Is our Hobby Changing? (1 Viewer)

[jazzeum]

Al, if no one is interested in your train collection, why not try selling them. There are probably shows down by you.

 

[lancer]

Al, if no one is interested in your train collection, why not try selling them. There are probably shows down by you.

Brad, I toyed with the idea many years ago and almost did sell them but the sentimental strings wouldn't allow it. The trains are all from my childhood (from the 50's and early 60's) and are all well-played with. I have my favorite pieces on static display (a Lionel Hudson and a Lionel Wabash F-3 Diesel) so I am happy with them like that even though I'd love to have room to run them. I'm afraid they're with me to the end.:wink2:^&grin -- Al

 

[jazzeum]

I understand. There are some things you just can't part with.

 

[Vezzolf]

My train layout is in an area of the basement somewhat out of the way....But with O gauge you really need a 20x30 layout to do it right.....12x12 does not allow for an interesting track plan but at least I can run some engines when the mood strikes me (usually Nov-Feb)....Due to general lack of interest my family will liquidate most of this train stuff someday at an estate sale along with the TS collection^&grin....Oh well C'est la vie.

 

[lancer]

My train layout is in an area of the basement somewhat out of the way....But with O gauge you really need a 20x30 layout to do it right.....12x12 does not allow for an interesting track plan but at least I can run some engines when the mood strikes me (usually Nov-Feb)....Due to general lack of interest my family will liquidate most of this train stuff someday at an estate sale along with the TS collection^&grin....Oh well C'est la vie.

Yep. Same here. -- Al

 

[Alex]

As Joe said earlier, the quality of most of todays stuff is not there anymore. But price are twice what they were before.
And contrary to Joe, I am going to give 'names'.

Aeroart is the first to come to my mind. The quality is not there anymore. The painted details are not there and all recent paint jobs look like they were rushed. No sorry, for 150$US they are not worth it anymore.

The new FL figures are now going for 70-75$US and are not in anyway better than they were before, I am sorry to say. It's not that they are not good, of course not, it is just that I don't see twice the value in them anymore. Actually, for us canadians, that 70$ figure is now over 100$ !!!

Let's not even talk about K&C...

 

[katana]

Many collectors have several interests. I collect many things, Model Trains, Japanese Ceramics, Damascus Knives etc. When an object that I collect exceeds what I consider to be a reasonable price or competes in cost with another collecting interest, I have to make a choice. When the choice is between a piece of polystone armor and a Cloisonne vase; both at the same price, I will choose to buy the vase. The vase has greater artistic and resale value than the polystone armor.
When prices of any collectable object increase choices have to be made between interests unless you have infinite wealth and a very supportive wife!

 

[Warrior]

I understand. There are some things you just can't part with.

Couldn't agree more. Growing up, I collected ho/oo figures from Airfix, have all the sets I bought still in the original boxes.

When I got back into the hobby in the mid 90's, I started buying ho/oo sets again; after a certain amount of time, my interest changed to buying metal ho/oo figures and painting them, never wanted to paint ho/oo plastic.

The more metal I bought, the more I started selling off all my ho/oo sets I had bought from the time I got back into the hobby, just about all of them are now gone, on to new homes.

The ones I kept are all the Airfix sets, stil in the original boxes. For a time, some of them went for a small fortune, but I just couldn't part with them, too many great childhood memories tied up in them.

So, I'm keeping those (plus, the prices they fetch have dropped like a stone, so absolutely no incentive to sell them now, that ship has sailed.............:wink2..................

 

[Vezzolf]

Pats /Broncos kick off in 1 Hr{sm4}

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Many collectors have several interests. I collect many things, Model Trains, Japanese Ceramics, Damascus Knives etc. When an object that I collect exceeds what I consider to be a reasonable price or competes in cost with another collecting interest, I have to make a choice. When the choice is between a piece of polystone armor and a Cloisonne vase; both at the same price, I will choose to buy the vase. The vase has greater artistic and resale value than the polystone armor.
When prices of any collectable object increase choices have to be made between interests unless you have infinite wealth and a very supportive wife!

