"Miniatures Stores between Bloomington, IN and Lima, OH?" Topic

Does anyone know the name and address and possibly phone number of any game or military miniature stores in either Bloomington, Indiana, Dayton, Ohio, or maybe Lima, OH, and points between (i.e. along I-70 and I-75)?

Or additionally, if anyone is willing to take the time and has the kindness of heart, to send along any nice close up of painted military miniatures, especially of oddities (such as perhaps Red Chinese soldiers 1945-1953, or Arab soldiers 1947-1962, etc. … things that aren't easily found). If you've the heart to do so, please send them to tdcgsl@yahoo.com

Thanks Much,
Tom Cundiff

In Dayton try Krystal Keep 1217 E. Stroop Road, Kettering Ohio 45429. Phone (937)299-2809 krystalkeep.com

I hope this helps.

Just a little north off of I-70 (Exit 66)
games2d4.com

Bill

KrystalKeep in Dayton/Kettering is a nice store, but other than Flames of War is entirely the usual Fantasy, SciFi and boardgames. AT43, Games Workshop, etc.

In Dayton there is also the Tin Soldier but I've never been there so can't comment on their stock:

link

Dayton also has a Military Toy shop. Again, I've never been but I'm guessing this is more die cast and GI Joe type stuff, but worth a phone call for sure:

link

By the way – I'm not sure what the second half of your request has to do with the first if anything. I would hazard a guess that if you are hoping to find those kinds of things in a shop you're going to be out of luck. Perhaps you could clarify what you're trying to do and maybe we could help you out better? I have loads of photos of painted minis, and they are very easy to find on the web?

Howdy,

What I wished to do was take advantage of a trip I have to make. A friend of mine who is a researcher and writer asked me to stop by some libraries that had some books in their rare collections (very old books) to copy them. He's made the arrangements so I don't have to do anything but show up.

Anyway, I thought I would take advantage of this to go to stores that had miniature soldiers and take pictures with a digital camera.

I do design work for a wargame company (board wargames), and pictures of miniatures are useful. However, all too often the pictures I find on the web are not aligned correctly, or something gets obscured by bad camera angle, or the resolution is poor. There is really so much that is of bad quality that I can't use that it makes wading through the chaff time consuming. So, when I can, I try to make my trips pay off by doing my own photography of such things in shops. I know how to photograph things at the right angles and resolutions to be useful to me.

So, that was my purpose.

Thanks,
Tom

Not to hijack the thread but…there's still a Tin Soldier in Dayton?

This is a name that conjures images of a bygone age. Its not a direct lineal descendant of the 'old' Tin Soldier is it?

No, they have been out of business for years. If anyone knows where Dave Krabel is working (if he has a job), I have a court order against him for over $1,100 that I would like to collect.

Whats it worth to you? ;-)

The $1,100 USD court order, or the pictures?

As for me, let me describe it this way. I think this year I have only gone in the hole about $250 USD in ink and the like, the necessary supplies for producing proofs and such for all the games for which I've been involved in design work. I've got three more projects to complete by year's end, a Napoleonic, a Civil War, and a Modern (1970's) game. I'm hoping I don't lose more than about another $50 USD or so doing them :) I wish it were a lucrative thing. I do design work for companies because I love what I do and I love wargaming. In the more than 10 years I've done design work, and the more than 20 of writing for the hobby, I've never broken even, and I sure never made any money. But, for me it has never been about making money.

Tom

Sorry, the "Whats it worth to you?" comment was a joke, directed at 79thPA and is his $1,100 bucks.

Upon receipt of funds, I'll give $200 USD to anyone who can provide me with info that enables me to collect my money in full.

Joe Cairo

So, in the corridor described by a trip from Bloomington, IN up Hwy 37 to Indianapolis, down 70 to Dayton, and up I-75 to Lima, are there any actual wargame miniatures stores? Fantasy and Sci-Fi isn't what I'm looking for.

Actual historical miniatures is what I seek. I've fixed up a small white cardboard encloseure, utilizing #110lb card stock that I use as a background so as to have something clean to photograph against, and I photograph miniatures from four sides (front, left, right, and overhead) ensuring that the focus angle is square to the mini.

This might seem pedantic, but overhead quartering shots are useless to me, and by far the vast majority of miniature photograph's are done this way.

Consequently I try to do my own photography of mini's when I get the chance.

Thanks Much,
Tom

Nothing in Ohio that I am aware of. Nothing historical at the Krystal Keep in Kettering except Flames of War and Wings of War.

Most unfortunate. I remember 10 years ago there was a hobby shop in Sydney, OH that was very much like I was hoping to find. I think it was called the Minute Man, at least I remember there was a 1780's Continental Soldier painted about 20 feet tall on the side of the building. But, sadly, that was many years ago, 1998 to be exact, and I've not been back in that town since.

Well, one can't always win. Guess it will just shorten my trip by the time I won't be spending on diversions.

Thanks Much,
Tom

Aerodrome is played at the Krystal Keep,usually 3d Saturday of the month,as well as Wings of War. I've also seen Koenig Krieg played there from time to time.

Ohio in general is not a good state for real wargame stores. Cleveland has one that is okay in military stuff but mostly fantasy. Cincinnato used to have a nice one called Boardwalk but it has been decades since I have been there. Tin Soldier in Columbus was not a place that I felt comfortable – the way you feel on a used car lot. Just my opinion.

sky

Same I think here in Indiana. Boardroom Games in Broadripple (a borough of Indianapolis) is the only place in the state that carries anything. Old Gerald Hunter ran the store. Good wargames, but few miniatures. There was also a chain here called, "The Game Preserve" but they quietly packed up and went away some years ago (I don't even know the exact date because I so seldom get to Indy and when I did, I didn't go there but one time in 25, so I was lucky to wonder into one of them (there were 2) once a year.

