European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 28, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Magazine  panum by Tunda spa folks a drum and Bugle corps panes in review at the ten tag urine festival in Quimbach what Germany. My ecu. V Imp hit i i to tire a jots Tor visitors to see at tha Gernian tin figure museum even circus hones get into the act aim March of the tin men s by Brenda Hosier staff writer soldiers stood Al dress fight dress by the thousands is the audience Woood and awl cd but there was no marching band Lor Hicso troops no stepping of smartly to it heal of the drum. No Snappy salutes or presenting arms Only the murmur of conversation As hobbyists Tolj one another How they got their Lin soldiers into formation the figures stood no More than two or three inches tall but were depicted in Battle scenes Tram All inc Greal wars and those that weren t. So great. There wars roman soldiers French German. American British russian prussian and czech. The uniforms ranged from antique so modern. They All fell in of the lira figure festival m the bavarian City of Klumbach Wesl Germany about t5 Miles from Bayreuth t n hobbyists from a parts of Europe came 1o the even i recently. Dennis and Gail Johnson travelled to Germany from Yorkshire England to show of Donnas figures. Some of the figurines on display were More detailed than others. Dennis said Tho More detailed the piece gets the longer it lakes to finish. Some pieces could Lake one Day to finish while others could Lake several years. I m still working on a figure i started Louf years ago he said. His Bass drummer from the Royal Cheshire Mimia of 1795 was the easiest Lor him to design he said. To completed that piece in three Days. Most cart the tin hobbyists design their Model s f rom examples in books of which their were Many on sate Dennis said the hobbyist usually is someone who has a fondness Tor history. It s not As expensive As some other hobbies " he said. But it can get that Way. While some of the figurines went for around 10 Marks about $5.50other ran up to several Hundred Marks. The prices vary according to is detail involved in the work. For Tho history enthusiast who does t want to Purchase tin figurines but would enjoy seeing the work. There s the German tin figure museum in Klumbach. The museum which houses about 300,000 tin figures in some 220 arrangements is located in the Plass Enburg Castle above the town of Klumbach. The arrangements show historical events and summaries of Universal literature the museum is unique not Only Tor its fascinating Anan cements but also of Tho tin figures of High artistic Quality and its Rich samples of today s in products the museum is open daily except monday trom 10 am until 4.40 pin through sept. 30 beginning oct. 1, the hours change to 10 a m to 3 30 . Through March 31. The museum is also closed nov. 24 and 25. Christmas eve and Christmas Day and new year s eve and new year s Day Tho Entrance foe is 2 Marks about $1.10 the stars and stripes Page 13