Andy Neilson in Italy 2012 (1 Viewer)

[RISORGIMENTO]

Last weekend Italy had the great pleasure to host the K&C’s Creative Director and Cofounder Andy Neilson.

During the event, organized in Carpi by the Italian distributor Saimex, Andy unveiled the new sets relating to the WWII Italian Army which will be released in early 2013. These are twelve superb figures of the famous Colonial Italian troops named Ascari, eleven native soldiers and one Italian Officer. With them Andy also showed a new Carabiniere in motorbike.

The new sets of the Little Bighorn collection were also on display on the table of our welcome guest.

Asap I will post some Andy’s answers to the many questions addressed to him, mainly of interest to Italian collectors of course. I took a lot of notes but I will not write wrong things because of my English.

Before flying to Paris (and then to London) Andy attended at a Toy Soldier meeting in Florence where many collectors were able to look up to their news.

Some pictures follow,
Cheers
Carlo (the man who shakes hands with Andy)

 

[jazzeum]

Thanks for the report and the photo. I'm sure that it was a great time, especially for the collectors.

The troops look very nice.

Brad

 

[mikemiller1955]

Carlo...looks like you were having a nice time...thanks for sharing the photos...

 

[Dragoon]

Thanks for posting the info. & pictures Carlo.
The Ascari figures look quite impressive, nicely sculpted with good action. Nice to see something different.
I have to say I really like how the new Little Bighorn/Greasy Grass series is shaping up. Seeing additional figures beyond those of the initial release has hooked me. From what I can see, the figures look pretty accurate historically. I'm happy to see that K&C is NOT going down the Hollywood route with this series -Good for you, Andy.
Looking forward to see how K&C portrays the Cheyenne & Lakota. - Hoka Hey!

 

[Guy]

Carlo, you lucky devil . Thanks for posting . I love the new italian- colonial troops ,very good add on for the desert dios !!!
guy

 

[Mitch]

Interesting new ranges seem on the horizon
Mitch

 

[Rob]

Thanks for posting this Carlo. All looks very good, I do like the new Custer figures{bravo}}

Rob

 

[PanzerAce1944]

Nice post, Thanks for sharing with us ! Looking forward to your reply with some info as you had mentioned :wink2:

 

[villagehorse]

Well this all bodes well for the upcoming London show, what a great job Andy has. Nothing not to like in these latest releases including the desert structure. What a great hobby I find myself in, plenty to feed my addiction. Very nice of you to share these exciting photo's Carlo, cheers, Robin.

 

[wwiibuff]

Thanks for the post and update.

 

[ROUGH RIDER]

Thought I already all the Italians I wanted now here comes more. That's Ok never to many troops in Africa. Would like to see some Italian transport. Thanks for the pictures.

 

[MapleLeaf]

Thanks for info and picture my freind

 

[villagehorse]

Preparing for Custer, Cheers, Robin.

 

[HistoryfortheAges]

The Little Big Horn figures are looking very, very good! I agree with a prior post, historical accuracy is much better than any hollywood rendition in miniature. As much as I admired Rod Steiger's Napoleon and Christopher Plummer's Wellington, the miniature versions must represent the actual historical persona for me to be interested in collecting the figures.

I already have Custer on order. May pick-up several more for a nice diorama of Custer Hill. Can't wait to see the Sioux and Cheyenne figures for this series. {bravo}}

 

[wayne556517]

Thanks for the heads up mate,this is a must have.

 

[cantinetozzo]

Very nice figures..curious figure the ascar carrying the other one on the shoulders..

 

[villagehorse]

Very nice figures..curious figure the ascar carrying the other one on the shoulders..

agree, it's not as if he has gained much height for seeing, guessing he is plain lazy and intends to ride out the war. cheers, Robin.

 

[cantinetozzo]

Here a site where you can found good images of Ascari..
http://blog.libero.it/wrnzla/8847355.html

 

[Iron Brigade]

At last, additions to "THE WEST" (Custer's Last Stand) series started in I believe 1998. Ah, these additions are way too long in coming!
"Iron Brigade"

 

[RISORGIMENTO]

As promised I report here the answers given by Andy to the collectors present in Carpi, of course I have summarized many topics. Hoping to be helpful to all the TF friends I apologize for my English and for any unintentional inaccuracies.
Cheers
Carlo

What you can tell us about the prices increase?

That is due to the rise in wages of Chinese workers, the increase of raw materials and transportation. By its own K&C decided to increase the already high quality of the products rather than lower it and still keep the prices. Despite this the profit margins have been reduced.

What’s the chance to have raw figures to paint?

An outside chance because from a market survey carried near our distributors they say that there is no demand for such a product.

What about a collection on the Napoleon Coronation?

Not at the moment because the two current collections, Waterloo and Egypt, are still growing and there is no place for a third series.

What about a collection on the Russian Revolution and Czar Nicholas?

It is an interesting subject may be to develop in the future, the Russian market is still quite closed.

What news about dioramas?

Very important news is planned for 2013, also for the Napoleonic period but which may be used for other ages too as usual.

What news about the Ancient Egypt collection?

The series is moving towards the Nile and are scheduled various types of vessels, such as fishing boats or shipping in general, animals like hippos etc. probably from February 2013.

Why you do not produce the Ancient Egypt Army?

This series was scheduled as a non-combatant collection like the ‘Streets of the Old Hong Kong’ collection. Both are much loved by women who prefer non military subjects.

What about a collection concerning the Ancient Rome?

The period is interesting and would be a very popular series, the story of the life of the ancient Romans, civil characters, personalities and buildings of the era, really could be a future release.

…and about a Foreign Legion?

This is also an interesting series but not for 2013. We have five factories in China working for K&C in full steam and their work has been planned until October 2013. To start a new series means to remove sets from existing collections. We have to make a choice for what will be most successful.

Many collectors ask about Vietnam or Iraq series.

Yes I know, but our instinct tells us that these series would not be very popular as it is the Second World War or other. World War II is the most popular collection and the German soldiers and vehicles in it.
We will give soon a strong boost to the First World War and in this context there will be a place for the Italian Alpini soldiers.

Something about the Western period?

Next year we will produce eight new miniatures taken from the John Ford movies (Fort Apache, She wore a yellow ribbon, Rio Grande etc). The first four will be shown next May in S. Antonio at the Texas Toy Soldier Show.

Do you have plans to release books on the K&C history?

Yes, next year will begin publishing a series of books on the K&C history, the first volume will be devoted to dioramas.
2013 will be the thirtieth anniversary of K&C, our greatest desire would be to create a multi-purpose center consisting of a shop, a museum and a coffee shop.

(I enclose the original K&C picture relating the Ascari)