How do you all like the new K&C packaging? (1 Viewer)

[Gideon]

Sorry for the second question. I'm just wondering what you all think.

I kind of liked the foam better than this new complicated deal. I worry that the paint will be rubbed or chipped somehow and I never had any real problems with foam - a bent gun every once in a while but that was about it.

I would suppose that this packaging is far less expensive than having a worker manually cut chunks of foam to fit four figures.

 

[Steven Chong]

Dear Gideon,
Andy showed me the new packaging when I met with him in Hong Kong. For forum members who have not seen it, it is very similar to the packaging used for the Del Prado figures i.e. two piece clear plastic with the figure tied down inside, then placed in a K&C box. The clear plastic container has a lid so you do not have to cut open the packaging with scissors like so many other items today. This new packaging is being tried with the LAH series first. Andy said the new packaging will prevent breakage, which has been a growing problem as K&C figures become more delicate and detailed. He did not think it would affect the paint work.
Like anything new, it was disconcerting seeing clear plastic instead of foam. Some people might say it cheapens the product by making it look more mass produced. However, if it allows K&C to keep prices low as the costs of production increases, I am willing to accept it.

 

[jazzeum]

I haven't seen it since I probably won't be getting anything new until the AK releases but I go along with Steven and if it prevents breakage I'm all for that since I had several experiences last year that didn't make me happy (although everything was ultimately rectified).

 

[CannonFodder1971]

Sorry for the second question. I'm just wondering what you all think.

I kind of liked the foam better than this new complicated deal. I worry that the paint will be rubbed or chipped somehow and I never had any real problems with foam - a bent gun every once in a while but that was about it.

I would suppose that this packaging is far less expensive than having a worker manually cut chunks of foam to fit four figures.

I don't want to in any way disparaging to the factory workers who boxed the K&C but more often than not there was not much evidence of foam being cut to fit the 4 figures. (You AR, LAH, NA guys/gals have never experienced the delights of 4 figures in a box. Great quality pewter alloy, as the rifles can be bent straight, but a heavy toll on the paintwork if the elastic bands re not tight enough to secure the upper and lower foam tightly enough).

I just felt that for the token indentation cut into the foam it left the potential for so much damage. If you looked at the ERTL Britains contrast you'll remember the depth of the foam and the level of customisation in the cuts.

I hope that the new system will be a success. As it is there are relatively few disasters, and those that occur usually involve ancillary issues such as elastic bands rather than the foam per se, but it'd be nice to see alternatives being explored. Already the artwork on the external packaging has added something extra, and hopefully the plastic ties will be a success too.

 

[OzDigger]

I haven't seen any of the new packaging but from the way Steven describes it, I'd say it was a backward step. Why pack collectable models in toy packaging? I feel most collectors would prefer to pay a bit extra for decent foam packaging like Britains use. If it's as bad as it sounds I see trouble ahead frankly.

 

[Steven Chong]

I haven't seen any of the new packaging but from the way Steven describes it, I'd say it was a backward step. Why pack collectable models in toy packaging? I feel most collectors would prefer to pay a bit extra for decent foam packaging like Britains use. If it's as bad as it sounds I see trouble ahead frankly.

In the last year, I have found more breakage and chipped paint in K&C pieces than the previous 15 years, especially with Napoleonic figures. Getting an undamaged piece is totally dependent on how careful the worker is in cutting out the foam -- sometimes they do a good job and sometimes they don't. I am willing to accept the new packaging if it prevents these problems. I also notice that K&C's new Imperial Chinese pieces have die cut foam similar to Britains, so K&C may be trying different solutions.

 

[erniesstudio]

With regard to the new packaging ,i found it very polished I recieved the new army flag bearer, and the moulded plastic cover with reusable knot nery smick indeed.In my opinion clear visual display ,firmly fixed, and with an outer casing as well ...One other point , item can be viewed in mint condition without ever having to touch ..ern

 

[OzDigger]

That sounds more promising Ernie. But I have to say the Britains packaging is one of the best, with nice cut out foam holes and a foam cover to keep the tissue paper wrapped items in place - hard to beat in my opinion.

 

[erniesstudio]

Oz..I,m waiting on the Steyr truck ,look forward to seeing, i was born in that town..ern

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

I just received the new K&C F18 Howitzer. I have to say besides being a great DAK piece, I like the new packaging. I would feel safe using it to move or store the figures as well. I have no confidence trying to put figures back in the old foam inserts. I hope this is how all future releases will be packaged.

