PlaymoFriends

Getting Started => Welcome! => Topic started by: StJohn on December 12, 2015, 23:43:06

Title: Hello from Bavaria!
Post by: StJohn on December 12, 2015, 23:43:06
Hello Playmofriends

It is great introducing myself to you! I have been reading this forum for quite some time and guess that it's about time that I join.

I am a Dutchman who recently moved to Germany after living in the UK for many years. I loved playing with Playmobil as a child in the late 70s and early 80s and but then drifted away until my interest was rekindled some years ago. Like it seems to have been for many others, this happened when parenthood brought me back to the world of toys. And it was a very happy reunion, discovering all the incredible products that had come and gone over the intervening years.

Starting to look at Playmobil with adult eyes was fun − seeing the proportions and realising that the figures are actually children pretending to be adults! (But then what about the children?) And I don't remember any beards from my childhood, so how on earth did I cope then with this chinless company?

Like many others, I particularly (but not exclusively!) enjoy historical sets. For me the fun is discovering, collecting, and admiring. I'm not too creative so do not excel at customizing − in my view, the original design is mostly quite satisfactory. Still, 'popping' my first Klicky was a thrilling experience (thanks for the help!), and minor adjustments are often beneficial. No big dioramas for me either − too space consuming, too fiddly. I prefer System-X over Steck, and, having worked my way through generations of castles, can only conclude that 4866 is the best. But 3940 will never be beaten.

What I enjoy most about this forum are the rich and entertaining discussions, the display of Playmobil scholarship, and the wonderful reviews. I hope the forum will thrive for years to come, so, with congratulations on your 10th anniversary, I salute you.

StJohn
Title: Re: Hello from Bavaria!
Post by: Salamander on December 13, 2015, 00:34:02
Welcome from the west coast of Canada!  :wave:
Title: Re: Hello from Bavaria!
Post by: playmofire on December 13, 2015, 02:04:23
Welcome from the North Yorkshire coast!   :wave:
Title: Re: Hello from Bavaria!
Post by: leefert on December 13, 2015, 02:50:43
Welcome from the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, USA
Title: Re: Hello from Bavaria!
Post by: Klickteryx on December 13, 2015, 03:07:44
Welcome from New Zealand, I hope you find a home here.

 :wave:
Title: Re: Hello from Bavaria!
Post by: Birdie on December 13, 2015, 09:45:12
Hi StJohn! Welcome to the forum, it's great that you decided to join  :)
I loved reading your introduction, I share a lot of the sentiments that you mention. Except for the part where you say you prefer System X over steck  :lol:

I live in Antwerp so I speak Dutch too  :deco:
Title: Re: Hello from Bavaria!
Post by: Tiermann on December 13, 2015, 16:02:15
Welcome from Oregon!
Title: Re: Hello from Bavaria!
Post by: GrahamB on December 13, 2015, 17:17:25
Welcome to you Sir!
I won't enter the discussion about Steck v System X, but I agree that 4866 is a very fine castle (I prefer 4865, its not as compact as 4866 but has some great features!). And 3940 is not that great as a castle, but its a very fine pirate ship. (Leg being pulled here).

Title: Re: Hello from Bavaria!
Post by: Raven on December 13, 2015, 18:01:31
Welcome StJohn!

Quote from: Birdie
I live in Antwerp so I speak Dutch too

I live in the Netherlands ... and I don't speak Dutch!
Title: Re: Hello from Bavaria!
Post by: Mr Raven on December 13, 2015, 18:04:39
Welcome here StJohn!

I am Mr Raven so also live in the Netherlands and i do all the talking.
Title: Re: Hello from Bavaria!
Post by: tahra on December 13, 2015, 18:50:13
Welcome from Portugal!  ;D

I agree about  3940 - as the best pirate ship....

Castles, give me Steck - I actually built my first system X building today :o (custom, that is.. and now it's full of holes :( )

 :xmascheer:
Title: Re: Hello from Bavaria!
Post by: Pynedor on December 13, 2015, 23:24:18
Welcome! <*)
Title: Re: Hello from Bavaria!
Post by: Rhalius on December 14, 2015, 08:32:48
Welcome, I'm a Dutch speaking person who was born in the Netherlands and still lives in the Netherlands.  :P


Personly I prefer the 5135 as the best pirateship due to the colors, but it seems we can agree that that shape is the best.  :)

Also prefering steck. Mainly because I grew up with my brother's schuldtrum and as a child always wanted to have the 3666 castle. Which did not disappoint once I finally got it a few years ago.  ;D

Title: Re: Hello from Bavaria!
Post by: Jay on December 16, 2015, 00:28:26
Welcome to the group.  I recall first seeing Playmobil in Munich in the mid-late 70s, (and buying some)in the toy stores and windows.  This was a few years before its first attempt to sell it here.   It's come a long way.   
Title: Re: Hello from Bavaria!
Post by: DizneeGirl on December 16, 2015, 17:43:23
Thanks for introducing yourself and welcome from Oregon, USA  :wave:
Title: Re: Hello from Bavaria!
Post by: Lynx on December 17, 2015, 08:52:33
Welcome from the Netherlands! I hope you have a great time over here!  I mainly collect warriors from the melee epoque. Ancient and exotic warriors, knights and fantasy.  :wave:
Title: Re: Hello from Bavaria!
Post by: sunflower on December 23, 2015, 09:20:10
Another welcome from a dutch collector. Hope you have as much fun here as I do.
Title: Re: Hello from Bavaria!
Post by: StJohn on December 24, 2015, 14:21:15
Thank you for the warm welcome! And so many Dutch speakers … Playmobil has always been ubiquitous in the Low Countries - I remember reading somewhere that initial orders from Dutch retailers were important for taking the new brand off the ground. The oldest generation of Klickies can still be found quite easily in the Netherlands.

