Toy Soldier Clubs
Toy Soldier Clubs
We define a "toy soldier club" as one where (1) members meet regularly, and (2) members collect model soldiers made of a variety of materials including plastic, resin, and metal.
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The most popular size for these figures is 54 mm or 1/32nd scale. Many toy soldier club members simply collect toy soldiers. Some, but certainly not all, toy soldier club members enjoy painting figures.
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It is important to understand the distinction between collecting model soldiers and painting model figures.
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An organization will not fall within our definition of a "toy soldier club" if a central part of the club's raison d'etre does not include collecting metal toy soldiers.
There are only nine "toy soldier clubs" in the world that we have been able to identify:
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AFCFEF
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Atlanta Military Figure Society
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British Model Soldier Society (BMSS)
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Gibraltar Model Soldier Society
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Military Miniature Society of Illinois (MMSI)
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National Capital Model Miniature Society
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North East Toy Soldier Society (NETSS)
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Ontario Model Soldier Society (OMSS)
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South Florida Toy Soldier Club
Club members sell items at the Ontario Model Soldier Society 2023 Christmas Luncheon, in Toronto, Ontario.
Of these nine toy soldier clubs the British Model Soldier Society (BMSS) is in a class all by itself.
The Miniature Figure Collectors of America (MFCA) organization has not made our list because it only meets once per year at its annual show, and does not have regular meetings.
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We have included the North East Toy Soldier Society (NETTS) on this list despite the fact there is some question as to whether or not the club meets the requirement of holding regular club meetings.
If you are aware of a toy soldier club other than these nine that deserves to be on our list, please provide us with the details by submitting a form found at the bottom of this page.
AFCFEF
AFCFEF is the acronym for the French toy soldier club whose English translation is "The Association of Figurinists and Figurine Collectors from the East of France", afcfef.fr.
The AFCFEF currently has about 40 members.
Atlanta Military Figure Society (AMFS)
The Atlanta Military Figure Society, (AMFS), atlantafigures.org, was first established in 1975.
The club meets on the third Saturday of each month at 10:00 a.m. Meeting locations can be found on the club's website.
The Atlanta Military Figure Society has a Facebook Group.
The AMFS hosts an annual toy soldier show. The AMFS 2024 show was held on February 9th through 11th, 2024, at the Atlanta Hilton Northeast.
British Model Soldier Society (BMSS)
When it comes to describing toy soldier clubs, the British Model Soldier Society (BMSS), bmss.online.com, is in a class all by itself.
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The British Model Soldier Society describes itself as "the largest and longest established association of model soldier enthusiasts".
Unlike any of the other toy soldier clubs listed on this page, BMSS is an association of 17 branches located across the UK.
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BMSS membership includes toy soldier collectors living around the world.
Gibraltar Model Soldier Society
The Gibraltar Model Soldier Society has approximately 40 members. The club celebrated its 40th anniversary on February 17, 2023, at a special public exhibit.
The Gibraltar Model Soldier Society has its own Facebook Group that goes by the name of Gibraltar Model Soldier Society The Official Page.
Military Miniature Society of Illinois (MMSI)
Based in the Chicago area, this club is dedicated not only to collecting scale works of military and fantasy art as well as the art of painting and sculpting military miniatures and toy soldiers.
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The Military Miniature Society of Illinois (MMSI), military-miniature-society-of-illinois.com, holds monthly meetings on the first Friday of each month from September through May.
The Military Miniature Society of Illinois also holds a juried competition each October.
This YouTube video is from the 2021 MMSI juried exhibition.
National Capital Model Soldier Society (NCMSS)
The National Capital Model Soldier Society (NCMSS), ncmssclub.org, is a toy soldier club supporting hobbyists in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
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Established in 1961, the NCMSS is one of the premier military miniature clubs in the Eastern United States.
This YouTube video was taken at the September 30, 2023rd NCMSS show in Springfield, Virginia.
The NCMSS holds monthly meetings.
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Except where posted otherwise on the NCMSS website, the club meets the fourth Wednesday of the month, at Thomas Edison High School, 5801 Franconia Road, Alexandria, Virginia, Room E-112 (across from the cafeteria). The meetings start at 7:30 p.m.
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NCMSS also has a Facebook Group.
North East Toy Soldier
Society (NETSS)
The North East Toy Soldier Society (NETSS) is a toy soldier club in New England.
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NETTS and the Gibraltar Model Soldier Society are the only toy soldier clubs listed on this page that do not have a website.
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NETSS does have a Facebook Group.
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This toy soldier club may meet on an irregular basis.
Ontario Model Soldier Society (OMSS)
The Ontario Model Soldier Society (OMSS), omss.ca, is a very active toy soldier club, with more than 100 members. In addition to Canadian residents, OMSS members can be found in the United States, the United Kingdom, and around the globe.
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OMSS hosts a variety of monthly meetings for its members:
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Zoom meetings
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in-person meetings in Toronto
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in-person meetings in Ottawa
Unless posted otherwise on Facebook, OMSS monthly Zoom meetings take place on the third Tuesday of each month, at 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time.
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OMSS holds monthly meetings in Toronto, Ontario, between September and May, at the Royal Canadian Legion, 110 Jutland Road in Toronto. Meeting details can be found on omss.ca.
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OMSS also has an active chapter in Ottawa, Canada's national capital. The Ottawa chapter meets monthly, the last Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m., at the Barley Mow restaurant, 1541 Merivale Road, in Nepean Ontario.
Each summer OMSS hosts its annual toy soldier show On Parade. On Parade 2024 will be held this year on Saturday, June 15th, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at the Franklin Horner Community Centre, 432 Horner Avenue, Etobicoke, Ontario.
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This event features vendors, exhibits and painting competitions.
South Florida Toy Soldier Club
The South Florida Toy Soldier Club, southfloridatoysoldier.club is an active toy soldier club with approximately 25 members.
The South Florida Toy Soldier Club was formed in 1987 with members from Dade, Broward, Martin, and Palm Beach counties.
The South Florida Toy Soldier Club meets monthly, except for the months of June and August. The meeting location is the Evernia Place Common Room, 631 Evernia Street, West Palm Beach.
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The club's ten monthly meetings are held on the second Saturday of each month, from noon to 3:00 p.m.
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The club also has a Facebook Group.
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The South Florida Toy Soldier Club holds a regional toy soldier show each year, the week before the Super Bowl.
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