Eastern Front, grey Germans......really not that popular? (1 Viewer)

[Cyber Field Marshall]

I’m going to play armchair toy soldier manufacturer. Over the last while the forum has been filled with posts about the Eastern Front and grey Germans. It would be understandable that many collectors would conclude that we had a major shift in sentiment. I contend however that these subject matters aren’t really as popular as some of our outspoken forum members would make them seem. {eek3} It really wasn’t long ago that K&C stated Soviets weren’t one of their big sellers. On ebay they didn’t fetch high bids and many sets remained on dealer inventories loooonnngggg after they had been retired. Same can be said for the grey Germans. I seem to recall K&C stating that camouflaged Germans outsold grey by a WIDE margin. So why the sudden turn around? ^&confuse
I would submit its due to K&C’s revamped production strategies. The first major change is one of making fewer pieces for a range. It wasn’t long ago that a STRICTLY LIMITED run would be between 750-1250 pieces and regular release pieces likely in excess of that. Witness the recent release of the T-34. Instead of making lots (because there just isn’t wide enough demand) they made 5 different versions totalling just 750 pieces! Enough to satisfy the limited demand and hopefully prevent dealer shelves from backing up. There are other examples such as the WWI planes, series 250 etc etc.
I think the good news with this new strategy is that it could allow for a wider variety of subject matter which would satisfy a much wider group of collectors. If I’m right that means areas like ACW, AWI, obscure vehicles, minor country combatants, Seminoles , obscure units in a variety of conflicts, minor theatres of war, Pacific theatre etc etc could all come to production and be profitable for K&C and its dealer network.
So in the end I really think the Eastern Front and grey Germans really aren’t that popular however K&C’s business strategy with its built in flexibility allows for many of these less mainstream/popular releases to happen.........and I for one think that’s great for all of us and gives us hope that in the future our special or unique wants will someday see the light of day.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

I’m going to play armchair toy soldier manufacturer. Over the last while the forum has been filled with posts about the Eastern Front and grey Germans. It would be understandable that many collectors would conclude that we had a major shift in sentiment. I contend however that these subject matters aren’t really as popular as some of our outspoken forum members would make them seem. {eek3} It really wasn’t long ago that K&C stated Soviets weren’t one of their big sellers. On ebay they didn’t fetch high bids and many sets remained on dealer inventories loooonnngggg after they had been retired. Same can be said for the grey Germans. I seem to recall K&C stating that camouflaged Germans outsold grey by a WIDE margin. So why the sudden turn around? ^&confuse
I would submit its due to K&C’s revamped production strategies. The first major change is one of making fewer pieces for a range. It wasn’t long ago that a STRICTLY LIMITED run would be between 750-1250 pieces and regular release pieces likely in excess of that. Witness the recent release of the T-34. Instead of making lots (because there just isn’t wide enough demand) they made 5 different versions totalling just 750 pieces! Enough to satisfy the limited demand and hopefully prevent dealer shelves from backing up. There are other examples such as the WWI planes, series 250 etc etc.
I think the good news with this new strategy is that it could allow for a wider variety of subject matter which would satisfy a much wider group of collectors. If I’m right that means areas like ACW, AWI, obscure vehicles, minor country combatants, Seminoles , obscure units in a variety of conflicts, minor theatres of war, Pacific theatre etc etc could all come to production and be profitable for K&C and its dealer network.
So in the end I really think the Eastern Front and grey Germans really aren’t that popular however K&C’s business strategy with its built in flexibility allows for many of these less mainstream/popular releases to happen.........and I for one think that’s great for all of us and gives us hope that in the future our special or unique wants will someday see the light of day.

Surely not Seminoles :rolleyes2: The market consists of only one collector. ^&grin

Terry

 

[Mitch]

I think its basically an effort to keep the releases fresh and exciting. Focusing on one theatre for too long can make things stale even if its very popular as the western front is. Its nice to get a mix of theatres no matter how many are released to cover everyones taste. I think with the figures that K&C had on previous sales is the reason why we only saw the limited releases of the T-34's and, I would expect that has been sufficient to please the eastern front collectors. even with such small releases they have not dissapeared in a surge of fanatical eastern front collectors. So, that would indicate that the theatre is not, again, as popular as some think it is or, should be.

