Dispatches (at last!) (1 Viewer)

[vandilay]

I finally ordered the US M10 having seen the french one in these
dispatches ,And a few more reitiring BW figures but going by the
note posted at the end of the dispatches it looks like retirements may be coming thick and fast from now on.

As has been noted prices on vehicles is starting to bite [ the new M10 comes
in at $300 NZ] .
Thats just a fact of life with just about everything at this point in time , but Even in my mad collector brain that’s a figure that hard to justify on a regular production piece .
I,m more than happy with what I,ve managed to collect in The last couple of years so scalling back or calling it quits isnt all bad for me.

 

[Molloy]

Hi Molloy, there have been at least 2 previous retirements from the original BW line up that I can think of. 1 was an officer standing in sort of a casual pose. The other was an NCO also simply standing at attention with a pike. Cannot remember the numbers of these off the top, but they are still showing up on Ebay fairly often. I hope that helps.

MD

Hi Dave, thanks very much for the info. I'll keep the eyes peeled for those two - I can live without them for the time being, it would just annoy that anal collector side to me if I thought I only had one half of the colour party!

Very, very impressed with the first batch of Black Watch figures; I was looking at them again this morning before leaving for college and they really do catch the eye on the shelf. With yesterday's retirements, I'm glad I've made a start on them before it becomes too late.

Molloy.

 

[Rob]

You'll love it Rob,looks good next to the Chaffee as well!.

Well i just started my 'Whatever you do make sure under no circumstances you miss this item before its retired' ()List.Its Looooooooooong!!!.How many of you guys buy or will buy both the MKIV's and both the Stugs,or do you settle for one of each?.

Its a statement on the quality of K&C product that its very hard to choose between items you like and items you must have in your collection.The two above mentioned vehicles are examples of classic German armour and i'd really regret not having them in my collection.

Along with ordering 'Enemy in sight' i've asked Mike to bring the Bulge Tractor to the show in London in four weeks time,anyone have this vehicle and what are your thoughts?.

Rob

 

[vandilay]

Rob , I,m looking forward to getting it .Its been on the radar ever since it came out and seeing the jump in price on the new one I figure its not long for this world , I wonder whats next for the chop [pacific marines must be
soon as they dont have any opposition these days]

 

[Rob]

Rob , I,m looking forward to getting it .Its been on the radar ever since it came out and seeing the jump in price on the new one I figure its not long for this world , I wonder whats next for the chop [pacific marines must be
soon as they dont have any opposition these days]

Yes mate you'd think they were in line for retiring now wouldn't you.I was surprised that the truck mounted 88mm is going too,hasn't been around that long.Does this mean another 88mm somewhere down the line do we think?.

I also wonder what all those retiring Russians might make room for,fingers crossed for some Brit and Commonwealth troops maybe.

Rob

 

[vandilay]

Yes mate you'd think they were in line for retiring now wouldn't you.I was surprised that the truck mounted 88mm is going too,hasn't been around that long.Does this mean another 88mm somewhere down the line do we think?.

I also wonder what all those retiring Russians might make room for,fingers crossed for some Brit and Commonwealth troops maybe.

Rob

Rob , The 88 was originally slated as a 750 production piece wasnt it ?
I guess if the economics of making the older pieces is coming into play
the more labour intensive and larger sets may be first for the chop .
Maybe some Brits to compliment the Market Garden series could be
on the cards ?

 

[Rob]

Rob , The 88 was originally slated as a 750 production piece wasnt it ?
I guess if the economics of making the older pieces is coming into play
the more labour intensive and larger sets may be first for the chop .
Maybe some Brits to compliment the Market Garden series could be
on the cards ?

Thats right Rob,and Andy says there are now not that many left.With the effect of imminent retirement maybe they will go from the shelves pretty quick.I'm kind of hoping for more Brits for D Day,i loved the 'Tommy Patrol' and hope for more of the same.And as you say Arnhem has to be another range likely to be reinforced,maybe with some Armour???

Rob

 

[redhugh]

You'll love it Rob,looks good next to the Chaffee as well!.

Well i just started my 'Whatever you do make sure under no circumstances you miss this item before its retired' ()List.Its Looooooooooong!!!.How many of you guys buy or will buy both the MKIV's and both the Stugs,or do you settle for one of each?.

Its a statement on the quality of K&C product that its very hard to choose between items you like and items you must have in your collection.The two above mentioned vehicles are examples of classic German armour and i'd really regret not having them in my collection.

Along with ordering 'Enemy in sight' i've asked Mike to bring the Bulge Tractor to the show in London in four weeks time,anyone have this vehicle and what are your thoughts?.

