My name is Holensock...and I'm a PTE Junkie...

holensock · Post by **holensock** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 6:03 pm

It all began with their 'price'. At $3.99 at KB for their 3 pack soldiers with a bunch of gear, how could I go wrong?! Then I got home and opened the package and took one of their soldiers in my hands, and while he lacked the detail of an XD...this soldier...had EXCELLENT ARTICULATION! I couldn't stop posing him!! Standing, walking, running, kneeling, laying with elbows up and gun in hand...it was unbelievable! I had to have more! I got the tanks, towers, then came horses, camels, atv's, motorcycles, desert buggies, police, swat teams, frogmen, firemen...and then...the KB's around me CLOSED. Only 2 KB Outlets remain...and both are over an hours drive...but then Dollar General got some! And I bought those sets...but now DG hasn't restocked...I've found a couple of Online stores that have them on their sites, but not in stock yet...
I'm glad PTE is under rated by collectors...this will keep their prices down for me! I just wish I could find them! I just wish my KB's didn't close...I know I'm not the only PTE Junkie...there's a few of you here! I'd love to hook up with those of you who have KB's near by! Or to hear that I'm...not alone.........

Morian Miner · Post by **Morian Miner** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 6:11 pm

The KBs have dried up around here. The outlet store used to have a whole section with the boats, camels, howitzers, etc, but got wiped out at Christmas. Since then, they've got a few of the old figure packs and that's it. I know I made a mistake not buying the howitzer, and there's some of the new stuff I want, but you can't buy what you can't find!

Quixote511 · Post by **Quixote511** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 6:18 pm

I was working on an exhibit at the Boonshoft Museum in Dayton, it's still up BTW. One of the sections was the evolution of toys. We decided to cover toy soldier. Well to make a long story short. They got some of my vintage lead soldiers for display and to show lead's modern counterpart there is also some of my XD and PTE on display. I think it's kind of coll that the guys are in a museum.
Aaron

holensock · Post by **holensock** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 6:20 pm

I know, it's frustrating, isn't it?! I'm hoping that the stuff that was available last year will make it's way back this year. The KB at the Midway Mall in Elyria, Ohio closed two years ago, but last Christmas a KB Outlet store opened temporarily there. I'm hoping they do it again this year. Also Sears carried some last year, hope they do it again. KB Online has the helicopter set and the desert buggy set on sale for $6.99 each! You get a lot of stuff with both!

holensock · Post by **holensock** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 6:26 pm

Quixote511 wrote:I was working on an exhibit at the Boonshoft Museum in Dayton, it's still up BTW. One of the sections was the evolution of toys. We decided to cover toy soldier. Well to make a long story short. They got some of my vintage lead soldiers for display and to show lead's modern counterpart there is also some of my XD and PTE on display. I think it's kind of coll that the guys are in a museum.
Aaron

Neat stuff!!! Dayton? Hmm...I'll have to take a drive down there! We had some bad storms today in Cleveland, Hope you guys are ok there in Dayton!
You mentioned the lead soldiers...they kind of look like PTE without the articulation, eh? I LOVE XD for their detail, same with bbi, but I find that PTE is just FUN to pose, paint, customize, and someday I post some cool pictures of 'em!
Congrats again on the exhibit!!! It's on my 'got to go there' list!!

Tinman · Post by **Tinman** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 6:53 pm

I've only bought one piece, the Cargo Humvee, which I like a lot for $15.
Removed the rear "canvas" (which just lifts off), drilled a hole in the middle rear of the cab roof to mount a .50 cal (borrowed from one of my M41s) and it's really quite nice with some bbi modern figures.

Gave the PTE figures to my son. They do have great articulation, though! Wish bbi and 21C were as posable.

Razor17019 · Post by **Razor17019** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 8:48 pm

holensock,
Email me a list of the items you are looking for. I have a KB Toys in my local mall and an outlet store nearby.
I can do some recon for you and let you know.
Email: wave17019@fuse.net

Jesse James · Post by **Jesse James** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 8:55 pm

I can't say I'm a fan of the figures at all really. I tend to hand them off to my girlfriend's kids should I buy complete sets or receive any... I was pleased to see a helmet-less headsculpt though in the SWAT sets. If PTE did generic headsculpts their figures would at least go up in my eyes as customizing fodder.

As basic figures they tend not to fit in with the detail of other toy lines enough for me to try sneaking them into dioramas... Star Wars, XD, BBI, etc. are all just too superior aesthetically for my tastes.

However...

PTE Gear is often great! The watch-tower is simply incredible, right down to pop-rivet detail and a rope ladder that rocks. Then there's the ammo cans that have made some of the coolest Star Wars diorama fodder ever in my view, and I personally feel oil drums work for any era, and even sci-fi, so I dig those too.

