Britains Ltd New Plastic ranges (1 Viewer)

[Jay]

I think this comment shows the patronising and dismissive attitude shown towards plastic figure collectors in general.

I'm not sure what you mean, though ask plastic makers about this. If people would buy them they'd make them. That is as true fror Britain as any other maker out there. King and Country looked into plastic. Apparently they decided there was no money in it because that idea was dropped. There are not millions of people buying plastic toy soldiers anymore. There are not even thousands. Why should any company making thousands of issues of a set of figures or playset if 90% are going to sit in the warehouse? Here's a fact for you: there aren't many buyers there. At all. Have you been to toy soldier shows? What's the average age? 50? You don't see bus loads of kids going there. It's all older guys. And, sometimes older guys who have money, hence the metal stuff which is more a collectible.
You seem to have lots of opinions of whats wrong with Britains and plastic makers; go start your company and make any and all the figures you want. Come back here next year and tell us how many millions of dollars or pounds you made selling plastic figures, then we can talk.

 

[ericpodeofcroydon]

Steve Weston's Figures, Armies in Plastic,Barszo, Replicants , DSG of Argentina ( reissue / repaints of original Deetail ranges, 6 sets of completely new designed and painted figures),for the collector and hobbyist. Papo, Plastoy, Schleich, Eppix, Supreme, sold in toyshops for example.
Britains still has a name in the Toy Trade and the Britains farm range is still a big seller. RC could get painted figures back in thr toy shops.
You have also put your finger on the most salient point, if there are no kids buying them as toys to play with from the shops eventually there will be no collectors buying them as adults. Look at the hollow cast collectors, literally a dying section of the hobby. Seeing hardly any children at these shows point to the way it could eventually go
And believe me if I had the spare cash I certainly would.

 

[thebritfarmer]

You do realize Britains is split into two companies. The Britains farm range by RC/Learning Curve or whatever it is called now is nothing to write home about The customer service end of their department is appalling!!

Maybe with all the companies you mentioned producing product Richard feels the market is now saturated? The range they carry is about similar to what was on offer when I was a kid give or take a few sets.

 

[ericpodeofcroydon]

You do realize Britains is split into two companies. The Britains farm range by RC/Learning Curve or whatever it is called now is nothing to write home about The customer service end of their department is appalling!!

Maybe with all the companies you mentioned producing product Richard feels the market is now saturated? The range they carry is about similar to what was on offer when I was a kid give or take a few sets.

Yes I know that and I don't think any one knows what Mr Walker thinks, maybe he should tell us him self ?

 

[Jay]

Yes I know that and I don't think any one knows what Mr Walker thinks, maybe he should tell us him self ?

I think he has. As it is, they still have some figures and sets. It could very well be that these account for a very small percentage of their sales and/or profits. If it it was worth it, or profitable, no doubt he'd expand the line. He's a sharp businessman, but, his job is to make money for the company, not keep every collector happy. Like those who post here on the plastic link, I'd like to see different new things, but how much stuff does one need? I''m glad with what is out there. Remember, 20 years ago almost nothing new existed. 20 years from now those companies could be gone again.

 

[PlasticWarriorFounder]

Hello
I have been pointed to this forum by several collectors who told me that I might find it of interest...
You certainly have a livey debate going on here!
I have met Richard Walker on several occasions and I must say that I have alwayd found him to be a friendly and affable chap with a commitment to the hobby.
One observation that I will make is in reply to the statement "Richard Walker is about the best thing to happen to that company in 50 years."
In my opinion the best thing to happen to Britains in 50 years was Roy Selwyn smith.
Britains hollowcast figures were very standardised representations of people in rather stiff set poses. After WW2 Timpo came along with dynamic individual figures in action poses designed by Roy.
As it was said at the time ' Britains with the toys for the sons of Generals, Timpo were for the sons of Sergeants'
After Britains bought Herald Roy brought his individual style to the ranges, apart from the 'Eyes Right' series, desgined by George Ford who designed the later hollowcast ranges.
Likewise the technical inovation of the 'Swoppet' series cannot be dismissed.
Each figure became an individual character rather than a piece of a unit best seen en masse.
The figures that WBritains now produce are in the tradition of Herald, action poses, good detail and painting.
Therefore I would suggest that rather than maintaining the tradition of Britains Ltd, WBritains is celebrating the tradition of Herald.
With best wishes

Peter Evans
Co Founder 'Plastic Warrior'

 

[thebritfarmer]

Welcome Peter and it is good to have a new member weigh in with his views on the subject.