Castles, give me Steck

Yes, I know that Steck rules among aficionados, and I do see its versatility and charm (recently got a 5725, which is great!). It is just that, whenever I disassemble old Steck, I fear to break the pieces. The joins are just too strong (would some lubricant work?), and hence prefer the genius System X connector bits.

When it comes to castles, most Steck and System X buildings actually suffer from the same weakness, to my mind: the basic square shape is just not very attractive. 4865 and 4866 are unique in bringing 45º corners, hence my preference.

I agree that 4866 is a very fine castle (I prefer 4865, its not as compact as 4866 but has some great features!).

4865 is just too big (for my play space, not to mention budget  ;)), and I prefer the 4866 gate.

As a child I always wanted to have the 3666 castle. Which did not disappoint once I finally got it a few years ago.

I'm just not convinced of the brilliance of 3666, despite what all the polls keep telling. The klickies are great and so is the round tower, but otherwise it is just a town house lumped together with castle walls. Steck houses are wonderful, but too small to function as a castle hall. 3268 is hence still interesting (even if many pieces are too big, and the castle is a boring square) and 6000 is under consideration (another big square  :( but great apartments).

Personly I prefer the 5135 as the best pirateship due to the colors, but it seems we can agree that that shape is the best.  :)

Too bad that the interior of 5135 is different. It may be so that 3940 is a bit too red, but, man, when fully armed with 8 (eight!) cannons, it is just awesome! :captain:

Merry Christmas! :xmascheer:
Title: Re: Hello from Bavaria!
Post by: tahra on December 24, 2015, 20:56:57
It may be so that 3940 is a bit too red, but, man, when fully armed with 8 (eight!) cannons, it is just awesome! :captain:

Hoo-yah!

(pity SOMEONE at playmobil can't count)
Title: Re: Hello from Bavaria!
Post by: Rasputin on December 25, 2015, 15:26:22
Welcome to the playmofriends club house  :wave:

 :sparkle: Merry Christmas :sparkle: and a happy new year  :xmascheer:
Title: Re: Hello from Bavaria!
Post by: Hadoque on February 26, 2016, 08:25:26
Welcome from Belgium!  :)
Title: Re: Hello from Bavaria!
Post by: davidnbun on February 26, 2016, 19:58:34
Hello!  From Brooklyn New York!  :wave:
Title: Re: Hello from Bavaria!
Post by: Marco_4124 on February 26, 2016, 20:11:05
Ik blijf in stijl, hoor: Gruss Gott!  :wave:
Title: Re: Hello from Bavaria!
Post by: Basie10 on March 25, 2016, 05:12:39
G'day from NZ :eggbasket:
Title: Re: Hello from Bavaria!
Post by: Hadoque on May 21, 2019, 20:39:59
Would you be willing to reveal your true firstname?
Title: Re: Hello from Bavaria!
Post by: StJohn on May 21, 2019, 21:20:08
Would you be willing to reveal your true firstname?

I 'll send you a PM.
Title: Re: Hello from Bavaria!
Post by: Hadoque on May 21, 2019, 21:27:03
I 'll send you a PM.

Great, looking forward to it.
Title: Re: Hello from Bavaria!
Post by: bml87 on May 21, 2019, 21:31:27
I'm confused: what's more suspensful: the final season of Game of Thrones or Hadoque's search for the Green Man...
Title: Re: Hello from Bavaria!
Post by: Hadoque on May 21, 2019, 22:58:39
I'm confused: what's more suspensful: the final season of Game of Thrones or Hadoque's search for the Green Man...

 :lol:

I have a 9th season coming of the documentary series "The Search for The Green Grail", with each new episode addressing one of the following mysteries:

1. Is "The Green Man" = The lost son of Horst Brandstätter, who maybe signed in with such an alias in the former PCC ?
2. Is "The Green Man" = Nick F., a former member of the old Playmoboard-forum, who once tried to launch a Playmobil comic- book called "The Green Man" and who works or worked in the "St. John" district / community of London?
3. Is "The Green Man" = "St. John", a member here on PF and also on KW, who has an avatar with a green face and green hair?
4. Is "The Green Man" = Kristof Calvo, a leading figure of the political party "Green" in Flanders / Belgium and possibly Belgium´s next Prime Minister?
5. Is "The Green Man" =  A yet undisclosed Marvel-movie featuring The Hulk?
6. Is "The Green Man" = The last surviving sanitator who worked in Chernobyl in 1986?
7. Is "The Green Man" = A split-personality of myself, green of envy when seeing my other personality´s Playmobil-collection?