The small wooden crates I've even painted up and snuck into dioramas for Star Wars. They work well.

The grenade launcher just needs a repaint to really fit in with sci-fi too, though some greeblies added here and there, and it's even better. I've modded LAW's too for Star Wars anti-armor use... I'm not a fan of the small arms stuff, it's noticeably worse/rubbery, so I pass it off with the figures.

I still need to stock up on their hedgehogs... Really neat, good pieces for dioramas of most eras, and again a potential sci-fi item.

I'm really hoping to find some of the new stuff... The bunkbed/locker is neat. The command post looks great too and I keep thinking that a couple of those together could make a really nice, larger playset... Even though the building looks like a Pizza Hut on the outside (anyone else notice this?). That actually looks more Sci-Fi to me than "real", but whatever... Unless your GI's are attacking the local plaza.

I have to say I was a tad disappointed with the wall pieces the SWAT guys come with. I'm sad they aren't double-sided. Those would be substantially better if they were... Much more useful for diorama purposes.

Oh, and I have noticed that some of the tools are really neat... The prybar, the swat shield, the ram... THey're a lot better than the flimsy stuff the BBI SWAT guys had. Good additions to those figures.

PTE's a lotta good stuff, and a good bit of "meh" too... For the price though, a 50/50 situation is actually a win I think.

steelbonnet · Post by **steelbonnet** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 7:59 am

Since PTE 1/18th came out l`ve been smitten with them & moreso as many are not keen on the figures.

The figures have so much potential & are easy to customize & do head/limb swaps with.
The gear as already said is Superb moreso due to there great prices too.

Must admit though being British,the PTE range are the only one`s to tackle British soldier properly.
Yea I know XD did one,but that`s all they did & yes BBI did a range But there just british DPM camo painted on US Figures,whilst PTE did British Desert DPM & also SA80s & 6 figures to boot. Alas yes they all have boonies on,though not difficult to change heads.

PTE over here in the UK though also seems to be drying up

Which l hope is temporary as l`m in need for more Humvee`s,other vehicles & figures & the new Barrack sets too (Bunks & Locker sets).

Ja
Steel Bonnet

holensock · Post by **holensock** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 4:17 pm

This is what I love about PTE! The potential to customize it into some really neat looking stuff!!

kenhil2 · Post by **kenhil2** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 5:49 pm

power team is the greatest, they are really underrated, i got a bunch of their vehicles and the swat figures are great i just wish i could find a steady supplier of their new products, but they are a great slection for a great price and if you like variaty or army building PTE is the way to go.

Post by **aferguson** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 6:33 pm

can i ask a question: you guys that 'army build'.......why do you 'army build'? what do you do with all the duplicate figures, vehicles, aircraft etc?

steelbonnet · Post by **steelbonnet** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 1:48 am

Well Aferg,

For me,Figure wise l do Army build,partly for a generic US force & UK force (as there Brits are sweet too). Though also as shown they can be a great base for Customizing which is another bonus too

As for vehicles,well apart from the Humvee`s (have 5 of) & Buggies (have 4 of),I have 1 m1,1 of each Patrol boat & 1 helo to date.

mainly the figures as another avenue of customizing in my book,though as said a Generic Soldier too

Ja
Steel Bonnet

Post by **aferguson** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 2:08 am

and that is my question.....why do you have 5 humvees and 4 buggies? What do you do with so many? Just curious about how other's run their hobbies..

steelbonnet · Post by **steelbonnet** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 4:31 am

Well the humvee`s l have so many is due to doing different varients of the Humvee family.

As for the buggies,well as the Seal Teams operate in at least 2 or more buggies,I have 4 so l can do either one unit or 2 teams using them.

I try to keep my 1/18th Military as close as possible to actual Real Military units.
Makes for a more impressive show then

or at least l think so.

Hope that helps Aferg

ja
Steel Bonnet

digger · Post by **digger** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 4:45 am

steelbonnet wrote: I try to keep my 1/18th Military as close as possible to actual Real Military units.

Exactly - how often do you see a lone Humvee chugging along? Or a lone soldier wandering the streets? Or a squad where everyone has a different uniform on? Davis wouldn't be next to Mansfield, that kind of thing.

I do it in part for the above realism and in part because it looks cool. Something about a column of armor or a row of Wermacht in the same outfit (highlighting uniformity, structure and discipline) that is bad-ass imo. I guess how an AC fan might think his bird looks best with the flaps down I think my soldiers look cool when they roll deep.

I have to admit, I even like checking out the Joe & SW troop building accomplishments b/c they look so damn cool....

