are K&C WWII troops heavy-footed (1 Viewer)

[redhugh]

Tongue in cheek, but do the WWII troops need to pick up the pace, they are always sauntering or running at a half trot when they are not sitting ,lying or kneeling or standing still.
In the last AK release Andy even pulled up a bench for AK44/45

Do we need more troops running like their lives depended on it

 

[oberstoskar]

I agree, K&C figures, including both resting and fighting soldiers, generally have stiff postures. I am not a big fan of figures in gungho/action hero styles either. But I wish to see some more lively poses.

I recently looked up Alexanders Toys Soldiers website, some of their napoleonics have awesome expressions and their compositions look very realistic (although the molding and paintwork is inferior to K&C). I guess references from classic paintings have much more animated poses.

On the other hand, I have a feeling that K&C WWII has a lot of references to illustrations from Ospery books. The soldiers depicted in their drawings are usually just standing stiffly.

These are the K&C releases that I think with Sloppy Designs:

WWI Germans/British (lots of resembalances to French Grenadier guards)
Coldstream guards (I know it is marketed to build squares, but the lack of variety of poses just disappoints me)
To-be-released Afrika Korps foot soldiers

These are the better releases with animated postures:
French cuirassiers
Tunisia Tiger tank crew
To-be released AK Panzer IV crew

BTW, the Crete FJs bear much ressembalance to Dragon Models 1/35 figures!
And if you notice the earlier K&C WWII (the glossy ones) look a lot like Tamiya 1/35 plastic kits!

I hope K&C will live up to their motto of every toy solider tells a story (something like that).

oo

 

[Louis Badolato]

And if you notice the earlier K&C WWII (the glossy ones) look a lot like Tamiya 1/35 plastic kits!

oo

Actually, they bear a striking resemblance to Airfix 1:32 scale figures (as well they should, since they are copies of them)!

 

[Wraith]

Actually, they bear a striking resemblance to Airfix 1:32 scale figures (as well they should, since they are copies of them)!

Come, come Louis,
'Copies' can be such an expensive word.
How about 'Inspired by...'

 

[panda1gen]

Come, come Louis,
'Copies' can be such an expensive word.
How about 'Inspired by...'

Who can discover the truth?

 

[redhugh]

Actually, they bear a striking resemblance to Airfix 1:32 scale figures (as well they should, since they are copies of them)!

I would say the K&C range of Germans has a lot more in common with Lineol rather than Airfix/matchbox as regards poses, but there are one or two sets that have probably been 'enkindled' by them.
I guess there are only so many poses possible, and what I like about K&C is the mixture of familiar and novel poses. As regards further novel poses , I would like probably a few 'gungho/action hero styles' just to add to the mix.

 

[Louis Badolato]

I would say the K&C range of Germans has a lot more in common with Lineol rather than Airfix/matchbox as regards poses, but there are one or two sets that have probably been 'enkindled' by them.
I guess there are only so many poses possible, and what I like about K&C is the mixture of familiar and novel poses. As regards further novel poses , I would like probably a few 'gungho/action hero styles' just to add to the mix.

Redhugh,

I was talking about WSS01-WSS05 and USP1-USP2 (the early glossy 82nd airborne), which are exact duplicates of Airfix 1:32 scale figures. The rest may very well be inspired by Lineol.

 

[redhugh]

I think they are a mixture of matchbox and airfix, for example the machine gunners are airfix in ws01 (legs crossed instead of apart) but the stick grenade thrower in ws02 is matchbox (grenade held high). The grenade thrower in ws17 (grenade held lower_ is airfix though.
Did K&C ever redo the lying machine gunners in WS01 in that particular pose, its a classic

 

[oberstoskar]

What i look forward from K&C is this kind of lively non-combat poses

http://www.exter-company.com/de/VL2107/deutsche-panzersoldaten-beim-umkleiden-1942.html

 

[jazzeum]

I found redhugh's post rather funny but the complaints I hear, time after time, ad infinitum, about how this figure is this or how that figure is that gets rather tiring after awhile. Maybe it's because I've been a member here almost from the beginning and have seen umpteen similar threads but there are scores of K & C figures that have great action poses.

