TS118’s Super-Sized
Dynamic Modular Diorama
The level of geekery that people get up to never ceases to amaze me. Even with all the toys and DVDs that are in my collection, I am considered by most of my peers to be a MODERATE geek. I don’t have the entire history of the Marvel Universe memorized. I can’t recite passage and verse from the Wheel of Time books. Hell, I can’t even remember any witty quotes from obscure B-movies that I might insert into conversation.
I’m astounded when I meet collectors with that kind of focus. Imagine the werewithal it takes to be a completist (a collector who requires himself to obtain an entire set or subset of geeky bric—brac) or even to just focus on ONE line, ONE character. People tell you when you first get into toy collecting, “Stick to one line, bro!” (People tend to call you “bro” alot in the local toy collecting community - It’s either that or “sir”). Me, I don’t have the EQ to even come close to that kind of dedication. Delayed gratification is beyond my measly abilities.
Yet the guys at TS118 are the complete opposite. Like the Pinoy 501st Legion or Via Astris, the guys at TS 1:18 are zealously passionate about their chosen focus, which happens to be military figures in the 3.75” scale. For the most part, their drive stems from their love of Hasbro’s GI Joe as kids, but it’s not limited to that line. TS118, short for Toy Soldier 1:18 (as in 1/18th scale), collects all sorts of vehicles, weaponry, figures, and playsets as long as they measure up.
A few weeks ago, I was invited by the guys to visit one of their little get togethers and help document it. Of course, I say “little” in an entirely figurative sense. Their “Super-sized Diorama” took up a whole row of parking spaces at the Legaspi Car Park in Legaspi Village, Makati City.
At about 6 AM, on the morning of December 11, 2010, the members of TS118 began to gather. Numerous collectors had “pledged” toys to the event, filing several vans and sport utility vehicles with fantastic plastic paperweights. The ranking officers had put together some plans…
… but due to the shape of the venue and the number of toys involved, some changes had to be made. Vehicles shuffled around as in my head, I make WHOOSH! and VROOM! noises. At the start, many of the toys I used to have as a kid (I sold most of my Joe vehicles before leaving the States, and the rest when I got back into collecting) come out. There were Tomahawks, Retaliators, Battle Bunkers, APCs, Sky Strikers, Warthogs, HAVOCs, Bridge Layers and a Wolverine. oh, my.
Then the big guns started coming out.
True scale copies of Apache attack copters, Hueys, Hughes 500Ds, M1 Abrams tanks, Humvees, Raptor jets, and others came out of collectors trunks. Beautifully detailed, wonderfully huge, deliciously tactile. I learned that these were available for a time locally for as little as p2000. Where was I?
Once everyone arrived, it took them a few hours to set up the vehicles and then place the men into and around the vehicles with their weapons. They leave enough space between the toys for photographers to scrunch down and get up close.
Wow.
Just wow.
Apparently, this is just the first go around for these guys. Coming up are theme events; desert shoots, artic, maybe a Cobra Island one so they can bring out all those Night Ravens? Who knows? I’m looking forward to seeing what these guys have in store for 2011.
If you’d like to see more toys, visit the TS 118 gallery HERE, or join the forum boards HERE.
[widget:widget_CghQD1294150604767]
-
dreamdomdream liked this
-
slangards posted this