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying this is economically sound or even legally sane....

steelbonnet · Post by **steelbonnet** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 5:56 am

Oh it`s not Sane as my wife will account for that.......LOL

My loving wife.......
"Why do you need another 2 of those Humvees & more of that soldier,don`t you already have a box full of him??"

Now as a rule l wouldn`t disagree but you HAVE TO

You need as digger said the uniformity of a Military force.
That`s the one thing overall that i`ve never liked about Joe till the Army Builders started.
When l was a kid we had Action Force (our ppre-curser to GI JOE line).
With this brand though the Uniformity was already in place,you could have characters of SAS or Z force together & they would look like they belonged in the same unit. Something GI JOE as always lacked IMO.

So as l tend to keep my 1/18th as close to realistic as possible well l harken back to the good olde days & take that path

Glad there`s more of us Digger

ja
Steel Bonnet

Post by **aferguson** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 6:56 am

interesting. being a model builder all my life I've just always made little vignettes with my stuff, so i generallly only need one or maybe two soldier figures or just one vehicle etc. I never thought of doing whole units etc as you guys described. I guess mostly because that would require setting up and then taking down and putting away the figures/vehicles and then setting them up again the next time etc. I like permanence, so once i make something i want to leave it that way for good and doing whole units that way would be impossible because of the space it would require.

I like the idea of showing full strength units, though, ie the strength they operate in combat, as you guys described. You've given me food for thought...

Like how about a whole schwarm of messerschmitts...

digger · Post by **digger** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 8:07 am

aferguson wrote: Like how about a whole schwarm of messerschmitts...

That would be awesome

I think the strength in numbers looks cool on any level - if I had the space I would seriously think about flying a bunch of the same AC in formation. When the Flight 19 Avengers arrive someone will have to get them all and do just that so we can all live vicariously through them.

holensock · Post by **holensock** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 8:38 am

aferguson wrote:can i ask a question: you guys that 'army build'.......why do you 'army build'? what do you do with all the duplicate figures, vehicles, aircraft etc?

I think, for me anyways, that because of the low prices for PTE, I gotta have more than one vehicle or aircraft! And each set has at least 3 figures. I've found the single pack figures at Dollar General for $1. each and for $5 or $10, I walk out with 5 or 10 more figures! It's like a toy addiction!!
I plan on setting up some neat dio's! KB Online had the PTE helicopters for $6.99 each...I had-HAD to get more than one! Wife doesn't understand all this...sometimes neither do I...but I just GOTTA have this stuff!!! I GOTTA!!!!

75th Ranger · Post by **75th Ranger** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 11:44 am

I'm an army builder too!

Armys are made of numbers and units to be able to resemble a realistic unit you need and Army!

by the way, does anyone has access to the PTE british desert uniform figures?
let me know.
thanks.

steelbonnet · Post by **steelbonnet** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:49 pm

Ranger.

I`ve had luck in finding around 20 or so Brits,alas thats all.

The only distributers l knew of who helped me out with them now seems to hold NO PTE anymore

If l do come across any mate l`ll keep you in mind though alas it`s looking unlikely.

I`d like to say l could spare some,though as said only got 20 & well outta them l ended up with only 6 SA80 weapons

(Those l`m NOT parting with). Maybe l could let a couple go if you`d be happy with only 2 unequiped Brits?

Ja
Steel Bonnet

75th Ranger · Post by **75th Ranger** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 12:17 pm

steelbonnet:

Thanks for the offer, but i rather wait for you to see if you can get your hands on new ones, I want at least 5 with their gear.

So keep me in mind,
take care.

steelbonnet · Post by **steelbonnet** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 3:21 pm

I will indeed mate. I`ll even try to get you one or two with SA80s if/when l find them

ja
Steel Bonnet

holensock · Post by **holensock** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 7:39 pm

aferguson wrote:interesting. being a model builder all my life I've just always made little vignettes with my stuff, so i generallly only need one or maybe two soldier figures or just one vehicle etc. I never thought of doing whole units etc as you guys described. I guess mostly because that would require setting up and then taking down and putting away the figures/vehicles and then setting them up again the next time etc. I like permanence, so once i make something i want to leave it that way for good and doing whole units that way would be impossible because of the space it would require.

I like the idea of showing full strength units, though, ie the strength they operate in combat, as you guys described. You've given me food for thought...

Like how about a whole schwarm of messerschmitts...

Hmmm...you've given me food for thought too! Just doing some smaller dios with just a few soldiers. Instead of worrying about how to pay for more than one set of soldiers, just buy the one set and go with it!

Small Scale Military Headquarters

My name is Holensock...and I'm a PTE Junkie...

My name is Holensock...and I'm a PTE Junkie...

Re> PTE Junkie

Re>PTE JUNKIE

multiples

AC

I'm an army builder too!