If the US Marines.... (1 Viewer)

[Rob]

Are not selling as well as was hoped,would it be worth making some British and Australian Jungle troops to fight the Japenese.Would the Japs already produced fit in with new Brit/Aus troops?.Maybe some Gurkhas would work too?.

Rob

 

[vandilay]

Hi Rob

I think maybe the lack of apeal with the pacific is the lack of armour,
a lot of ww 2 collectors seem to be heavily into their tanks etc
[especialy german ] so this is maybe where the pacific theatre falls
down. I,ve often uuhmed and aaarred about getting into this range
[my grandad was a pacific veteran ,an anti aircraft gunner]
And I,m not sure what it would take for me to take the plunge ,
Gurkhas as youve said would be the buisness ,and maybe a ltd
edition might kick this range off for more people.

cheers Rob

 

[Rob]

Hey Rob,

I think you may have nailed it there.There certainly is very little armour compared to the other theatres.As a collector of armour myself i must confess that the smaller Tanks like Italian or Japenese don't appeal quite as much as their more famous and larger relatives.Like you i can't make up my mind as to whether i should collect Jap troops,silly really i guess.Toy army workshop made some excellant WW1 Gurkhas and would love to see K&C do some WW2,such brave and fearsome soldiers.

Cheers

Rob

 

[vandilay]

I missed the boat on toy army workshop ,I remeber seeing their website
just before they closed down. You hardly ever see the stuff come up on
e bay etc which is a real shame as it looked very good.
As for the Gurkhas I reckon the best bet may be Monte casino if where
ever lucky enough to see them grace K and C,s range.
As youve said superb soldiers ,you certainly rather have them on your side.

 

[Rob]

I collected Toy Army for many years and was sad when they closed down,they did some wonderful stuff.(there was talk a while ago about them restarting?).Yes i guess Monte Cassino would be a more likely theatre for the Gurkhas,i read a hair raising story about them decapitating German soldiers in the middle of the night at Cassino,as you say glad they were on our side!

Rob

 

[vandilay]

I read a book a little while back about the Gurkhas with a motto like
'its better to die than be a coward ' [i think thats right ] they certainly
wherent goin to take a step back.
I think my motto would be 'its better to run away than be killed '
If you still have your toy army workshop stuff it would be great to see some shots in the glossy section of the forum.

Regards Rob

 

[Rob]

A very wise motto Rob!.I will have to get round to getting up in the loft and unboxing my Toy army stuff for some pics.Don't you hate it when a company you really like goes under.It was about the time they stopped trading that i really got into K&C.I have been going to the London show for years now and the times i'd walk by the K&C tables on my way to Toy Army,all that now retired stuff i could have got Rob!!

Rob

 

[aujj65]

I collected Toy Army for many years and was sad when they closed down,they did some wonderful stuff.(there was talk a while ago about them restarting?).
Rob

Rob,

According to the article in the November edition of TS&MF, TAW is to recommence production in the months to come.

Jeff

 

[Rob]

Rob,

According to the article in the November edition of TS&MF, TAW is to recommence production in the months to come.

Jeff

Wow,thats fantastic news.Thanks Jeff i appreciate it.

Rob

 

[aujj65]

It appears that a friend of the owner will be taking responsibility for the range.

Jeff

 

[Rob]

I see,if you read anymore news about this would you let us know Jeff?.

Thanks

Rob

 

[aujj65]

I see,if you read anymore news about this would you let us know Jeff?.

Thanks

Rob

Rob,

Sure will, I am just quoting what was printed in TS&MF. But these things do take time.

Jeff

 

[Rob]

Rob,

Sure will, I am just quoting what was printed in TS&MF. But these things do take time.

Jeff

Thanks Jeff.If it happens this is going to destroy my budget!!!!

Rob

 

[Louis Badolato]

Toy Army Workshop made great stuff, especially WWI vehicles and artillery pieces. I am glad to hear they will be re-entering production.

As far as K&C and the Pacific Theater, I think China/Burma would be wonderful. AVG Flying Tigers, Chindets, Merrill's Marauders, Bill Slim (the best Allied general of the war) and the 14th Army and, as you rightfully pointed out, GURKHAS! However, while I know a lot of us would buy the whole shooting match, I suspect that this would not have the broad appeal of the European Theater stuff with the big, glamorous tanks.

