I've seen the future of toy soldiers and it's called first legion. Or not? (1 Viewer)

VIRIATO

VIRIATO

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At the moment, when pondering about my future collecting years and the future of the hobby, inspired by another thread, First Legion comes to mind. I do love glossy figures, including my favorite Imperial Productions, but in the longer run I believe First Legion has broken a few boundaries and might indeed set the pace for the future. In my view FL's figures are clearly the best matte figures around, comparable with connoisseur figures but at a lesser price, at least for now.
What do you think? Are they still too expensive to become widely popular among collectors? Or will they become the new quality standard? Will the changing working conditions in China (higher salaries) play a part in all this? What about Aeroart's upcoming joint venture with Figarti, a case of wait and see?

Paulo
 
I think like everything in life you need variety.FL's figures are great for a lot of people but not for everyone,be it the price,style size,whatever. I think every manufacturer has it's own core of collectors.I will buy anyone's if it appeal's to me.
Mark
 
How is it I have a feeling this thread is gonna get turned into a fight?? but I do agree with you that First Legion is the best out there for the price and quality hands down, but that's my personal thoughts, and I'm sure someone else will think differently and that's thier right. no argument from me...Sammy
 
So far FL leads in many ways in matte figures
Notice TG CS are getting better and better
with each releases. Even Britains came a long way
The war of the Nile series are very nice sculpt and painted
All those manufacturers are in competition for their products
The rise in price will certainly affect buying power.
I know it will affect me, have to select my ranges and stick with it.
KC with the new glossy addition and Figarti with Aeroart will be interesting
to see.To me FL is a choice selection connaisseur quality affordable to the
average collector like me. If prices keep rising will it be affordable???
What will the future bring??? Probably what u can afford.
This is my opinion not a forecast. HAPPY COLLECTING
 
sammy719 said:
How is it I have a feeling this thread is gonna get turned into a fight?? but I do agree with you that First Legion is the best out there for the price and quality hands down, but that's my personal thoughts, and I'm sure someone else will think differently and that's thier right. no argument from me...Sammy
Click to expand...

I think you're right (about it turning into a fight ^&grin ) But I'm not getting into it. :salute::

Terry
 
Very hard to predict the future:wink2:....But no doubt for me First Legion produces the best detailed, most realistic toy soldiers "presently"......truely unique.....Excellent product...It's the direction "my collection" is heading in the future...That's all I have to say or will say about this subject.....and I will discuss it no further.
 
K&C, CS, JJD = ford, gm = for around 40.000$
FL = porsche Cayman = around 60.000$
Aeroart = porsche 911 = for around 100.000$
Kolobob = ferrari = for around 225.000$

See, not everyone rides a Porsche these days... some do for all the good reasons...

But Porsche ain't for everyone.. just think about the price..

Same thing for FL... but for me I can only drive a Porsche these days ...

Now if prices are going up.. to 100$ for a FL figure.... that would be simply too much..

for 50$ or so FL figures are a steal.

cheers,

Alex
 
I don't think I can venture a guess at what's to come, but one thing's for sure, I can't wait to see what the Aeroart/Figarti venture brings. This could really be fun and add to our already substantial list of choices. It's great to have so much variety in the toy soldier world.

Joe
 
I still believe in the magic of toy soldiers and F/L isn't it. F/L and CS are part of the emerging miniatures market, realistic renderings of military figures. Though CS is resisting, the miniatures market will test the upper limits of the usual TS collector's wallet. I can still buy my toy soldiers, paint and detail warts and all, reasonably inexpensive. I still like the masses of as*****es concept of collecting, while most are struggling to afford the new miniatures, a piece at a time. Those with money will strug off the price differences between mfg. and buy what they want. To me, K/C are still toy soldiers as well as any gloss makers still out there. Give me the garrish paint scheme and off scale any time. But to call F/L and others toy soldiers...NAH! Michael
 
I love the FL figures, however, my wallet assures that I will remain a GM, Ford type of guy. -- Al
 
Is this not a subjective call??

Each manufacturer posits their wares in their own style and asks collectors to buy it based on that.

I think, for what its worth, that each manufacturers selections are unique and really can be mixed if you want but, always look better when used in their respective camps.

For me, FL is no more the future of toy soldiers than K&C TG CS WB or any of the other manufacturers they all are a part of the future and add to the tapestry in their own way.

Not one manufacturer is better or worse than the other as they appeal to different people for different reason and, at different times. The future for me, would be to see a few more manufacturers come into the hobby and to keep all the ones we have at the moment producing the quality they are.