Rob

Highly recommend the bulge tractor..a very nice piece IMO..It wasn't on my must have list until I saw it in person earlier on this year , a very nicely scuplted piece

 

[Rob]

Highly recommend the bulge tractor..a very nice piece IMO..It wasn't on my must have list until I saw it in person earlier on this year , a very nicely scuplted piece

Thank you mate,i'm looking forward to picking mine up.That whole batch of Bulge releases were spot on in my view.I got some of the figures but still need 'Moving up the Line' and the Sniper team.

Rob

 

[Mister Dave]

Hi Dave, thanks very much for the info. I'll keep the eyes peeled for those two - I can live without them for the time being, it would just annoy that anal collector side to me if I thought I only had one half of the colour party!

Very, very impressed with the first batch of Black Watch figures; I was looking at them again this morning before leaving for college and they really do catch the eye on the shelf. With yesterday's retirements, I'm glad I've made a start on them before it becomes too late.

Molloy.

Here are pics of these 2 items, and they are NA037 and NA038 BTW.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[redhugh]

Thank you mate,i'm looking forward to picking mine up.That whole batch of Bulge releases were spot on in my view.I got some of the figures but still need 'Moving up the Line' and the Sniper team.

Rob

I have a list that goes

Urgent to buy
Very urgent to buy
very very urgent to buy
definetly very very very urgent to buy
and
bol****ks definetly have to get the f****r now

 

[Rob]

I have a list that goes

Urgent to buy
Very urgent to buy
very very urgent to buy
definetly very very very urgent to buy
and
bol****ks definetly have to get the f****r now

Now thats what i call sorting out ones priorities!

Rob

 

[steel wheels]

I'm relieved this month has no must-have items for me. My shopping list is too long already. The Navy and Egyptian figures are certainly cool, though. As far as the French releases... I don't know. Did the French fight in WWII? I'll have to check that.

As far as toy soldier price increases... that's what raises are for.

Not everyone is getting a raise! Just talk to those assembly line workers in the auto industry.

 

[Cornwallis]

No AWI releases (again), feeling pretty down about that now...

 

[Rob]

I think Andy said in a film from Chicago that although AWI is not a big seller it would continue,maybe next year will be good for your range.

Rob

 

[Vezzolf]

I'm relieved this month has no must-have items for me. My shopping list is too long already. The Navy and Egyptian figures are certainly cool, though. As far as the French releases... I don't know. Did the French fight in WWII? I'll have to check that.

As far as toy soldier price increases... that's what raises are for.

I believe the French gave it a try...

 

[Soldadera]

VERY happy to see more Egypt. Not so sure about that figure with the "spectacular" entrance!

 

[maddadicus]

The original M3A1 White Scout Car (BBA016) and M10 Tank Destroyer (BBA011) were introduced in December, 2006. K&C contracts the actual production of its products to factories in China. The cost of each production run is separately negotated so even an addition production run of an existing item to fulfill backorders can cost K&C more if costs have increased since the initial production run. Since 12/06, the U.S. dollar has depreciated about 20% vs. the Chinese Yuan and the cost of materials and labor have risen dramatically. As a result, making the same basic vehicle, even with the old molds, will cost much more now due to currency depreciation and increased production costs. In addition, I believe Andy mentioned at one of his talks that the molds used to make polystone vehicles only last for a certain number of vehicles (30 to 40?) and that the cost of making new molds is a consideration in deciding whether to retire a vehicle.

Collectors should realize that manufacturing costs have been increasing the last several years, and that vehicles with the detail that collectors currently expect cannot be produced at the prices from even last year.
Andy has stated at several of his talks that K&C absorbed some of the past cost increases by reducing its profit margin and cutting other costs. I interpret this as K&C absorbing the increased costs of doing additional production runs of backordered items in order to keep items at the original list price. However, the remarks at the end of this month's Dispatches warn that K&C can no longer do this and that many items will be retired in the coming months.

MFG. should realize that all good things can end quickly , by pricing their product out of reach for the average collector. If the bottom falls out of the market, we collectors will not be taking the rap for it..Michael

 

[jazzeum]

As I have mentioned previously, something has to give (i.e., the rising costs for consumers versus the amount of disposable income they have to spend on luxury items). Similarly, as discretionary income shrinks but manufacturers costs rise, something will also have to give there because you can't operate a business below reasonable profit margins or at a loss; it just doesn't make financial sense for a manufacturer to do so. This applies not only to toy soldier but to most businesses. If a product is not profitable, you either have to raise prices and if that doesn't work, stop making a product or cease doing business.

Just as this is a problem for consumers, it is likewise a problem for manufacturers.

 

[kogu]

It seems that the new scenic item in the Ancient Egypt series, the Obelisk, has been waiting in the background for a while. If I am not mistaken it is partially shown in the early release AE006 (Stone Carvers). Is that so?
However, good to see this release, another fine scenic item.
Konrad