K&C-Unpainted figures ? (1 Viewer)

[TomB]

Does K&C sell unpainted TS ?.....I guess they do not ....all the fuss about the " P " figures would suggest this.....IMHO unpainted TS from K&C would be cheaper and in everybody's price range and could start a few collectors off having a go at painting themselves...they might even enjoy it......just an observation ....TomB

 

[The Military Workshop]

Does K&C sell unpainted TS ?.....I guess they do not ....all the fuss about the " P " figures would suggest this.....IMHO unpainted TS from K&C would be cheaper and in everybody's price range and could start a few collectors off having a go at painting themselves...they might even enjoy it......just an observation ....TomB

Tom,
K&C has thought about it a few years ago but did not go ahead with the idea.

The reality is not many TS collectors paint figures or are interested to do so. If they had an inclination
to paint there are great figures from brands such as Andrea and Pegaso.

Brett

 

[TomB]

Tom,
K&C has thought about it a few years ago but did not go ahead with the idea.

The reality is not many TS collectors paint figures or are interested to do so. If they had an inclination
to paint there are great figures from brands such as Andrea and Pegaso.

Brett

Brett...Thanks for that.........I guess it is cheaper to buy the painted product,than to pay to have it painted for you....I think the unpainted figures would be popular with the younger ....more adventuress... not so well healed collector....... before the unfortunate closure of WETS I brought several unpainted figures because I like the silver look .....to each his own I guess...regards TomB

 

[villagehorse]

There is big range in war gaming figures un painted that kids love to paint, but I bet there are very few that would ever get close to the painting detail we expect in this hobby. {sm4} Robin.

 

[Simpson & his donkey.]

There is big range in war gaming figures un painted that kids love to paint, but I bet there are very few that would ever get close to the painting detail we expect in this hobby. {sm4} Robin.

There are some really great 1/35 scale model painters that can do as good or not better . I have meet some and seen there work and it's great. They also do other scales so 1/30 scale would be easy for them. Chris.

 

[Mitch]

FL do a similar thing with their figures and have released them in kits style which, are popular. I have a few myself and know a couple of people who paint them up.

I think K&C releasing these unpainted casts would be a great idea not for everyone but, I would venture that they would be quite popular.
Mitch

 

[TomB]

There is big range in war gaming figures un painted that kids love to paint, but I bet there are very few that would ever get close to the painting detail we expect in this hobby. {sm4} Robin.

I agree ....the expert painting is part of the figure cost and the hobby and rightly so......my thought are..for a young collector on a tight budget,the unpainted figures are a good way to start and get the fell of the hobby ..with quality .....unpainted figure's...then if they get a serious bite from the collector bug....have a crack at painting ...... ready painted figures is their choice further down the track when they can afford them.......just a thought.......regards TomB

 

[jazzeum]

At the first K & C Symposium in 2005, K & C announced that they would be coming out with a new range, Fields of Battle, and that it would be unpainted. Later, Andy changed his mind and it came out as a painted range.

 

[ostrein]

Would be great. Would love to buy multiples of unpainted TS. Painting TS has become a great part of my TS collection. Currently I buy Pegaso and other 54mm figure kits to add to my FL Imperial Romans collection.

Oliver

 

[The Military Workshop]

I agree ....the expert painting is part of the figure cost and the hobby and rightly so......my thought are..for a young collector on a tight budget,the unpainted figures are a good way to start and get the fell of the hobby ..with quality .....unpainted figure's...then if they get a serious bite from the collector bug....have a crack at painting ...... ready painted figures is their choice further down the track when they can afford them.......just a thought.......regards TomB

Tom,
A few years ago I used to sell a lot of figure kits and have had good figure painters working as my shop staff.

Two of my current TS collectors would sometimes pay to have kits painted. Typical charge was $1 per mm so a 54mm figure was $54 plus the price of the kit which was usually at least $35. At that time you could get 2 K&C figures for same price and that was off the shelf. Those that wanted something painted had to wait quite a while to get them.

Painting figures is a totally different hobby to collecting them. For the younger shop visitors I recommend they buy plastics in a nearby hobby shop as the variety is good and get plenty of figures for your $.

No made in China TS brand has unpainted figures available. I believe some UK guys do both. If somebody wants to paint figures there are plenty of options available without K&C or other TS brands having to make their moulds available.

Regards
Brett

 

[TomB]

FL do a similar thing with their figures and have released them in kits style which, are popular. I have a few myself and know a couple of people who paint them up.

I think K&C releasing these unpainted casts would be a great idea not for everyone but, I would venture that they would be quite popular.
Mitch

I agree with you....unpainted is not for everyone but a few collectors would be interested for various reasons I expect....If K&C was to release a limited number of unpainted figures for a trail run it should not cost them too muck,if anything and maybe they would have a limited market for them...who knows?...Cheers TomB

 

[Jack]

It would be interesting to see what kind of market was available for unpainted K&C. It seems an easy one for them to try but I wonder if unpainted figures would actually compete against K&C's other ranges to the eventual detriment of both.

 

[Mitch]

Have to agree with the comments stating that it could be detrimental to the manufacturer if they released these. There would be nothing to stop someone buying hundreds of unpainted figures and then painting them and undercutting the manufacturer.

