The Significance of the "Seemingly" Insignificant

[Reginald Rutledge]

A few days ago, my son and daughter got a Wii for Christmas! For me, I remember having to hop up at 4:00 am and stand in line with about 300 other people at a Gamestop. The price of fatherhood, right? Well every year, from their baby years to their teenage years, I have been standing in Christmas lines getting toys for my kids. Santa Claus is really big in my home, even now as they mature into young adults. I've seen grown people fighting over toys and I have hidden a few myself from others, only to return at a later hour to pick up my "booty"!

But for me, the rewards were not only watching the glee, the down right joy, and the magic of Christmas. No question, being a Christian myself, the significance is greater than the commercialism, but the giving of gifts in the Rutledge home are some of our greatest traditions. More so for me, an even greater tradition is what follows!

The packages! You say, uh??? Well, over the years, toy companies have become more and more sophisticated in their packaging techniques. The plastic has become more rigid in nature. For me, it's been a Godsend!

The other day, my son was wanting to throw the clear packaging away from his Wii gaming system. I told him, "Hey Young Fella, what are you gonna do with that?" He replied, "This is trash Dad". I told him, "That's a gold mine, Reggie". He laughed at me. Thinking, "There my crazy eccentric daddy go again". What my son did not know is I already had that earmarked for some things I needed to do!

Have you seen the recent Steelers display I did featuring the Steel Curtain talking strategy? Compliments of that Wii packaging, I've got display platforms for the Purple People Eaters, The Doomsday Party, the Over the Hill Gang, Gang Green, the Sack Exchange, and the Raiders! Even more so, when I want (and that's a HUGE if at this stage) to make a 3.2 team, this plastic acts as the foundation for creating my team without drilling all the insides out!

The significance of the "seemingly" insignificant goes far beyond the plastic from electronics goods. For instance, when I shave my beard or mustache or hair, that hair is used to put on models such as Marion "The Barbarian", Randy Moss, Sean Taylor, Lester Hayes and many more! This is a natural product and again, I am trying to make my players look "as real" as possible.

Sometimes when I am chewing gum, I take that same gum that others may throw away and make a mean neck roll or feel a crack or two on a model or even create a few extra pounds on a William "The Refrigerator" Perry display.
Double Bubble works the best! For what you want, put super glue on it and let it harden. Then paint to the color that you wish.

Sometimes Eric Dickerson may not look as good because some guys don't put the horse collar on him. I take my candy-striped wire and take out the white strand and make that special collar that makes him look so good. I finish it off with a cut-out piece of paper to give it that pointed look coming down by putting some super glue on it and placing it on the wire.

Every once in a while, I'll get real creative because I do a lot of cutting you know! So I take that saw dust and put a little modge podge on a figure and dip him in the saw dust. I let it then dry. and then paint over it with Christmas Green Apple Barrel paint.

Jim Jackson asked me the other day about making towels. I've been making towels every since I was a little boy. For me, there are two methods. One is the envelope method and the other is the typing paper method. Simply fold a sheet of paper in half or sections and cut small slits and you then have towels created. The envelope method is even easier. Simply cut at the end of the envelope where it is folded and you have yourself some paper towels.

So many things others look at as insignificant is very significant when it comes to my miniature football experience. I invented a all-new lighting system the other day just based off of a wondering mind. I then went back to buy more of what I needed (literally thousands) and the lady thought I was crazy! To her, it was insignificant but for me and those who want to play in stadiums, this was a major breakthrough!

Everything from blocks of wood to boxes has great significance. I could probably write a book about "insignificant items" that have landed me everything from a US Patent to being the centerpiece of model stadiums that have sold for more than $20,000. But I probably am boring you to a yawn right about now. I hope that you guys that come to Texas ask me about some of the things that I do. I don't mind sharing that information with you. It does me no good when I leave the game. This is definitely your chance to find out some of the things that I know. I want to share that information to help your miniature football experience be better.

I have players that even talk. All a part of that "seemingly insignificant" trash that one person threw out.

Reg

[daghstrydr]

nice piece Reg, one of these days I will get your dvd and try to come up with my own line. Keep up the OUTSTANDING work man,

r/s Leonard