I've seen the future of toy soldiers and it's called first legion. Or not? (3 Viewers)

[Dragoon]

It's kind of funny. Here we're having a discussion on highly detailed historical figures which are probabley better described as military miniatures than toy soldiers, and wondering if other makers see this as the future and change their products in order to compete. At the same time there are other theads on this forum welcoming the return of some fine quality glossies to a company that hasn't done them for years. THIS IS TRUELY A GREAT TIME TO BE A COLLECTOR. :smile2: - Ken

 

[MapleLeaf]

The future of toy soldiers is ur WALLET my freind
not FL not CS not Britains not TG or Figarti or whoever
Ur wallet will dictate what u can buy and how much u can buy
then price and quality might become a factor
Ur freind Mr WALLET will tell u

 

[VIRIATO]

The future of toy soldiers is ur WALLET my freind
not FL not CS not Britains not TG or Figarti or whoever
Ur wallet will dictate what u can buy and how much u can buy
then price and quality might become a factor
Ur freind Mr WALLET will tell u

Yes indeed! Got to face reality sooner or later^&grin... Let's see what our collective wallet will allow us to buy in the coming years... For now I believe prices on E-bay are going down... A sign of the times?

Paulo

 

[Rob]

Well I do like their ACW Figures very much indeed, the first Gettysburg releases were very nice, there is one figure taking a bullet as he goes forward, I think that is very realistic and well executed.:salute::

Rob

 

[Gebhard]

Well I do like their ACW Figures very much indeed, the first Gettysburg releases were very nice, there is one figure taking a bullet as he goes forward, I think that is very realistic and well executed.:salute::

Rob

Hi Rob ,
You now if more collectors were like you the world ( or at least the forum ) would be a much better place IMO :wink2: of course with your current collecting habits First Legion would be out of business . I know you have been following the FL ACW line since day one :wink2: I have a feeling one day you will cave LOL .. Happy collecting Gebhard

 

[Rob]

Hi Rob ,
You now if more collectors were like you the world ( or at least the forum ) would be a much better place IMO :wink2: of course with your current collecting habits First Legion would be out of business . I know you have been following the FL ACW line since day one :wink2: I have a feeling one day you will cave LOL .. Happy collecting Gebhard

Thank you Gebhard, thats very kind of you to say and much appreciated. You know one day I may indeed just cave!:wink2:.Will be very interested in what FL may do next for Gettysburg. For me TS's present the same problem as Pasta dishes, I like them all, but can't eat them all at once!^&grin:wink2:

All the best

Rob

 

[The Military Workshop]

Rob,

Now you have me worried. Not about buying FL (fingers crossed as I type !) but your possible interest in ACW !. Surely Naps would be the choice as the British are involved. Plus a lot more colourful. However having said that the actual ACW is interesting history and does have quite a few fans Down Under.

Regards
Brett

 

[nmrocks]

I don't believe FL is the future of the hobby for one simple reason, the price point is too high. If it was all about quality the russian figures would rule. There will always be a good market for quality figures and I'm sure in the future demand for retired FL will be strong, but the rise in pricing shows no signs of slowing and I believe within a couple of years they will be in the same range (lower end), cost wise as the Russian figures. They will have a strong market and a strong following, I just don't see them over taking the leaders at anytime.

 

[Rob]

Rob,

Now you have me worried. Not about buying FL (fingers crossed as I type !) but your possible interest in ACW !. Surely Naps would be the choice as the British are involved. Plus a lot more colourful. However having said that the actual ACW is interesting history and does have quite a few fans Down Under.

Regards
Brett

Brett,

Didn't Wellington win at Gettysburg then?!!:wink2:^&grin:salute::

Have had quite an interest in the ACW since I got Ken Burns excellent dvd set many moons ago^&cool:salute::

Rob

 

[damian]

Brett,

Didn't Wellington win at Gettysburg then?!!:wink2:^&grin:salute::

Have had quite an interest in the ACW since I got Ken Burns excellent dvd set many moons ago^&cool:salute::

Rob

Rob your message box is full.

 

[Rob]

Thanks Damian, sorted it now.

Rob

 

[Vezzolf]

I don't believe FL is the future of the hobby for one simple reason, the price point is too high. If it was all about quality the russian figures would rule. There will always be a good market for quality figures and I'm sure in the future demand for retired FL will be strong, but the rise in pricing shows no signs of slowing and I believe within a couple of years they will be in the same range (lower end), cost wise as the Russian figures. They will have a strong market and a strong following, I just don't see them over taking the leaders at anytime.

At this time I do not believe their "relative" price point is too high.....The x-tra cost of purchasing FL over other brands is more than justified by the trade off in quality.......But I will agree with you that every product has an appropriate competitive price point....At this time I think that FL is in the right spot and the right niche....If they continue to stay price competitive with higher quality their leadership status will rise as well...they will increase market share in the T/S world... no doubt

 

[Spitfrnd]

I don't believe FL is the future of the hobby for one simple reason, the price point is too high. If it was all about quality the russian figures would rule. There will always be a good market for quality figures and I'm sure in the future demand for retired FL will be strong, but the rise in pricing shows no signs of slowing and I believe within a couple of years they will be in the same range (lower end), cost wise as the Russian figures. They will have a strong market and a strong following, I just don't see them over taking the leaders at anytime.

