A question on retiring sets (1 Viewer)

mitch summed it up, i was disappointed that there weren't follow ups.

Now, as for them sitting in store shelves, this brings up a good point. Were they sitting in stores because of people reluctant like me, or was there in fact no interest? It's a what came first question, the chicken or the egg?

This isn't something i complain about, however i mention my stories to illustrate that reading market interest by sales alone may not be painting an accurate picture, at least for new theme figures. I have a lot of hesitation now about new topic pieces, & i may not be alone. I made the wrong call on awi, and thought that those brits would be a core range. I made the right call on crete...as much as i love them, i didn't buy them & now don't regret it. I would have been very unhappy with those few sets.

I also wonder if those early 4 walking dday brits had a similar situation. They lasted on the market forever (maybe still there) and by coincidence, they were loners. They never had a companion set or anything. I didn't get those either & don't regret it. Could it be that others didn't buy them because they were out there all alone?

hi blowtorch, i must say that those 4 walking brits a so fantastic that they and the ss tank riders ws31 are the only sets that i have 4 of. I usually don not even do duplicates [ except the t34/85 and nashhorn]. They just go with so many scenes. As for the crete fj's, i think you can use them for the invasion of the low countries
 
Hawkeye....

I have to say I agree with you. WSS31 is for me probably the best set of figures K&C ever made. absolutely superb in every way from pose to paint style and detail. You have two more than I do.
Mitch

hi blowtorch, i must say that those 4 walking brits a so fantastic that they and the ss tank riders ws31 are the only sets that i have 4 of. I usually don not even do duplicates [ except the t34/85 and nashhorn]. They just go with so many scenes. As for the crete fj's, i think you can use them for the invasion of the low countries
 
Brit Patrol DD64 was very popular which explained why it was around for quite a while.

That's something I hadn't considered...that they were so popular they may have been kept in production longer. Perhaps if I had seen the British Sherman I would have bought them...but I didnt' even know the Sherman existed until I saw it on Ebay one day last year. Was it even marketed in the US?

And I understand the real world practicalities of the business model, & I certainly don't have any offerings for improving it. Like I said it's not a complaint, but a shared observation that the business model of unpredictability may create in seasoned collectors an alternate psychology of avoidance as well.

But as Andy says, at the end of the day it's a win, and I'm extremely grateful for everything that's made, whether I have it or not
 
The British Sherman was sold through Treefrog. However, it didn't come with the certificate. I sold the certificate-less one and got the English version.
 
Hawkeye....

I have to say I agree with you. WSS31 is for me probably the best set of figures K&C ever made. absolutely superb in every way from pose to paint style and detail.

I agree with that too. I bought those up & am quite fond of them.

One area I must reluctantly agree with Andy & Gordon is the unpopularity of early war, such as this & the sets that accompanied it. I am surprised they got left in the dust. The tank is quite popular, but the figs are always flat on Ebay which shows there just isn't much desire for them. Quite sad. Sometimes they don't even sell at the minimum price.

WS041.jpg
For me those sets worked well together so I am quite happey to have them. For the Crete figs, I felt there were some missing links, and didn't feel comfortable with living with the ones produced.
 
I think that the degree of PAIN depends in the line/series or era that you collect.

As an AWI collector, like Cornwallis, I also get dismayed when I see a figure or sets of figures go out of production and become retired.:(

With WWII / WWI (for example) sets there is a smaller chance that you would want "many multiples" of the same figures, since the style of combat was so different and the movement around a battlefield is so different. With the exception of a marching figure, one, possibly two would be the max.

However, with AWI, or FWI a firing line (for example) demands multiple figures of the same positioning. Same with a line of advancing soldiers, rifles down and bayonets fixed and pointed; a dramatic scene … but only if you have a number of figures.

Try to imagine an advancing line of AWI Hessians with two dozen figures then imagine it with only four figures. See my point?

Still I understand Andy’s position and I agree 100%, but it is difficult to manage. --- Larry
 
I think that the degree of PAIN depends in the line/series or era that you collect.

As an AWI collector, like Cornwallis, I also get dismayed when I see a figure or sets of figures go out of production and become retired.:(

With WWII / WWI (for example) sets there is a smaller chance that you would want "many multiples" of the same figures, since the style of combat was so different and the movement around a battlefield is so different. With the exception of a marching figure, one, possibly two would be the max.

However, with AWI, or FWI a firing line (for example) demands multiple figures of the same positioning. Same with a line of advancing soldiers, rifles down and bayonets fixed and pointed; a dramatic scene … but only if you have a number of figures.

Try to imagine an advancing line of AWI Hessians with two dozen figures then imagine it with only four figures. See my point?

Still I understand Andy’s position and I agree 100%, but it is difficult to manage. --- Larry

My solution to this problem is to supplement my K&C AWI pieces with similar figures from Conte & Britains.
 
My solution to this problem is to supplement my K&C AWI pieces with similar figures from Conte & Britains.

Well, that work, buts only to a certain degree. The K&C do not work that well with the Conte and Britains, at least in my view. They work well with each other but the scale and design do not match up with K&C. Now, First Legion sets are a possibility, but there was discussion about that on another thread someplace. --- Larry
 
Well, that work, buts only to a certain degree. The K&C do not work that well with the Conte and Britains, at least in my view. They work well with each other but the scale and design do not match up with K&C. Now, First Legion sets are a possibility, but there was discussion about that on another thread someplace. --- Larry

Hey Larry,I don't think FL would work with K&C, they are different sizes. Myself I think Thomas Gunn would be the best figures to work with K&C. I think Britains WW2 figures have such a different look to them that they wouldn't work well, but thats just my view.:smile2:

Cheers

Rob
 
As regards FL, it's not the size (although I think those differences would be negligible), but the style of painting, which is Connoisseur style. They just won't match.
 
