PlaymoFriends

General => Community Events => Topic started by: Little Jo on April 18, 2006, 11:41:10

Title: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: Little Jo on April 18, 2006, 11:41:10
More or less spontaneous I decided some weeks ago to visit the Playmobil Convention in Wolfsburg. I've never been before to such an event so I was a little bit excited, how it will be. As "prepartion" I looked at several pictures from the previous' year Convention and other quite similiar events (like e.g. in Ritterhude).
Unfortunately Wolfsburg is in the north of Germany and I live in the South -- inbetween approx. 600 kilometers distance (I know, for US fellows this isn't a distance at all, but here in Europe it is  ;D). So I stood up quite early on this Sunday morning and made my way via the Autobahn. The highway was rather empty in these early morning hours so I made good progress and arrived nearly in time (cf. pic below; opening was at 10 a.m.).

The Convetion is a mixture of coming together of Playmobil enthusiastics, exhibition (of dioramas), and trading/selling event of used and new parts/sets. W.r.t. the later aspect I was lucky and found some really nice pieces for very fair prices. Thank You to all those offering these items!  (I found some piece for those I was looking quite a while  :D)

Looking at those large boxes containing those many unsorted pieces (sometimes that many of same kind), I realized that there a many people out there that are more enthusiastic and more addicted to Playmobil than myself (which helped me alot after coming home and showing the photos to my wife who often shakes her head about my Playmobil favour  ;D).

The dioramas presented were absolutely fantastic, so I want to share some my favourite ones here with you -- showing all of them would for sure go beyound the scope of this forum; I made round about 100 photos, all together more than 250 MB in size.

(BTW, currently the German board (http://www.playmo-portal.com/) members are setting up a DVD with pictures from the convention; who wants to know who set up which diaroma can get some information in this thread (http://www.playmo-portal.com/playmobilforum/an-alle-dioramenbauer-von-wolfsburg-t9228.html) (in German only).

(To be continue ... so please hold on, untill I posted all pictures)
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: Little Jo on April 18, 2006, 11:49:43
On of the highlights was for sure the military theme (built from the German board members Promondeo, Mark_01, and The_sumo).
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: Little Jo on April 18, 2006, 11:52:19
Some dioramas contained really beautifull details like here the church windows.

My fully respect to this work.
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: Little Jo on April 18, 2006, 11:59:36
This battleship -- the Dolphin -- from MacGayver is a really masterpiece (very detailed and realistic the rigging).
Within the showcase below the artist presented the development of the four-master by a slideshow.
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: Little Jo on April 18, 2006, 12:09:45
Also very impressive the Western themes, like the drovers/ cattle wagons, the defensive circle of wagons (both by Playmo_Jürgen), and the "Battle of Bull Run/Manassas" diorama (if I understood correctly from Funky, Klikikoenig, Mr_fott, Teufelhauptmann, and cooster67).
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: Little Jo on April 18, 2006, 12:16:58
For sure, the ancient times also has been displayed. If got my information right, the big medieval landscape (and castle) is from Hannibal; for the other displays I do not have any names  :(

(I really would like to get my hands on some of these white mices, so I do not have to customize them ...)
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: Little Jo on April 18, 2006, 12:25:21
Burbil provided some really beautiful, very detailed, and amusing scenarios from the antiquity (just a selection shown below); my favourite one: Asterix & Obelix fighting the romans (really superb, I must say)!
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: Little Jo on April 18, 2006, 12:31:51
Zenobia die Blutfürstin & Ladioss displayed some really well worked-out and atmospheric masterpieces: a space station, a vampire villa with tomb,  a ghost ship, and a ice palace (only detail showed on photo).
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: Little Jo on April 18, 2006, 12:41:54
Also modern themes has been displayed  :D
e.g. a huge DIY store/garden center (by Playmo-Family), a city life scenario with the new ambulance car (artist unknown to me), a really current-event scenario (fighting the high water by Flori), and the decontamination tent with the fabulous idea of undressing the suit and the unwearn suit (I also assume by Flori).
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: Little Jo on April 18, 2006, 12:48:59
Finally two pictures of the exhibition area.

And I have to say sorry to all those artists those work I didn't showed here  :( :-[
Not showing them isn't a sign of having a low priority of their work. Actually there has been dioramas which I really adore, but when back home I realized that I didn't make a photo of them (sometime 'cause there has been so many spectators in front of them that I wasn't able to make a good shot), or the photo has some flaws (unsharp, moving in people, etc.)
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: Sir Gareth on April 18, 2006, 19:05:12
Thank you Little Jo,

 Your pictures are very good yet again, The displays you have shown are all outstanding. My favorite custom piece is The Dolphin and I really like that clever use of cotton wool for the fight scene with Asterix it really is like a freeze frame from an action movie.
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: farmboy on April 18, 2006, 19:33:13
thanks little Jo
       your pictures are great. i hope one day we will have this in the u.s.
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: playmofire on April 18, 2006, 19:48:47
Many thanks, Jochen, for showing us the pics and for taking the trouble to drive all that way just for us. ;D  The displays are certainly impressive.  The ones that caught my eye were the military ambulance, the Dolphin, the mediaeval town and something else I've written down that I can't read now.