Its probably why FL release theirs in a different scale to the metal releases. Still would be great for the ever growing number of painters
Mitch

 

[TomB]

Tom,
A few years ago I used to sell a lot of figure kits and have had good figure painters working as my shop staff.

Two of my current TS collectors would sometimes pay to have kits painted. Typical charge was $1 per mm so a 54mm figure was $54 plus the price of the kit which was usually at least $35. At that time you could get 2 K&C figures for same price and that was off the shelf. Those that wanted something painted had to wait quite a while to get them.

Painting figures is a totally different hobby to collecting them. For the younger shop visitors I recommend they buy plastics in a nearby hobby shop as the variety is good and get plenty of figures for your $.

No made in China TS brand has unpainted figures available. I believe some UK guys do both. If somebody wants to paint figures there are plenty of options available without K&C or other TS brands having to make their moulds available.

Regards
Brett

Good point....and not wishing to start the usual fireworks discussions that happen on this forum with anyone, my thoughts are , it would not be a money maker for K&C ...that's for sure.. and as you so rightly point out....there aint a great deal of unpainted figures out there and I imagine the choice of figures would be limited......K&C are quality figures and they have a HUGE selection of figures....so if anybody was interested in " nice shinny sliver figures" for what ever the reason...K&C would be the logical firm to supply them..it would not be a big market ... but for example .. it would be a less expensive way to add mass to a diorama,where the homemade painting would not stand out too much amongst the massed figures..and obviously they would be the same figures as the surrounding diorama figures ...not bodgie figures....except for the painting and I doubt if a casual observer would notice ......anyway the whole thing would have to be widely promoted and I doubt it would be worth K&C trouble to do so.......regards TomB

 

[Jack]

Have to agree with the comments stating that it could be detrimental to the manufacturer if they released these. There would be nothing to stop someone buying hundreds of unpainted figures and then painting them and undercutting the manufacturer.

Its probably why FL release theirs in a different scale to the metal releases. Still would be great for the ever growing number of painters
Mitch

Mitch

Based on your experience what would a painter charge if someone lobbed in and said I have a hundred WW1 K&C Brits that I want painted?

Jack

 

[Mitch]

Jack...

I work on a barter/swap system much like ''ye olden days'' so, chickens, eggs, fuel oh!! and, Toy soldiers are all acceptable.
Mitch

Mitch

Based on your experience what would a painter charge if someone lobbed in and said I have a hundred WW1 K&C Brits that I want painted?

Jack

 

[Jack]

Jack...

I work on a barter/swap system much like ''ye olden days'' so, chickens, eggs, fuel oh!! and, Toy soldiers are all acceptable.
Mitch

Mitch

Very wise - I might be a tax official!

If a figure went for 50 dollars painted and 15 dollars unpainted a TS manufacturer would need to be pretty sure that someone like me cannot find a painter for less than thirty five to forty dollars. The appeal of Australian uniforms would be worth that little bit of extra hassle. It would also be interesting to see the difference between painted and unpainted. I see with the glossies it is about half the price unpainted so perhaps 25 dollars unpainted means it would only work if you painted them yourself.

Thanks for getting back.

Jack.

 

[TomB]

Have to agree with the comments stating that it could be detrimental to the manufacturer if they released these. There would be nothing to stop someone buying hundreds of unpainted figures and then painting them and undercutting the manufacturer.

Its probably why FL release theirs in a different scale to the metal releases. Still would be great for the ever growing number of painters
Mitch

The replies are jumpled up on my Pc so I do not know whom made the comments you quote..but it is a good one.I agree with you about the buying of hundred's of unpainted figures.......pity we live in such an dishonest world.....cheers TomB

 

[nysoldiers]

Mitch

Based on your experience what would a painter charge if someone lobbed in and said I have a hundred WW1 K&C Brits that I want painted?

Jack

Many years ago I found either K&C made or counterfeit unpainted figures in HK. I believe I alerted Andy.
I have had figure kits painted for me by High School art students and a few amateur artists. For about $15 to $20 (not including materials) a figure you can get equivalent paint job to K&C, JJD, TCS and Figarti.
For an FL quality paint job it may go up to $25 to $30 a piece but you have to be lucky to find someone with those skills. Usually these painters are only part time and do not last more than
six months or so.
As the China labor costs keep rising some people have reccomended moving production to Mexico. There are some very skilled painters and costs are still reasonable. Some native Mexicans are known for their
intricate paintings of Aztec designs on ceramics and jewelery.

 

[Mr Scott]

Many years ago I found either K&C made or counterfeit unpainted figures in HK. I believe I alerted Andy.
I have had figure kits painted for me by High School art students and a few amateur artists. For about $15 to $20 (not including materials) a figure you can get equivalent paint job to K&C, JJD, TCS and Figarti.
For an FL quality paint job it may go up to $25 to $30 a piece but you have to be lucky to find someone with those skills. Usually these painters are only part time and do not last more than
six months or so.
As the China labor costs keep rising some people have reccomended moving production to Mexico. There are some very skilled painters and costs are still reasonable. Some native Mexicans are known for their
intricate paintings of Aztec designs on ceramics and jewelery.

With all due respect if "some native Mexicans are known for their intricate paintings of Aztec designs on ceramics and jewelery" I would have thought they would be rewarded for their skill and attract a higher wage, not a lower one.