Conte Mexicans and Ken Osen (1 Viewer)

[Winky]

Anybody have any info on what happened to Conte's Mexicans? Last I heard on this board from Ken Osen they were still in China, but that was some time ago. Ken, would you have any idea when they might be ready?

Dick

 

[Fubar]

Winky, I got a heads up they would be hitting the docks in about a week, the container vessal having departed the East last week.
Available sometime late August. No idea on the prices. Supposed to be Playset 6 and 7, and 8 carded blister sets.
Nice bridge Dick, Are you going to the big Show In Chicago????
Harold
FUBAR

 

[Winky]

Hey, Fubar, good to hear from you! Absolutely I'll be going to the Chicago show. There's another thread on this board listing everybody who's planning on attending. Looks like quite a list from Treefrog.

Hilarious to hear about the end of August schedule. Everytime I've called Conte's, beginning many months ago, the Mexicans were always about 6 weeks away. Let's hope it really happens this time! The figures look great and the buildings spectacular.

Dick

 

[Fubar]

Winky, Of course you're going, I already answered that roll! Duh.

Yeah , I know what you mean about the Conte thing. This times it's for real I assure you.All the years I worked the docks in Portland, thousands of containers I lashed or drove under the gear, and there was never one that I knew of that sooooo many people were interested in!!!

Too bad it's coming in at Long Beach CA. Too far to drive to take a job out of the Hall there and get aboard ship!

fubar

 

[gk5717]

When the Mexicans don,t show up again, I,m sure the excuse this time will be that the boat they were on was torpedoed by a Jap submarine that did not know WW2 was over.
But Conte will respond that another boat full of Mexicans will be arriving in SIX WEEKS.
Gary

 

[Winky]

VERY funny, Gary. Wish my Jap troops were that dedicated. They're good, but not that good.

 

[Fubar]

Funny, I don't recall Conte ever saying when they were to be available, up until now.The people that work the phones for Conte, nice as they are , do not know any better than you or me.
They will claim somethings in the works, maybe even give you some teaser images.But they don't announce availability until the items have cleared customs and arrive at their warehouse.At least thats what I have observed.
I'm still hoping to see their 1066 Hastings playset.Someday.I can wait.
FUBAR

 

[gk5717]

Fubar, don,t you remember Conte saying that the sets should be ready for Christmas 04, if not then by January. I believe it was in a newsletter or R. Conte posted it on the Marx Board.
He was responding to people complimenting Barzo on his buildings and that they worked well as Alamo buildings.
Myself and Winky have been guessing the release date since about November of 04. I told Winky July 05 and said it half kidding thinking they would surely show up before then.
My only desire for these **** Mexicans is because I have over $1000 invested in Alamo sets 1 thru 5 and I refuse to set up those small recast Marx Mexicans.
After and if these Mexicans come out, I will not even acknowledge a Conte product until it is formaly released, no more pre orders, no more looking forward to sets. I,m sure I,ll still buy them but unfortunatly Conte has spoken with forked tongue once to often for me.
Gary

 

[Winky]

Scott, I'd agree Conte's people most often don't have correct info (I'm not sure why they wouldn't, however, being Conte employees). From time to time over the last year Richard has provided clarification re arrival of the Mexicans himself, the last times being communications to the Marx board. The very last newsblurb to the Marx group strongly committed to a pre-summer release. I think collectors don't mind delays so long as they are explained (see the way TSSD handled delays re their new plastic figures sets), but collectors do have an understandably hard time when product is repeatedly promised, repeatedly doesn't show up, and no info is forthcoming. For some reason Conte Co has been reluctant to offer updates re long delayed product that would ease its relations with its customers. There is no doubt that Richard has crafted absolutely SUPERB product. The new Civ War figures, in my opinion, set an incredible new standard for plastic figures, which I think the Mexican figures will match. His WWII figures absolutely blow me away. His Beau Geste fort and Normandy church are nothing short of extraordinary, especially if you like buildings in full scale to your troops, as I do. I suspect his quest for perfection in his figures and playsets, which I applaud, is responsible for much of the delay that attends so much of his new plastic. His PR really could benefit from some improvement, however.

Dick

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

Hi There! I can tell you that the first 100 sets of Alamo 6 & 7 buildings have already shipped to LV. I also can say that an additional 100 sets of each were just ordered and are in production. I suppose that means that these sets will really be shipping pretty soon.

 

[Winky]

Ken, thanks so much for the info! It's really appreciated. I understand you sculpted the buildings (hope I'm right). They really look spectacular. They look very similar to the buildings in the Scotland the Brave set, which I'm guessing you may also have sculpted. When you highlight the buildings by painting them, the detail is stunning.

Any word on the Mexicans themselves? Can you confirm the end of August estimate we now have?

Thanks again for the info

Dick

 

[Winky]

Ken, while we've got your attention, any chance the expanded version of the Normandy church will be available for purchase or is it a one off piece?

By the way, Fubar, your dioramas are absolutely beautifully done. I love 'em.

Dick

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

Ken, thanks so much for the info! It's really appreciated. I understand you sculpted the buildings (hope I'm right). They really look spectacular. They look very similar to the buildings in the Scotland the Brave set, which I'm guessing you may also have sculpted. When you highlight the buildings by painting them, the detail is stunning.

Any word on the Mexicans themselves? Can you confirm the end of August estimate we now have?

Thanks again for the info

Dick

Yes I did do those, and when the Scotland the Brave structures were done I thought that they could be used with the Alamo compound also. I hope to be able to revisit this project to finish the Alamo compound in the future. I was told that the Mexicans were finished and were shipping by both Richard and another source, so I think it is pretty safe to think that you will se these two new add on sets with the new Mexicans by Late August.

 

[Winky]

Ken, can you tell us whether there has been any further sculpture work on the Alamo beyond the buildings in Alamo's 6 & 7. Your post seemed to suggest there hasn't been.

Thanks for all your great sculpture work over the years! You've made a lot of us baby boomers happy people.

Dick

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

There are several key structures that have not been mastered at this time. I will not say that they never will be though...it just seems to be off the radar screen right now. I would love to do the chapel, the convent yard and the breeched wall to complete the compound.
There are some parts now available from Hobby Bunker that could be used to enlarge the Conte Alamo, although a couple sections are small versions of what you will get in the new Conte sets.