I know this question a) has probably been asked, but I couldn't seem to find it in the forum search and b) is obviously highly subjective. But every time I've asked a question on this forum I've gotten friendly, informed and helpful answers. It's restoring my faith in socializing over the internet.
(Apologize if this is the wrong forum... and as a newbie, I think I'm going to mangle the use of the terms "line" and "range" a bit...not sure if they are interchangeable)
I've only been in this hobby for about a month, despite a long, long period of drooling over figures I couldn't afford or have room for. I started with modern forces, primarily Figarti backed up by vehicles from Forces of Valor. Wraith and some others were helpful in finding me some opposing forces for my US Marines...I'll have to send a picture.
I moved on to W. Britain's Battle of Yorktown - love the redoubt. And the Rorke's Drift Hospital looked so amazing that I had to own it.
I'm now pondering adding another era/conflict (one more would be all I'd have room for). I've got a new translation of War and Peace on my to-read list, so I might try Napoleonic figures...but given the length of the book and the fact I haven't started it...it might be a while.
But I've always been fascinated by World War I, and I'm thinking I might start there. The question is with who?
My first impulse was to go with Britains out of familiarity. But I thought of King and Country for a few reasons. Their Iraqi Republican Guard figures impressed me quite a bit (as did their Afghan figures...although the latter I can't seem to find ANYWHERE). In my short time, I've also observed (perhaps erroneously), that K&C seems to be the most popular toy soldier company - which leads me to believe they may continue to prosper/expand the line more. Finally, seeing pictures of the March to Paris online made me drool (although it bothers me that the house/courtyard that's displayed with it either is no longer available or never was).
I've not seen many other companies have large lines (although Northwest Frontier, I believe has some nice dioramas). But I'm open to any manufacturer that meets some or all of my criteria.
Anyway, here are my criteria for 54mm/1:32/1:30 Matte WWI figures:
-Quality is an obvious one, but I mention that not to ask whether one of the above is better than the other, just that, as I'm open to any manufacturer
-Expandability - Very important. I want not only a nice range, but to feel confident the range will be expanded regularly. I know in these times it's hard to say that, but just knowing plans for the next year or so would help.
-To some extent, compatibility with other manufacturers. That might rule out King and Country (although I was pleasantly surprised at how close they were to Figarti Marines in scale with the Iraqis...hard to tell the difference).
-The bigger the companies line, the less I'd worry about future expansion.
-On the other hand - availability is a factor. If a company has a large line but it's mostly retired and/or impossible to find (case in point: King and Country's Afghanistan line - if anyone knows where I can find Bin Laden's cave etc. I'd love to know) - I'd care more about future expansion.
-Finally - I like scenes. In both a big and small sense of the word. Like Britain's Closing Stage in the Zulu line.
Or, in a bigger sense, Britain's Redbout #10. I've also been impressed with Figarti's urban battlefield, checkpoint etc. With little effort, I was able to create a number of scenes using just a few of those elements (helps to have a bookcase the color of sand).
And if any manufacturer made trenchworks as well as W. Britain did with the Redoubt and Rorke's Drift Hospital...they'd probably have me in a heartbeat.
At the end of the day, it may just take looking at the figures in person, which has been hard for me to do until now (although attending the West Coast show is in the works for me)
Sorry for such a long post, but if any WWI collectors have any thoughts, or links to threads where questions have been answered, I'd greatly appreciate them.
(Apologize if this is the wrong forum... and as a newbie, I think I'm going to mangle the use of the terms "line" and "range" a bit...not sure if they are interchangeable)
I've only been in this hobby for about a month, despite a long, long period of drooling over figures I couldn't afford or have room for. I started with modern forces, primarily Figarti backed up by vehicles from Forces of Valor. Wraith and some others were helpful in finding me some opposing forces for my US Marines...I'll have to send a picture.
I moved on to W. Britain's Battle of Yorktown - love the redoubt. And the Rorke's Drift Hospital looked so amazing that I had to own it.
I'm now pondering adding another era/conflict (one more would be all I'd have room for). I've got a new translation of War and Peace on my to-read list, so I might try Napoleonic figures...but given the length of the book and the fact I haven't started it...it might be a while.
But I've always been fascinated by World War I, and I'm thinking I might start there. The question is with who?
My first impulse was to go with Britains out of familiarity. But I thought of King and Country for a few reasons. Their Iraqi Republican Guard figures impressed me quite a bit (as did their Afghan figures...although the latter I can't seem to find ANYWHERE). In my short time, I've also observed (perhaps erroneously), that K&C seems to be the most popular toy soldier company - which leads me to believe they may continue to prosper/expand the line more. Finally, seeing pictures of the March to Paris online made me drool (although it bothers me that the house/courtyard that's displayed with it either is no longer available or never was).
I've not seen many other companies have large lines (although Northwest Frontier, I believe has some nice dioramas). But I'm open to any manufacturer that meets some or all of my criteria.
Anyway, here are my criteria for 54mm/1:32/1:30 Matte WWI figures:
-Quality is an obvious one, but I mention that not to ask whether one of the above is better than the other, just that, as I'm open to any manufacturer
-Expandability - Very important. I want not only a nice range, but to feel confident the range will be expanded regularly. I know in these times it's hard to say that, but just knowing plans for the next year or so would help.
-To some extent, compatibility with other manufacturers. That might rule out King and Country (although I was pleasantly surprised at how close they were to Figarti Marines in scale with the Iraqis...hard to tell the difference).
-The bigger the companies line, the less I'd worry about future expansion.
-On the other hand - availability is a factor. If a company has a large line but it's mostly retired and/or impossible to find (case in point: King and Country's Afghanistan line - if anyone knows where I can find Bin Laden's cave etc. I'd love to know) - I'd care more about future expansion.
-Finally - I like scenes. In both a big and small sense of the word. Like Britain's Closing Stage in the Zulu line.
Or, in a bigger sense, Britain's Redbout #10. I've also been impressed with Figarti's urban battlefield, checkpoint etc. With little effort, I was able to create a number of scenes using just a few of those elements (helps to have a bookcase the color of sand).
And if any manufacturer made trenchworks as well as W. Britain did with the Redoubt and Rorke's Drift Hospital...they'd probably have me in a heartbeat.
At the end of the day, it may just take looking at the figures in person, which has been hard for me to do until now (although attending the West Coast show is in the works for me)
Sorry for such a long post, but if any WWI collectors have any thoughts, or links to threads where questions have been answered, I'd greatly appreciate them.
