Obee
Captain
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2009
- Messages
- 5,965
Last night (Sunday 14th) a small group of Western Australian collectors were able to enjoy the pleasant company of Andy Nielsen who payed us a unscheduled visit at the conclusion of his whirlwind tour ‘Down Under.
A few weeks back Brett Williams informed me that his he and his wife would be visiting friends after Andy’s east coast tour and he’d like to meet with some of his customers for an informal get together. As I’m the co-ordinator for a local group of toy soldiers I put the word out and got a favourable response from those who had the night free and with the assistance of Wayne, booked the Wardroom at a local yacht club for dinner and waited for the night to arrive.
Unknown to us, Brett must have put some gentle persuasion on Andy, and he managed to change his flight from Sydney to Hong Kong to come via Perth for the night and so we our own local K&C ‘Meet and Greet’ the collectors here on the West Coast.
After introductions around the bar, and quenching of thirsts, we adjourned for dinner, and a casual discussion commenced before Andy presented his comments about the company, past present and future, and then threw open the floor for questions.
It was very interesting hearing about the making process, sculpting, and painting of the figures, and also the current economic situation with the workers in China and the resultant price increase that must be passed on. We all agreed that the standard of the figures and vehicles are so much better that earlier ones, due to changes in methods in sculpting and artistry of the painters, but who know how things will change in the next 5 years.
Andy told us of his plans for a cheaper range of figures, which I think will be great to encourage more into the hobby, and will be wonderful for those who want massed ranks of his figures, but can’t afford to pay for the current range. They will be to the same sculpting standard, possible a resin material, and a lower painting detail, and sold in packs or maybe 5. I asked for Napoleonics to be considered!
I don’t think there was anything new that hadn’t been mentioned from the Brisbane dinner, but I was very pleased to hear that the future from Napoleon in Egypt would be figures in action, and a new British cavalry regiment for the Battle of Waterloo, sorry no idea what regiment it will be?
On display were the same figures that he showed in Brisbane and Sydney, the new British Commandos, WW1 Turkish Staff Car, masters of the Lighthorse, including camel ambulance and (my favourite) the new 25 Pounder QF Field Gun, Limber and Quad.
We were all very impressed with the Commandos, and Wayne just loved the Germans (of course) even though they were on the receiving end of some ‘cold steel’. I think he may even slip away from Field Grey into khaki and face camouflage to get a set of them, so watch out for some his clever dioramas based around a Luftwaffe airfield some time??
It was pleasing to hear from Andy that the repaint of the Kaiser’s Staff car (FW013) I did for Howard last year was the impetus for him making this new Turkish WW1 vehicle. He mentioned that there would be a standing Turkish Officer to go with the car, so look out for him, and I think adding Ataturk (AL025) will make a great vignette.
The grey master figures of the Lighthorse really showed us the skill of the sculpting coming out from K&C, especially the horses and camel so I’m also waiting to see the painted figures when they are released.
Of course my favourite of the night was the new 25 Pounder QF Field Gun, Limber and Quad and seeing it ‘in the flesh’ made me realise what a fine reproduction in miniature had been achieved with this gun. I served on this gun in the 1970’s and so have a personal interest in it. There were a few items of concern that I mentioned to Andy when he first showed images on the set, but they have been remedied for this production, and I really appreciate him taking the time to accept my positive criticism and act upon it…. Well done !!
He did comment that this gun will be coming out again in other WW2 series, with modified crews, so North African collectors will be well and truly satisfied with those outcomes.
So that’s my report from the inaugural ‘West Coaster (of Australia) Andy Down Under’ visit, and on behalf of all of the attendants like to thank him sincerely for taking time out of his busy schedule to include us, and for Brett for his encouragement and support to the collectors in Western Australia.
One thing I did manage, with some pre-planning, was to hijack Andy, Gerelou and Brett to come back to my place,( 5 mins away and thanks for driving then Joe) for ‘review of my troops’ before heading back into Perth. Andy recognised some of his figures in my cabinet, (NAPs of course) and was impressed with the other 3 cabinets most of which I have painted myself. They were also give the ‘royal treatment’ and also inspected my workshop, where Andy suggested I train an apprentice to help out with all the projects lined up, but that’s for my immanent retirement.
