the cold and the being alone, 

Away from my family, my house and my home. 

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet, 

I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat. 

I can carry the weight of killing another, 

Or lay down my life with my sister and brother.. 

Who stand at the front against any and all, 

To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall." 

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright, 

Your family is waiting and I'll be all right." 

"But isn't there something I can do, at the least, 

"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast? 

It seems all too little for all that you've done, 

For being away from your wife and your son." 

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret, 

"Just tell us you love us, and never forget 

To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone, 

To stand your own watch, no matter how long. 

For when we come home, either standing or dead, 

To know you remember we fought and we bled 

Is payment enough, and with that we will trust, 

That we mattered to you as you mattered to us." 

_____________________________

NEWS FROM CHINA

THIS FROM OUR AGENT

1) WAGES FOR FACTORY WORKERS HAVE JUST BEEN INCREASED 66%.

2) NO MORE SEVEN DAY WORK WEEKS = LESS PRODUCTION TIME.

3) NO MORE OVERTIME = LESS PRODUCTION TIME.

4) MORE RETAIL OUTLETS ARE OPENING UP IN THE OUTER PROVINCES.  WORKERS DO NOT HAVE TO GO AND WORK AND SHOP IN FACTORY REGIONS. THIS WILL EQUAL A SHORTAGE OF LABOR AND LESS PRODUCTION TIME.

5) COST OF RAW MATERIALS HAVE INCREASED.  ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE GONE UP, THE BIGGEST ISSUE NOW IS THE COST OF LABOR.

TSSD HAS ALREADY BEEN GIVEN SOME "REVAMPED" PRICES FOR OUR NEXT PROJECT.  WE DO NOT PLAN TO RAISE OUR PRICES HOWEVER, UNLESS THE COSTS FROM CHINA GO EVEN HIGHER.

WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO PRICES IN THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET AFTER THE ELECTIONS. THE COST OF PETROLEUM AFFECTS THE COST OF PLASTIC. HOPEFULLY "OIL AND GAS" PRICES WILL REMAIN AT TODAY'S LOWER LEVELS, OR EVEN GO DOWN SOME MORE(?)

OUR MAIN CONCERN IS WITH THE SPEED OF PRODUCTION.  WE HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FACTORY NOW AFTER THREE YEARS, SO HOPEFULLY OUR "LITTLE PROJECTS" WILL STILL GET THEIR ATTENTION.

AND OF COURSE THE CHINESE NEW YEAR IS APPROACHING, AND THEY GENERALLY SHUT THE FACTORY DOWN FOR AT LEAST 2 WEEKS.

_____________________________

EARLY BIRD REMINDER

MARK YOUR 2007 CALENDAR NOW!!

2007 18th ANNUAL

WEST COASTER

TOY SOLDIER & MINIATURE SHOW

SUNDAY MARCH 4 - 2007

TSSD "IN-ROOM" SALES:

WEDNESDAY - FEB. 28

THURSDAY -  MARCH 1

FRIDAY - MARCH 2

SATURDAY - MARCH 3

SUNDAY MARCH 4th - THE "BALLROOM" SHOW

_____________________________

YES RUSS - I'M JEALOUS!

_____________________________

_____________________________

UPDATE ON THE "FOV" / "TARGET" STORES vs CSA FLAG

FORCES OF VALOR HAS POSTED SOME NICE PICS OF ALL OF THE NEW HISTORICAL LEGENDS FIGURE SETS ON THEIR WEBSITE.

THIS SHOULD HELP EVERYONE UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY HAVE AND HOW IT COMES PACKAGED.

YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THE "CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG" HAS NOW APPARENTLY BEEN REPLACED BY THE CSA "BONNIE BLUE FLAG".

SAME WAR - DIFFERENT FLAG.

HOPEFULLY THIS MEANS WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET MORE CIVIL WAR FIGURES; THEY ARE REALLY NICELY DONE.

_____________________________

FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS

_____________________________

____________________________

POLITICALLY CORRECT?

STRIKES AGAIN!

ACCORDING TO "FORCES OF VALOR", THEY HAD 116 CASES OF THE NEW "HISTORICAL LEGENDS" FIGURES RETURNED TO THEM - BY "TARGET" STORES.

REASON:

SOME OF THE BLISTER PACKS CAME WITH ......

A CONFEDERATE FLAG.

TO TOP IT OFF - THE STORES WERE IN THE SOUTH!!??

ROBERT E. LEE MUST BE ROLLING........!?

ONE NOW HAS TO WONDER - HOW SOON WILL OUR HOBBY BE SHUT DOWN?  AFTER ALL, AREN'T WE "WAR MONGERS" AND DEALING IN EVIL THINGS?

THE CIVIL WAR NEVER HAPPENED?

WWII NEVER HAPPENED?

HELP ME PLEASE - I DON'T GET IT?

( WE WILL HAVE THE "OFFENDING" SAID BLISTER PACKS IN CHICAGO!! )

_____________________________

"WE WERE LOSING UNTIL WE WON!"

GENERAL JULIAN SMITH, USMC

BATTLE FOR TARAWA

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