If you have infinite wealth your wife will be supportive. ^&grin

Terry

 

[katana]

I truly hope that the Toy Soldier manufacturers do not price themselves out of the business. I know some Toy Soldier collectors that have moved to 1/18 scale plastic. The scale is better for ageing eyes to see detail. The prices are reasonable even for out of production 21st Century pieces and the accuracy and level of detail are amazing. A Flak 36 88mm for $80.00. A Sd.Kfz 251 with opening engine compartment with engine $60.00 and a PAK 40 75mm $50.00! The Panther G is very impressive in size and detail for $80.00! One nice thing is that you do not need reinforced shelving to display these pieces. New pieces are being made in 1/18 and I would not be surprised to see 1/30 collectors migrating to 1/18 scale in future.

 

[jomartvr]

Richard Walker of History Works is hoping to introduce toy soldiers for $20 (infantry) and $30 (cavalry) per figure. Should be interesting to see what is going to happen with that endeavor. Personally, I have been purchasing old KC on EBAY for a hefty discount. I would not be surprised to see some major companies do the dirt nap and fade away. From my point of view KC pricing themselves out of business, but I am sure others would violently disagree. Given that dealers cannot discount KC stock, perhaps KC will eventually do more sales from their online store, than through traditional toy soldier retailers.
Benjamin

 

[katana]

I see a lot of new K&C figures on Ebay at low bid or make an offer auctions. A hidden discount IMHO! Figarti and Thomas Gunn figures and armor are discounted or given a well below retail start bid. I agree that a shake out of Toy Soldier manufacturers and a consolidation is coming. I am surprised that the best seems to be leaving the market first. Figarti armor like Honor Bound before it will be missed and be remembered as quality products!

 

[villagehorse]

I truly hope that the Toy Soldier manufacturers do not price themselves out of the business. I know some Toy Soldier collectors that have moved to 1/18 scale plastic. The scale is better for ageing eyes to see detail. The prices are reasonable even for out of production 21st Century pieces and the accuracy and level of detail are amazing. A Flak 36 88mm for $80.00. A Sd.Kfz 251 with opening engine compartment with engine $60.00 and a PAK 40 75mm $50.00! The Panther G is very impressive in size and detail for $80.00! One nice thing is that you do not need reinforced shelving to display these pieces. New pieces are being made in 1/18 and I would not be surprised to see 1/30 collectors migrating to 1/18 scale in future.

I sure hope not, I sold my extensive 1/18 collection 5 years ago to fund 1/30. Agree the detail in 1/18 was excellent, but with the demise of the 21st Century manufacturer, spelt the end for me. Robin.

 

[katana]

I have many 1/18 21st Century Toy pieces and I was really sad to see the company fold. A very innovative and well made product line. I repainted a Panzer Grey Tiger I in a more accurate late war tricolor camouflage pattern. I have it on a shelf above my desk and it is one of my favorite panzers.
Dragon came out with a very nice line of 1/18 figures and dioramas; which are very interesting and well done. JSI picked up the 21st Century molds and is producing the Panther G; which is a very good model as is the M4 Sherman.

 

[villagehorse]

Yea at the peak I had around 700 1/18th figures, all sold to a friend. Robin.

 

[villagehorse]

arrr those were the days. Robin.

 

[johnnybach]

I have avoided jumping in with my thoughts on the matter, until I had really clarified what I really thought. I'm also a bit different from most collectors, as the part of the hobby that interests me most - is assembling and painting figures - and not just buying them ready-made.

I think I'm about there now - so here goes.

Firstly, I prefer to think of the hobby as evolving - and not changing. One thing I learned from "work" before I retired, was that most "change" is usually stressful - as it takes you away from your comfort zone. Evolution is a much gentler process - so not as stressful, as it involves gentler change.

However, sooner or later - the effects will be the same. From reading a few of the comments, the constant drip of price increases from some TS manufacturers IS causing a problem.

Well, this doesn't really cause me too many problems at the moment, because I'm not really in that market. I don't buy ready-mades - unless they are older figures - and usually on the secondary market - to strip, repair, repaint etc. Usually, this means less expensive and well within the funds I allow myself to spend on my hobby.

However, any slow down in supply of figures - due to people NOT buying new releases from expensive suppliers, will - sooner or later - mean less available for me to purchase.

