Do you hand pick your purchases to get the best paint job? (1 Viewer)

[CrawlingGuy]

I cannot as there isn't a single store within a day's drive so I must mail order.

I have received significantly bent weapons and e-tools with resulting missing paint, chipped uniforms, and painted shoulder seams on camouflage uniforms [BBG018] (where the arms have been possibly gap-filled then painted over) that make the figure appear as if he is wearing a wide strap backpack. It simply ruins the look of the figure IMO.

I painted over a couple chips and missing paint on weapons and e-tools yesterday with so-so results, but the German camo is simply too complex to paint match and mimic with my level of skill.

Is owning paint supplies and brushes part of collecting? With the cost, I find it frustrating, especially because matching K&C paint is quite difficult for me.

How often do you retouch/repair purchases? How often should a visibly less than ideal paint job be expected? Do you just ignore chips?

Sincere question. If there was a store near me I would be a regular collector, but I hold off as the intermittent damage takes a lot of the fun out of a single figure that cost $32.

K&C has no peer, IMO, and I am not trying to criticize the obvious leader in the field. I just want to know what is reasonable to expect from a top quality, top dollar product.

 

[Mitch]

Crawling Guy...

Its not as uncommon a feature in the hobby as some would like you only have to look on here to see how many mention it acroos the manufacturers boards. I don't know where you get your figures from but, you firstly should be sending them back. I have seen some of the issues you mention and do quite a few 'touch ups' for collectors. with regards to the Camo patterns Vallejo do specific paint sets which contain all of the colours you need for a perfect match and, having never seen large parts of camo uniforms missing the level of skill required to touch up is something everyone can achieve.

Its always IMO fun to play around with the sets and sometimes things are missed or not painted perfectly at the factory but, these things are easily rectified but, when you pay your hard earned money they should come the way they are advertised so, return would be my advice first or, buy from a reputable dealer who will exchange defective sets.

Alternatively you stock up on the paints and have some fun brushing up on your paint skills
Mitch

 

[Guy]

I cannot as there isn't a single store within a day's drive so I must mail order.

I have received significantly bent weapons and e-tools with resulting missing paint, painted shoulder seams on camouflage uniforms [BBG018] (where the arms have been possibly gap-filled then painted over) that make the figure appear as if he is wearing a wide strap backpack. It simply ruins the look of the figure IMO.

I painted over a couple chips and missing paint on weapons and e-tools yesterday with so-so results, but the German camo is simply too complex to paint match and mimic with my level of skill.

Dear collector,
It can always happen that a part breaks off during shipping or that the paint chips off.
This may not represent a problem.Bent weapons can be put straight again and they will need a repaint job. For my personel liking the K&C figures are too neat to put them straight into a battle torn scenery, so for me a palette of paints and brushes are a must .I always repaint all my K&C figurines when I use them in a dio.But buying them in a shop gives you no advantage..All the figures are for 99% painted the same.As for camouflage paterns, with a little bit of practice you will succeed. Colours of uniforms can differ enormously due to the wear, so two different colour schemes in one camouflage uniform is notting exeptional( there are thousands of examples - pictural references).So hang on there and keep collecting.
Guy

 

[lancer]

I collect the current pre-painted soldiers because I no longer have any interest in painting my own. I spend my money and expect the product to be in mint shape on arrival. If it isn't, it goes back. Having said that, I have only had to send back one item in the last 10 years of mail/net orders. Any thing that was damaged that I have kept was a problem so minor that I was able to affect repairs (bent rifles or loose parts) without much effort. Paint problems or broken pieces and back it goes. If you pay your money, you should be happy. Develope a business relation with a good dealer and you should be able to return problem items with no question. -- Al

 

[Njja]

This is the main reason I buy duplicates so I can find one I really like.

I can only recall one instance when I was not satisfied with the condition of any of the pieces and I passed on the item.

As a general rule King & Country has excellent quality control and packaging in my opinion.

 

[oberstoskar]

I am just glad that I live in HONG KONG and I visit the store directly.

Sometimes I believe I am the 1st in the world to purchase some new releases.