Tom

Indy west side = Games2D4 FoW, some ancients, but mostly CCG, RP and GW stuff.

Cincy has Scale Creep, not a true game store in so much as providing table space and in-store gaming, but has tons of historical wargaming. Best to call ahead to make sure Mark will be there working.

Boardwalk is still open but they mostly carry board games, models and the CCG, RP stuff you remember. Best to stop by for nostilgia then hit Zips for the burgers/beer.

Milford has two stores that carry GW and some historical. One is East Side comics and games with FoW and GW, RP, CCG. I don't know the other stores name.

Mt. Healthy has YottaQuest but they have scaled down their historical minis to some FoW stuff. Tons of board games but geared more towards CCG, RP and LARP. They will order anything for customers but the impulse buy is not there.

N.Kentucky has one or two stores whose names escape me, but I can't remember hearing they carried much historical gaming product.

Krystal Keep in Dayton still carries a wide selection of FoW, Wings of War and some historical boardgaming. But is geared towards the GW stuff. However, Thrusdays are heavy FoW night as well as Saturday mornings holding SYW-Koenig Krieg. Sunday used to host DBA but I think they are doing EW FoW now.

Hope this helps.

Madcam.

Hey Madcam,
I am glad to hear Boardwalk is still there. In the old days I always enjoyed talking to the gal who ran the place – a class lady; knew her stuff too.

Is scale creep downtown? Do they have regular hours at all?I grew up in Cincy. I used to work at walt's hobby, the model RR shop and Western Hill Photo and hobby.Good (and bad) memories!

What is CincyCon like?

sky

CincyCon is GOING to be a GREAT convention. 1st year out IMO it struggled a bit with planning and such. The location is good, but they want to go to a multiday event in the future. I'm not aware of any nearby hotels so that will be another bridge to cross. But that, and getting more vendors will be the only items that hinders this from becoming a "must-see" event from outside the immediate area.

Scale Creep is near Hyde Park Square and Mark is at the store most mornings. Like I said prior, call to let him know when you'll be in town and he'll be there. You can hit SC and then Boardwalk (about 5 minute drive away) prior to hitting Zips for a burger/beer!

Madcam.

Tom,
If you can't find a store in which to take your photos, how about a gamer's home. I live in Bloomington and have thousands of painted and unpainted figures.

The best gaming store in Indiana was in Elwood, before Camp Atterbury closed.

Mike

Atterbury closed, Mike? Daughter-in-law is on a AGR tour there, VFW has three members who are stationed there, two of them are regular army on a processing team for deployments. Still a major NG/USAR training area.

Oops; what is the military term for cutting back? Isn't the number of personnel smaller than it was 15 years ago?

You know how things are down here in Bloomington, Norris, we get confused.

that is ironic. Walt's was in Hyde park shopping center. I used to wprk at the Hickory Farms on the square.

sky

I was at the Elwood store when the older gentleman owned it. It was still good after he sold out – at least for a while – but he was cool. I spent hundreds of dollars every time I went and just drolled over his collections although he never games. It was called Metalcraft Minaitures and More. The Metalcraft was for the metal scrap business behind his building which was a converted but well stocked garage!

sky

Howdy Mike,

Aye, if there were local miniaturists willing to help, if you are volunteering yourself, that would indeed serve just as well, in fact, I can imagine that individuals would have larger collections than most stores. I remember a guy in Terre Haute 20 years ago who took, quite literally, more than 50,000 miniatures to the Swope Art Gallery in Terre Haute once a year for public viewing. They were beautiful. Don't remember his name, but I remember he lived somewhere between South 19th and South 25th, and between Wabash and Ohio. He invited me down to see his eollection at his house, what he took to the museum was but a small part of his collection. He was an older man, and, since that was 20 years ago, I can only guess he's got to be somewhere near 80 now or dead. Don't remember his name though. But he had an amazing collection, mostly US Civil War, Napoleonic, and 7 Years War.

But, yea, if you would help me out, I'd be greatful. I have almost made up my travel arrangements for next week, Monday or Tuesday. Are either of those days possible? Any specific time more convenient?

You can contqct me at tdcgunslinger@copper.net

I'll give you my phone number via that e-mail address so we can talk and maybe make arragements.

Thanks Much,
Tom

It may be a bit late for your visit thru Indy .
But we have a 1600 sq foot club and tons of miniatures that you can photo .

Here is a breakdown of indy stores:
Boardroom games (broadripple ) closed 2 years ago
Game preserve :2 in area and 1 in Lafayette : mostly GW stuff and boardgames
Games 2d4(Avon) : Almost exclusively Flames of War
selling and gaming (with minor amounts of other stuff )
Saltere: (oaklandon) hodgepodge of stuff -no real depth to anything ,but some gaming tables

That's it basically – You are out of luck in Indy if you want to look at product of anything but Flames of War , Warmachine and some GW.

Kevin

Boardroom closed? Damn! That was my favorite wargame store. I knew I hadn't been back in years. I live so far away, but … I guess I expected it would always exist. I was a loyal customer there since 1971. Now I feel even older than normal. What kind of health was old Gerald Hunter in? Is he still alive (he was the owner of Boardroom). I always liked him.

No, Flames of War are a bit small of scale to be useful. The rest of it doesn't fit the genre I need.

But, maybe your club might serve the purpose.

What I look for are miniatures of the 32mm or larger size. 25mm or less just ends up looking like tiny little munchkin armies, I expect Dorothy and the Wicked Witch to popout in the middle of supposedly Napoleonic battles.

Thanks Much,
Tom