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A Weekend Of Heroes 2009
AWH Xmas Show After Action Report
By Jean Chevalier
Click here to view the 1st Annual Xmas Slide Show.
As a collector, I have been attending A Weekend of Heroes when it first began as the "21st Century Toy Convention" back in the summer of 2000 back in Burbank.
As time has passed, shows have come and gone. Even Weekend of Heroes has seen better times, yet it continues to provide the collecting community a venue to gather and enjoy the hobby.
I was a bit skeptical when I learned of the December Christmas One-Day Show (it had to be smaller than the June show for sure) but decided to visit all the same. I'm glad I did.
While this one-day event did not draw the same crowd as the main weekend event in June, folks showed up to shop and enjoy each other's company on a beautiful Southern California day! In fact, I was surprised to see collectors from Rhode Island, from Northern California, and even Chicago! What effort for a one-day show but they all seemed to be enjoying themselves.
This show's show-stopper was the 1/18 scale F-14 style plane with working lights offered by show sponsor, Merit International, and available for retail purchase via selected show vendors.
What craftsmanship! The plane's cockpit alone is worth the money! Only 250 pieces were made as the show exclusives with "A Weekend of Heroes Xmas Show" printed on the edge of the wing. The plane's "hydraulic" wheel system is another toy engineering marvel. This piece is definitely a scaled aircraft collectors' delight.
Show sponsor Merit International, no stranger to military charities, offered to donate $40 to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation for each of the first 50 "Crye Warrior" action figures sold.
"Crye Warrior" is the first and only officially licensed (fabric pattern wise) by the creator of Multi-cam camouflage "Crye". This figure features a unique neck attachment, which allows the figure to pose more "human-like" (in a chin-up, torso-bent position).
Show sponsor Hot Toys gave away a modern 1/6 weapon to all show attendees, young and old. This is one "weapon" that even children can carry. Hot Toys also debuted the "King of Pop" figure, you guessed it, of Michael Jackson! Hot Toys' head sculpt and craftsmanship elevates itself to a category that can only be described as ART; these are not mere toys, but rather fine art sculptures in action!
Other unique 1/6 items at the show included Plastic Panzer's hand-made vehicles which included a scaled down WWII Naval troop transport ship! Ben's Custom Tack showed off its highly detailed hand-made leather saddles for the 1/6 equestrian. Retailers such Echobase Toys and War Toys both showed up with their customary sizable stock to satisfy collectors' cravings.
Artist Marcelo Puentes, a former designer for 21st Century Toys, was present with a wide array of unique head sculpts.
And there's more…
Show producer John Lu seemed to be pre-occupied with 1:1 scale subjects, but based on one look at the subjects, one can hardly blame him.
Lu's Operation Lion Claws Military Simulation Series (O.L.C.M.S.S.) debuted its newly formed Lion Claws Russian Angels. Four lovely Russian ladies in Russian airborne uniform mingled with exhibitors, attendees, and even "captured" the California Military Reserve (personally I think those guy surrendered to the Russian girls "the Reservists didn't have a chance…").
Show's Airsoft sponsor G&G Armament combined force with Airsoft superstore, Evike.com, and showcased a line of new Airsoft guns. Evike.com booth even provided a virtual shooting gallery.
Southern California Airsoft giant, Airsoft Extreme, was bustling with business until its owner, Mr. Andrew Ho, was completely surrounded by Russian Lion Claws "Angels"… needless to say, he, too, surrendered.
At 3:15pm Costume Contest judging began. While only four contests showed up (all male), the Russian judges made the contest interesting, to say the least. Winner of the contest, in Starship Trooper outfit, won a show exclusive 1/18-scale jet!
A collector form Northern California dropped his wife off at the nearby Glendale Galleria at 10am and told her that he'll be done in two hours; by 4pm he was still buying and having fun.
Sure I missed the good old days when the industry could afford to throw a Saturday night re-enactment dinner event at Universal Studios or at the steel mill (boy, do I miss them), but, I am grateful to vendors and to Lu for sticking to their guns and kept the show for us die hard old "Joe Heads". Until June 5~6, 2010, keep up the 1/6 battles!
Until next time, this is Jean Chevalier reporting.
Jean Chevalier
1st Annual AWH 2009 Xmas Show
December 5, 2009
- Floor Plan & List of Exhibitors here »