Andy, I hope to see you in our part of the world some other time, or when next we are in Hong Kong, or any other toy soldier gathering.
Kind regards,
John
A few weeks back Brett Williams informed me that his he and his wife would be visiting friends after Andy’s east coast tour and he’d like to meet with some of his customers for an informal get together. As I’m the co-ordinator for a local group of toy soldiers I put the word out and got a favourable response from those who had the night free and with the assistance of Wayne, booked the Wardroom at a local yacht club for dinner and waited for the night to arrive.
Unknown to us, Brett must have put some gentle persuasion on Andy, and he managed to change his flight from Sydney to Hong Kong to come via Perth for the night and so we our own local K&C ‘Meet and Greet’ the collectors here on the West Coast.
After introductions around the bar, and quenching of thirsts, we adjourned for dinner, and a casual discussion commenced before Andy presented his comments about the company, past present and future, and then threw open the floor for questions.
It was very interesting hearing about the making process, sculpting, and painting of the figures, and also the current economic situation with the workers in China and the resultant price increase that must be passed on. We all agreed that the standard of the figures and vehicles are so much better that earlier ones, due to changes in methods in sculpting and artistry of the painters, but who know how things will change in the next 5 years.
Andy told us of his plans for a cheaper range of figures, which I think will be great to encourage more into the hobby, and will be wonderful for those who want massed ranks of his figures, but can’t afford to pay for the current range. They will be to the same sculpting standard, possible a resin material, and a lower painting detail, and sold in packs or maybe 5. I asked for Napoleonics to be considered!
I don’t think there was anything new that hadn’t been mentioned from the Brisbane dinner, but I was very pleased to hear that the future from Napoleon in Egypt would be figures in action, and a new British cavalry regiment for the Battle of Waterloo, sorry no idea what regiment it will be?
On display were the same figures that he showed in Brisbane and Sydney, the new British Commandos, WW1 Turkish Staff Car, masters of the Lighthorse, including camel ambulance and (my favourite) the new 25 Pounder QF Field Gun, Limber and Quad.
We were all very impressed with the Commandos, and Wayne just loved the Germans (of course) even though they were on the receiving end of some ‘cold steel’. I think he may even slip away from Field Grey into khaki and face camouflage to get a set of them, so watch out for some his clever dioramas based around a Luftwaffe airfield some time??
It was pleasing to hear from Andy that the repaint of the Kaiser’s Staff car (FW013) I did for Howard last year was the impetus for him making this new Turkish WW1 vehicle. He mentioned that there would be a standing Turkish Officer to go with the car, so look out for him, and I think adding Ataturk (AL025) will make a great vignette.
The grey master figures of the Lighthorse really showed us the skill of the sculpting coming out from K&C, especially the horses and camel so I’m also waiting to see the painted figures when they are released.
Of course my favourite of the night was the new 25 Pounder QF Field Gun, Limber and Quad and seeing it ‘in the flesh’ made me realise what a fine reproduction in miniature had been achieved with this gun. I served on this gun in the 1970’s and so have a personal interest in it. There were a few items of concern that I mentioned to Andy when he first showed images on the set, but they have been remedied for this production, and I really appreciate him taking the time to accept my positive criticism and act upon it…. Well done !!
He did comment that this gun will be coming out again in other WW2 series, with modified crews, so North African collectors will be well and truly satisfied with those outcomes.
So that’s my report from the inaugural ‘West Coaster (of Australia) Andy Down Under’ visit, and on behalf of all of the attendants like to thank him sincerely for taking time out of his busy schedule to include us, and for Brett for his encouragement and support to the collectors in Western Australia.
One thing I did manage, with some pre-planning, was to hijack Andy, Gerelou and Brett to come back to my place,( 5 mins away and thanks for driving then Joe) for ‘review of my troops’ before heading back into Perth. Andy recognised some of his figures in my cabinet, (NAPs of course) and was impressed with the other 3 cabinets most of which I have painted myself. They were also give the ‘royal treatment’ and also inspected my workshop, where Andy suggested I train an apprentice to help out with all the projects lined up, but that’s for my immanent retirement.
Andy, I hope to see you in our part of the world some other time, or when next we are in Hong Kong, or any other toy soldier gathering.
Kind regards,
John
