TROPHY. (2 Viewers)

[jazzeum]

 

[Horus]

Dude has definitely gone up his own Rabbit hole and dislodged anything resembling dignity and flushed it away !

 

[theBaron]

I've been watching his posts since he first joined. He reminds me of "The Major", in that he's French, and that his posts talked about a series of toy soldiers he acquired and suggested that he might bring them back on the market. But he also spent a good deal of time making accusations against other producers, that he was cheated or tricked by people who sold him things, or by pirates. In fact, I wondered if they were one and the same person, though I discarded that idea.

It seems to me that if he really wants to sell his figures, he should just focus on how nice they are, how much collectors might like to buy them, rather than the negatives. Build good will among your potential customers.

Prost!
Brad

 

[HAWKEYE]

TROPHY

The Deck Scene from one of the firing Positions on board the CSS LEOPARD.

Of course, if the item was ever remade today, the price no doubt would likely be Phenomenaly high.

The last examples of this fine Model sold back before 2006 for over 2000 U S Dollars.

The lively poses and realistic figure animation gave Len Taylor's Figures and the Ship a truly life like quality. Such livliness was rarely seen in a Glossy Metal figure before the arrival of Lens work and his Business TROPHY Miniatures.
View attachment 350656

i agree wholeheartedly. they jump out at you when you open a old red box of trophy. animation, thickness and liveliness are supurb

 

[OzDigger]

I've been watching his posts since he first joined. He reminds me of "The Major", in that he's French, and that his posts talked about a series of toy soldiers he acquired and suggested that he might bring them back on the market. But he also spent a good deal of time making accusations against other producers, that he was cheated or tricked by people who sold him things, or by pirates. In fact, I wondered if they were one and the same person, though I discarded that idea.

It seems to me that if he really wants to sell his figures, he should just focus on how nice they are, how much collectors might like to buy them, rather than the negatives. Build good will among your potential customers.

Prost!
Brad

Brad,

your suspicions are correct, according to information in the public domain 'StudioParisArt' and 'The Major' are in fact the same person, Maxime Chevallier.

He recently purchased a number of molds from various near defunct Toy Soldier companies in the hope of bringing them back into production. A noble thought, however as Greg Simon (Fleurbaix Toy Soldiers) and subsequently his son Abram Simon discovered, you require a number of factors to return these old molds to successful production, the Two most important factors being 'Demand' and 'Talent'.

In fact, in recent posts on this forum, Mr Chevallier indicated he had given up making and selling these old molds and was trashing all the molds and other related equipment and intended to pursue other activities. However I'm not surprised he has changed his mind again and apparently he now hopes to sell some remade 'Trophy' sets. Who will buys these from him? In any case I am sure we all wait with 'baited breath' to see the next 'shenanigans' from Max, at least he does provide some 'entertainment' on the forum.

 

[GI_Jigsaw]

Perhaps a decaf espresso might help him as well.

 

[Horus]

Perhaps a decaf espresso might help him as well.

Croissants anyone !

 

[theBaron]

Brad,

your suspicions are correct, according to information in the public domain 'StudioParisArt' and 'The Major' are in fact the same person, Maxime Chevallier.

He recently purchased a number of molds from various near defunct Toy Soldier companies in the hope of bringing them back into production. A noble thought, however as Greg Simon (Fleurbaix Toy Soldiers) and subsequently his son Abram Simon discovered, you require a number of factors to return these old molds to successful production, the Two most important factors being 'Demand' and 'Talent'.

In fact, in recent posts on this forum, Mr Chevallier indicated he had given up making and selling these old molds and was trashing all the molds and other related equipment and intended to pursue other activities. However I'm not surprised he has changed his mind again and apparently he now hopes to sell some remade 'Trophy' sets. Who will buys these from him? In any case I am sure we all wait with 'baited breath' to see the next 'shenanigans' from Max, at least he does provide some 'entertainment' on the forum.

