I am an interest collector. Generally, I start studying a period or specific campaign and then want to have figures, vehicles and scenes that depict historically accurate events. For me it is like a mystery as I am learning about what happened, why certain things occurred and what the men, animals, civilians and vehicles endured.
This started with the Eastern Front of WWII. At first I collected K&C, but when I found FL's line which tried to depict specific units at specific times it really appealed to me. I do not begrudge other manufacturers who want more generalizable or representative figures and vehicles. I totally agree that is a legitimate market and interest, but it does not work for me.
One of my favorite lines is FL's Caesarian Roman lines. I was reading about Caesar in history books and then the famed 10th Legion and even Gaius Crastinus, one of its most famous Centurions. FL depicts "Caesar's Favorites" or "Caesar's Equestrians" so well. As I read and collected the figures they were mutually reinforcing the learning and experience.
I really did not like armor from the period of Agincourt. I often thought it looked ugly, but started reading about armor during this time (as an extension of reading first about armor during the Crusades as I was collecting the FL Crusaders and wanted to understand the armor of the time.) Wow, FL was nailing very fine details of how bascinets were made, and what Boucicault would wear. Then I learned about a few of the other amazing characters during this period and FL nailed them as well.
So, I mostly collect FL. I do not think that is a secret.
I also find mistakes. I think FL's Spartan does not fit in with the rest of their line. That muscled cuirass probably did not exist until Roman times, the Lambda shield would not show up for another 100 years when even Sparta started using more of a levy-based army than just Spartiates. Again, even this reinforces the learning and the experience.
But I also do purchase what I like, and have a whole battle line of what I consider non-historically accurate Spartans that are more dressed and armored versions of the Spartans from "300." I am some vehicles and other figures that just look cool, too.
That being said, the vast majority of my collection focuses on specific battles and primarily consists of figures, animals, equipment and vehicles that would have existed at that time.
This is also why I have a lot of my vehicles repainted. Most of the Figarti Tigers recently released were not that create for historical situations, so I had 3 repainted to look like actual Grossdeutschland Tigers (two converted to standard late war configurations from the command variant) that would have taken part in the action that Major von Bock received his Knight's Cross. For me, doing the research and identifying what could be historically accurate and then making educated guesses on the rest was tons of fun. Then creating a diorama even enhances this.
Right now, I have some Mitcharti / Mitcheido conversions being done of ED Panzer III Ls into a couple of 11th Panzer, whitewashed panzers that fought in the River Chir Bend battles rather than reinforce von Manstein's forces trying to relieve Stalingrad. Some of the biggest German tactical victories in ultimately an operation that helps lose the war for them. Again, the research and understanding of what happened is key. They just went through a refit, so they should not be too beat up, but when Balck took over he made some changes so they would have looked different than what most 11th Panzer pictures dictate, etc. Discovering this and then applying it to get something that is as historically accurate as possible is what I love.
I have a Russian painter creating a bunch of Somerled's men based on Nigel Tranter's book about him. Understanding that at that time my ancestors (the Macdonalds and several other clans from the Hebrides) were not wearing kilts and looking like traditional Highlanders, but much more like Gaelic/Celtic influenced Vikings was a very cool discovery. Now I am having that painter create this merry band of pirates adorned in a few plaids, lots of Celtic scroll-work and other things that make them reflect something new I learned. I would not call these historically accurate, but at least my attempt to visualize one possibility of what they looked like and to me that is totally cool.
So, I am primarily a FL collector and secondly I get people who will modify things for a reasonable price. My budget is not huge, so I cannot commission high-end painters who do it for a living.
I like being able to discuss things with Matt P. from FL who is of a like mind. He gets where I am coming from. Two other manufacturers choose a different path so their stuff is not for me. I do pick and choose, as well, but only after my first two priorities.
Lastly, these are my choices and my priorities. I do not try to tell others how to collect or how to enjoy it. Just sharing why I do what I do.
Today, 1/30 is responsible for about half of my spending.
