|
|
      |
A Weekend Of Heroes 2007
AWH 2007 POST CONVENTION REPORT
By Jean Chevalier
Click here to view the WOH 2007 Slide Show.
As we get older, birthdays are no longer exciting and anniversaries come and go; however, there’s a constant in our lives that we look forward to with enthusiasm each summer…to be surrounded with action figure toys and military heroes at the annual A Weekend of Heroes.
The 2007 A Weekend of Heroes delivered just that.
It is no secret that the 1/6 industry is in its darkest hour with diminishing old timers and bickering manufacturers, but Lu managed to pull together the nation’s most notable action figure retailers at the Los Angeles County FAIRPLEX over the weekend of June 8, 9, and 10, 2007 for the sixth installment of A Weekend of Heroes.
Once again combined with its sister event, US Airsoft Expo, AWH 2007 seemed livelier than the previous year, and I assure you that it’s not just because perky Hooter girls created a friendly atmosphere throughout the weekend! Yes, you heard it right, Hooter girls!
Where do I begin?
I arrived on Friday just past noon and the show was already open to visitors from the adjacent Home Show and Boat Show. It was a typical Friday crowd, but something seemed odd, the sister show, US Airsoft Expo, seemed to have a bigger presence this year with a key Japanese airsoft manufacturer proudly exhibiting a wide array of M60 gas operated machine guns! Okay, it’s not 1/6 but it was fascinating to see these monsters and blast away with your heart’s content! When asked why TOP chooses this venue to debut their top of the line M60, the president indicated that he wanted to meet some American heroes and the creator of the famed Operation Lion Claws, whose booth was staffed by the United States Army. TOP would sell over 15 machineguns at over $2,000.00 a piece by Sunday. I’ll never complain about the price of my $44.99 action figures again…
This year’s Corporate Exhibitors, or sponsors if you will, were MERIT International, Ignite, TwistingToyz, Spartan Imports (Airsoft importer) and TOP (of Japan). Custom House exhibitors were Triad Toys, Toyrrific, Toy Soldier Workshop of Hong Kong and FIGARTI Miniature. Ignite and TwistingToyz each produced an unique show exclusive while FIGARTI and Toy Soldier went to town by bringing in real historical personalities which is a trademark of A Weekend of Heroes.
FIGARTI Miniature’s VIP, Mr. John “Dick” Rossi, was a Flying Tigers ace. At age 92, this gentleman was alert with a good sense of humor. What a tremendous honor it was to be able to shake his hand. Flying Tigers, also known as the American Volunteer Group (AVG), is a little known group of American heroes who fought against the technologically and numerically superior Japanese Army Air Force in the early stage of WWII in China. FIGARTI Miniature did a fine job on a 54mm P-40 War Hawk plane and Mr. Rossi was signing on site.
Not to be outdone, Toy Soldier Workshop of Hong Kong created a life-like figure of Vietnam LRRP (Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol) legend, Sgt. Kenn Miller, who had 80 missions in his nearly three years of service in Vietnam. Knowing full well that Vietnam is not a “hot subject” in the US action figure community, Toy Soldier took a risk and created an amazing figure, an amazing SHORT figure no less due to Sgt. Miller’s height. Sgt. Miller was on site to sign on both Saturday and Sunday. It appeared that Toy Soldier Workshop’s gamble paid off in more ways than one.
The other weekend VIP was Ranger Todd Blackburn portrayed by actor Orlando Bloom in the hit movie Black Hawk Down. While no figure of Ranger Blackburn was produced, the crowd packed the tiny seminar room on Saturday to hear him speak of his ordeal in Somalia and his subsequent recovery; to support Ranger Blackburn on site was his former commander, Col. Danny McKnight. I had met Col. McKnight back in AWH 2005 but one can never get enough of this incredible American hero. Ranger Blackburn’s seminar, supported by Col. McKnight, ran nearly 45 minutes overtime until Lu came in to clear the room in preparation for the next talk.
Mr. Rossi took the floor as the show’s second seminar. Mr. Rossi’s tale of a US Navy pilot (himself) who ended up with the famed Flying Tigers was an invaluable historical feat; in the audience were two WWII re-enactors dressed up as Imperial Japanese Army troops who surrendered to Mr. Rossi in the room.