Thanks for confirming, Matt! That also confirms me in my opinion that if he'd really like to start selling toy soldiers again, he should drop the complaining and attacks on others, whether they're justified or not, and focus on promoting whatever he'd like to sell. Especially given the challenges that face someone who wants to produce and sell toy soldiers today. As you noted, demand is an important factor, as is talent, and anything that can help master those challenges, is something a potential businessman should welcome and employ.

Yeah, let's see what the next installment brings...

Prost!
Brad

 

[boerboy]

I completely agree with OZDigger — to successfully revive a good or even great toy soldier brand, you need demand, talent, and, I would add, money and the use of new technologies.


Under Two Flags, in my opinion, will never make a comeback, no matter what you do. Their sculpting was poor at the time and even worse by 2025 standards. Len gave Under Two Flags a boost through his choice of genres, creativity, and ability to create a fully developed, operational TS ranges. These ideas later found further development in his Trophy venture. However, even Len's early sets were very close in style to UTF figures and attract little to no demand in today’s market.


Trophy truly gained momentum when Len started working with a new sculptor, producing sets for Trophy of Texas and later through the Elite Series and Dragon Crest productions. These sets remain in high demand, and I believe they will continue to be for a long time.


As for reviving the Trophy brand or producing fan-made copies, many have tried — and in my view, all have failed. Regal of New Zealand came close, but lacked the talent to create playable ranges, and the slightly larger scale did no favors for Trophy collectors.


Ken Jackson, who had gold in his hands — meaning the original molds — chose instead to develop his own range. It wasn’t bad, but the Trophy specials I’ve seen do not come close in paint quality to the originals, even when using the same molds. Citadel Academy figures is a good example.


Mike from the Little Legion did a great job continuing Len's legacy with his new ranges and specials. But his sculpting style is different, and I wouldn’t group them with Trophy figures (though I know Martin completely disagrees with me). Even his Trophy recasts don’t have the original Trophy charm.


Just my two cents.

 

[tdubel]

A simple solution to all of this is a simple contract with RP World Models. The late Bob Prati demonstrated that a revitalized factory works. He brought back Steadfast and Britains Premier from the dead. The work is well done, the moulds maintained and redone. His formula works and the 2 guys who took it on have done well with it. Additionally, they also contracted for Tradition too and the work is very good. SO - easy, they could take all the moulds that Max bought and make them.

TD

 

[GICOP]

TROPHY

The Deck Scene from one of the firing Positions on board the CSS LEOPARD.

Of course, if the item was ever remade today, the price no doubt would likely be Phenomenaly high.

The last examples of this fine Model sold back before 2006 for over 2000 U S Dollars.

The lively poses and realistic figure animation gave Len Taylor's Figures and the Ship a truly life like quality. Such livliness was rarely seen in a Glossy Metal figure before the arrival of Lens work and his Business TROPHY Miniatures.
View attachment 350656

Try and find HMS LION for under $5000, could be a bit of a struggle

Cheers

Martyn

 

[GICOP]

HMS LION...Limited to, I believe, only 13 manufactured

Cheers

Martyn

 

[OzDigger]

A simple solution to all of this is a simple contract with RP World Models. The late Bob Prati demonstrated that a revitalized factory works. He brought back Steadfast and Britains Premier from the dead. The work is well done, the moulds maintained and redone. His formula works and the 2 guys who took it on have done well with it. Additionally, they also contracted for Tradition too and the work is very good. SO - easy, they could take all the moulds that Max bought and make them.

TD

A good idea hypothetically Tom, however I suspect any business dealings with Mad Max would be 'problematic'.

 

[GICOP]

HMS LION.....shown here with its full Royal Marine complement

Cheers

Martyn

 

[paxtoysoldier]

We love our HMS Lion. Pride of our collection.
Happy Collecting
Pats

 

[damian]

The Eagle and Leopard are superb models
Trophy is much missed and rightly treasured

 

[damian]

The Nile Boat steamer is also superb

 

[Louis Badolato]

Even though my main Trophy focus is Len's WWI figures and vehicles, I am fortunate enough to have the Eagle, the Nile Steamer Victoria, the small Nile River Gunboat and an Arab Dhow by Trophy, all of which are superbly done.

 

[damian]

More of the Nile steamer

 

[damian]

More of the Steamer