And the sales lady provide excellent customer service (just need to pick a time to visit when there ain't so many customers, weekdays are better)

 

[jazzeum]

You should definitely return it to your dealer and have them replace it. As a collector, there's nothing worse than eagerly awaiting for a new set and then finding it's broken

 

[thebritfarmer]

All my purchases are mail order. When buying brand new figures, chips damage etc... ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE !!! They items would go back to the dealer. I have been fortunate in that I have never had this problem.

 

[Bama Boy]

I do not have a store close to me either, so I do buy from EVERYONE!!! Ebay is where I get most of my deals. If I have a problem, I normally contact the seller immediately and ask what they would have me do. Every time I have had good results. Might I say, a used figure is different from a new one. If it is a new one, that baby goes back!!!!!

If, and only if, it is a hard to find figure, then I might get out my paint and fix it. I have had a lot of years of putting kits together so I have gotten really good at it. However, I collect ACW, so the painting is somewhat easier than your fixes!!!

I cannot as there isn't a single store within a day's drive so I must mail order.

I have received significantly bent weapons and e-tools with resulting missing paint, chipped uniforms, and painted shoulder seams on camouflage uniforms [BBG018] (where the arms have been possibly gap-filled then painted over) that make the figure appear as if he is wearing a wide strap backpack. It simply ruins the look of the figure IMO.

I painted over a couple chips and missing paint on weapons and e-tools yesterday with so-so results, but the German camo is simply too complex to paint match and mimic with my level of skill.

Is owning paint supplies and brushes part of collecting? With the cost, I find it frustrating, especially because matching K&C paint is quite difficult for me.

How often do you retouch/repair purchases? How often should a visibly less than ideal paint job be expected? Do you just ignore chips?

Sincere question. If there was a store near me I would be a regular collector, but I hold off as the intermittent damage takes a lot of the fun out of a single figure that cost $32.

K&C has no peer, IMO, and I am not trying to criticize the obvious leader in the field. I just want to know what is reasonable to expect from a top quality, top dollar product.

 

[jazzeum]

Retired items are always a different story and sometimes it's hit and miss. You just have to make sure you're dealing with an experienced packer and have a good painter lined up if necessary.

 

[Guy]

I cannot as there isn't a single store within a day's drive so I must mail order.

I have received significantly bent weapons and e-tools with resulting missing paint, painted shoulder seams on camouflage uniforms [BBG018] (where the arms have been possibly gap-filled then painted over) that make the figure appear as if he is wearing a wide strap backpack. It simply ruins the look of the figure IMO.

I painted over a couple chips and missing paint on weapons and e-tools yesterday with so-so results, but the German camo is simply too complex to paint match and mimic with my level of skill.

Dear collector,
It can always happen that a part breaks off during shipping or that the paint chips off.
This may not represent a problem.Bent weapons can be put straight again and they will need a repaint job. For my personel liking the K&C figures are too neat to put them straight into a battle torn scenery, so for me a palette of paints and brushes are a must .I always repaint all my K&C figurines when I use them in a dio.But buying them in a shop gives you no advantage..All the figures are for 99% painted the same.As for camouflage paterns, with a little bit of practice you will succeed. Colours of uniforms can differ enormously due to the wear, so two different colour schemes in one camouflage uniform is notting exeptional( there are thousands of examples - pictural references).So hang on there and keep collecting.
Guy

I have made a deal with my distributor that, when he receives broken items he phones me up before he sends them back. So I have the opportunity to buy items at very reduced prices if I want to;
I could, in that way, lay my hands on following items at very interesting prices

1.US military police jeep with torn canvas for half the price including the two figures. I camouflaged the damage in my dio by putting a layer of snow on top of the canvas.
2.German assault gun Jagdpanzer IV with broken off tracks for free I glued the tracks back on and used extra dirt as camouflage.
3.airborne RECCE Jeep broken in two for 20% of the normal purchase price . I glued the two half together again and used extra equipment to camouflage the damage
These items are ideal to be used in dio's where they become part of a larger display.
The end result is that nobody notices the damage any longer.
Maybe a useful tip
Guy

 

[Alex]

For K&C sets, I used to go to my local shop and open the boxes before making any purchases. If a figure was less than perfect, It was replaced with another one from another box.

