KC Special Requests (1 Viewer)

[Combat]

Anyone know if KC entertains offers to do special request items? I get the impression from their website that they might. It would be interesting to come up with something unique and maybe enough folks on the forum could ante up the $'s. Even if it is not practical, it might be interesting to hear what you would request.

 

[Beaufighter]

As much as I like the Allied items and adore the aircraft, I would like to have a German Wirbelwind and or Flakpanzer anti-aircraft vehicle. The FOV/21st Version or whatever it is that I have just does not cut it!

 

[Capitolron]

Combat

How do we find out??

Have you talked with anyone in HK - K&C ??

 

[Combat]

Combat

How do we find out??

Have you talked with anyone in HK - K&C ??

Nada, but I assume someone on the forum may know. I seem to recollect that the KC website once indicated that they might do this - I assume if the price is right. For purposes of this discussion it would probably have to be a WWII vehicle or variation of some vehicle that KC has already produced. But feel free to suggest anything. Maybe produce 500 at $300 or something like that?

 

[Louis Badolato]

In the past, Andy used to do special items for companies. Among the ones I know of are pilots, stewardesses and aircraft for one of the major airlines (Cathay Pacific, I think) and of course the "Les Miserables" set he made for the opening of Les Mis in Hong Kong. I haven't heard him do anything like that lately, but who knows. We can always ask him at the Symposium.

 

[Steven Chong]

Back on 3/1/06, I started a thread, "Bedford Lorrys, Austins and other requested vehicles" with the following post:

Fellow forum members,

We have all seen (and posted) numerous posts requesting all sorts of vehicles and figures from K&C. While there are prototypes of some of the vehicles, they are ultimately not produced because it is determined there would be little demand, and K&C does not want to waste capital and resources on vehicles and figures that will not sell well.

Well, I am also interested in model trains and have an idea from that hobby. Manufacturers of brass train engines and cars sometimes announce potential products with the caveat that it will not be made if there are not sufficient orders. The announcement is put in all the major model train magazines and sent to all the train dealers and hobby shops. Many of these products are made but occassionally there is an announcement that something has been cancelled because of insufficient demand. I think sceic2 (Michael) used to have a train layout, and I know Njja (John) collects (or used to) Lionel and other model trains, so they both may be familiar with this type of marketing.

What I suggest is that K&C determines how many units they need to sell to justify production, then announce a potential vehicle or figure making it VERY, VERY, VERY clear that it will only be made if there are a certain number of orders. It would be up to individual dealers whether to take a deposit, which would be taken only if the vehicle or figure is to be produced.

I am not in the model train business, so I have no personal knowledge on how well this type of marketing works. I am also not in the military miniature business, so I also do not know if this idea would work for a company like K&C that subcontracts production to 3rd parties. Is most of the cost in producing a requested vehicle in the sculpting so a company would slowly go bankrupt on prototypes that do not get sufficient orders and therefore never recover their initial expense? I do not know. Can K&C get orders based on Andy's or someone else's sketches to save on sculpting expenses? Again, I do not know, but I would think many collectors would believe any proposed set would have the present K&C quality. Will some collectors be confused and not understand that the set is only proposed? Yes .. but when they go to a dealer or website to order, there should be plenty of explanations or warnings. Will collectors be upset if a proposed set is cancelled and somehow view K&C negatively afterwards i.e. they were teased? I would not, but I do not know if others will. Will collectors loose patience waiting the months it would take to possibly sculpt and produce the set and cancel their orders? Again, I would not if the requested vehicle is something I want, but again, I do not know if others will.

Would this type of marketing allow companies like K&C to make vehicles and figures requested by collectors? Only Andy really knows. What do people think of this idea? Are there potential problems I have not mentioned?
​

Unfortunately, Andy later told me he did not like this idea because he did not want to plan production in this manner.

 

[Njja]

Steven:

Well it was a nice try! Yes by the way I have been involved with Lionel

Trains since 1974 about 8 years after the Original Lionel ended production.

I had a shop with my N.J. partner, promoted Jersey Central Train Shows,

published price guides (Bruce Greenberg used to attend our early shows in

1974-1975) Had more trains pass through my hands then you can imagine

and loved every minute of it.

No H.O. Brass thats another group, and never ever any American Flyer...

another sore spot with a lot of Lionel Collectors........heres why:

My partner John loved American Flyer so he would grab any we got for his

customers. Now the Lionel guys would grab just about any Rare item you

found because there was 100 guys for each rare item. The Flyer guys were

far to particular when you stumbled over a desirable piece they would come

down, look it over, and if they found a tiny scratch under a coupler they

would put it back and say "Call me when you find a perfect one"

One day John and I answer a call and he buys an American Flyer Circus Set.

This is maybe 1975 and the set is worth maybe $400. John gets it back to

the shop, calls his customer and tells me he is going to take the Engine into

the bathroom and clean it up a little. I advise against this since I do all the

repair, and clean up work because John is all thumbs. But its his deal so off

he goes......about 5 minutes later I hear a scream.........now John is a

Vietnam Vet so this isn't normal! Out he comes with the engine in his hand

nice and shinny. What happened I say? He hands me the engine one side

says "Circus Set".......other side say.........nothing he washed the heat

stamped lettering right off!

10 minutes later in comes his customer set is lined up on the counter he

lookes it over Engine, tender and 4 or 5 cars......without missing a beat he

says "Wow thats a great one.........missing the lettering on one side of the

Engine though, to bad......I would have taken it"

John says......how about $300........$250............okay give me $200......

can you use the cars at least? Okay I'll take $150 you can display it up

against the wall.

Customer leaving hey John be sure to call me when you find a perfect one.

That was John's last foray into American Flyer.

Njja

 

[Capitolron]

Well we all know NAPOLEONICS is what really sells anyway.

 

[Beaufighter]

Pictured is a neat & unusual finished model I saw on eBay which would make a wonderful K&C item that should keep a lot of collectors happy: GERMAN STEYR RSO 1 TRACTOR.

 

[nicolas]

Pictured is a neat & unusual finished model I saw on eBay which would make a wonderful K&C item that should keep a lot of collectors happy: GERMAN STEYR RSO 1 TRACTOR.

Wow thats very nice, i would defenatly want one of those!!!