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Product Store | |
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History, Resources and Films | |
Shows and Events | |
We are pleased to announce our 8th Annual W.Britain Model Figure Symposium. It will take place once again in historic Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The symposium starts off on Friday with a hands-on workshop where the participants will learn various scenic techniques from Ken Osen. Create a scenic display diorama for either the American Civil War or World War II, Summer, European Theatre of War for your W.Britain figures or vehicles. Participants should be able to complete the project during the workshop. Friday evening after dinner on your own light desserts will be found at For The Historian (Toy Soldier Shop and Bookstore) and Gettysburg Miniature Soldiers (Toy Soldier and War Game Shop).
On Saturday we continue with our traditional all-day lecture series with four guest speakers at the World War II American Experience Museum. Topics include talks on the Life in the Continental Army during the American Revolution, a look at U.S. Navy Sailors from the dawn of photography through the turn of the 19th century, exploring the relationship between the Civil War generation and their Revolutionary War forefathers and lastlybut in no way least, an open discussion with Henry Sledge about his father, Eugene Sledge author of With The Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa. The U.S.M.C. History Company will be in attendance again with a display on WWII Pacific Theater uniforms and accouterments. We will also have the hosts of We Happy Few 506 podcast and tours with us. Lunch and refreshments are included.
The W.Britain Evening Banquet will be held at the World War II American Experience Museum. General Manager, Ken Osen will give a post-diner talk on The Color of War. There will also be the traditional “Everyone Wins” raffle and we are bringing back the Silent Auction of Preproduction and One-of-a-kind conversion figures.
Sunday morning will be a behind the scenes tour of the World War II American Experience Museum. Attendees will have a chance to ride a fully restored WWII Half track across the fields of Gettysburg, a rare chance to bring both the American Civil War and WWII together.
Choose your Ground! Create a scenic display diorama for either the American Civil War or World War II, Summer, European theater of war to create an environment for your W.Britain figures or vehicles. This hands on clinic taught by Ken Osen with demonstrations and individual instruction to each person on techniques such as assembly and fabrication, staging the scene and the various styles of painting including dry-brushing and washes. All of the materials including paint, glue, scenics supplies, and relevant components and tools will be included so that each participant will be able to build a section approximately 11 inches wide by 16 inches long. This workshop is limited to 12 participants. Participants must be registered for the Full Weekend Symposium. If you are flying into the symposium we will gladly arrange to ship your completed diorama to you.
$150.00 Workshop Fee includes Box Lunch.
In this open ended conversation we’ll talk with Henry Sledge about the life and experiences of his father, WWII U.S. Marine Veteran Eugene Sledge, author of With The Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa, and Henry’s experiences filming HBO’s The Pacific, based partially on his fathers book and experiences. W.Britain will also be debuting a Eugene Sledge figure at this event.
Henry Sledge is the son of Eugen Sledge and was an advisor on the production of The Pacific by HBO. Henry also co-hosts the WWII podcast whatsthescuttlebutt.com. Henry is a graduate of Auburn University with a degree in political science and international relations.
In this illustrated talk, we’ll explore the material culture and daily life of the Continental Army. This revolutionary force brought together soldiers from diverse backgrounds to form a racially integrated, politically radical, and materially innovative army. What did these soldiers wear, use, and make? Their buttons, knapsacks, caps, and muskets are not mere antiquarian curiosities. These soldiers wore new American symbols and preserved Revolutionary relics in ways that shaped what the United States would become. And new objects are discovered every year that provide unexpected glimpses into their times and our own.
Dr. Tyler Putman is the Senior Manager of Gallery Interpretation at the Museum of the American Revolution. He interned on the Museum’s First Oval Office Project in 2013 and joined the full-time staff as the Lead Gallery Educator before the Museum opened in 2017. His past experience has included work in archaeology, historical tailoring, the antiques trade, and tall ship sailing. He holds two MAs and a PhD in History from the University of Delaware.