Now I buy mostly First Legion figures through the mail and if anything is broken or missing paint, it is just sent back and replaced without any additional cost. Yes if a weapon is bent I try to fix it at first. But if paint is missing, you shouldn't have to fix it yourself, not at least when the figure is brand new.

Cheers,

Alex

 

[Mitch]

Guy...

How on earth does a recce jeep break in two and nobody notice it before it leaves HK??? Thats not a transit issue for sure or, the box they came in and were packaged in would have been utterly destroyed. I have had four items which had to go back but, several which needed touch ups.
Mitch

 

[Guy]

Guy...

How on earth does a recce jeep break in two and nobody notice it before it leaves HK??? Thats not a transit issue for sure or, the box they came in and were packaged in would have been utterly destroyed. I have had four items which had to go back but, several which needed touch ups.
Mitch

Mitch
I never saw the box. I was just shown a K&C jeep broken in two and was asked if, as a dio builder, I was interested. I said yes and got my jeep for € 20.I think the distributor prefers this solution. It must be cheaper than sending it back . Anyway, he received a brand new one a couple of weeks later and I had a jeep for € 20 which after restauration also looks brand new (a little bit of instant glue does wonders). I will soon make an Arnhem dio using this second hand vehicle. ;
guy

 

[Mitch]

I have done several rebuilds of broken pieces and they look new its enjoyable doing this but, never saw one with that much damage. Could almost be done for the scene in BTF where the motar round blows the jeep upside down
Mitch

 

[Guy]

I have done several rebuilds of broken pieces and they look new its enjoyable doing this but, never saw one with that much damage. Could almost be done for the scene in BTF where the motar round blows the jeep upside down
Mitch

Mitch
I think the distributor simply dropped the jeep.Funny however that the figures ( driver and co-driver) and the machine guns were not damaged at all.
Guy

 

[Humbug]

For K&C sets, I used to go to my local shop and open the boxes before making any purchases. If a figure was less than perfect, It was replaced with another one from another box,
Alex

Thank God that my dealer doesn't allow this practice! His motto; You break
the seal, you've bought it! But then,we have faith in K&C's QC !!!
If,for any reason I'm not happy I can always get a refund or choose something else. BTW, he keeps a well stocked showroom with every item that K&C has on offer.

 

[CrawlingGuy]

Thank God that my dealer doesn't allow this practice! His motto; You break
the seal, you've bought it! But then,we have faith in K&C's QC !!!
If,for any reason I'm not happy I can always get a refund or choose something else. BTW, he keeps a well stocked showroom with every item that K&C has on offer.

Packages are sealed? Mine never have been. If so, that explains a lot of my less than stellar "luck". I'm getting those items that failed other's spot checks? [Note: the few unfortunate purchases (of those I made) have not been through the board host]

Maybe an airline ticket and a yearly trip to this vendor that doesn't allow mix and match of the finest examples of each figure is the answer. I'll take luck of the draw over getting the figures that have been passed on, or returned by somebody else any day.

Thanks for the great responses. I've spent too much time on boards with a far less cordial and friendly atmosphere. What a nice change!

 

[lancer]

For K&C sets, I used to go to my local shop and open the boxes before making any purchases. If a figure was less than perfect, It was replaced with another one from another box.

Now I buy mostly First Legion figures through the mail and if anything is broken or missing paint, it is just sent back and replaced without any additional cost. Yes if a weapon is bent I try to fix it at first. But if paint is missing, you shouldn't have to fix it yourself, not at least when the figure is brand new.

Cheers,

Alex

A dealer that lets you pick and choose by opening other sets? Not a very honest practice, in my view. What collector wants to get someone elses rejects? If he does it for you he probably also has done it to you. -- Al

 

[Mitch]

I don't know if its dishonest but, its certainly not what you would expect and, I am sure its going to effect that dealer and K&C. Never known the boxes ever to be sealed even on the more expensive sets like the bands and wedding procession. Some dodgies will get through the thousands of figures made by K&C even checking them, stuff will be missed, its how they take it on the chin when these are identified by customers and, in that respect they are IMO market leaders.

Certainly, would advise going to a better dealer than one who allows you to rifle through the boxes as some poor collector could end up with a box of mispaints and, thats a disgrace.
Mitch