I think any critique is valid if it was meant to be constructive.
I think Andy gets the most critiques because he is on top now.
I think we can be both critical-of and grateful-for K&C.
Personally, I like all of this months releases, which were impressive in that Andy made anything while travelling to boost the TS/MF Hobby. As far as heads go, a big (Irish{sm2}) head has been a thing since Trophy and probably far before: bigger heads give better facial expressions, period. But it is better to do those expressions in a "scale" noggin.
Anyway Best Wishes to All,
Please don't mind my occasional rant because I wish our Community only the Best,
Paddy (for Pat Sr. & Jr.(Paddy)).
To reply, I think my opinions are valid,
The number of monthly releases by K & C have been reduced and the ranges are more targeted at the US market, the second was not a critique, just a statement on where K & C appear to be targeting resources, at the most lucrative market, Andy is in business to make money, if he does not then his company goes under and we have no more K & C toy soldiers. Therefore, creating stuff for the US is the correct decision.
On my comments on UK and Europe becoming a backwater, K & C has become harder to buy here and as important, to actually see anywhere, especially at the London Show, there has been little representation at the London show for years, pre-covid. Seeing the stuff, want to write ‘In the Flesh’ but really should be ‘In the Metal’ is vital for me. I do not think there is a fellow Treefrogger who has not gone to a show or even a shop with an idea in their mind what they are going to buy, but has come away with numerous impulse buys, just because we saw it and liked it.
I bought my first K & C in the late 90s and still have it, it is a Nelson Navy standing figure, I can remember when K & C first launched their Napoleonic range, there was a flood of figures, along with masses of WW2 Germans, Americans and British on a monthly basis. Numerous vehicles and tanks on a monthly cycle, yet now the amount released, in comparison, has reduced greatly. Once again not a criticism, just stating we used to get more releases and a wider range of releases, not single figure releases in a range per month.
Quality, I did not criticize quality, my comments were on style,
The Romans do have big heads [the figures, not real actual people], whereas I think T Gunn Spartans have small narrow heads, plus their Zulus figures, same thing with K & C US Indian figures, are all have six packs stomachs. Seeing the old grainy B/W photos makes me think they were not ‘ripped’.
On the RAF fighters paint jobs, I only have five, 3 Hurricanes and 2 Spitfires, but the camos are the same and checking out the K& C websites, the others look the same. That WAS a criticism, but I think justified, i cannot figure out why this has slipped through K & C quality control.
Thats enough as this has turned into a book, got to go put the car away and check the chickens are locked up safe, as living in the ‘Debateable Land’ those thieving Border Reivers might be raiding.
On books - a great read is the Debateable Lands by Graham Robb. The story of the family rivalry here made the Hatfield–McCoy look like picnic. Which my neighbours think i am keeping alive by having a flagpole where i occasionally run up the Flag of St George.........but they let it go as i am the nearest Doctor [semi-retired] for 10s of miles.
Robert Low has also written a great fiction series of books about the period of the English Scottish borders.
