Steven Chong
First Sergeant
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2005
- Messages
- 1,365
Before I summarize Andy’s talk, I would like to thank Myszka and Mike Hall of Sierra Toy Soldier for organizing and hosting this event, and Andy for taking the time to talk and answer questions. This is the 9th year that Sierra Toy Soldier has sponsored this event and next year will be the 10th anniversary. It started with a few collectors around tables to become a standing room only event. There will be a special K&C figure commissioned by Sierra to commemorate this and the Hall's asked for suggestions. They have some ideas, but wanted feedback from collectors. There were suggestions with California themes like Pony Express Rider, and I suggested a 1939 Polish Mounted Lancer (the ones that attacked German tanks) due to Myszka's ancestry, though I think a mounted figure with a protruding lance was more than Mike wanted to do.
Andy started by saying that K&C has come a long way and that over the more than 30 years he has made many lifetime friends by visiting dealers and meeting collectors. He spoke of the importance of brick and mortar stores that allowed people to pick up and look at figures since our hobby is a tactile one. You are buying something created by hand so you should touch it, it is more than a picture on the internet. The extra bargain is not equal to the enjoyment of looking and picking at a store so the experience and social aspect is forth the few extra dollars. Shows like the West Coaster are also important and should be visited as an opportunity to meet and talk with manufacturers and fellow collectors.
As for future, K&C typically plans one year ahead and has its production planned, BUT things and tastes change and companies that want to survive have to have the ability to change plans. Please understand when something mentioned for the future is delayed or changed. Andy got 2 to 3 great ideas during this show and will be making a report to the head office when he returns to HK.
Andy then accepted questions:
1. ACW Confederate Leadership like Jefferson Davis and senators? No, ACW is not main focus because there is lots of competition, especially from Britains, which focuses on American market while K&C looks more globally. Currently K&C doing better overseas and needs to do things that have a more global appeal.
2. More constant or current information on production like a Blog as opposed to monthly dispatches? There is competition and does not want them to know K&C's every move, and also wants to avoid broken promises when something talked about or mentioned ultimately is not done. Wants the freedom to change direction.
3. Been collecting K&C for 3 years and any plans to redo old sets that are no longer available? K&C does reuse poses as there are only a set number of ways a soldier can realistically hold a rifle while standing, but it will do a different uniform.
4. Catalog of production with when produced, length of availability, prices, production numbers, etc.? Andy said he would be hard pressed to do this since records of early days were more incomplete than currently.
5. Lettering on vehicles (like name on Free French M-10) historically accurate or whimsical? There is historical picture of FF M-10 but some letter is whimsical. Working with new company that is very flexible with production numbers and can switch production quickly if there is more demand for a particular set of markings.
6. Howard Woods is newest dealer in Australia? Needed a dealer in Melbourne for reasons given at start of talk. The presence of this newest dealer has created new K&C collectors.
7. More plastic in future? Still evaluating KnC Sherman. Vehicles molds are very expensive when compared to plastic figure molds. Have had to retool plastic figures twice to get it right since the first time K&C were not aware of the 5% shrinkage in plastic -- figures did not look right next to existing metal ones.
8. Gordon's book of 50 top dioramas? Aiming for Chicago, thinking of titling it K&C Battlefields: Fifty of the Best From Last Ten Years.
9. Slits in styrofoam packing do not necessarily mean there is an antenna.
10. Bubbletop P-47? No, very large plane and box.
11. Allied Tank Commanders? Yes, plans for US and British 1/2 figures.
12. British Commandos? This line has been very successful. Cockleshell Heroes coming. Another batch planned.
13. LRDG vehicle? Not this year.
14. 2014? 100th anniversary of start of WWI so major interest. Also 70th anniversary of D-Day and Arnhem. Want to do something special for Arnhem since it was first great international success for K&C when it created matt figure market in 1995.
15. Russian WWII stuff? Just a few figures this year.
16. American Hospital like latest German one? Yes, researching.
17. Lawrence of Arabia? Prince Feisal and bodyguards, some more arab figures, will be adding New Zealanders.
18. Arnhelm famous commanders? Yes
19. Turkish train for Lawrence of Arabia? There is actually sample train car in HK office but too expensive and display to large for average collector, and want to do sets that have more commercial appeal.