From my perspective, there are also other worrying signs evident from new suppliers. At one time, it was possible to buy both painted AND unpainted castings, from even the biggest suppliers. Even the old Britains company WOULD sell unpainted castings at one time. However, more recently, I note that many new entrants into the market won't sell castings at all - and also restrict the amount of each figure they will sell - to a set amount - and then produce no more. They call them "limited editions" - a fancy name for "buy it now - or you won't get one"

I am not at all keen on either of these ideas - and the thought of buying jst ONE foot figure at around the £50 mark - would see me heading for the door pretty quickly.

These hefty prices are also having an effect on some of the Companies who still will sell you both - and there has been a definite "drag-up" effect on prices of castings from some suppliers. An old "rule of thumb" that I used to keep in mind ( and still followed by some) is that if a painted soldier was priced at a figure - a casting was usually half of that price. I note that some of the leading sellers are making that more like two-thirds of the price, more recently. The net result is that even unpainted figures are getting pricier too - at least in some quarters.

I find myself, more and more, these days, either going back to the tried and tested suppliers who are NOT going to try and rip me off - OR going to the secondary market - and buying older pieces - sometimes in need of a little more care and attention than those expensive ready-mades - and refurbishing or even re-making my own.

So..............in effect.............I am evolving too...........just as the hobby is.

Question is - do I like it??

The short answer is - yes I do. I have enjoyed seeing MY skills (such as they are) evolving and enjoy what I do more and more. So, I rather like the hobby as it is - and whatever happens to it - I think I'm still in it - until I can't do it any more - and I'm okay with that. johnnybach

 

[Artillery_crazy]

Hi Lancer,
I hear you! I have the same issue at home....My most dreaded fear is that when I am gone the wife will just give them away as "toys" or sell them at a dirt cheap price just to clear the cabinets......{sm2}{sm2}{sm2}...so I never stop telling them that although they have no interest in the collections, there is a lot of Money to be made on them.....when I pointed out to a cabinet and said that if they worked it well in selling only the contents of that one they could buy themselves a new car...the boys opened their eyes and now seem to care a bit more......{sm3}{sm3}{sm3}
Cheers
A_C

I also had an 'O' gauge collection, all Lionel, mostly inherited from my childhood collection that my father put together for me and my brother. My brother never exhibited any interest once we hit our teen years so I ended up with the trains. Used to have a small set-up, but it took up too much room while raising my 3 kids, and it hasn't been set up since the 80's. My children have no interest in the trains, or my TS collection. I tried to interest them in TS while they were growing up, buying them Britains Deetails, and giving them access to my old Marx figures, but no real lasting interest resulted. I now have trains, TS, and airplanes aplenty, with no one to leave them to. I hope they enjoy liquidating the collection when the time comes.:rolleyes2: -- Al

 

[Artillery_crazy]

I fully agree with you Alex....
I have noticed that on FL and TGM.....
JJD still keeps its ground as does K&C/WBritains as far as I have seen the recente sets....
But we still suffer from the " limited edition sindrome.....buy now or never " which is unfair to say the least...Gone are the days that they manufacturerrs had long running productions so you could get sets for Christmas, birthday and whenever you could put Money aside and save until you had enough to buy what sets you wanted.....and the price......Gone are the days you could think of putting together a nice dio that required a battalion strength....now a little scouting party will already take you to the poor house....
I am more of a WW1/WW2 guy so I do suffer, but not as much as my collegues that fancy English Civil War up to American Civil War era they are in a really tight corner ......{sm3}{sm3}..
Cheers
A_C

As Joe said earlier, the quality of most of todays stuff is not there anymore. But price are twice what they were before.
And contrary to Joe, I am going to give 'names'.

Aeroart is the first to come to my mind. The quality is not there anymore. The painted details are not there and all recent paint jobs look like they were rushed. No sorry, for 150$US they are not worth it anymore.

The new FL figures are now going for 70-75$US and are not in anyway better than they were before, I am sorry to say. It's not that they are not good, of course not, it is just that I don't see twice the value in them anymore. Actually, for us canadians, that 70$ figure is now over 100$ !!!

Let's not even talk about K&C...