Combat
Brigadier General
- Joined
- Jun 10, 2005
- Messages
- 10,781
Since the official contest was nixed here is my own completely non-scientific choices representing the opinion of one collector.
Best Vehicles (by manufacturer):
New Model Army: Sturmtiger (summer version). NMA demonstrated they can produce a KC quality vehicle with this one. The figures are not bad either and the fact that Blake threw in a one of kind prototype figure for me makes it all the sweeter. Let's hope they keep them coming in '07. The winter version was a bit of a disappointment though.
Honour Bound: Winter Panther. Everything that HB has produced is fantastic but this one really knocked my socks off. I give it an edge over the field kitchen and bergepanther mostly because of my preference for fighting vehicles but can't say enough about the "realness" of the HB WP and the accompanying figures are great as well.
King and Country: KC produced so much that it is hard to decide (and I admit not seeing the new Sherman), but I would go with the Panzer Meyer command vehicle. I know a lot of folks scoffed at the limited edition run of 1200+ and it probably hasn't sold out, but as a display piece it looks fantastic. I had never even heard of "Panzer Meyer" so give credit to Andy for going (somewhat) out of the mainstream.
Figarti: Tiger. They were the talk of the Chicago show and the limited number of other Fig vehicles easily puts this at the top of their list.
Best Overall Vehicle: Honour Bound Winter Panther. HB set the standard by which I measure everything else with this one. Enough said.
Best Figures:
King and Country. Outside of the expensive Russian/St. Petersburg figures - which are hardly ever mentioned here although they are the best of the best - have to give it to KC. Excellent quality, variety, and reasonable prices. KC produced so many nice sets that I can't pick just one.
Most Improved Company:
Patriot. I don't collect them but the recent figures appear to be a quantum leap for these guys.
Best Innovation:
Figarti Tiger. An interesting idea making the interior - although it is not entirely clear to me how best to display it. The price is a downside but they clearly struck a nerve in the industry and seem to be generally good guys.
Best New Figure/Line Sets:
Britains WWI. They were out in front of the WWI mania and their WWI figure sets are the best that I have seen from Britains in a long time.
Best New Manufacturer:
Honour Bound. These folks came out of nowhere and opened my eyes to what is possible in this hobby with the release of the Barkmann Panthers.
Best Overall Manufacturer:
King and Country. KC was lagging early in the year and Honour Bound embarrassed them a bit with the quality of their vehicles, but how can you knock the large number of quality sets, vehicles, and new lines? KC is still tops in my opinion although the competition has narrowed the gap considerably. Kudos to Andy and Company for keeping them coming ontime and in bulk. No small task where every other manufacturer seems to be behind schedule with new releases. Also the KC marketing approach has been great in providing information on upcoming releases to collectors through the mag and brochures - which must cost a great deal to produce. I'm consistently amazed at how amateurish some of the other manufacturers are in this regard even in the use of inexpensive marketing tools like their own websites.
Best Vehicles (by manufacturer):
New Model Army: Sturmtiger (summer version). NMA demonstrated they can produce a KC quality vehicle with this one. The figures are not bad either and the fact that Blake threw in a one of kind prototype figure for me makes it all the sweeter. Let's hope they keep them coming in '07. The winter version was a bit of a disappointment though.
Honour Bound: Winter Panther. Everything that HB has produced is fantastic but this one really knocked my socks off. I give it an edge over the field kitchen and bergepanther mostly because of my preference for fighting vehicles but can't say enough about the "realness" of the HB WP and the accompanying figures are great as well.
King and Country: KC produced so much that it is hard to decide (and I admit not seeing the new Sherman), but I would go with the Panzer Meyer command vehicle. I know a lot of folks scoffed at the limited edition run of 1200+ and it probably hasn't sold out, but as a display piece it looks fantastic. I had never even heard of "Panzer Meyer" so give credit to Andy for going (somewhat) out of the mainstream.
Figarti: Tiger. They were the talk of the Chicago show and the limited number of other Fig vehicles easily puts this at the top of their list.
Best Overall Vehicle: Honour Bound Winter Panther. HB set the standard by which I measure everything else with this one. Enough said.
Best Figures:
King and Country. Outside of the expensive Russian/St. Petersburg figures - which are hardly ever mentioned here although they are the best of the best - have to give it to KC. Excellent quality, variety, and reasonable prices. KC produced so many nice sets that I can't pick just one.
Most Improved Company:
Patriot. I don't collect them but the recent figures appear to be a quantum leap for these guys.
Best Innovation:
Figarti Tiger. An interesting idea making the interior - although it is not entirely clear to me how best to display it. The price is a downside but they clearly struck a nerve in the industry and seem to be generally good guys.
Best New Figure/Line Sets:
Britains WWI. They were out in front of the WWI mania and their WWI figure sets are the best that I have seen from Britains in a long time.
Best New Manufacturer:
Honour Bound. These folks came out of nowhere and opened my eyes to what is possible in this hobby with the release of the Barkmann Panthers.
Best Overall Manufacturer:
King and Country. KC was lagging early in the year and Honour Bound embarrassed them a bit with the quality of their vehicles, but how can you knock the large number of quality sets, vehicles, and new lines? KC is still tops in my opinion although the competition has narrowed the gap considerably. Kudos to Andy and Company for keeping them coming ontime and in bulk. No small task where every other manufacturer seems to be behind schedule with new releases. Also the KC marketing approach has been great in providing information on upcoming releases to collectors through the mag and brochures - which must cost a great deal to produce. I'm consistently amazed at how amateurish some of the other manufacturers are in this regard even in the use of inexpensive marketing tools like their own websites.
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