Do you think Andy will ever release more Vietnam War sets? (1 Viewer)

Louis Badolato

Louis Badolato

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Working on the book has made me appreciate how Andy has always been willing to address controversial subjects, most recently the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. The first truly controversial subject K&C addressed was the Vietnam War, back in the early 1990's, when it was still quite a touchy subject.

Andy addressed the subject with everything from matt figures (the first on the subject I ever saw) to Helicoptors (Huey, Huey Medivac, Kiowa, Hughes Cayeuse) and Jet Aircraft (F4 Phantom, A6 Intruder, MIGs), armored vehicles (M113 APC and M42 Duster), and two dioramas (Firebase, Tet Offensive Street Scene).

I can recall discussing a reissue with Andy a few years back to correspond with the release of "Apocolypse Now, Redux", including a polystone version of the "Brown Water Navy" gunboat from the movie (sadly, nothing ever came of these discussions). I wonder, would Andy consider a second Vietnam release in todays exception quality?

Maybe more to the point, would anybody besides me be interested in collecting Vietnam War figures? Many collectors I am friends with (including Chuck Harris on this forum) are Vietnam Veterans. I think they deserve to be honored in the same way we honor WWII vets. What do you guys think?
 
Louis Badolato said:
Working on the book has made me appreciate how Andy has always been willing to address controversial subjects, most recently the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. The first truly controversial subject K&C addressed was the Vietnam War, back in the early 1990's, when it was still quite a touchy subject.

Andy addressed the subject with everything from matt figures (the first on the subject I ever saw) to Helicoptors (Huey, Huey Medivac, Kiowa, Hughes Cayeuse) and Jet Aircraft (F4 Phantom, A6 Intruder, MIGs), armored vehicles (M113 APC and M42 Duster), and two dioramas (Firebase, Tet Offensive Street Scene).

I can recall discussing a reissue with Andy a few years back to correspond with the release of "Apocolypse Now, Redux", including a polystone version of the "Brown Water Navy" gunboat from the movie (sadly, nothing ever came of these discussions). I wonder, would Andy consider a second Vietnam release in todays exception quality?

Maybe more to the point, would anybody besides me be interested in collecting Vietnam War figures? Many collectors I am friends with (including Chuck Harris on this forum) are Vietnam Veterans. I think they deserve to be honored in the same way we honor WWII vets. What do you guys think?
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I definately would collect Vietnam figures and vehicles if K/C made them. Ariver gunboat would be an excellent item.......Thanks, Michael
 
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I,m sure it would make a great series,
But for me personally my collecting tastes are
WW 2 and earlier.
 
I think the questions should be do you want Andy to release Vietnam sets and if so would you buy them. I'm neutral as to the first but I'm not really interested in buying them.

I would much prefer if Andy did World War I, for instance.
 
I would buy VietNam sets in a heartbeat, the way K&C does figures now, plus a few vehicles, oh yea!
Gary
 
I believe a factor in making a range is its appeal. I believe Andy is looking to appeal to a wide group of collectors internationally. WW 2, Napoleonics and the Medieval sets have that appeal. To a lesser degree, Streets of Hong Kong, American Revolution and the Alamo have that appeal. I don't think a Vietnam range would because it was a very unpopular war internationally. I think American collectors would buy it but I don't believe Europeans and collectors from other countries necessarily would. While Andy is interested in making many different things, he's also a businessman and that's an important factor for him. If he perceives that it will sit on the shelves in other countries, I don't think he would make it.
 
Im In................. check out how cool the Figarti Nam Diorama looks. I would love to have some K&C Nam stuff to work with. I like the Idea of the Brown Water stuff. MACVSOG, Air Cav with the Calvary Hats, SEALS etc. etc........Alex
 
Firebat said:
Im In................. check out how cool the Figarti Nam Diorama looks. I would love to have some K&C Nam stuff to work with. I like the Idea of the Brown Water stuff. MACVSOG, Air Cav with the Calvary Hats, SEALS etc. etc........Alex
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Nobody will ever see the real SOG. MACVSOG did an outstanding job and lost a lot of good and brave men, but this is the SOG for public view. A toy soldier should made in MACVSOG's honor. And we should never forget them, I will not.
Don't ask, I'll say no more about this.
 
The Vietnam War and its veterans certainly deserve more recognition. I have seen some really good dioramas of that era based on plastic kits but there should be more 1/32 and 1/30 scale stuff available.