Brad, I don't think they match size wise at all, having compared one with another in London they are obviously of differing size and simply would not work in a scene in which one stood next to another. FL figures are much more slender and thinner than K&C's chunkier style . Now before I am berated as ' Rabid' or ' in denial' here or anywhere else, this is not a criticism of FL in any way at all, merely fact. The two companies figures do not work well together, and there is no reason why they should to be honest, they are different companies and differing sizes.

Rob
 
I think I have seen Spitfrnd post pics on the canadian forum with a mix of FL and other ranges and they seemed to work well in a filled out battle scene both in terms of scale and paint wise. I suppose its down to the collector. I would find it difficult to pose FL with other WWII ranges due to incompatibility in terms of the fact that FL specialises in Stalingrad and everyone else at the moment seems to address later war periods (apart from TG who has a number of sets that could easily fit into the stalingrad theatre).

Rob...

Isn't it strange that we have to almost disclaim statements in case someone takes umbridge as to someone else's comments over a toy soldier design!!!
Mitch

As regards FL, it's not the size (although I think those differences would be negligible), but the style of painting, which is Connoisseur style. They just won't match.
 
sn't it sad that we have to almost disclaim statements in case someone takes umbridge as to someone else's comments over a toy soldier design!!!
Mitch


Like you wouldn't believe Mitch, I can imagine within hours I will be accused of attacking FL, being blind, rabid, in denial etc etc . I am talking strictly about the size of the figures and nothing to do with quality, but no doubt that fact will be lost .

Rob
 
Rob..

I even removed ''sad'' incase someone jumped on it and attacked me with a rattle no, I mean post not rattle... Oh! I give up!!!!
Mitch

sn't it sad that we have to almost disclaim statements in case someone takes umbridge as to someone else's comments over a toy soldier design!!!
Mitch


Like you wouldn't believe Mitch, I can imagine within hours I will be accused of attacking FL, being blind, rabid, in denial etc etc . I am talking strictly about size and nothing to do with quality, but no doubt that fact will be lost .

Rob
 
Rob..

I even removed ''sad'' incase someone jumped on it and attacked me with a rattle no, I mean post not rattle... Oh! I give up!!!!
Mitch

The only reason I never purchased any Stalingrad FL figures when they were released was that I had spent many years and much money building up a substantial collection of one scale and that FL's were clearly of another and so would not match my collection.The painting , weathering, poses were all superb and I've never said anything else. But because I am an enthusiastic collector of K&C these words I've just written mean nothing of course, I place my tin hat on head and head for air raid shelter!:rolleyes2:

Rob
 
K&C russians (i have all of them in multiples including th t34 :) do not match at all in terms of scale, painting and sculpting with fl ones. I Like both kinds and i think the k&c russians, fall of berlin germans and bob americans from a few years ago are the best k&c wwii figures made to date. but they don't fit with fl figures.
i have a huge k&c wwii and naps collection and a big fl naps collection.
i don't display k&c naps with fl ones even though i have dozens of gordons made by fl and k&c... and i like it this way

alex
 
Rob..

I would not sweat it mate. I have bought a few sets and, when I mentioned some of the issues I felt were to be commented upon I thought I had mugged a granny with the response!!!!

I don't think there is anything wrong with sticking to one collection from one manufacturer if thats what your happy with I bet a fair few collections are primarily stocked with K&C.
Mitch

The only reason I never purchased any Stalingrad FL figures when they were released was that I had spent many years and much money building up a substantial collection of one scale and that FL's were clearly of another and so would not match my collection.The painting , weathering, poses were all superb and I've never said anything else. But because I am an enthusiastic collector of K&C these words I've just written mean nothing of course, I place my tin hat on head and head for air raid shelter!:rolleyes2:

Rob
 
Rob..

I would not sweat it mate. I have bought a few sets and, when I mentioned some of the issues I felt were to be commented upon I thought I had mugged a granny with the response!!!!

I don't think there is anything wrong with sticking to one collection from one manufacturer if thats what your happy with I bet a fair few collections are primarily stocked with K&C.
Mitch

No sweat Mitch :wink2:, I have added one NMA set (the Mortar team) and several TG FJ sets and they go very nicely indeed with K&C. Its all down to personal taste though isn't it.

Rob
 
Rob...
I think NMA and TG are perfect matches for K&C. The NMA motar team was a particularly nice set also. Anyway you will be too busy soon to be hunkering down in a shelter as your Typhoon will soon be at your house!!!!
Mitch

No sweat Mitch :wink2:, I have added one NMA set (the Mortar team) and several TG FJ sets and they go very nicely indeed with K&C. Its all down to personal taste though isn't it.

Rob
 
Rob...
I think NMA and TG are perfect matches for K&C. The NMA motar team was a particularly nice set also. Anyway you will be too busy soon to be hunkering down in a shelter as your Typhoon will soon be at your house!!!!
Mitch

Can't wait Mitch!^&cool

I have about four dio plans going round in my head right now, hardly know where to start first!

Rob
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top