I particularly like the eastern front but, don't know many people who are as interested. Many of the german releases from K&C cover the east anyway so, I have said before we are already there just not in range name. All that was needed was some russian troops and some of their AFV's and we now have them. Chuck in a BT70, KV1 possibly a KVII and were done really. I would expect if they were done especially, the latter two they would be very low runs or, SL's.

With german AFV's and troops in field grey they are not unique to K&C even from the western front releases so, they will be popular but, the move to grey AFV's is a good move and one I think will be popular as they can be used on both fronts. well, the Tiger I can't but, the 222 can. Same with the winter version. so, it pleases both groups of collectors if there is a distinction.

I think its a clever move to keep as many collectors interested in the products as you can and, we talk of early war german troops but, they can encompass the whole war on all fronts. The AFV's in grey we discussed yesterday and can be used from 39 to late 43 so, thats quite a chunk of the war.

I think some collectors compartmentalise the war into rigid sections but, there is a lot of flexibility allowed and, K&C is just taking advantage of that.
Mitch

 

[PanzerAce1944]

Cyber Field Marshall, I think we went from what may not have been popular a few years ago to popular now is partly due to a new stream of collectors that have
been introduced into this hobby. My viewpoint K&C saw the shift in collector interest and simply adapted to current market demand. That being said what is popular
today may go by the wayside tomorrow. As you mentioned and made some great points, I also think in example the move to make 750 T-34 tanks spread out over
5 different versions was a sound move for everyone. I think K&C is really branching out strongly and reaching out to collectors, especially within the last year or
two it seems things are taking off rather nicely.......IMO ^&cool

 

[WW2]

its quite obvious to me that KC is changing its strategy for the better (to both the company and collectors)

its smart move; and for every product they will have a "tighter" planned number of production so as to minimise overproduction and thus stock and company business figures

the offering of various paint schemes is a welcome move by all; it may "cost" the company slightly "more" simply because the painters will have to work "harder" but the move should see a better sale numbers....
it seems like a win-win situation

its interesting to note that the latest release of the early war german figures cost a bit more than the, say, latest Tommies or DD americans or even the very latest russian figures.....why? is it because it costs more to make those German figures or simply because they are believed to be more popular thus a slightly higher price (expecting that collectors will still buy anyway) for a better profit margin??

 

[Simpson & his donkey.]

I think maybe that sales tell a story. If K&C collectors are buying from other companies to fill the gaps that K&C aren't making then a quick switch to regain lost sales. This is just good business . Maybe they will do some Zulu's or Boer war next. Simmo.{sm4}

 

[Mitch]

Just as a matter of interest what is K&C not doing that has made ''collectors'' look elsewhere?? and, where have they looked and had these gaps filled?? Speaking for myself there are a few AFV's etc that have not been done that I would like to see or, a few battle fronts addressed that have not really been done but, looking around the hobby I don't see any manufacturer doing them

Not so sure really that other manufacturers are filling gaps left by K&C. Unless your talking about FL!! They really are only doing stalingrad by name that K&C are not doing. I don't from collectors on here and that I speak with see the migration from K&C to them just for that range.

It pre supposes that K&C have lost sales so much that they have had to, or, been forced to do certain ranges because of other manufacturers. I am not so sure about this and, we will never know as thats down to sales figures that really only K&C know. If it were the case then CS and TG and figarti would be producing more items specifically for the russian front or, the fronts which K&C are missing. The releases from figarti are sporadic in terms of the east and, there is no deluge of releases though, what has been released is nice to get and, offers a broad range to collectors who either like the east or, want something different in their collection to the west.

I think collectors need to get over this whole K&C seems to follow FL either said openly or subtly one small russian range has hardly shaken K&C or any other 30th scale company or left them heading for the projects!!
Mitch

I think maybe that sales tell a story. If K&C collectors are buying from other companies to fill the gaps that K&C aren't making then a quick switch to regain lost sales. This is just good business . Maybe they will do some Zulu's or Boer war next. Simmo.{sm4}

 

[jazzeum]

Surely not Seminoles :rolleyes2: The market consists of only one collector. ^&grin

Terry

Two! ^&cool

 

[Rob]

