PlaymoFriends

Getting Started => Welcome! => Topic started by: Klicky_Ghost on May 09, 2021, 23:32:00

Title: New Member from the USA
Post by: Klicky_Ghost on May 09, 2021, 23:32:00: Hello PlaymoFriends! :wave:

I have been lurking 'round these parts for a bit, and am so excited to finally join a group of positive and knowledgeable people! I was hesitant to join at first, because compared to many others, I could scarce be called a Playmobil "collector." Perhaps Playmobil afficianado? Playmobil enthusiast? But I am certainly hoping to expand my collection and to learn more!

My love of Playmobil began in the summer of 1995 as a 7-year old (on the verge of turning 8). I got to travel along with my father and grandmother to stay for several weeks with my great-uncle in southern Germany, where my family is from. This trip was a magical experience in many different ways, and Playmobil played a part in that. My great-uncle had given me 100 Mark (a sizeable sum for a small child then) to spend while I was there. Having never been given an allowance or spending money before, I was at a loss as to what I would spend it on--that is, until one day I discovered Playmobil in one of the local shops.

As a kid who always had an interest in history--as well as a love of Grimm's fairy tales--I was instantly drawn to the world of Playmobil, particularly the Knights and Magic sets. I still own and cherish the several small sets I originally bought in Germany, including the King and his Court (3659), Merry Men's Hideaway (3626), Sorceress (3838), Wizard's Workshop (3839), and the Dragon (3840).

My parents were impressed by the quality and imagination of Playmobil as well, and were happy to indulge my interest for birthdays and holidays. Over the next few years, I added a few of the larger sets to my collection, including the Large King's Castle (3666), Small Castle (3667), Baron's Battle Tower (3665), and Dragon's Temple (3841). I also acquired the Golden Nugget Saloon (3787), and inherited a rather complete Victorian Mansion (5300) from my sister.

I "lost interest" in Playmobil as I grew older, although I would regularly check out the website throughout this time to see what new products they were coming out with. Over the last few years, I have rekindled my love of Playmobil, and have started adding to my collection once more.

Looking forward to learning more from all of the wonderful people here and to sharing in the Playmo-love! :love:
Title: Re: New Member from the USA
Post by: CountBogro on May 09, 2021, 23:38:29: Hi Klicky_Ghost!

Great to meet you here :) and I hope you will have a great time here :).
As for a collection; there will allways be people with larger (or smaller) collections as yours. In the end it's all about what you consider it to be.

I like to think that we share our collections and ideas here not judge them ;)

Sounds to me you played with some of the best sets :). Do you still have them?

All the best,

Mark (aka Count Bogro)
Title: Re: New Member from the USA
Post by: Klicky_Ghost on May 10, 2021, 04:39:15: Quote from: CountBogro on May 09, 2021, 23:38:29

I like to think that we share our collections and ideas here not judge them ;)

Sounds to me you played with some of the best sets :). Do you still have them?

All the best,

Mark (aka Count Bogro)

Hi CountBogro! You are right, of course; it's easy to look at some of the larger displays and think "now that's a real collection!" but size alone is never what matters. I love and appreciate all of the pieces that I own, and wouldn't trade them for the world! :love: I really did get to play with some of the best sets as a child (although I still have a few catalogues from the 90s, and can't look at all the fabulous circus sets without feeling like I missed out a little bit). I feel lucky to have played with a lot of the old Steck sets before they stopped being manufactured. And yes, I still own all of my old childhood sets. The only set that I have parted with is the Shell Gas Station (3437), mainly because I am not as interested in the "modern" (meaning non-historical) sets and wanted it to go to someone who would love and appreciate it.
Title: Re: New Member from the USA
Post by: GrahamB on May 10, 2021, 06:06:15: Welcome to Playmofriends Klicky_Ghost, from Stroud in the UK!
Title: Re: New Member from the USA
Post by: Ismene on May 10, 2021, 07:25:29: Welcome!