Actually I agree in part. FL is priced at a different point on the demand curve and while any one who can afford K&C et all can also afford FL or even AeroArt, the quantity versus quality tradeoff will deliver greater volume to quantity, as usual. Whether the pricing will end up on the low end of Russian pricing is less certain. The price rises in the FL line have been fairly modest and detail related to this point but producing quality does cost and China will not always offer a bargain on skilled labor.

Also, on quality for specific purposes, like the painting for knights and such, the Russians may rule but for providing an interesting set of poses and complete lines, they simply have not delivered. If you favor the portrait poses, they have but for action, they have had very limited and often artificial looking offerrings. That is fine if you like that style and only want a few different figures for each period but if you want a more realistic style or a comprehensive treatment of a period, you currently have to find your quality elsewhere.

 

[wadepat]

Gentlemen:

Doubtless, you have noticed a great many posts have been deleted. The deleted posts angrily cover issues that have been debated time after time after time with no resolution in sight. Please take a deep breath, count to ten, and allow your passions to relax. This thread can be composed of meaningful reflections on the question that was originally raised if you but let it. I do not want to close the thread, but keeping this thread open will require your cooperation.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[Gebhard]

Also, on quality for specific purposes, like the painting for knights and such, the Russians may rule but for providing an interesting set of poses and complete lines, they simply have not delivered. If you favor the portrait poses, they have but for action, they have had very limited and often artificial looking offerrings. That is fine if you like that style and only want a few different figures for each period but if you want a more realistic style or a comprehensive treatment of a period, you currently have to find your quality elsewhere.

Hi Mate ,
As you know I'm a long time collector of several manufacturers of Russian sculpted and painted figures . I completely agree with your above statement , One of the main reasons aside from the quality of FL's products for me being drawn to them is the size and depth of the their releases which allow for the building of complete displays of some of the Great Battles of History . The struggle for Plancenoit from the Battle of Waterloo comes to mind , Complete with everything you need from figures to buildings . That is something that is just not possible for me no maker how much i spend on or how long i wait with my Russian collection . I do believe that most Russian pieces are made to be as stand alone pieces or as a very small vignette .

[/IMG]

 

[nmrocks]

Actually I agree in part. FL is priced at a different point on the demand curve and while any one who can afford K&C et all can also afford FL or even AeroArt, the quantity versus quality tradeoff will deliver greater volume to quantity, as usual. Whether the pricing will end up on the low end of Russian pricing is less certain. The price rises in the FL line have been fairly modest and detail related to this point but producing quality does cost and China will not always offer a bargain on skilled labor.

Also, on quality for specific purposes, like the painting for knights and such, the Russians may rule but for providing an interesting set of poses and complete lines, they simply have not delivered. If you favor the portrait poses, they have but for action, they have had very limited and often artificial looking offerrings. That is fine if you like that style and only want a few different figures for each period but if you want a more realistic style or a comprehensive treatment of a period, you currently have to find your quality elsewhere.

I agree that yes, FL does a much better job with the action figures and that lends itself to buying more grouping and lends itself well to Dioramas and larger displays.

 

[Mister Dave]

Hi Mate ,
As you know I'm a long time collector of several manufacturers of Russian sculpted and painted figures . I completely agree with your above statement , One of the main reasons aside from the quality of FL's products for me being drawn to them is the size and depth of the their releases which allow for the building of complete displays of some of the Great Battles of History . The struggle for Plancenoit from the Battle of Waterloo comes to mind , Complete with everything you need from figures to buildings . That is something that is just not possible for me no maker how much i spend on or how long i wait with my Russian collection . I do believe that most Russian pieces are made to be as stand alone pieces or as a very small vignette .

[/IMG]

Always awed by images of this particular range by FL. The Prussians, OGC's and Plancenoit buildings are so nicely done and don't think this parcel of the field at Waterloo had ever been covered before for some reason. I know this stuff is not exactly new, but it still has the same impact now that it did at time of initial release. :smile2:

MD

 

[Spitfrnd]

Always awed by images of this particular range by FL. The Prussians, OGC's and Plancenoit buildings are so nicely done and don't think this parcel of the field at Waterloo had ever been covered before for some reason. I know this stuff is not exactly new, but it still has the same impact now that it did at time of initial release. :smile2:

MD

I agree Dave and that is a very inspiring image indeed. It is enough to make we want to collect Prussians.^&grin The animation in those figures is near the best in the line. I would love to see something like that for the French and British.:wink2:

 

[marco55]

I can't afford to buy a complete range but I may buy FL's personality figures of the ACW as they come out.I would try harder:wink2:To buy more if he would put out a limited range of let's just say perhaps Bushy Run.^&grin
Mark

 

[jazzeum]

Re: DAK002-DAK009 Panzer III's and Infantry Pre-Order

Anyway, I think with the Civil War, I think I found the range I like. I have four right now and am planning on purchasing at least four on Sunday from George Guerriero at the NJ show. As I've said before, and with no disrespect intended for any other manufacturer of Civil War soldiers, these are the best Civil War soldiers there are.

Okay, I lied: I didn't buy four. I went to the Secaucus show today and saw George and bought eight. No, that is not a typo. Eight it was. I don't have any proper mats yet but will try to get one soon and take a photo of the North Carolinians attacking.

Hopefully Union will be out in the not too distant future.

I think I've come to the point in collecting where maybe less is more