John Jenkins Pictures Chicago (2 Viewers)

[marco55]

To me you are 100% right. I have considered Jenkins wonderful FIW range and checked a lot of photos but faces always put me off. Some are better than other though, as you say. It's this zombie face stuff that I don't like.

Paulo

If I knew how to put beards on figures I buy them all.
Mark

 

[Oldboy]

Hmmmm...while I'd agree with nmrocks,marco55 & viriato to some degree on the neanderthal visages,indeed I sold the single set BM01 I'd bought to experience them firsthand.I do not however enjoy seeing a gentleman pecked at on the very eve of acclaim.Further,I agree absolutely with Combat on realism and charm,but disagree as to whether Mr. Jenkins' work may accurately be niched "old school toy soldiers".I felt the sculpts were on a heroic scale,that Mr. Jenkins had created his own sort of elegance with a depth of detail that allowed crisp viewing from ,say, across a room even.I thought at the time that Marvel Comics enthusiasts would love them,that aspect I'm referring to as heroic,so I'm inclined to think they fall well North of K&C,somewhat South of Russian Connisieur...what to call them ?...hmmmm,ob.

 

[nmrocks]

Old boy,
I certainly don't want to rain on JJ's parade, I'm just trying to, let him know from my standpoint and it would appear others as well, what might inhibit sales. i think it's just a metter of shortining the forheads and bringing the eyes closer together.
Believe me I would love to get that whale boat, it's so well done and I believe one of, if not the best, most original sets of the year.
Ray

Hmmmm...while I'd agree with nmrocks,marco55 & viriato to some degree on the neanderthal visages,indeed I sold the single set BM01 I'd bought to experience them firsthand.I do not however enjoy seeing a gentleman pecked at on the very eve of acclaim.Further,I agree absolutely with Combat on realism and charm,but disagree as to whether Mr. Jenkins' work may accurately be niched "old school toy soldiers".I felt the sculpts were on a heroic scale,that Mr. Jenkins had created his own sort of elegance with a depth of detail that allowed crisp viewing from ,say, across a room even.I thought at the time that Marvel Comics enthusiasts would love them,that aspect I'm referring to as heroic,so I'm inclined to think they fall well North of K&C,somewhat South of Russian Connisieur...what to call them ?...hmmmm,ob.

 

[marco55]

I also did not want in any way to harm Mr.Jenkins. I have over 30 sets and have them displayed in my rooms.My feelings about his figures facial look I have talked privately to collectors about this and they say this is the main reason they don't collect JJD.I haven't said much about this publicly because I really didn't want to hurt Mr. Jenkins but it does hurt his business.I think he has carved a nice niche for himself and maybe if he knows the feeling of his customers he can improve the faces.I saw pictures of his new line and I think they are a very nice addition to Mr. Jenkins business.
Mark

 

[VIRIATO]

I believe that Mr. Jenkins is a tremendously accomplished artist. Who am I to say it anyway. His figures are excellent, my personal taste just doesn't go with those faces, it's something very personal and what I find odd can look good to others. That said, I believe some of the most recent sets, including the French Marines, look better when it comes to faces, these look more natural, real and not «distorted», which then again one might say is part of the Jenkins unmistakable style and unique personality of his figures.
To me, his is till now the best and most complete FIW range I have seen, but my probably weird taste/instinct tells me not to get these figures, exclusively, but really exclusively because of...faces. I have seen and reseen dozens of photos ( not the real thing though ), what a dilemma, but this detail always ends up putting me off. So, I am going for the wonderful Redcoats/Bluecoats from Britains and expect great things from Britains when it comes to FIW ( figure groups, both in matte and gloss, come January? ). I also rate Tradition's FIW range very highly and am pondering if I should take the plung also on this one.

Paulo

 

[Capitolron]

Just speaking for me. (IMHO) The reason why I love JJD Figures so much is because of the "different look" they have.

I really love K&C as most of you know and I have great respect for Britians and Conte figures - having lots of them as well. But, there is something special about these JJD guys. The realism with the old toy soldier look is quite interesting.

Plus - the time periods which he is covering are not being done by others and add a little something new to the collectors world.

Those just some of my thoughts.

 

[thebritfarmer]

I also did not want in any way to harm Mr.Jenkins. I have over 30 sets and have them displayed in my rooms.My feelings about his figures facial look I have talked privately to collectors about this and they say this is the main reason they don't collect JJD.I haven't said much about this publicly because I really didn't want to hurt Mr. Jenkins but it does hurt his business.I think he has carved a nice niche for himself and maybe if he knows the feeling of his customers he can improve the faces.I saw pictures of his new line and I think they are a very nice addition to Mr. Jenkins business.
Mark

Mark you are entitled to dislike the figures if you so wish. I am in agreement with you on this, the faces are just off. I have heard a couple of times about them resembling Old Toy Soldiers Can someone explain this to me? Old toy soldiers are gloss and don't have those daft black lines painted all over them. The only resemblance in my mind is they are metal.

 

[Combat]

Style preferences are subjective. I like the JJ FIW figures a lot, but wouldn't touch the Frontline FIW figures. Not everyone needs to agree. The industry trend is toward increasingly realistic appearance, but there is no reason that everyone has to adopt that standard. By that I don't mean to promote historical inaccuracy or lazy research. Just that I'm fine with a manufacturer taking some artistic license in terms of how their figures look. Some will like them and some will not no matter what they do.

Lastly, the JJ figures look best when displayed en masse and not in small or individual sets. When I look at mine, I don't get the impression that I'm looking at a recreation of the actual participants, but rather as an artistic representation of them as they might have been depicted in a painting.