 

[Rob]

I'm really surprised that the US Marines are not a big seller,i thought our American friends would snap these up in a flash?.

Rob

 

[johngambale]

I have Collected, in the past 2-3 Whole IwoJima Sets, from k & C! I think that Andy, should make the following Vehicles and Artillery, to entice the sales of Iwo Jima: ----- U.S. 105Mm Howitzer Gun,--- LVT4A,-Amphibious Craft with 75MM Howitzer on Turret-----U.S. ( HEAVY) Mortar Team--U.S.-RECON Jeep/Radio Command----U.S57MM-Anti-Tank Gun---U.S.M.C.-SHERMAN Tank (Camouflage Colors)----U.S.M.C.Medical Unitw/ Tent! MORE Rifle Infantry, Grenade Throwing Squads, NEW (HEAVY) 30.Cal MG Team, and a BAZOOKA TEAM!--------JAPANESE-Small Tankette, Field Howitzer Gun, a Large Coastal Gun Emplacement with Gun, MULE-Pack, carrying Supplies, MORE BANZAI Infantry, More Armor!

 

[damian]

In the past some collectors implied that American collectors dominated things and that is why there was such an American bias in the products. You know the old complaints about movies like Saving Private Ryan etc writing out the British and commonwealth efforts ( Please note I do not subscirbe to this point of view.) This goes to show how this is not really the case. North Africa is very popular even though it is mostly British and commonwealth and the Pacific is not very popular. This is depsite Iwo Jima being iconic. You know that great photograph of Raising the Flag, John Wayne in the Tha Sands of Iwo Jima and now Clint Easywood's great Letters from Iwo Jima and Flags of Our Fathers. It is really hard to explain what makes a campaign or battle popular. John Jenkins and Frontline hit the jackpot with French Indian Wars a whole era which had long been ignored. It will be interesting to see how far the Indian Mutiny goes with Britains as this is also a bit of an unusual era/campaign. The Zulu War seems to be perenially popular. I think the K and C Iwo Jima figures were very good. I am really suprised that such a famous battle has not taken off amongst collectors. It remains a bit of a mystery why the Eastern Front and the whole other 25 odd years of the Napoleonic wars seem to be so unrepresented by the collecting community.

Regards
Damian Clarke

 

[panda1gen]

I have bought the Japanese and they are really good, I like the chi ha tank as well. I have a handful of US marines as well.

I had intended to set up a burma diorama sometime with the grant, honey, 8th army and FOB brits/commonwealth.

Would love some Gurkhas and more ANZACS

Would like some jungle green - maybe some chindits / more Indian army etc. The jeeps and other soft vehicles might do at a pinch? I would also like a Commonwealth repaint of the Buffalo for say the Scheldt crossings?

Just need some time.....and money....and space......ho hum

 

[Rob]

I guess its the battles that really capture the imagination (perhaps inhanced by films)that prove very popular with collectors.Waterloo,Zulu,SPR Etc.Its true that more people are interested in Waterloo than any other Napoleonic battle and the same goes for Rorkes Drift.And yet i can't explain why despite Clints two films and John Waynes efforts the Pacific theatre hasn't taken off big time.The new Arnhem range is of course aided in popularity by 'A bridge too far'.Perhaps the age of collectors and what films they have grown up with have a big impact on what they collect.I know its the case for me.

Rob

 

[Harrytheheid]

I guess its the battles that really capture the imagination (perhaps inhanced by films)that prove very popular with collectors.Waterloo,Zulu,SPR Etc.Its true that more people are interested in Waterloo than any other Napoleonic battle and the same goes for Rorkes Drift.And yet i can't explain why despite Clints two films and John Waynes efforts the Pacific theatre hasn't taken off big time.The new Arnhem range is of course aided in popularity by 'A bridge too far'.Perhaps the age of collectors and what films they have grown up with have a big impact on what they collect.I know its the case for me.

Rob

I hadn't really thought about it Rob, but you know - I think you're right. It does seem to depend on what we grew up with, whether it be films, books, comics, whatever.......

Cheers
H