Thing is that sooner or later there is always a chance K&C will return to a theme, era, theater of War that they have already done sometimes years before. We haven't had any new FJ's for sometime but no doubt one day they will drop in again. F.O.B range had a long rest and is once again producing some superb sets month after month. So the return to the Grey theme is no real surprise and some collectors such as Mr Wayne and co have been calling for these for sometime as well. Also when it comes to such famous and iconic weapons of war such as the Tiger, and various other camo schemes have already been produced, its only to be expected a Grey one will appear pretty soon. With the range, quality and Depth of product K&C produce it wouldn't matter what company was making what variant of Tiger, sooner or later K&C would make it.....whatever the opposition is making. {bravo}}

Rob

 

[Jack]

Although I heard this at the same Brisbane dinner that I heard Arnhem was dead, everything sells eventually. It is not merely a question of whether people will buy, it is, apparently, equally about the speed at which they will buy.

 

[larso]

Sometimes it's having something to spike interest. Films are great for this but few WW2 movies get made these days. If the 'Forgotten Soldier' ever gets off the ground, and providing it's good and does justice to the book, Eastern Front ranges will race off the shelves. Probably to lots of younger, first time collectors too.

 

[waynepoo]

Sometimes it's having something to spike interest. Films are great for this but few WW2 movies get made these days. If the 'Forgotten Soldier' ever gets off the ground, and providing it's good and does justice to the book, Eastern Front ranges will race off the shelves. Probably to lots of younger, first time collectors too.

I once thought Lord of the Rings could never be done justice as a live action movie and the same applied to 'Forgotten Soldier' but I was wrong about Lord of the Rings, if Peter Jackson was to do 'Forgotten Soldier' well you may right Larso. By the way for those who have never read 'Forgotten Soldier' do yourself a favour.
Wayne.

 

[Simpson & his donkey.]

Just as a matter of interest what is K&C not doing that has made ''collectors'' look elsewhere?? and, where have they looked and had these gaps filled?? Speaking for myself there are a few AFV's etc that have not been done that I would like to see or, a few battle fronts addressed that have not really been done but, looking around the hobby I don't see any manufacturer doing them

Not so sure really that other manufacturers are filling gaps left by K&C. Unless your talking about FL!! They really are only doing stalingrad by name that K&C are not doing. I don't from collectors on here and that I speak with see the migration from K&C to them just for that range.

It pre supposes that K&C have lost sales so much that they have had to, or, been forced to do certain ranges because of other manufacturers. I am not so sure about this and, we will never know as thats down to sales figures that really only K&C know. If it were the case then CS and TG and figarti would be producing more items specifically for the russian front or, the fronts which K&C are missing. The releases from figarti are sporadic in terms of the east and, there is no deluge of releases though, what has been released is nice to get and, offers a broad range to collectors who either like the east or, want something different in their collection to the west.

I think collectors need to get over this whole K&C seems to follow FL either said openly or subtly one small russian range has hardly shaken K&C or any other 30th scale company or left them heading for the projects!!
Mitch

Hi Mitch how are you. I was only speaking for myself here and my own experience. I have asked in the past about K&C making more Russian figures and maybe doing some Zulu's. The answer was that Russians didn't sell that well and that Britain's do a good Zulu range. So for me to fill the gaps and get the ranges I wanted I moved to FL Russians and Britain's Zulu's. Now that K&C have returned to Russia so have I and have the new T34 with some troops. So I hope this clears up you question. Simmo.

 

[HAWKEYE]

Sometimes it's having something to spike interest. Films are great for this but few WW2 movies get made these days. If the 'Forgotten Soldier' ever gets off the ground, and providing it's good and does justice to the book, Eastern Front ranges will race off the shelves. Probably to lots of younger, first time collectors too.

oh my god, what a great idea. the forgotten soldier, guy sager . what a story. it would have to be a 3hr movie to even come close to doing the book justice. anybody who has never read that book should. is somebody really thinking of making a movie of this fantastic story/

 

[larso]

"is somebody really thinking of making a movie of this fantastic story"

Absolutely. It was set to go, a script was written and Doug Nash, who has covered the Eastern Front in several books had seen it and liked it. I think the guy who directed Starship Troopers - Verhoven or something, was listed to direct. Then the financial crises hit and it all fell apart.......

 

[Blowtorch]

I think the guy who directed Starship Troopers - Verhoven or something, was listed to direct.

That would have been spectacular