K&C-Unpainted figures ? (1 Viewer)

[nysoldiers]

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.

I guess it comes down to "supply and demand"......tourism might be down due to the drug gangs activities and bad publicity. The cost of setting up a new factory and training the workers might be prohibitive. I doubt that management at K&C, JJD, Figarti and others would move to Mexico......

 

[Poppo]

The idea of unpainted figures can be interesting ( and maybe unpainted tanks and vehicles also? So that the fig. colours can be granted with the vehicles)...

But considering the KC marketing, i guess their attitude is about making more and more expensive figures, and not less expensive....

 

[jazzeum]

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

That's because you're probably not signed in or if you are, you're not hread display mode (under General Settings) needs to be adjusted.

 

[TomB]

That's because you're probably not signed in or if you are, you're not hread display mode (under General Settings) needs to be adjusted.

Sorted it out...thank you...cheers TomB

 

[PanzerAce1944]

I can see the stand point from the collector wanting to get a plain unpainted figure and getting it painted themselves possibly for an overall cheaper price than say that of K&C's finished product. The problem I see from the Manufacturer's
standpoint is who knows how these unpainted figures will be ultimately finished. It would be like BMW churning out unpainted automobiles without motors allowing the buyer to do with it as they please. It wouldn't be a true BMW now
at all, but a shell. I don't know of one company other than unfinished furniture that allows its products to go out on the market basically half way completed. To me it would be bad for business and bad for the companies reputation of
having a high standard of finished product quality. Just my .02 as they say ^&cool

 

[The Lt.]

TRADITION OF LONDON has been offering casting of their Toy Soldiers for years an apparently it hasn't hurt them over the years..........The Lt.

 

[TomB]

TRADITION OF LONDON has been offering casting of their Toy Soldiers for years an apparently it hasn't hurt them over the years..........The Lt.

Thank you for that....there have been quiet good replies for both sides of the question.....the dishonest use of the castings is something I did not think of and is a very strong point.......however there are also some good points for the use of the unpainted figures....unfortunately it is not up to us but the TS makers to decide what they do.....personally as a person who does not collect a lot..I like the nice bright silver look of the figures...like I had when I was a kid....could not afford the painted soldiers......as I cannot cast I cannot cast my own figures so no bright shinny figures........regards TomB

 

[trooper]

I can see the stand point from the collector wanting to get a plain unpainted figure and getting it painted themselves possibly for an overall cheaper price than say that of K&C's finished product. The problem I see from the Manufacturer's
standpoint is who knows how these unpainted figures will be ultimately finished. It would be like BMW churning out unpainted automobiles without motors allowing the buyer to do with it as they please. It wouldn't be a true BMW now
at all, but a shell. I don't know of one company other than unfinished furniture that allows its products to go out on the market basically half way completed. To me it would be bad for business and bad for the companies reputation of
having a high standard of finished product quality. Just my .02 as they say

Tradition, Asset, Yeomanry, Sarum, Andrea, ATS, Scale Link, Hornet, Wolf, Tommy Atkins and Verlinden are just a few that I can quote off the top of my head who sell unpainted figures for the benefit of customers who prefer to paint their own. The figure is the identifying factor, not the finish. If you study the ENTIRE market you will find most, but not all, makers offer this service. Trooper

 

[PanzerAce1944]

I can see the stand point from the collector wanting to get a plain unpainted figure and getting it painted themselves possibly for an overall cheaper price than say that of K&C's finished product. The problem I see from the Manufacturer's
standpoint is who knows how these unpainted figures will be ultimately finished. It would be like BMW churning out unpainted automobiles without motors allowing the buyer to do with it as they please. It wouldn't be a true BMW now
at all, but a shell. I don't know of one company other than unfinished furniture that allows its products to go out on the market basically half way completed. To me it would be bad for business and bad for the companies reputation of
having a high standard of finished product quality. Just my .02 as they say

Tradition, Asset, Yeomanry, Sarum, Andrea, ATS, Scale Link, Hornet, Wolf, Tommy Atkins and Verlinden are just a few that I can quote off the top of my head who sell unpainted figures for the benefit of customers who prefer to paint their own. The figure is the identifying factor, not the finish. If you study the ENTIRE market you will find most, but not all, makers offer this service. Trooper

I thought the title of the thread was "K&C unpainted figures" ? Comparing these others with K&C doesn't quite fit for me. But anyway for myself I am sticking with the factory finished product. For those having the will or inclination to paint themselves,more power to them. I just don't see it happening on the K&C side. Cheers :salute::

 

[Mitch]

Trooper....