There would be less fights if people would see all these observations are subjective and have no objectivity then, we could have some proper debates about detail historical accuracy and all the rest
Mitch
 
No need to fight at all, we can be quite democratic, or can't we?^&grin. I like a good civilized debate and exchange thoughts on our hobby, even if they are very different from mine...
On MIchael's post, it does raise a good point: FL (which really is close to Aeroart or other Connoisseur at a lower price point) is in fact making historical miniatures or close to connoisseur figures, not toy soldiers, the realism and detail is just on another level. In my view, K&C, Britains, Little Legion and others are making toy soldiers. But to me one thing is clear, whether matte or gloss, all the toy soldiers being made nowadays are more and more detailed and realistic, a trend that is possibly bringing more collector's into the hobby. Check out K&C, Imperial or Britains: the sculpting, painting and detail keeps getting better and better. So I would say that this is the trend for the future, we won't get back to the Old Britains style, even Mr. Hocker has taken it to another level. Oh, yes, and another trend is surely the one piece at a time, just look at what the big players are doing, during the last years group sets have been going out the window...
I try to collect what I like, irrespective of them being toy soldiers or historical miniatures. So nowadays I pick my figures mostly from Imperial, and than FL, Tommy Atkins and John Firth painted figures. And have some K&C figures I intend to keep because I love them. Choice is a key word though, no room or $ for most of it...
Some people would say that Tommy Atkins are closer to the older toy soldier style, but if you check out the painting, especially on their Jacobite Rebellion or FIW ranges, you'll find a very superior standard.

Paulo
 
VIRIATO...

I think thats also one of the problems is terminology. Toy soldier evokes something different to me to what the matt manufacturers are making and, that often obfuscation of terminology can in itself lead to problems.
Mitch

VIRIATO said:
No need to fight at all, we can be quite democratic, or can't we?^&grin. I like a good civilized debate and exchange thoughts on our hobby, even if they are very different from mine...
On MIchael's post, it does raise a good point: FL (which really is close to Aeroart or other Connoisseur at a lower price point) is in fact making historical miniatures or close to connoisseur figures, not toy soldiers, the realism and detail is just on another level. In my view, K&C, Britains, Little Legion and others are making toy soldiers. But to me one thing is clear, whether matte or gloss, all the toy soldiers being made nowadays are more and more detailed and realistic, a trend that is possibly bringing more collector's into the hobby. Check out K&C, Imperial or Britains: the sculpting, painting and detail keeps getting better and better. So I would say that this is the trend for the future, we won't get back to the Old Britains style, even Mr. Hocker has taken it to another level. Oh, yes, and another trend is surely the one piece at a time, just look at what the big players are doing, during the last years group sets have been going out the window...
I try to collect what I like, irrespective of them being toy soldiers or historical miniatures. So nowadays I pick my figures mostly from Imperial, and than FL, Tommy Atkins and John Firth painted figures. And have some K&C figures I intend to keep because I love them. Choice is a key word though, no room or $ for most of it...
Some people would say that Tommy Atkins are closer to the older toy soldier style, but if you check out the painting, especially on their Jacobite Rebellion or FIW ranges, you'll find a very superior standard.

Paulo
Click to expand...
 
I bet this time tomorrow night this thread will be gone..........................^&grin
 
For what it's worth, I think FL is the most exciting thing out there today, nothing has changed my stance on that. Odd thing is, I don't own a single figure of theirs nor do I intend on getting anything anytime soon- simply put, they don't do anything I collect. Still, the quality is there in spades.

I think collectors get preoccupied with price points rather than stepping back and looking at the bigger picture. I collect Russian miniatures. As the price of a figure goes up, the amount of collectors vying for it tends to go down. You simply are not pressured by "Retirements" steering the market. A collector could conveivably spend/set aside $100/month for FL or St. Pete purchases and build up a collection of 10- 20+ figures in a year- what is wrong with that?? Sure, you may pay more individually per figure but over the course of a year, you spend $1,200 versus say $1,800- $2,400 being invested in 2-3 lines from companies that commonly "retire" their figures on a frequent basis.

We are programmed to have to buy something once a month or so- it doesn't have to be that way. You can spend $1k with FL and get approx 18 figures or so. After three short years, you've got a collection of 30-40 museum quality figures. This hobby is a marathon, not a sprint.

Now, someone help me out here- post #2 by Britfarmer was deleted by another mod??? Dissension in the ranks fellas?? ^&grin^&grin^&grin
 
Hi Chris


No problems in the ranks just keeping things fair... Other than that there are some interesting opinions here and lets hope it stays friendly.

Dave
 
well, thats right in terms of toy soldiers and taste. But not say in terms of historical fact or accuracy or, whether a manufacturer has got things right or wrong. That was my point arguing about my figures are better than yours is a waste of time as there is no right or wrong answer
Mitch
 
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