Values of sets (1 Viewer)

[larso]

Even ten years ago there seemed to be a 'going rate' locally (Australia) of $1 per mm to paint a toy soldier. So your standard 1/30 might cost as much as $60 just for painting. Now even if that was reduced by half or even a fifth, it means, along with sculpting ($500 - $1000), molds, packaging, shipping and some profit for the maker and the retailer (because otherwise they'd go broke and there'd be no product produced at all), you've got a figure that would cost much closer to $100! How many of us could collect then?

The other thing about paying lower wages in China, India etc is that it costs much less to live there! I recall when I travelled in India seven years ago, my wife hurt her back in a traffic miss-hap. At the next city, a very professional doctor visited our up-market hotel. He was excellent and as good a doctor as you'd expect to find in a Western country. Yet this after-hours visit, on a public holiday cost me $16!!!!!!!!!

 

[DM101]

I did my first custom job painting the hand from "flesh" to "gloves" and it took me 2 hours already {sm4}



Maybe this is my first "painting" project - abit a small scale one but I already find is really hard-work indeed ! :salute:: to KnC painters

 

[johnnybach]

I did my first custom job painting the hand from "flesh" to "gloves" and it took me 2 hours already {sm4}

View attachment 155029

Maybe this is my first "painting" project - abit a small scale one but I already find is really hard-work indeed ! :salute:: to KnC painters

As with most things - the more you practice - the better ( and quicker), you will become. You will also get less nervous about tackling jobs - which will speed things up later on. Nice job! - jb

 

[uksubs]

Hi UK,

I do understand your point about cheap labor and having the highest return in profits for all those companies, but....

I still prefer they were made in China then in USA or United Kingdom, can you imagine the price we would pay for the same piece ?

And maybe thats what cause the fall of Honour Bound in Argentina, labor was way above China.


Serge.

I'm sorry to say sky prices have been the norm in the UK for along time and that not just toy soldiers

 

[spartan71]

Hi UK,

I do understand your point about cheap labor and having the highest return in profits for all those companies, but....

I still prefer they were made in China then in USA or United Kingdom, can you imagine the price we would pay for the same piece ?

And maybe thats what cause the fall of Honour Bound in Argentina, labor was way above China.


Serge.

Well said, you took the words right out of my mouth.

 

[King Tiger II]

Yes i know its not cheap buying stuff in UK,

Every time i do the money conversion from GBP to CAD, i always do this ----> {eek3}


Serge.

 

[hotel3alpha]

Dear UKSUBS,

I mentioned the whole "China Slave Child Labor Half Starved Kids Making Andy's Nazi Youth for American Sympathizers" subject in an interview I had with Ms. Helen Mok at the TTSS After Action Sit Rep. When I asked Helen about the how and where the soldiers were manufactured she told me there is more than one plant who manufactures each line of soldiers. When K&C decides/approves a figure to be produced they have a strict set of internal guidelines that they (K&C) require the plant to follow regarding labor and environmental standards. What those guidelines are, I don't know. But what I do know is, that I was taken aback a little by Helen's knowledge of the subject as it seems to be an international concern regarding any company who produces products in China. Furthermore, she acknowledged that there are abuses by toy manufacturers, but certainly not by K&C as they take a lot of pride in their due diligence in the toy soldier manufacturing arena. Plus, their reputation is at stake and they would do nothing to tarnish their 20 plus years as a pillar in the industry.

Now onto the whole Artsy thing. I saw a black dot on a white canvas once and saw people marvel and how "moved" they were by the piece of "art". PUH-Lease...but hey man the piece was like 10 grand, so I guess it was art. If someone spits on a canvas and sells it as art then it is that...art. If a man or woman who paints magnificent details of medals, uniforms, robes, hats, feathers, boots, headdresses, weapons or anything else that may be depicted on a toy soldier is not considered an "artists" then back off! You sit down like DM101 and paint gloves that takes two hours and tell me your not an artists. Hush yo mouth!!! That takes a steady hand, patience and an enormous amount of talent so shuushhh! It IS ART.

On to Collecting: Hey Man, buy what you want. Pay what you want. I have won some, lost some. Paid too much, and have even stole a some. I have been given some and gave some away. I have lost some sleep, been disappointed, but have also relished in a great grab. Its all fun and a wise collector (Jazzeum) once told me "have patients my son, another seeks being listed on ebay and has thou name on it".

So, easy greasy gents on the accusations, judging, mud slinging, eye poking, "take that" attitude and just keep living.

John from Texas

 

[uksubs]

Based on my experiences, professional and otherwise, Chinese workers are highly skilled. It's more likely than not that if you use an iPhone, it's probably made in China.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...pple-customer-Foxbot-robot-assembly-line.html

 

[uksubs]

Dear UKSUBS,

I mentioned the whole "China Slave Child Labor Half Starved Kids Making Andy's Nazi Youth for American Sympathizers" subject in an interview I had with Ms. Helen Mok at the TTSS After Action Sit Rep. When I asked Helen about the how and where the soldiers were manufactured she told me there is more than one plant who manufactures each line of soldiers. When K&C decides/approves a figure to be produced they have a strict set of internal guidelines that they (K&C) require the plant to follow regarding labor and environmental standards. What those guidelines are, I don't know. But what I do know is, that I was taken aback a little by Helen's knowledge of the subject as it seems to be an international concern regarding any company who produces products in China. Furthermore, she acknowledged that there are abuses by toy manufacturers, but certainly not by K&C as they take a lot of pride in their due diligence in the toy soldier manufacturing arena. Plus, their reputation is at stake and they would do nothing to tarnish their 20 plus years as a pillar in the industry.