In the scheme of military model figure collecting I'd rank the Vietnam War third in collector popularity after WWII and WWI which makes it about even with the Gulf/Iraq war(s). However Vietnam based vehicles such as the tanks, M113 etc are more popular than WWI with the plastic kit crowd.

The best Vietnam based movie I have seen so far is "We Were Soldiers Once" based on the book by Hal Moore. However there was a Australian TV mini series made back in 1986 simply called "Vietnam". It was a very realistic series from an Australian viewpoint and showed how the family of an Aussie soldier serving in Nam reacted to the political changes.

There is a somewhat similar connection to what has been said earlier as the son in the series did a second tour, but this time with a type of special operations group that targeted VC at night. Btw, the Aussie soldiers sister was played by a young Nicole Kidman who was rather tall even at a tender 17.
 
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Oz,

Were you aware that the Gun Ho Vietnam Aussies (plastic) are now available to purchase? Just got a couple of sets and although the sculpting is not in the same league as some of the other players, there are some nice patrol poses.
I don't know what the Gun Ho distribution network is like, but it would be interesting to see what numbers they sell in.

Simon
 
Wraith said:
Oz,

Were you aware that the Gun Ho Vietnam Aussies (plastic) are now available to purchase? Just got a couple of sets and although the sculpting is not in the same league as some of the other players, there are some nice patrol poses.
I don't know what the Gun Ho distribution network is like, but it would be interesting to see what numbers they sell in.

Simon
Click to expand...

I think they are more for the toy soldier/plastic army men crowd.
 
Hi Guys,



Just got back to the "Pearl of the Orient" from the People's Republic (China that is...not North Korea).



As usual for some unknown reason cannot get into the Forum from up there so had a fair bit of "catching up" on topics and various threads and posts.



Here's a couple of replies...

1) Vietnam Sorry lads, no plans to get back into the paddy fields of Vietnam any time soon — I'll leave that one to Figarti for the moment.

As some of you might surmise there is a whole heap of other stuff that needs to be done first before revisiting that particular war.

2) Most companies, K&C included, have to continue to develop existing ranges for existing collectors.

At the same time, of course, we have to develop new ranges that broaden our customer base and bring in additional collectors.

To successfully do that you look at ALL potential campaigns…battles…wars and then make a careful and detailed analysis of what you think will appeal to the broadest spectrum of collectors and dealers.

Sometimes you get it wrong...sometimes you hit a home run. Only time and the collectors ultimately can tell.

So, looking at 2007, but not letting too many "cats out of the bag" just at the moment, I can tell you that we're planning a minimum of 3 new series during the first 9 months of 2007. All of them very different and, I think, very exciting.



Now, I know there's going to be lots of guessing and more than a few suggestions. But try and be a little bit patient. Remember everything comes to those who wait — and there's going to be some, very, very happy K&C collectors — 'nuff said!



Well that's the story so far...but wishes to one and all. Over and out!

Andy C.
 
My three guesses as to the three new lines for 2007:

1. World War I - If you had seen Andy looking at the Old North West Trading Company WWI stuff in Chicago, it would be your first guess too.

2. Warbirds - There's been too much talk on this subject for too long, with tons of interest, and Andy has been after a factory in mainland China, so I think it will happen in '07.

3. Civil War - with the dealers in the Southern United States, like Bill Sager and especially Tim Tyler, as well as Andy's Kings X all squarely in the heart of the Confederacy, and the success of other company's efforts on the subject, I think K&C is going to make the South rise again.

Its a shame about Vietnam, though. I've always thought it was an under-represented confilct in this Hobby, and with K&C being the real pioneer on the subject, I would have liked to see it done with todays level of excellence.
 
Three new ranges? Darn. That's amazing.

I really hope he does World War I. I was planning on possibly buying some of the Britains or Old Northwest WW I offering but in anticipation that he might do the Great War, I will hold off. I'm sure they'll still be there if he doesn't do WW I. The only exception might be the Renault tank.

I wonder if the Franco Prussian War of 1870 would have any interest for manufacturers or collectors?
 
World War I is a must. It boggles the mind that it hasn't been done. Just think of the possibilities. I'm sure we would get mostly Germans/Brits and little else, but that's ok, bring them on. The uniforms were fantastic - surpassed only by the Napoleonic Wars. The notion that they won't sell is FALSE.
 
You would also have the French and maybe a few Russians thrown in. Think of the equipment. That German tank in the Australian museum that Oz pointed out could be a reality. And, and...you could have airplanes. Andy made a few of these before. Why not again? This will really get Mr. Gambale going;)
 
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