The pied piper, that was it.

Am I right in thinking that the dashboard photo is a new A Klasse Merc with optional tyre pressure monitoring?

And I've just noticed the emergency scenes which were posted after I first looked at the thread.
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: Tim_w on April 18, 2006, 20:22:02
:wow: Thank you for sharing these with us Little Jo.

There are some real masterpeices in your pictures but the one that caught my eye was the de-contamination area. I just can't get over how amazing those chemical suits look. I really find it interesting how the person made them look like they are being taken off !!

Kindest Regards  Tim
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: Sylvia on April 18, 2006, 21:01:52
Fantastic pics, Jochen! :)9

With so many beautiful dioramas and displays all under one roof, it must have been very hard to take it all in. :o

Thank you for sharing your impressions of the convention. I hope you enjoyed seeing it in person as much as I have enjoyed looking at your photos.  :)
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: Jimbo on April 18, 2006, 23:50:59
Hi Little Jo,

Thanks for the terrific pictures.  They are all great!  I especially liked the ship Dolphin, and the cattle being herded into the train cars.

Well Done!!!

Jimbo
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: playmofire on April 19, 2006, 00:33:18


There are some real masterpeices in your pictures but the one that caught my eye was the de-contamination area. I just can't get over how amazing those chemical suits look. I really find it interesting how the person made them look like they are being taken off !!


Yes, that caught my eye, too. I assumed it was a trick of how they were posed, but now I'm not sure. :-\
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: Richard on April 19, 2006, 03:59:20
Thank you very much, Jochen ...

Great fotos !!!

All the best,
Richard
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: Little Jo on April 19, 2006, 05:48:55
The pied piper, that was it.

So is the Pied Piper (Ratcatcher) of Hameln an internationally known tale? (I'm not sure about this, 'cause it's a German town, and maybe only a regional "fable")

Am I right in thinking that the dashboard photo is a new A Klasse Merc with optional tyre pressure monitoring?

Wow, I'm really impressed! You're absolutely right. You know cars very well? (Or just this particular?)
Although these three little icons in the bottom half of the dispaly are not correlated to the tyres but  are indications whether the backseats are occupied and those passenders have fasten their seatbelts -- I'm just mentioning it, 'cause my first idea seeing these icons the first time was that they are a bottom half cross-section of a tyre  :-[
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: Little Jo on April 19, 2006, 06:00:27
Yes, that caught my eye, too. I assumed it was a trick of how they were posed, but now I'm not sure. :-\

No, it wasn't a trick (assuming that I understand you right with naming it a "trick").  The "get-undressed-suit" has been glued together just without a klicky inside and afterwards it has been cut/opened in the middle (looking closely to the cutting edge I assume with a Dremel or something similiar).

The empty suit lying on the floor is also an "empty" cover, complemented by some klicky feets. All together has been heated heavily (I assume so, looking to the result) so that it became flat and looks like an empty suit. Really great idea.
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: Little Jo on April 19, 2006, 06:03:10
Oh, and I forgot to show this nice submarine from the "Lost World" diorama (by Rotrock).
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: playmofire on April 19, 2006, 06:17:12
So is the Pied Piper (Ratcatcher) of Hameln an internationally known tale? (I'm not sure about this, 'cause it's a German town, and maybe only a regional "fable")

Wow, I'm really impressed! You're absolutely right. You know cars very well? (Or just this particular?)
Although these three little icons in the bottom half of the dispaly are not correlated to the tyres but  are indications whether the backseats are occupied and those passenders have fasten their seatbelts -- I'm just mentioning it, 'cause my first idea seeing these icons the first time was that they are a bottom half cross-section of a tyre  :-[

I certainly read or had read to me, maybe both, the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin and I'm sure we had a book of stories at junior shcool with it in.  So yes, it is international.  In fact, having searched google on how to spell Hamelin, I see Robert Browning the English poet (1812-1889) wrote a poem of the Pied Piper and having looked that up on the web I recognise that as one version I read.  Here's a link:

http://www.lancsngfl.ac.uk/curriculum/literacy/lit_site/html/fiction/Pied_Piper/pages/master_frame_verse.htm

As for cars, I have a two year old A Klasse, but recently had one of the new ones for a day when mine was in the garage.  That had the tyre monitor on (one tyre lost air during the day) but it never occurred to me that the symbol was to show whether the back seats were in use.  I think most drivers would notice that! :)
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: socrates on April 19, 2006, 09:08:30
Hi Jochen!

You should have told me before....  ::)
I spent all three days at the convention.
Too bad. I would have enjoyed chatting with you a little bit...
I took a lot of pictures as well.

The ratcatcher-diorama is by gassy btw. ;)

I took literally thousands of pictures as well, but these days
I hardly find time posting them. I posted some of them at
playmo-forum, you might have a look here:
http://www.playmo-portal.com/playmobilforum/wob-2006---dioramen-bilder-t9230.html (http://www.playmo-portal.com/playmobilforum/wob-2006---dioramen-bilder-t9230.html)

I enjoyed meeting some international visitors from the playmoboard there,
namely bina, nessie, brubil, disnoke and janette... :)

best regards,
socrates
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: Captain Henry on April 20, 2006, 00:15:10
Thanks for posting such great photos Jochen! It is almost as good as being there in person.

