Peter Cushing on Games and Gaming.

**Alfonso Casal** · 10th September 2002, 06:27 PM

Peter Cushing was an avid war gamer and collector of miniture toy soldiers. In July of 1956 he published an article in Britain's TV Mirror entitled "Toys? They're Not Child's Play" which I think many on these boards would whole-heartedly agree with. Here's an excerpt:

"Now I have a theory about hobbies and toys, and I'm quite prepared for you to scoff at me. The theory is quite simple. It is that toys are given to children when they are too young to appreciate them and that because most men "put away childish things" as they reach adulthood, they miss a great deal of happiness at a time in their lives when, because of greater maturity, they are actually in a much better positin to enjoy their toys and hobbies.

"The tragedy is that far too many men are hobby-less. . . Without the escapism which comes from dabbling with adult toys, their minds are prey to all the frustrations and fears of the working day. From my hobby-horse, I do not say that men would be better if they kept their toys in adult years; but they certainly would be happier. . . So many, it seems to me, lose happiness as they grow up. Their entire absorption in their careers and adult responsibilities bring lines of worry and premature old age.

". . . When I come home at night and find the TV news or the newspaper headlines more than usually anxious and alarming, I sometimes get out my soldiers and start solving international problems on my lounge carpet. Fearful problems which. . . cause international strife at UNO, are settled in a quiet half-hour with my private armies of military men, who are as clever, bold, strategic, and victorious as I can make them, although they are only 2-and-a-half inches high. One day, I may be tempted to send to Whitehall, to Washington and to the Kremlin, so that statesmen can find the key. . . But no, I have no wish to challenge anyone's opinion. I have my own inner contentment with this world-in-miniature. . . And you could too. It's not a thing to shout or campaign about, but to discover privately and to enjoy in one's own heart."

Old Soul · 10th September 2002, 11:46 PM

To tell you the truth, I think we all still play like when we were kids only it

**Matt Gemmell** · 11th September 2002, 01:00 PM

Agreed . One of the many pleasures in having children is that it gives you the excuse to be a kid again .
My wife knows only to well that i get as excited as my son and daughter at Christmas as i can get a hold of the latest gadget or toy . In fact my computer room has quite models of famous movie monsters displayed with pride .Add to that my movie posters and signed photos and you've got a grown up / kids room;)

18th September 2002, 03:24 PM

I collect miniatures also, I paint them for our D&D games all the time. Its a great hobby and we've got hundrets of them combined.
And yes they are not toys for kids thats for sure !
they are fragil and far too easy to loose because of their small size.

Brandi · 18th September 2002, 04:44 PM

My husband and I collect and paint as well. It's great fun. And no, you wouldn't really want them around little kids; they're choking and/or lead poisoning hazards!

You can see our work at

http://www.dcn.davis.ca.us/~brandi/Pandelerium/

but my most recent pieces have been from the old Ravenloft line of horror pieces-- very Universal and Hammeresque! I need to put up a 'front page'-- it's just a raw directory now, but have a look at

http://www.dcn.davis.ca.us/~brandi/Ravenloft/

18th September 2002, 06:21 PM

I looked at you Webpages Brandi, those miniatures are really well done. How did you get those pictures taken so clearly?
I can never get our camera to do that right...

Brandi · 18th September 2002, 07:06 PM

Some of the pictures in the Pandelerium site were taken with a regular camera with a bellows-lens for super closeups, then scanned. The Ravenloft minis I've just been laying on the scanner directly. I think we're going to look into a digital camera with macro focus, though...

26th September 2002, 08:20 AM

The scanner is probably the best way to get those tiny tin people captured...thank you so much for that idea Brandi..
this whole time I was sitting there taking more than 30 pictures at a time with our digital camera and could barely get a good shot...i will try the scanner next time myself then I can show off my little guys someday too