King & Country
Captain
- Joined
- May 23, 2005
- Messages
- 5,015
Hi Guys,
Long time no speak (write)...anyway re the recent kerfuffle about the review of “Gestapo Arrest” set in Toy Soldier & Model Figure Magazine, I thought you might like to see a copy of my reply to the morally indignant Mr. Hessney, so here goes...
May 21, 2007
To: Stuart A. Hessney, Toy Soldier & Model Figure
Re: Where does “Good taste end and poor taste begin”?
Dear Sir,
Your scathing review of one of our latest sets, “Gestapo Arrest!” in the most recent edition of the magazine, got me thinking about the above question…and several others.
It seems to me that you have chosen to view this set in a very narrow minded light…I view it somewhat differently. To me, this set is about the bravery and fortitude of the thousands of men and women in occupied Europe who fought an often lonely and perilous battle against the forces of darkness and evil. Sadly, many of these individuals were captured, tortured, and paid the ultimate price. Does their suffering somehow exclude them from being portrayed, along with their captors, in a realistic way in miniature? Obviously, I don’t believe so… but you have a right to your opinion and… so be it.
But, and it’s a big BUT, where do we draw the line between ‘good taste’ and ‘poor taste’? ‘War’, as Sherman said, ‘is hell’. From the earliest conflicts it has always been a nasty and violent experience. Ancient Romans (and their enemies) often massacred their prisoners in the most brutal fashion. During the Crusades both sides were frequently guilty of terrible excesses against innocent civilians as well as enemy combatants.
Even in more recent times, rape and pillage were not uncommon during the Napoleonic era and even the American Civil War. In the last century, two World Wars were fought that took the lives of many millions of soldiers and even more millions of innocent civilians.
Now, if King & Country decides to produce, let’s say, a World War II bomber…. A Heinkel… A B17 Flying Fortress… or perhaps an Avro Lancaster… complete with a ground crew loading that aircraft’s bombs… is that in ‘poor taste’?
By your argument, it might be, because, like it or not, many of those same aircraft’s bombs did destroy civilian buildings containing plenty of innocent men, women, and children. King & Country has always, and will always be in the ‘history business’… and that can and does mean exploring “the good, the bad and sometimes… the ugly.” Realistic history is as much a part of our product as the metal from which they are cast.
A big part of King & Country’s success has been built on developing more realistic approaches to the whole toy soldier and military miniature hobby and, dare I say, a more adult point-of-view.
Of course, I would like to see more young people come into this great hobby but I primarily aim my product at ‘grown-ups’ who have the time… the knowledge, the interest in military history… and importantly, the money to pay for it!
So getting back to the original focus of this letter, am I “guilty of poor taste”? I don’t believe so. If however, in your opinion I am, then where exactly does that place your magazine, which routinely prints our and other companies, advertisements for, among many other collections, Waffen SS vehicles and figures? It did not seem to offend your sensitivities nearly so much to take King & Country’s hard earned advertising dollars in those numerous situations. Perhaps your magazine (and you) would prefer we spend our money elsewhere in order to preserve the sanctity of your ‘good taste’.
I look forward to your reply,
Andy C. Neilson
Co-founder & Creative Director
King & Country
P.S. I did a quick check of this issues advertising pages that contain the photos of “Hitler and his henchmen” that so dismay you. They come to about 2 ¼ full pages of paid advertising. Perhaps you should consider rejecting such advertisements in favor of more tasteful ads. King & Country’s own advert on the back cover of your magazine is of course, a very tasteful rendering of our latest Napoleonic Cuirassier.
Well, that’s my tuppence worth on the subject. Best wishes and...happy collecting!
Andy C.
Long time no speak (write)...anyway re the recent kerfuffle about the review of “Gestapo Arrest” set in Toy Soldier & Model Figure Magazine, I thought you might like to see a copy of my reply to the morally indignant Mr. Hessney, so here goes...
May 21, 2007
To: Stuart A. Hessney, Toy Soldier & Model Figure
Re: Where does “Good taste end and poor taste begin”?
Dear Sir,
Your scathing review of one of our latest sets, “Gestapo Arrest!” in the most recent edition of the magazine, got me thinking about the above question…and several others.
It seems to me that you have chosen to view this set in a very narrow minded light…I view it somewhat differently. To me, this set is about the bravery and fortitude of the thousands of men and women in occupied Europe who fought an often lonely and perilous battle against the forces of darkness and evil. Sadly, many of these individuals were captured, tortured, and paid the ultimate price. Does their suffering somehow exclude them from being portrayed, along with their captors, in a realistic way in miniature? Obviously, I don’t believe so… but you have a right to your opinion and… so be it.
But, and it’s a big BUT, where do we draw the line between ‘good taste’ and ‘poor taste’? ‘War’, as Sherman said, ‘is hell’. From the earliest conflicts it has always been a nasty and violent experience. Ancient Romans (and their enemies) often massacred their prisoners in the most brutal fashion. During the Crusades both sides were frequently guilty of terrible excesses against innocent civilians as well as enemy combatants.
Even in more recent times, rape and pillage were not uncommon during the Napoleonic era and even the American Civil War. In the last century, two World Wars were fought that took the lives of many millions of soldiers and even more millions of innocent civilians.
Now, if King & Country decides to produce, let’s say, a World War II bomber…. A Heinkel… A B17 Flying Fortress… or perhaps an Avro Lancaster… complete with a ground crew loading that aircraft’s bombs… is that in ‘poor taste’?
By your argument, it might be, because, like it or not, many of those same aircraft’s bombs did destroy civilian buildings containing plenty of innocent men, women, and children. King & Country has always, and will always be in the ‘history business’… and that can and does mean exploring “the good, the bad and sometimes… the ugly.” Realistic history is as much a part of our product as the metal from which they are cast.
A big part of King & Country’s success has been built on developing more realistic approaches to the whole toy soldier and military miniature hobby and, dare I say, a more adult point-of-view.
Of course, I would like to see more young people come into this great hobby but I primarily aim my product at ‘grown-ups’ who have the time… the knowledge, the interest in military history… and importantly, the money to pay for it!
So getting back to the original focus of this letter, am I “guilty of poor taste”? I don’t believe so. If however, in your opinion I am, then where exactly does that place your magazine, which routinely prints our and other companies, advertisements for, among many other collections, Waffen SS vehicles and figures? It did not seem to offend your sensitivities nearly so much to take King & Country’s hard earned advertising dollars in those numerous situations. Perhaps your magazine (and you) would prefer we spend our money elsewhere in order to preserve the sanctity of your ‘good taste’.
I look forward to your reply,
Andy C. Neilson
Co-founder & Creative Director
King & Country
P.S. I did a quick check of this issues advertising pages that contain the photos of “Hitler and his henchmen” that so dismay you. They come to about 2 ¼ full pages of paid advertising. Perhaps you should consider rejecting such advertisements in favor of more tasteful ads. King & Country’s own advert on the back cover of your magazine is of course, a very tasteful rendering of our latest Napoleonic Cuirassier.
Well, that’s my tuppence worth on the subject. Best wishes and...happy collecting!
Andy C.