Saturday crowd packed the 48,000 sqft hall at about 1pm. Vendors were doing bustling business while Lu was busy buzzing up and down the isle as he would each year, hugging pretty ladies, shaking hands with VIPs, and yelling into his walkie talkie.
As it does every year, AWH had a wide array of military vehicles on display ranging a WWII M3 Scout Car, a M5 Stuart tank, to Vietnam era trucks and jeeps to modern day Army Hummvees. Kudos to Mr. Tim Kano and crew who created a WWII Imperial Japanese Army camp with bamboo walls! While no German figures were made as show exclusives this year, there was no shortage of authentic WWII German paratrooper re-enactors displaying their ware.
Other notable displays were airsoft “shooting tunnels” by Airsoft Extreme, G2 Generation Gun, and KWA-USA. While I’m not a big gun buff but it sure was fun shooting full auto at the cardboard target; the rush was addictive! I quickly pealed myself away from another “potential hobby” and headed back towards “our world”, our “action figure world”.
Cotswold Collectible brought out its 40th Anniversary Action Man line, which sold very well according to its Vice Present of Marketing Mr. Brown. Echobase Toys was selling parts like hot cakes and its Sgt. Miller show special figure moved as quickly as they could be pulled out of the case. War Toys’ Javier wheeled and dealt until his whopping ten booth tables were nearly empty.
The “new kid” this year was FIGARTI Miniatures and Toyrrific. FIGARTI carries probably one of the finest 54mm toy soldier line with unusual themes such as Vietnam and Pacific Rim although their Pegasus Bridge was a mind-boggling piece of art (finally, it has Germans in it!). Its Vietnam PT boat was my personal favorite.
Toyrrific of Florida had a raft that at first glance appeared familiar but would turn out to be a far more detailed product once you’re up close. This group was very upbeat and friendly and we hope to see more products from them in the near future.
A retail “newbie” that stood out at this year’s show was Battle Ready Armor. Began as FOA foam tanks, this firm has developed a line of 1/6 scale tanks in metal! Metal, not the cheesy polystone, refreshing! The part we all loved the most was its lightweight and affordable pricing.
The Saturday Night VIP dinner was not publicized to visitors this year, only VIPs, corporate exhibitors and media were invited. At the intimate 55+ person dinner Lu brought us down the memory lane by showing a montage of A Weekend of Heroes 20022006. Images of happy collectors at Chino Air Museum from 2003, the Stalingrad battle with Prince von Habsburg from 2004, German FJ Gunther Meyer and the battle of Seelow Heights from 2005, Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester’s interview from 2006, and the emotional interview with Mrs. Cunningham (widow of late PJ Jason Cunningham) from 2005 brought tears to everyone’s eyes.
Lu told the story of a Vietnam veteran whom he befriended and would later become a close family friend some twelve years later, but he choked up before he could finish his tale so Tung from Echobase Toys had to finish the Sgt. Miller figure presentation for Lu. Sgt. Miller gave a humble speech and the evening was closed by a touching speech by Col. Danny McKnight. The Saturday Night VIP dinner reminded all that it’s all about honoring real heroes.
It is natural for reporters to cover AWH, but the 2007 show drew more reporters than usual. Airsoft International magazine of London flew in its Editor in Chief and two staff writers to cover both airsoft and action figures! Surprisingly that’s how the magazine is layout, 50/50, just like A Weekend of Heroes.
Mr. Raymond Giuliani of MILITOY magazine of Paris and his Foreign Legion associate (and Eric) were there to cover VIP stories.
The newly established US Airsoft magazine of New York sent its Vice President of Marketing and a staff writer to cover the US Airsoft Expo side of the show.
There was a “press moment” when all cameras were at one spot…it was Sunday’s “Hot Ladies in Military Costume Contest”. Six lovely ladies in military costumes, okay, some were more “military” looking than others, demonstrated in front of an audience of doll-collectors and gun-enthusiasts (brave women), only to be judged by two lovely Hooter girls in camouflage shorts. The winner, once again, was last year’s WWII WAC lady! The lovely winner gave AWH’s own, WWII 101st
ABN Medic Ed Pepping a big wet kiss, and the crowd went wild.
Sure, I love my collection of figures, but let me tell yeah, there’s nothing like a great weekend of cool action figures, genuine American heroes, and patriotic Hooter girls! To sum up A Weekend of Heroes 2007 in one word……SWEEEEEET……!