Andy would probably want to strangle me for saying this (sorry Andy) but if you don't like a particular type of figure don't buy it as there seem to be more than enough figures to go around these days to satisfy everyone's tastes.

 

[oberstoskar]

the thing is that if someone would like to collect a specific period of history with specific uniform type but turned out the figures are substandard...

 

[jazzeum]

the thing is that if someone would like to collect a specific period of history with specific uniform type but turned out the figures are substandard...

If they're so bad you don't have to buy them.

 

[nmrocks]

the thing is that if someone would like to collect a specific period of history with specific uniform type but turned out the figures are substandard...

To Call figures "Substandard" implies there's some better choice or higher "Standard", if there is please advise me because I've never seen them.
K&C are the best WWII figures bar none at any cost, they are the Standard by which all WWII figures are measured because of that fact.
Other periods are very debatable but, WWII is at this point indisputable.
Ray

 

[steel wheels]

I agree totally! When I compare my WW-2 K&C figures to my Britains, Honour Bound, Figarti and Frontline soldiers, The better detail on the K&C figures, is quite evident. Especially the tank crews. The tank commander on my K&C sherman 105mm howitzer, is one great looking tough SOB! But the other guys still make nice figures as well. I love the figarti desert series, which displays very nicely with those jeeps and honey's.

 

[OzDigger]

I do like most of the K & C WWII figures although they do seem a bit chunky to me. K & C always seem to hog the limelight because of their wide dealer network but imo the latest Figarti figures are better than K & C and don't forget Patriot.

K & C seem to have forgoten about the Wehrmacht troops lately and this Patriot set is great value at $55 imo.

As for the heavy footed arguement, imo you need a mix of poses to keep collector interest. I have very few firing figures because I prefer smaller dios with one or two vehicles and a few soldiers eating, doing maintenance etc. Afterall actual fighting was a small percentage of a soldiers life in most cases, and not always the part that got you killed.

 

[nmrocks]

Patriot has the potential to be the equal of K&C imo, however they seem to have a problem with there proportions in there figures.
the set you show was great except for the noticably small heads and from what I've seen in pictures the new winter Nebelwerfer figures have the same issue, I don't get it?
Ray

 

[OzDigger]

The Patriot heads look ok to me Ray, maybe you are to used to the boof-headed K & C troops

 

[redhugh]

Patriot has the potential to be the equal of K&C imo, however they seem to have a problem with there proportions in there figures.
the set you show was great except for the noticably small heads and from what I've seen in pictures the new winter Nebelwerfer figures have the same issue, I don't get it?
Ray

I think that's more of a style issue, I think the patriot heads aren't disproportionate , but they are smaller proportionally than the K&C heads.
I think on another thread it was pointed out that the K&C heads are larger proportionally which probably allows for more detailed facial features. So rather than the Patriot heads being 'small' its probable that the 'K&C' heads are 'big'. More a difference in style rather than one or other being incorrect.

No sitting around for these guys

 

[nmrocks]

Really? you guys think the K&C heads are too large? I think there pretty well proportioned, but looking at Patriot set W2set1, you look at how tall the figures are and broad shouldered, but the head just doesn't fit the body unless there are somekind of Arian Vunder troops.
I love the posing and the painting is as good as any K&C.
I don't know but it caught my eye immediatly upon opening the box.
I've even thought about doing a head transplant!
Ray

 

[Harrytheheid]

Really? you guys think the K&C heads are too large? I think there pretty well proportioned, but looking at Patriot set W2set1, you look at how tall the figures are and broad shouldered, but the head just doesn't fit the body unless there are somekind of Arian Vunder troops.
I love the posing and the painting is as good as any K&C.
I don't know but it caught my eye immediatly upon opening the box.
I've even thought about doing a head transplant!
Ray

I agree with you here Ray. I have this Patriot set and its very well done, except the heads look like they've been subjected to the Shrink Ray Gun.
Cheers
H