King & Country
Captain
- Joined
- May 23, 2005
- Messages
- 5,084
Hi Guys,
I hate to be a spoilsport but re your U. Boat...either complete or in sections...as far as I’m concerned K&C ain’t goin’ to do it.
And here’s why...
1) We’ve already got a production schedule for 2007 that even now is bursting at the seams with other stuff you’ve already requested over these last few months.
2) Much as I love your undoubted enthusiasm for this thing or that thing or all of those things put together. Some of you have no concept of how long items take to develop...what they cost to manufacture...or how difficult they may be to transport and ship half way around the world and arrive in one piece.
3) Allied to the above points virtually every company worth its salt in this hobby and business has a plan (or several) of how they’re going to develop and expand a series or range throughout a year and beyond.
Ideas no matter how bright or original you may think they are still have to join the queue behind what’s already in the works. To be considered...evaluated...and finally decided upon.
4) Many years ago, when K&C (and me) were still in our infancy I would go to shows in Chicago or LA and be bombarded with collectors’ “wish lists”...“You should do this”...“K&C should do that!” etc., etc.
I was immensely flattered that some people would take the time and make the effort to share their dreams and enthusiastic suggestions with me and on quite a number of occasions returned to Hong Kong with my head full of “exactly what King & Country should do...and do it now!”
In my naivety I actually did take up many of these suggestions...and guess what happened...nothing very much!
Many of these sure-fire suggestions gathered dust on our shelves for a long, long time. And guess what else...some of the same people who suggested these great ideas never even bought the finished item themselves.
5) So, what does that tell us or me in particular. Well for a start, as I’ve said many times before, suggestions and ideas area always welcome and this Forum is a great place to make them. But please guys be a little realistic from time to time. We are a toy soldier/ military miniature company that makes lots of figures and fighting vehicles...the odd building and diorama and, on rare occasions, even an aeroplane or two.
U Boats...bits of U. Boats...Conning Towers...Gun platforms...I’m happy to leave to someone else and the best of luck to them!
6) Brother Gordon’s Abilities. My dear brother Gordon is a very skilled and talented diorama/ display builder — Crusader Forts...Alamo battlefields...Normandy Villages...Desert Oasis no problem at all.
Building precise models or sections of U Boats...E Boats...or any kind of boat is a whole different ballgame. Although we have talked to Louis about part of a carrier island and flight deck we’ve not actually got round to attempting it yet. Certain kinds of models require a skilled engineer/ model maker’s techniques that, quite frankly, Gordon (and me) don’t have.
So, there you have it...I’m sorry to rain on your parade but that’s the way I see it.
I’m sure some of you will be disappointed but it’s better for the bubble to be popped at this stage than to lead you down the rosy garden path on the road to “Fantasyland”. Sorry Boys!
Best wishes and...happy collecting!
Andy C.
P.S. If any of our competitors Honour Bound...NMA...Figarti...Britains...Conte want to attempt to build a reasonably priced (not too expensive) U Boat or part thereof...I’ll buy one.
I hate to be a spoilsport but re your U. Boat...either complete or in sections...as far as I’m concerned K&C ain’t goin’ to do it.
And here’s why...
1) We’ve already got a production schedule for 2007 that even now is bursting at the seams with other stuff you’ve already requested over these last few months.
2) Much as I love your undoubted enthusiasm for this thing or that thing or all of those things put together. Some of you have no concept of how long items take to develop...what they cost to manufacture...or how difficult they may be to transport and ship half way around the world and arrive in one piece.
3) Allied to the above points virtually every company worth its salt in this hobby and business has a plan (or several) of how they’re going to develop and expand a series or range throughout a year and beyond.
Ideas no matter how bright or original you may think they are still have to join the queue behind what’s already in the works. To be considered...evaluated...and finally decided upon.
4) Many years ago, when K&C (and me) were still in our infancy I would go to shows in Chicago or LA and be bombarded with collectors’ “wish lists”...“You should do this”...“K&C should do that!” etc., etc.
I was immensely flattered that some people would take the time and make the effort to share their dreams and enthusiastic suggestions with me and on quite a number of occasions returned to Hong Kong with my head full of “exactly what King & Country should do...and do it now!”
In my naivety I actually did take up many of these suggestions...and guess what happened...nothing very much!
Many of these sure-fire suggestions gathered dust on our shelves for a long, long time. And guess what else...some of the same people who suggested these great ideas never even bought the finished item themselves.
5) So, what does that tell us or me in particular. Well for a start, as I’ve said many times before, suggestions and ideas area always welcome and this Forum is a great place to make them. But please guys be a little realistic from time to time. We are a toy soldier/ military miniature company that makes lots of figures and fighting vehicles...the odd building and diorama and, on rare occasions, even an aeroplane or two.
U Boats...bits of U. Boats...Conning Towers...Gun platforms...I’m happy to leave to someone else and the best of luck to them!
6) Brother Gordon’s Abilities. My dear brother Gordon is a very skilled and talented diorama/ display builder — Crusader Forts...Alamo battlefields...Normandy Villages...Desert Oasis no problem at all.
Building precise models or sections of U Boats...E Boats...or any kind of boat is a whole different ballgame. Although we have talked to Louis about part of a carrier island and flight deck we’ve not actually got round to attempting it yet. Certain kinds of models require a skilled engineer/ model maker’s techniques that, quite frankly, Gordon (and me) don’t have.
So, there you have it...I’m sorry to rain on your parade but that’s the way I see it.
I’m sure some of you will be disappointed but it’s better for the bubble to be popped at this stage than to lead you down the rosy garden path on the road to “Fantasyland”. Sorry Boys!
Best wishes and...happy collecting!
Andy C.
P.S. If any of our competitors Honour Bound...NMA...Figarti...Britains...Conte want to attempt to build a reasonably priced (not too expensive) U Boat or part thereof...I’ll buy one.
Got to love that "never give up" toy soldier spirit.
