Small Scale Military Headquarters

I spent the morning at two of the largest flea markets in the state: Treasure Isles and Trader's World located on opposite sides of I-75 at SR63. They both have outside and huge indoor booths. There were many indoor booths dedicated to action figures. Star Wars, Star Trek, GI Joe by the thousands, Harry Potter, Lords of the Rings, thousands of Wrestling, even Walking Dead and every figure you can think of except---not a single 21st Century, Elite Force or even a Bravo Team figure carded or loose. No vehicles or planes to be found. There could have been 100,000+ action figures between the two places. And none were cheap. Apparently you have to have a T.V. show or a movie to be mass produced. Just goes to show how few 1/18 military combat figures from 21st C, BBI and others were produced. And for you 1/6 guys "I know you're out there" a big ZERO.

Crazy, isn't it? I go to a lot of flea markets and even collectibles shops where you'd think something would turn up, but as you discovered nothing is out there. For all I know Wal-Mart is sitting on a pile that never sold/got distributed properly because right now the only sources are ebay and what few online shops have left in stock.

But then again, each 1/32 plane says 5000 made of each release, which means only about 30,000 pieces for most of them - give or take. That averages out to be only one of each ME109-E4 (for example) per 10,000 people, which isn't much. I don't know how much of each armor piece was made as they don't put a number on those, but it couldn't have been much more than that.

And if you've checked WM or TRU lately, it does seem that pretty much every toy is based on a TV or movie franchise. Very few standalone toys make it these days because they don't have the "commercials" grinding them into kids brains every day of the week.

If you ever watch that show Toy Hunter almost always you will see the stuff in the background. I think it is partially a lower amount produced but also they are in less hands who collected heavily and have not dumped their collections and when they do sell its usually another collector buying it up. They are not "played with" usually, where as kids stuff is always cycling, always on the market being sold by the parents to other kids to play with.

It also doesn't help that pickelhaube has most of it in his possession.

What about that other member (sokrenzy?) that had the pictures of his impressive legions of seemingly every 21c figure ever produced

I agree with the above concerning the combination of limited production runs versus collector preferences for the reasons the 21c items get harder and harder to find. Its kind of weird as 2008 still doesn't seem like that long ago, but increasingly it is... I think of all the sales TRU, Wal Mart, and Target used to have to clear out the BBI and 21c items in the golden age and how plentiful these figures once were.

Quite frankly, I'm glad I bought all the figures that I did when I did. They are probably the least-inventoried part of my collection, but I know I have at least a few hundred stashed in drawers, boxes, in vehicles, etc. I did create an "archive" of some figures that I will not open (rare ones like the German paratroopers, movie lines like Platoon and Sahara) and have them stored away...

There's a large flea market in Long Beach I go to each month (it's every third sunday), and I've actually often seen 1:18 aircraft along with figures. Saw a whole 1:6 ULtimate Soldier collection yesterday when I was there including the massive RC Stuart Tank (I already have two). So I see items around here pretty often.

I have found a few pieces of armor and aircraft (1:18) at Gun / Military collectable shows in the past.
I've even found some at model shows, nothing much at all when it comes to figures.

There is a shop I go to from time to time, its called The Land of Oohs and OZ its a nostalgia and collectables
shop. I picked up two Indiana Jones Cargo Trucks last week. They have new and old plastic model kits and all kinds of collectables plus tons of action figures.....
....but no 21st or FOV WWII figs.
Maritime 96 knows all about the shop and might have some insight on why we don't see the figures....

I think if your looking for something check the buy sell trade forum, might be the best bet.

[CAT]CplSlade wrote:It also doesn't help that pickelhaube has most of it in his possession.

Not any more . I wiped out at least half of my collection / hoard of aircraft .