An often over-looked subject this presentation will cover the look of the U.S. Navy Sailor from the dawn of photography through the turn of the 19th century.
Mark T. Hacala, Master Chief Hospital Corpsman (ret), is the former Director of History and Education for the U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation, Washington, D.C., Ceremonies Specialist and Drillmaster for the U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard in Washington, DC (ret) and current editor of the Bluejackets Manual and creator of the U.S. Naval history themed YouTube channel the Master Chief’s Sea Chest.
In light of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the USA, this talk will explore the lasting legacies of the American Revolution and how it was the next two generations of Americans that fought in the Civil War and continued their forefathers work to “form a more perfect union.” This talk will focus on how both the North and the South made those direct connections and utilized the legacy and familial connections to that founding era to support their own experiences and find inspiration.
Kevin Hampton is the Curator of History at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum in Madison, Wisconsin. A graduate of the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota, and is representing the state of Wisconsin on the America250 anniversary planning committee.
While color photography was around in WWII most photographs and news reels were shot in black and white film leading us to insert our own colors into those B&W worlds. In this presentation Ken will challenge our preconceived notions of what WWII looked like, what those colors actually were.
Kenneth A. Osen is the President and Creative Director of W.Britain Model Figures and founder of Hudson & Allen Studios.
The American Civil War figure for the event will be making its debut in the very near future.
also making its W.Britain debut will be 13095 U.S.M.C. Eugene Sledge, 1944-45 Eugene Bondurant Sledge (November 4, 1923 – March 3, 2001) was a United StatesMarine, university professor, and author. His 1981 memoir With the Old Breed:At Peleliu and Okinawa chronicled his combat experiences during World War II and was used as source material for the Ken Burns PBS documentary The War, as well as the HBO miniseries The Pacific. W.Britain has been working very closely with Henry Sledge, son of Eugene Sledge and We Happy Few 506 to get all the details correct and make sure that this figure is as authentic as possible.
We have reserved a block of rooms at The Wyndham Gettysburg, 95 Presidential Circle, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325 - 1(717) 339-0020
Rooms have a special rate of $149 for a King Room, or a 2 Bed Standard Room (plus tax- es). Rooms will be held at this rate until 7-5-2024. To call and book a reservation, please call 1(717) 339-0020 and ask for the Group Rate by referring to W.Britain Toy Soldier Symposium. The Wyndham is also host to the 1863 Restaurant for morning breakfasts and night caps can be had in the charming Lobby Bar.
10:00am – 4:00pm - Diorama Workshop, World War II American Experience Museum, lunch provided
5:30pm - 7:00pm - After dinner on your own, Gettysburg Miniature Soldiers (200 Steinwehr Ave.) & For the Historian (42 York St) will host light desserts and a chance to shop for toy soldiers and military books.
9:00am - 10:15am - The Look of the U.S. Navy Sailor: 1840-1900 by Mark T. Hacala
10:15am - 10:30am - Break
10:30am - 11:45am - With the Old Breed by Henry Sledge
12:00pm - 1:15pm - Lunch at the WWII American Experience Museum Cafe
1:30pm - 2:45pm - On Campaign with the Continental Soldier by Dr. Tyler Putman
2:45pm - 3:00pm - Break
3:00pm - 4:15pm - Four Score and Seven Years Ago by Kevin Hampton
4:15pm - 6:00pm - Free Time
6:00pm - 9:00pm - W.Britain Evening Banquet at the WWII American Experience Museum. Ken Osen will do a talk on The Color of War in WWII. And we promise, lots of items for the ever popular W.Britain Silent Auction and everyone-gets-something door prizes
Sunday - Private Tour and Half Track Ride
10:00am - 2:00pm - Meet at the World War II Experience Museum at 10am. There will be a guided tour of the Museum with behind the scenes information about the vehicles and artifacts. And for those that choose to we will go outdoors and climb aboard a fully restored WWII Half-Track and explore fields of Gettysburg behind the museum.
