2008

I've decided to start doing update pages for the Playset Addict site.  Eventually I want to redesign the whole thing, but in the meantime, I figured I'd just start a new page for the most current postings. Hope you enjoy...I love to hear from you guys.

playsetaddict@charter.net

(Put "Toys" in the Subject line so my Spam filter doesn't eat your message.)

I've always loved the Marx Wagon Train set.  There's just something about the colors of the pieces that stirs something inside. (If you're not an addict, you won't understand).  Recently a nice partial set was listed on eBay.  Boy did I want that set!  However, I don't see myself spending the big bucks on vintage sets much anymore. So I got out parts of my Ultimate Wagon Train and had some fun. 

Old Seth Adams looks a little worried...

Stay tuned...

B and T's Western Town Building. 

I recently had some fun playing with the Conte Rangers and Indians series.

This shot may look simple, but it was a long time in the making.  The inspiration comes from a life size diorama in a museum in Madison, Wisconsin.  The Conte Iron Brigade figures have been waiting for a while, but I wanted some good corn and some realistic split rail fence. Thanks go to Michigan Toy Soldier company for helping me out with the corn.  And special thanks also goes out to Gary Livingston (Shiloh) who is the master of split rail fence.

I finally got Conte's "The Platoon" into action. 

A little "Lost World" action

I've been experimenting with flame effects today...

As Conte's "Zulu: Horns of the Buffalo" series arrives, there will be alot more pics like this.

I had some time today and just decided to have fun. You all seemed to enjoy my "Ultimate Blue and Gray" playset.  Here is my "Ultimate Custer's Last Stand" playset.  There are some pretty cool conversions in this set. 

Anybody else ever converted a horse?

If you have a widescreen monitor...click on this picture to see some double size images.

One of my favorite purchases at OTSN was a great Hobby Bunker building to which Charles Moore had added an interior and debris and busted up furniture...Here's a shot of feturing Conte's "House Cleaning, Airborne Style"

The new Conte Roman Ship is an absolutely amazing piece.  Here I put it into a story with an Egyptian boat I picked up at a tourist gift shop on Macinaw Island of all places.  I added a Russian Caesar figure I had picked up on eBay to fill out the scene.

My report on OTSN will be coming soon.  As a teaser, here is a picture of the giant Robin Hood diorama Ron Barzso had displayed in the lobby of the Hotel.  A true Playset Dream come true.

Are you ready for a hot time at "The Hot Gates"? Hosted by Leonidas and the 300.

The first "guests" arrive...and are welcomed!

Several years ago I set out to create a series of  color matched 'Dreamwish' Playsets...Post-Marx playsets filled with figures from a whole bunch of different manufacturers mixed with tons of conversions. I cut and pinned and glued and painted and I was almost ready to start photographing these 'Series Infinity" sets  when I got the Conte Webmaster gig.  The Conte site has kept me so busy that I haven't been able to play with my creations...until now.  First up will be my Ultimate Blue and the Gray Playset.  Click on the photo to go to the new page. I dare you to try to identify the various makers and to try to figure out the components of the conversions. 

8/30/07 - My current project...painted Civil War. 

I'm glad the pictures don't capture the smell...Click on the picture to enter the Field of Battle.

Conte's Raiding Vikings are coming soon!

The Spartans have been in  place for a while.  Now...Enter the Persians!

I picked up a pretty nice  Marx Giant Blue and Gray at the local Antique Mall. (Yeah...I'm amazed, too.) So I had to set it up and play with it 'playsetaddict style'.  Click on the picture to see the whole set of pictures.

Tiger I tank and Armor Column.  This is on a shelf in my basement. Click on the picture to see the whole shelf.

Click on the Picture to see the whole series of pictures featuring Mike O'Donnell's incredible farmhouse.

Click on the above picture to see one of my all time favorite series of pictures....my tribute to "The Horse Soldiers"

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The Marx guys sure go nice with the FOV and 21st Century vehicles, don't they?

I've been in a scenery making mode lately.  I both love and hate it when this creative obsession kicks in.  I spend way too much money and way too much time trying to make the sets I think I 'need' to play with all the toys. The focus of this latest bit of mania has been the making of hedgerows.   These first pictures are of a little skirmish I put together using my creations  with some Conte paratroopers and SS figures...along with a 21st Century King Tiger that I took the torch to.

I remember reading about a German tank that was knocked out in Normandy that had the tank commander still in the hatch...but burned to a skeletal mess.  I tried to recreate that.

I also did a little play with my WW2 city before I started taking it down.  Here some of the Conte Boss figures run into a patrol of Germans on the outskirts of town.

A little congestion. Buildings are by Conte, Hobby Bunker and B and T Products.  The rubble piles are my creations. The vehicles are Forces of Valor and 21st Century.   The figures are some painted Marx plastic Germans, some Conte figures and some 21st Century figures.  If you want to see a whole page featuring German armor moving through a battle damaged city, go to http://conteco.com/bloggermanarmor.htm 

Conte...Civil War...That's the ticket.

I still love the old original Marx figures.  There's something about those colors...red brown...powder blue...yellow...cream...that just gets the old nostalgic fires burning.  Gotta have 'em.  I think this is a bunch I couldn't resist on eBay a while back. Scary thing is I can't remember exactly when I got them.  4 sets, color matched, mmm, mmm good.

When I was a kid this figure was my favorite. 

These are all figures I wish Marx had made...but I had to make them myself.  They are part of my "Stuart's Raid" Dreamwish Playset.

I picked up these Elastolin figures at OTSN a couple of years ago. 

In my opinion, biased as it well may be, the Sons of the South Series by Conte takes painted metal  figures to a new level.  I love the earthier tones of color.  And as for depicting action and interaction, they have no rivals.  I like the BOSS series of American GIs for their inherent drama and heroism...but the they don't interact well with enemy forces.  The SOS really do.  They get right up close and personal.

The SOS guys also are loaded with personality.  Doesn't this officer just make you want to dream up a back story for him?

This is an old picture I had forgotten about.  MM MMM MMM. I might have to try to recreate this with the Sons of the South thrown in.

Here's another old photo I had forgotten about. 

Since June 15th, 2007