20. Napoleonic? 2 big releases coming, 8 to 9 French infantry in action poses boxed singly and 8 to 9 British infantry in action poses.
West Coaster Gift Figure was random receipt of one of four currently available Collector Club figures.
Andy started by saying that K&C has come a long way and that over the more than 30 years he has made many lifetime friends by visiting dealers and meeting collectors. He spoke of the importance of brick and mortar stores that allowed people to pick up and look at figures since our hobby is a tactile one. You are buying something created by hand so you should touch it, it is more than a picture on the internet. The extra bargain is not equal to the enjoyment of looking and picking at a store so the experience and social aspect is forth the few extra dollars. Shows like the West Coaster are also important and should be visited as an opportunity to meet and talk with manufacturers and fellow collectors.
As for future, K&C typically plans one year ahead and has its production planned, BUT things and tastes change and companies that want to survive have to have the ability to change plans. Please understand when something mentioned for the future is delayed or changed. Andy got 2 to 3 great ideas during this show and will be making a report to the head office when he returns to HK.
Andy then accepted questions:
1. ACW Confederate Leadership like Jefferson Davis and senators? No, ACW is not main focus because there is lots of competition, especially from Britains, which focuses on American market while K&C looks more globally. Currently K&C doing better overseas and needs to do things that have a more global appeal.
2. More constant or current information on production like a Blog as opposed to monthly dispatches? There is competition and does not want them to know K&C's every move, and also wants to avoid broken promises when something talked about or mentioned ultimately is not done. Wants the freedom to change direction.
3. Been collecting K&C for 3 years and any plans to redo old sets that are no longer available? K&C does reuse poses as there are only a set number of ways a soldier can realistically hold a rifle while standing, but it will do a different uniform.
4. Catalog of production with when produced, length of availability, prices, production numbers, etc.? Andy said he would be hard pressed to do this since records of early days were more incomplete than currently.
5. Lettering on vehicles (like name on Free French M-10) historically accurate or whimsical? There is historical picture of FF M-10 but some letter is whimsical. Working with new company that is very flexible with production numbers and can switch production quickly if there is more demand for a particular set of markings.
6. Howard Woods is newest dealer in Australia? Needed a dealer in Melbourne for reasons given at start of talk. The presence of this newest dealer has created new K&C collectors.
7. More plastic in future? Still evaluating KnC Sherman. Vehicles molds are very expensive when compared to plastic figure molds. Have had to retool plastic figures twice to get it right since the first time K&C were not aware of the 5% shrinkage in plastic -- figures did not look right next to existing metal ones.
8. Gordon's book of 50 top dioramas? Aiming for Chicago, thinking of titling it K&C Battlefields: Fifty of the Best From Last Ten Years.
9. Slits in styrofoam packing do not necessarily mean there is an antenna.
10. Bubbletop P-47? No, very large plane and box.
11. Allied Tank Commanders? Yes, plans for US and British 1/2 figures.
12. British Commandos? This line has been very successful. Cockleshell Heroes coming. Another batch planned.
13. LRDG vehicle? Not this year.
14. 2014? 100th anniversary of start of WWI so major interest. Also 70th anniversary of D-Day and Arnhem. Want to do something special for Arnhem since it was first great international success for K&C when it created matt figure market in 1995.
15. Russian WWII stuff? Just a few figures this year.
16. American Hospital like latest German one? Yes, researching.
17. Lawrence of Arabia? Prince Feisal and bodyguards, some more arab figures, will be adding New Zealanders.
18. Arnhelm famous commanders? Yes
19. Turkish train for Lawrence of Arabia? There is actually sample train car in HK office but too expensive and display to large for average collector, and want to do sets that have more commercial appeal.
20. Napoleonic? 2 big releases coming, 8 to 9 French infantry in action poses boxed singly and 8 to 9 British infantry in action poses.
West Coaster Gift Figure was random receipt of one of four currently available Collector Club figures.
