For those that don't already know, or who are searching the web for information on the UK Toy and Model Soldier Show, more commonly referred to as the Plastic Warrior Show 2018, it will be held on Saturday 12th May 2018.
The venue is: The Harlequin Suite at the Winning Post Inn Chertsey Road, Twickenham, TW2 6LS. Doors open to General Public from 10.30 (there is no earlybird entry). Link to website: http://www.fayre-square.com/pub/winning-post-whitton-twickenham/c0487/
This will be our 5th year at this venue and it has proved popular with dealers and collectors. There are a just a couple of tables left before it's sold out so this year looks like it will be a bumper event with many collectors taking space to shift some of their surplus. Travel information and directions are at the bottom of this post.
If you've never been before here's a taster of last year's show:
A boxed Cherilea 7th Cavalry and Indians set, the buckboard and canoe are quite hard to find and I don't think I've ever seen that tepee before.
While primarily a show for collectors of old plastic toy soldiers there are plenty of accesories and recent manufactured figures for the 54mm wargamer. This table had a model of Rorkes Drift and a whole Wild West town for sale.
All sorts of unusual bits and pieces here, the show attracts traders and collectors from all over Europe and beyond offering figures we otherwise don't get to see so often in England.
A large part of the fun is rummaging through all the cheapo junk boxes.
You never know what will turn up.
The show is primarily for for 54mm plastic figures but there is also usually plenty of 1/72 stuff and even a bit of Action Man stuff slips in, so if you fancy a little wallow in nostalgia you should go along and treat yourself to a few new toys.
Travel Directions to the Plastic Warrior Show 2018. London Toy Soldier Show.
From Outside London take M25, M3, A316, go over one roundabout and entrance to the winning Post is after 500 metres on your left. From Inner London, after Richmond Circus follow A316 and continue straight on over 3 roundabouts. You will pass the Winning Post on your right. At the next roundabout take the 4th exit and entrance to the Winning Post will be on your left after 500 metres.
FREE PARKING. There is extensive free parking at the site and in the residential roads behind the Winning Post, The Harlequin Suite is to the right of the main building.
By Public Transport. From Central London and the South of England by overground train (South West Trains) from Waterloo or Clapham Junction to Whitton Station. There are 8 trains an hour and the journey time is approx. 30 minutes, this is a loop line so 4 trains an hour run from two different platforms at Waterloo Station. From the North of England by train to London arriving at Kings Cross St. Pancras or Euston. take the London Underground Victoria line just 6 stops to Vauxhall and change for South West Trains to Whitton Station as above. Whitton Station is just 3 minutes walk from the Winning Post - turn left out of the station past Jubilee Avenue and Pauline Crescent, the next turning on your left is the entrance to the Winning Post.
At the time of writing (16.03.2018) there are no planned Engineering Works on this line.
Should you wish to take the London Underground to Richmond as in previous years, the easiest thing is to change platform and take a South West Train service to Whitton Station as above (4 trains an hour from Richmond, journey time 8 minutes). Alternatively you could get a black cab or a H22 bus from the taxi rank and bus stop outside the station.
Oyster cards are accepted on all London Underground lines, buses and South West Trains to Whitton Station.
The Winning Post Inn opens from 08.00 to 11.00 serving breakfast or coffee for those who arrive early, the pub serves drinks from 11.00 and Lunches from 12.00. There is a cashpoint on site but Whitton town center with a full range of shops and banks is just 3 minutes walk from the hall. Within the Winning Post complex is a Premier Inn travel hotel for those who want to break their journey and stay overnight.