You forget that for a few the market is K&C all the other very good and productive manufacturers you mention may as well be on the moon.

I fully agree about the finish we have seen that the Chinese style is not maker specific and can now depending on the factory used be replicated or at least mirrored in new releases. I think this K&C finish is a misnomer as people speak of it as if Andy sits and hand paints these things himself in a unique manner known only to him. The firms you mention to a point don't have the caveats I mentioned because their figures are not IMO hugely expensive and they don't discontinue like the main manufacturers like to do to help sales.

The strictly limited, low run, very rare one of a kind hell, so limited we even may not make it runs allow the devious and greedy to cash in on the way some collectors react to these labels. If the market in the mass produced Chinese stuff mirrored the makers you mentioned the greed of some on the secondary market and the people who want to cash in on a perceived market would be reduced greatly.

Never understood the whole discontinued thing really as we now know the moulds are not broken as once stated they are brought out years after in other sets (for K&C 88mm gun crew on flak tractor, D-day motorcycle in RAF colours and, BBA jeep in a variety of styles) so, manufacturers could keep them alive on open market longer without really sending them back to the inner cities or projects etc
Mitch

I can see the stand point from the collector wanting to get a plain unpainted figure and getting it painted themselves possibly for an overall cheaper price than say that of K&C's finished product. The problem I see from the Manufacturer's
standpoint is who knows how these unpainted figures will be ultimately finished. It would be like BMW churning out unpainted automobiles without motors allowing the buyer to do with it as they please. It wouldn't be a true BMW now
at all, but a shell. I don't know of one company other than unfinished furniture that allows its products to go out on the market basically half way completed. To me it would be bad for business and bad for the companies reputation of
having a high standard of finished product quality. Just my .02 as they say

Tradition, Asset, Yeomanry, Sarum, Andrea, ATS, Scale Link, Hornet, Wolf, Tommy Atkins and Verlinden are just a few that I can quote off the top of my head who sell unpainted figures for the benefit of customers who prefer to paint their own. The figure is the identifying factor, not the finish. If you study the ENTIRE market you will find most, but not all, makers offer this service. Trooper

 

[The Military Workshop]

If somebody wants to paint their own figures and vehicles the options are many.

Rather than thinking about what K&C has not done or will not do a little searching will reveal a huge array of items that can be painted.

Trooper has named some businesses that sell TS's but also castings.
Tradition, Asset, Yeomanry, Sarum, ATS, Tommy Atkins are UK companies that cast and paint their own
figures. Probably not much WW2 available but plenty of other choices.

Verlinden, Hornet and Wolf are purely figure kit producers (which I used to sell). Other resin brands
are Warriors. Nemrod and Model Cellar. Dragon do many in plastic. Should be enough to satisfy any
WW2 enthusiast.

Andrea in Spain and Pegaso in Italy have great ranges.

The above are 1/35 or 54mm scale but there are also 120mm and larger kits.

Some may be surprised to know FL has a lot of resin figure kits with a significant difference to their metal figure prices.

Same again for vehicles with Accurate Armour (high quality resin), Dragon, Trumpeter etc. Could also
paint over 21st Century plastic and FOV vehicles.

Major source is www.squadron.com in USA and Historex in the UK.

Hope that helps anybody who has the inclination to paint.

Regards
Brett

 

[trooper]

I thought the title of the thread was "K&C unpainted figures" ? Comparing these others with K&C doesn't quite fit for me. But anyway for myself I am sticking with the factory finished product. For those having the will or inclination to paint themselves,more power to them. I just don't see it happening on the K&C side. Cheers :salute::

Quite right, the title of the thread is "K&C unpainted figures" but as you made the statement that you didn't know of any company producing, as you put it, "basically half finished" product I deemed it only right to draw your attention to some of those that do. In no way was I comparing them with K&C. And I think you are right, K&C will never sell unpainted kits. Trooper

 

[PanzerAce1944]

Trooper, fair enough. This topic does not affect me in the least as I am pursuing the finished product that K&C produces. Hats off to those wishing to do the paintwork themselves on those brands that you had mentioned.
As far as comments dished out about people who sell Toy Soldiers being devious or greedy,maybe their outlook is better suited in a place like.......MARS {sm2}

 

[larso]

Releasing castings that were then painted by purchasers would negatively impact on the brand as it has been built. When I see a figure in the shop or on the net I know it is a K&C product through and through. If a whole bunch began turning up painted by various unknowns the product ceases to be entirely the manufacterers. It would degrade the overall brands value with a negative impact on what people would be prepared to pay. I think Andy was right to leave this to others (and many others it is) and keep full control of the manufacture of his product.