I also have a smallish collection with a historical focus.
Title: Re: New Member from the USA
Post by: tahra on May 10, 2021, 07:45:51: Welcome from Portugal :)
Title: Re: New Member from the USA
Post by: playmofire on May 10, 2021, 08:07:25: Welcome from the UK. :wave:
Title: Re: New Member from the USA
Post by: JLMatterer on May 10, 2021, 20:40:04: (https://i.imgur.com/kNx1nES.jpg?1)
Title: Re: New Member from the USA
Post by: flatcat on May 12, 2021, 08:11:06: Welcome from the UK :wave:
Title: Re: New Member from the USA
Post by: Tiermann on May 12, 2021, 18:12:02: Welcome from Oregon!
Title: Re: New Member from the USA
Post by: Luftgaengerin on May 12, 2021, 22:11:14: :welcome:
Title: Re: New Member from the USA
Post by: Hadoque on May 15, 2021, 01:07:22: Welcome from Belgium! :wave:
Title: Re: New Member from the USA
Post by: PMatt on May 16, 2021, 08:22:47: Welcome from Italy, too! :wave:
Title: Re: New Member from the USA
Post by: playmovictorian on May 19, 2021, 07:40:46: A very warm welcome to you from Marlow on Thames :wave:
Title: Re: New Member from the USA
Post by: Joshua D on May 19, 2021, 08:33:55: Hello and welcome from California! I also have the small castle and baron’s battle tower! They are classics.
Title: Re: New Member from the USA
Post by: PlaymoGuardian on May 27, 2021, 10:39:28: Hello and welcome from Pennsylvania! Thanks for sharing your childhood introduction to playmobil, was quite enjoyable to read through!
Title: Re: New Member from the USA
Post by: StJohn on May 27, 2021, 18:07:38: What a great story! I like all the characters: the great-uncle, the parents, and the narrator of course!

You happened to land in Germany just when the finest ever sets were on sale in the shops. The mid 90s truly were the pinnacle - I own all the sets that you mention, first discovering them as an adult who had returned to his childhood favourite toys (I had completely ignored the brand throughout in the 90s and 00s). Just imagine encountering these magical sets with the mind of a child! Lucky you.

I love your pictures, and the narratives that accompany them. It is a blessing that you have joined PF. I hope you like it here!

Best wishes from Munich
StJohn
Title: Re: New Member from the USA
Post by: Klicky_Ghost on May 30, 2021, 04:59:57: :wave: Thank you to everyone for the warm welcome, and for being such a positive & creative group of people generally! :love:

Quote from: StJohn on May 27, 2021, 18:07:38
What a great story! I like all the characters: the great-uncle, the parents, and the narrator of course!

I promise the characters are based on real relatives! The narrator may be entirely fictional, however ;)

Quote from: StJohn on May 27, 2021, 18:07:38
You happened to land in Germany just when the finest ever sets were on sale in the shops. The mid 90s truly were the pinnacle - I own all the sets that you mention, first discovering them as an adult who had returned to his childhood favourite toys (I had completely ignored the brand throughout in the 90s and 00s). Just imagine encountering these magical sets with the mind of a child! Lucky you.

I have missed a lot of great figures and sets during my 20-year hiatus from Playmobil, which I am slowly supplementing through eBay as finances allow, so I definitely feel your pain on "missing out." But yes, the sets released in the 90s were simply fantastic! I own a few catalogues from the mid- to late-90s, and still flip through them from time to time and drool over the pictures. While I still enjoy contemporary Playmobil, I feel that they have moved a bit closer to the Mattel aesthetic than I would prefer, and I wish they would get back a bit of their 90s magic. Although the invention of "hoop skirts" in the early 2000s was a great innovation!

Quote from: StJohn on May 27, 2021, 18:07:38
I love your pictures, and the narratives that accompany them. It is a blessing that you have joined PF. I hope you like it here!

Best wishes from Munich

Thank you for the kind compliments! I only got to spend one day in Munich, but still have good memories of that lovely city. Most of my time was spent a little south, in the town of Freising.
Title: Re: New Member from the USA
Post by: Macruran on May 30, 2021, 15:04:25: Quote from: Klicky_Ghost on May 30, 2021, 04:59:57
Most of my time was spent a little south, in the town of Freising.

Sounds very cold!
Title: Re: New Member from the USA
Post by: IJL on July 04, 2021, 19:58:02: Welcome from Massachusetts!