 

[jazzeum]

I don't have any JJ figures so I'm basically neutral here (although I've met John a couple of times and like him a lot).

I had a conversation with Brian Levy last week in Chicago that I thought was instructive. I was looking at his figures (after having introduced myself) and he said to me "we're not going where you want us to go." After asking him where he thought that I wanted his company to go, he said something to the effect that "we're not taking the road you want us to be on." He also may have said something like maybe our figures aren't for you but don't quote me. At any rate, I thought those were prescient statements and, frankly, I stopped making comparisons after that.

We all can't have companies following the road that are our favorite manufacturer is on. That's just slavish imitation (e.g. New Model Army). Everybody, whatever occupation you follow, has to find their own way, their own voice. I suppose John could make his figures look like Frontline, K & C or Britains. That's not him, however. It just may be that these figures are just not for everyone.

 

[vandilay]

I agree their is plenty of room for different styles in this hobby ,
His new range looks great , But i,d have to admit from the photos
the facial issue mentioned has always kept me from taking the plunge
into these figures . I might still pick up a couple of jacobites to see
them first hand as its probably the only fair way to judge them.

 

[Oldboy]

I'm keenly interested to read everyone's viewpoint and anxious to encourage free expression,delighted really with all the clarificationHaving luckily found a Manufacturer covering this conflict brilliantly to my taste,and fairly exhaustively-I'm positioned to welcome something "completely different" enthusiasticallyJJD sculpts appear super-realistic to me,nigh revolutionary artistically and clearly posses that hallmark of actual Art-evoking strong responses of all sorts I wonder how many others imagine a fantastical a-la-Indian-in-the-Cupboard scale shift with our figures,and exactly what THAT would look like?As for the faces,I suggest that under fire ,in combat,expressions devoid of poise,hideously primal,perhaps are likely shownI'm working on spelling coni connis c-o-n-n-i-s-s-e-u-r- aright,signing off from the far hinterlands of weird toysoldiery,ob

 

[lancer]

JJD figures are the best. If someone out there is on the fence about collecting them because of others opinions, you need to get one of the figures in your hands and make up your own mind. IMO the faces on JJD figures are very expressive and realistic. Toy or art, you are missing the boat on these figures which will leave more for we true believers. -- lancer

 

[theBaron]

I think the earlier figures do look a little odd, almost like wargaming figures in their proportions. For example, line infantry figures, such as British grenadiers and hatment. But figures from more recent years are better-sculpted and much more in proportion. The French and Indian War figures, for example.

Prost!
Brad

 

[VIRIATO]

I think the earlier figures do look a little odd, almost like wargaming figures in their proportions. For example, line infantry figures, such as British grenadiers and hatment. But figures from more recent years are better-sculpted and much more in proportion. The French and Indian War figures, for example.

Prost!
Brad

From what I've seen on photo I agree with you 100%. And I also believe John Jenkins has not reached the end of the road on this improvement. Remember the earlier K&C and compare them with today's. I also believe his figures will retain their very unique personality, which is good and desirable and a testament to the artist's great talent.

Paulo

 

[IXEC]

Just speaking for me. (IMHO) The reason why I love JJD Figures so much is because of the "different look" they have.

I really love K&C as most of you know and I have great respect for Britians and Conte figures - having lots of them as well. But, there is something special about these JJD guys. The realism with the old toy soldier look is quite interesting.

Plus - the time periods which he is covering are not being done by others and add a little something new to the collectors world.

Those just some of my thoughts.

There's that charm again Ron,

Your going to sell me on JJD and the chase is on

 

[HistoryfortheAges]

I like most of John Jenkins sets but, there are a number of sets that I didn't purchase of the series that I do collect for various reasons. Also, I didn't and won't be purchasing the St. Francis series because I prefer concentrating on his other series. I think his lines are unique in the Toy Soldier arena and definitely appeal to a certain taste. I would not mix them with any other manufacturers in a display because they need to stand alone in their style whereas, K&C and Conte and in some cases Britians can be mixed in a diorama and work well.

 

[Alex]

At my local shop where I went hundreds of time, there are dozens of JJD sets.... and those are collecting dusts... I have never bought even one of those JJD guys because... of how their face was looking..... yes they do like prehistorical guys... but then I agree that they re very expressive.. more than vast majority of K&C figures... However, I've bought hundreds of K&C figures and not a single JJD ? Why... only because of the way the faces were depicted... but then I'm the kind of collector who will buy or not a figure depending on how well the face is done.. also if the proportions are off (like a forearm same length as an arm)... I will not buy.. I'm sure I'm not alone in this basket.. But then JJ has many years to come to improve and and I will have many $$$ to spend on those when the faces will look more realistic... more realistic doesnt mean less expressive... it only means that there are some proportions in homo sapiens sapiens that sculptors should follow if they re into making something realistic.. However, poses of JJD are top notch !

Alex

 

[OzDigger]

Is their 'ugly faces' the problem, or the fact they chose less popular eras, maybe it's both

 

[Oldboy]

Is their 'ugly faces' the problem, or the fact they chose less popular eras, maybe it's both

Or even,that he misses the lidless,deer-in-the-headlights eyes look,or the edematous legs ob

 

[VIRIATO]

Is their 'ugly faces' the problem, or the fact they chose less popular eras, maybe it's both

I would say that the FIW is quite popular right now, both from what I read in this forum, from what I see on E-bay and from what several manufacturers are doing at the moment, that is bringing up more and more new product for this period. I have no hard data though.

Paulo