Of course, the Dolphin was my single favorite piece - MacGayver is a master!
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: Tiermann on April 20, 2006, 02:52:12
Thanks for the pics Jochen, I'm glad you got a chance to go. :)
Maybe next year...
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: Little Jo on April 20, 2006, 05:24:31
You should have told me before....  ::)
I spent all three days at the convention.
Too bad. I would have enjoyed chatting with you a little bit...

Well, as I said, a more or less spontaneous decission ...

So I prepared a  T-Shirt the evening before, in case that somebody might know/recognize me. I think, it's rather difficult at such events, only knowing the avatar of somebody ... and especially on the German board I only know those few avatars that are also represented here.  If you ask me, it should be obligatory to every board member to wear such a T-Shirt on those events  ;D  :lol:

Yes, would have been enyoable to talk in real life. Maybe in September in Munich on the PlaymoWelten exhibition, or maybe next year in Wolfsburg again (I've seen the date is already fixed).
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: playmofire on April 20, 2006, 16:40:13
That t-shirt is an excellent idea and beautifully produced.
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: Sylvia on April 20, 2006, 17:38:28
That t-shirt is an excellent idea and beautifully produced.

Ditto. I really like it also. :)
You should get someone (Kay, perhaps?) to take a photo of you wearing it so we can see how the real shirt looked. ;)
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: Captain Henry on April 20, 2006, 20:15:15
That is a very cool shirt - and a wonderful idea to identify yourself to fellow board members! Good job all around.

Maybe we all need to make shirts for ourselves in preparation for any eventual Playmofriends convention?
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: Meg on April 21, 2006, 01:09:44
Well, when I was to meet someone I just had my klickie avatar in a shirt pocket.

It may get a bit difficult with lots of people, but they knew me at first sight.

Meg
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: Captain Henry on April 21, 2006, 01:28:13
That may not work so well with the guinea pig, Meg! ;) He'd get lost in the pocket...
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: Little Jo on April 21, 2006, 04:55:22
Thank you all for your nice comments.  :D

Ditto. I really like it also. :)
You should get someone (Kay, perhaps?) to take a photo of you wearing it so we can see how the real shirt looked. ;)

I could do such a photo by my own (if I would like to  ;D), 'cause my camera has a remote control (or alternatively a delayed shutter release).


Well, when I was to meet someone I just had my klickie avatar in a shirt pocket.

It may get a bit difficult with lots of people, but they knew me at first sight.

Oh, now I'm confused, Meg  :-[ How do many people have a look inside your shirt pocket at first sight? Or is the shirt transparent? And how is "knew me at first sight" really meant? Seeing your avatar or do you in real life look like the guinea pig? :yup:

(Sorry, isn't meant insulting  ;), I'm just wondering and asking myself how your recognition strategy is working, because I also thought about carrying around my avatar but came to conclusion that this would end up in a somehow secret agent manner, showing tokens under say table and whispering "pst, hey, please identify yourself ... who are you?"  :lol:)
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: Sylvia on April 21, 2006, 07:29:14
When the Playmoboard recently had one of their get-togethers, one of the members made button badges for each person who was to attend using photos of their avatars. Probably more cost effective than producing t-shirts, and a little less embarassing to wear...  especially if you have to meet in a public place that isn't Playmo-oriented in any way.  ;)

I'd be happy to wear a printed t-shirt too, but I think I'd prefer the avatar picture to be smaller than how you had it, Jochen. ;D
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: playmofire on April 21, 2006, 08:47:06
I remember when I was due to meet a member from Playmoboard who was visiting England I took my avatar along and sat down at a coffee table in the hotel reception with my avatar sticking out of the top pocket of my jacket.  I took it out on a number of occasions, looked at it, put it down on the coffee table in front of me and so on with no reaction from anyone in the reception area.  Eventually, I asked at the reception desk for the person I was waiting for and found out that they had been sitting opposite all the time! ;D
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: Meg on April 21, 2006, 17:29:43
It was when I had a different avatar.
Being an adult figure, she could fit into my pocket and be held up with her arms outside of the pocket.

I was meeting a couple who were expecting me, and the husband immediately saw the klicky in my shirt pocket and welcomed me.
His wife was wondering How he knew it was me, and he told her to look at my pocket.

M
Title: Re: Impressions from Playmobil Convention 2006 in Wolfsburg (Germany)
Post by: Little Jo on April 21, 2006, 21:00:27
 ;D Ok, Meg. That makes sense. Now I understand.

BTW I had a jacket over the T-Shirt when moving around in "public places", so it wasn't to much embarrasing  :-[ ;)

@ Sylvia: the size was necessary so that an intersted person hadn't to come that close to recognize the picture. The Convetion exhibitors also had badges with small icons (?) and a name on it. But they where that tiny (for my taste) that I can't read anything even I was standing right in front of a person, just a table inbetween (that's also the reason why I'm not sure about the icon/avatar, 'cause I haven't seen it corretly).