Now onto the whole Artsy thing. I saw a black dot on a white canvas once and saw people marvel and how "moved" they were by the piece of "art". PUH-Lease...but hey man the piece was like 10 grand, so I guess it was art. If someone spits on a canvas and sells it as art then it is that...art. If a man or woman who paints magnificent details of medals, uniforms, robes, hats, feathers, boots, headdresses, weapons or anything else that may be depicted on a toy soldier is not considered an "artists" then back off! You sit down like DM101 and paint gloves that takes two hours and tell me your not an artists. Hush yo mouth!!! That takes a steady hand, patience and an enormous amount of talent so shuushhh! It IS ART.

On to Collecting: Hey Man, buy what you want. Pay what you want. I have won some, lost some. Paid too much, and have even stole a some. I have been given some and gave some away. I have lost some sleep, been disappointed, but have also relished in a great grab. Its all fun and a wise collector (Jazzeum) once told me "have patients my son, another seeks being listed on ebay and has thou name on it".

So, easy greasy gents on the accusations, judging, mud slinging, eye poking, "take that" attitude and just keep living.

John from Texas

Nice post John but got to say painting toy soldiers is not art it a skill like any other job you can pick up and I should now as my father is a artist :salute::but if calling it art toy solders make you fill better dealing with the cost that find with me but the end of the day these to toy soldiers are made in there hundreds and that why there not holding there value in the secondary market there to much out there !

 

[Panzer ace]

Nice post John but got to say painting toy soldiers is not art it a skill like any other job you can pick up and I should now as my father is a artist :salute::but if calling it art toy solders make you fill better dealing with the cost that find with me but the end of the day these to toy soldiers are made in there hundreds and that why there not holding there value in the secondary market there to much out there !

So what is the preference? Limited edition sets where not everyone who wants one gets one with a more valuable secondary market or larger production runs so that everyone gets one but the secondary value is less?

 

[uksubs]

So what is the preference? Limited edition sets where not everyone who wants one gets one with a more valuable secondary market or larger production runs so that everyone gets one but the secondary value is less?

Opinion three cheaper item in the first place :wink2: if you were buying your stuff in The UK your looking up to a 50% loss on the item on the secondary market and that before ebay and PayPal take there cut , UK ebay prices seem to reflex American retail price :rolleyes2:

 

[Panzer ace]

Opinion three cheaper item in the first place :wink2: if you were buying your stuff in The UK your looking up to a 50% loss on the item on the secondary market and that before ebay and PayPal take there cut , UK ebay prices seem to reflex American retail price :rolleyes2:

Option four, they can just give everything away for free then everyone can go back to complaining about scale, color etc.

 

[hotel3alpha]

Nice post John but got to say painting toy soldiers is not art it a skill like any other job you can pick up and I should now as my father is a artist :salute::but if calling it art toy solders make you fill better dealing with the cost that find with me but the end of the day these to toy soldiers are made in there hundreds and that why there not holding there value in the secondary market there to much out there !

Fine UkSubs its not art.

John from Texas

 

[uksubs]

Option four, they can just give everything away for free then everyone can go back to complaining about scale, color etc.

Great answer ,by the sound of it your happy to keep paying more for your stuff that all good and well and I'm sure that what any company like to here so Andy must be doing something right

 

[uksubs]

Option four, they can just give everything away for free then everyone can go back to complaining about scale, color etc.

So at the moment do you fill your getting value for your money when you buy toy soldiers ? Me personal I would say £350.00 for a plane and one figure is not good value for my hard earn money but that just me

 

[hotel3alpha]

UKSubs,

Ok, tell us how you really feel about Andy, K&C and Toy Soldier Collecting. Bro, you got a major axe to grind and it is starting to show really, really bad and with that...I am outta here on this thread.

Later-hater,

John from Texas

 

[uksubs]

UKSubs,

Ok, tell us how you really feel about Andy, K&C and Toy Soldier Collecting. Bro, you got a major axe to grind and it is starting to show really, really bad and with that...I am outta here on this thread.

Later-hater,

John from Texas

Well that just your view of things to be honest but got to say your post come across as really childish to be honest . In this thread I've been talking about the hobby in general not just KC ! Today alone Mitch sent me a repainted KC staff car and I have in the post from the USA a KC German armoured car and will be buying the German ambulance and half track but just because I don't agree with your view does not make me a hater

 

[uksubs]

UKSubs,

Ok, tell us how you really feel about Andy, K&C and Toy Soldier Collecting. Bro, you got a major axe to grind and it is starting to show really, really bad and with that...I am outta here on this thread.

Later-hater,

John from Texas

Just to show I'm not kc hater photos of the two repaints I got today from Mitch

 

[Panzer ace]

Great answer ,by the sound of it your happy to keep paying more for your stuff that all good and well and I'm sure that what any company like to here so Andy must be doing something right

Value of a dollar is different from one person to another. I do feel like I am getting value for money otherwise I wouldn't buy what I buy.

 

[cnq]

Just to show I'm not kc hater photos of the two repaints I got today from Mitch

Very very nice. They look much better than the original IMO.