 

[gk5717]

I just received my DAK field piece. I cut the tys as it was to much a pain to try to unravel the tys. My question is if I ever want to place them back in the box will the indentations in the plastic hold the pieces secure enough with out the tys.
Gary

 

[Steven Chong]

... My question is if I ever want to place them back in the box will the indentations in the plastic hold the pieces secure enough with out the ties.

Just don't ship it back to Hong Kong.

 

[sceic2]

With the massive amounts of merchandise that is on the move and the way the handlers really don't care how they move the boxes, I like seeing a company try new ways to make sure we get an undamaged product. For me the Britians are really very good, but I will give the new K&C method a chance. I just got my new AK's and everything came through is excellent condition so it works. The issue of cutting or not cutting the plastic ties is a personal one. I cut the Del Prado, but I will not cut the K&C. I don't save the Del Prado shipping plastic, I save all the others. Figarti Honey was packaged very much the same as the MiniChamps tanks are and they always came to me undamaged. As long as I get my guys and they are not broken, I'm happy. Michael

 

[OzDigger]

I hate wire ties on any collectable model as I feel they cheapen the thrill of opening a new item you ordered, a poor replacement for decent foam imo. And the box on the K & C LAH I recently purchased seemed cheaper looking than earlier examples. However as I tend to buy to keep, I guess the packing won't matter much to me in the long term. That said the new K & C packaging is no where near as bad as that on FOV models, after spending over five minutes getting out a FOV tank I'd like to tie some of those people down. It's no wonder I'm quick to throw FOV boxes in the trash

 

[gk5717]

Speaking of those tys, are the products packaged by hand and each ty individually twisted?
Those FOV vehicles are a piece of work, but I pretty much got it down to a science, just snip every ty I see.
Gary

 

[ucla1967]

I agree with Ozdigger. I much prefer die cut foam to any sort of ties. My recently purchased BBA01 and BBA02 has foam, but it was crudely carved out.

 

[sceic2]

The styro that Britains was using is also different. They seemed to spend more time making sure that the object was fitted properly and then they multi-layered the foam to ensure that one piece did not touch and rub against another piece. Of all the packing materials, I perfered the Britains. If you could rate foam material on a scale of one to ten, I'd giver a ten.

I have not even attempted to save a FOV box. The darn things are so taped, screwed, wired, and put together like a puzzle that it is almost impossible to save the box in any reasonable condition for reuse. However, I do like the screws used to hold the tank body to the packing material (like MiniChamps and Figarti). This really does stop the heavy object from moving around during shipping.

I really hate the styro that turns to small little balls like some of the older K&C vehicles and all of the Department 56 stuff. That crap always comes taped with shipping tape that has to be cut and leaves little pieces of styro floating in the air and all over the carpet, me and the furniture.

I did get the new 10.5 cm gun from K&C in their new container. The box was great, still undecided about the packing methods. The plastic wrapped wire is a pain, just used a wire cutter and bingo its gone. All the pieces came through without a scratch and in very good shape so I guess I should not complain too much. Michael

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

I don't care if my figures come wrapped in an old sock. As long as they are in perfect condition when I get them.

 

[nmrocks]

You'd care if they were wrapped in my old socks!

 

[OzDigger]

The styro that Britains was using is also different. They seemed to spend more time making sure that the object was fitted properly and then they multi-layered the foam to ensure that one piece did not touch and rub against another piece. Of all the packing materials, I perfered the Britains. If you could rate foam material on a scale of one to ten, I'd giver a ten.

I have not even attempted to save a FOV box. The darn things are so taped, screwed, wired, and put together like a puzzle that it is almost impossible to save the box in any reasonable condition for reuse. However, I do like the screws used to hold the tank body to the packing material (like MiniChamps and Figarti). This really does stop the heavy object from moving around during shipping.

I really hate the styro that turns to small little balls like some of the older K&C vehicles and all of the Department 56 stuff. That crap always comes taped with shipping tape that has to be cut and leaves little pieces of styro floating in the air and all over the carpet, me and the furniture.

I did get the new 10.5 cm gun from K&C in their new container. The box was great, still undecided about the packing methods. The plastic wrapped wire is a pain, just used a wire cutter and bingo its gone. All the pieces came through without a scratch and in very good shape so I guess I should not complain too much. Michael

Totally agree, Britains have the best packaging of all the manufacturers I have seen to date, foam is ideal if people take the time to make cut-outs for the pieces as they do.

And I've noticed those dreaded wire ties are likely to cut into and damage valuable pieces, especially those that are put away unpacked for longer periods - so be mindfull of that guys.

Lol, I forgot about all the tape etc on FOV stuff, but as you say they don't move in that packaging