 

[Jay]

Hello
I have been pointed to this forum by several collectors who told me that I might find it of interest...
You certainly have a livey debate going on here!
I have met Richard Walker on several occasions and I must say that I have alwayd found him to be a friendly and affable chap with a commitment to the hobby.
One observation that I will make is in reply to the statement "Richard Walker is about the best thing to happen to that company in 50 years."
In my opinion the best thing to happen to Britains in 50 years was Roy Selwyn smith.
Britains hollowcast figures were very standardised representations of people in rather stiff set poses. After WW2 Timpo came along with dynamic individual figures in action poses designed by Roy.
As it was said at the time ' Britains with the toys for the sons of Generals, Timpo were for the sons of Sergeants'
After Britains bought Herald Roy brought his individual style to the ranges, apart from the 'Eyes Right' series, desgined by George Ford who designed the later hollowcast ranges.
Likewise the technical inovation of the 'Swoppet' series cannot be dismissed.
Each figure became an individual character rather than a piece of a unit best seen en masse.
The figures that WBritains now produce are in the tradition of Herald, action poses, good detail and painting.
Therefore I would suggest that rather than maintaining the tradition of Britains Ltd, WBritains is celebrating the tradition of Herald.
With best wishes

Peter Evans
Co Founder 'Plastic Warrior'

Peter, you make excellent points. I do think Richard Walker deserves credit for the work he has done in revitalizing the company, but I do agree with you that he was not the only one to have major impact on the company in the last 50 or 60 years.

 

[thebritfarmer]

Peter, you make excellent points. I do think Richard Walker deserves credit for the work he has done in revitalizing the company, but I do agree with you that he was not the only one to have major impact on the company in the last 50 or 60 years.

He definitely has had the biggest impact in the last 20 years though !!

 

[Ragnar]

Hat Industrie must have the secret formula for makeing money on plastics as they seem to pump out more sets then most metal makers

 

[9thHussar]

Hi Peter

welcome to the forum - your knowledge about plastics is well know in the UK - Plastic Warrior etc.. I have got the old copies

Most treefrog bloggers into plastics are hoping fror new Deetail Figures and thrive on any inside info on future plans etc...

I think that hat industrie will lead the field from now on

9thHussar
Dave Morris

 

[thebritfarmer]

Looks like 2012 will see some new stuff added to the range guys, will have to wait for the catalogue to find out what though.

 

[Mike Blake]

I would not get your hopes up too high... I am afraid there will be no new figures as such. My understanding of WB's view is that the tooling costs would be too high to justify them commercially. What is coming are some improved paint jobs and some scenic items.

 

[Angusprune]

I think the best comment on this subject is from Peter Evans in the latest edition of PLASTIC WARRIOR (by the way I think anyone who seriously collects plastics should read this article - it gets it all right and makes many important points)
Re WBritains bringing out new plastic ranges Peter writes:
"It can be said that WBritains are looking at considering thinking about the possibility of sometime at some point in the future contemplating examining the feasibility of perhaps investigating the probable production of new plastic ranges"

I think that just about says it all

 

[NY Collector]

He definitely has had the biggest impact in the last 20 years though !!

Wasn't he involved with Conte early on ?

 

[thebritfarmer]

I think that was Ken Osen that did work for Conte.

 

[NY Collector]

I think that was Ken Osen that did work for Conte.

Before my time but I had heard he helped manage the company for Conte.

 

[Jay]

Before my time but I had heard he helped manage the company for Conte.

Richard Walker was with Conte when they first went into business but they parted ways fairly early on. I'm thinking he may have been there about a year, give or take a month or two. I have never heard why they parted ways.