Small Scale Military Headquarters

I finally saw the desert tan FOV Abrams in a local Target.

However, I didn't pick it up because it was too HUGE.

Notice I didn't say it wasn't cool, or well detailed. It was simply too BIG.

I just don't know what else to say.

I get looks like that ALL the time.
You just buy it and if some makes a comment, like "Oh, someone's gonna have a Great Birthday." You say, "Yes, they will." and walk out.

An older man outside of a Walmart once asked me if my planes could fly (my cart overflowing with Grey and White Stukas for 15.00 each). I told him, no these were model planes that didn't fly, but they should!

Don't worry about the looks and comments - you are buying 1/18 scale "toys" and LOVING IT!

That should be the least of a worry in purchasing these 1/18th scale items. Just go for it!!!!

i guess you won't be switching to 1/16 scale armour any time soon, then.

I get looks when I buy 32x planes at WM, interesting enough my 2 yr old nephew has quite the collection if my story holds.

Well you could've bought a case or two of beer instead for that money you wasted on the tank, and not have anything to show for it but a hangover in the morning.

Last night while I was pushing a fully loaded cart of PTE to the register at Big Lots one of the employees asked me if they were for me. I sheepishly put my finger to my lips and he explained how he bought them too and loved them.

A fifteen minute conversation ensued where I am pretty sure I ruined both his marriage and bank account pointing him to where to find "the good stuff." Nice to know us geeks are not alone.

If you're that concerned about someone saying something especially a bored cashier then slip a box of trojans into the mix, that'll likely curb any comments... Or if they are talky when they're done commenting about who the toys are for don't forget to mention the "little friends" are yours too...

The Trojans would be hard to explain to my wife:)

Just order over the web. They come in "plain brown wrapper" no suspicion there.

Well back in the day when I used to install ceramic tile. We did a job in a local eatery. They already moved the equipment made of stainless steel in and we did not acid wash the tile after grouting. So this had to be done with the equiptment in place. The fumes from the acid stains stainless steel blue. The way to prevent this is coat it with Vasoleene. So I went to a nearby convienent store to purchase some. My helper came in the store with me. The guy behind the counter was staring at me. When we got in the truck I asked my helper what was that guys problem. Then I realised what I have just purchased.

So I have no problem buying XD after that.

There's only so many birthdays your son or nephew can have, soo...I've been using this line at the same store since I'm in there at least once a week..."Yeah, my buddy lives in Seattle and his Target can't get this stuff in."
Same line for WM and TRU

Panzer_M wrote:I get looks when I buy 32x planes at WM, interesting enough my 2 yr old nephew has quite the collection if my story holds.

Cashiers ask me all the time if these are for my son or me.. I proudly tell them that they are for me.

I have gotten the occasional odd look with a 1/18 purchase. Who cares. My money, my house, and beats selling drugs to grade-schoolers or beating up old ladies for kicks.
Anyway, any odd look usually disappears when I mention recent ebay prices, and changes to the furtive "as soon as I go on break, I am moving some to the back room" look.

People rarely tend to comment on what I get. Once at Target, however, I was purchasing the 1:18 FOV Bradley and the cashier sort of went crazy over it. It turned out he was a veteran from Iraq and had rode in Bradleys in combat

I'll buy anything...XD, Tampons, bungee cords, Crisco...all in the same basket.

Thats why I always ask for a gift receipt.

I get one cashier at Wal-Mart, always there when I buy my toys, and she gives me odd looks when I walk in because she knows where I'm going. But I always end up with her because she runs the express lane...

At TRU the other day I got a 1:48 Hellcat and she asked me if I wanted a gift receipt, and I said no with a smile, because I go in these places a lot, right to the same place. I'm used to it. I really love to play, it's just I get such wierd looks it's hard to do.

They put new swings in at this playground nearby, and I love to swing (don't ask) and I always have to go at night, lest I be creepy goatee punk rock guy. Though, sometimes, I really don't care.

I guess I don't want to lose that part of me. The part that doesn't want to grow old, the part that goes against the grain while everything else progresses.

I see some people and they've lost it completely. The ones who stick with something that abuses them, that does them harm, because they're afraid of standing out and against it. It's tragedy.

I'm pretty much the same way. It's a lot easier to walk up to a register with military toys than say Star Wars.
I explain when asked that these toys are much too fragile for little kids to play with and are made for adults. If they want a little history lesson with the Spitfire I'm buying, I'm very happy to explain it to them in detail.
Something like if the Brits hadn't made this plane we possibly might be speaking German right now. Or did you know that some of Wermacht soldiers were given Meth when they swept over Europe so fast in tanks like this little Panzer I'm buying.
Or did you know that this Me-262 was the first operational jet that flew in WWII, and that if the Germans hadn't run out of gas from us bombing them they might have obliterated our bombers and possibly won the war.

I always give them more info than they need or want. People need to have a little history lesson whether they like it or not.

I am very proud when I know I'm buying a "toy" that has so much background behind it.

Some great stories. I know why all the Big Lots are always empty now. I'm pretty new to this as I got my son some 1:18 stuff for Christmas last year with all the Target discounts going on - just couldn't help myself. Now he and I are both addicted - too bad the Target discounts are long gone. In less than a year, I've ammassed (sp?) about 20 different 1:18 planes/jets and numerous vehicles. I had to get both the Camo and Desert versions of most stuff so we could "battle it out" in the basement. My son just loves to "play war" with all the 1:18 stuff although, I don't let him mess with the big jets and most of the WWII planes he doesn't even know about yet - still new in box hidden away.

I wish there was more 1::18 to buy. It is interesting that some of you feel embarassed to buy items. It's none of their business what we buy.
Now keeping a low profile with the spouse is a wise move. As most of you married folks understand.
T

Never felt like I was being judged by sales clerks. I think most of them have dealt with Hotwheels collectors and understand the concept of colletible toys. There was one time when this lady and her little boy where in the toy isle and he wanted her to buy him a Hotwheel, She made some kind of comment about him growing out of toys someday. She then glanced at me with my handfull of cars and figures, got red in the face and hurried off.

I dont know about you ...but seems like a perfect place and time to try this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zt_KfBaRWxs