King country tinplate trucks ? (1 Viewer)

[uksubs]

Interested in buying one of the tinplate Opel truck any wonder if anyone got one and can give there opinion on the truck as don't live near a toy soldier shop?

 

[uksubs]

Interested in buying one of the tinplate Opel truck any wonder if anyone got one and can give there opinion on the truck as don't live near a toy soldier shop?

Two hundred looks but not one reply must be bad:rolleyes2:

 

[bradleyl30]

Two hundred looks but not one reply must be bad:rolleyes2:

I haven't bought one yet, but would be interested as well.

 

[jazzeum]

I saw a prototype in Chicago and I liked it. It doesn't have a windshield and for some that may be a downside.

 

[Jack]

I haven't bought one yet, but would be interested as well.

Not an era I collect although I have see one in the 'flesh'. This observation may or may not be helpful but my view is that it is exactly what you would expect of a tinplate truck made at a cheaper (cheap is a relative term so I have not used it) cost point. It is not the same quality as a 'normal' vehicle nor is it as anywhere near as rough and ready as a really 'cheap' vehicle purchased in a supermarket. It is a filler in a diorama or a vehicle a painter can work some magic on and use to good effect in a photograph. If it was an area I collect I would be happy to have a few in a convoy between the standard vehicles but it is not the vehicle to get out of the cabinet when you are showing off your collection, but then again, it was never intended to be that. The question with these types of initiatives - and good on K&C for giving it a go - is how good the balance is between quality and price. That will always be a personal decision.

 

[Larry Allen]

Speaking from the island of the "uninformed and uneducated" can some one briefly explain what a "Tinplate Vehicle" is as oppose to the "solid resin example". (Other than the obvious in that it is made of TIN.)

Or maybe more to the point, why would a Tinplate vehicle be "less desirable" than a Resin?

The pictures of the "Tinplate Opel" look really nice. I don't own and vehicles, (unless wagons are considered a vehicle .. ) so I haven't considered the issues.

Many Thanks in advance.

--- LaRRy (DumDum)

 

[Jack]

Speaking from the island of the "uninformed and uneducated" can some one briefly explain what a "Tinplate Vehicle" is as oppose to the "solid resin example". (Other than the obvious in that it is made of TIN.)

Or maybe more to the point, why would a Tinplate vehicle be "less desirable" than a Resin?

The pictures of the "Tinplate Opel" look really nice. I don't own and vehicles, (unless wagons are considered a vehicle .. ) so I haven't considered the issues.

Many Thanks in advance.

--- LaRRy (DumDum)

Larry

I am so far from being an expert here that I am not sure that I would even take my own advice but it is not less desirable across the board, it is a question of use. The tinplate is made from cheaper material and there is less detail so I would assume some 'pure' collectors of vehicles may not see the dollar saving as relevant. It does not serve their purpose. A diorama maker or painter may see the value in the vehicle as a cheaper means of attaining a generic truck (or multiples) for use in a convoy scene where the interest will be focused on the resin Shermans either side of it. To me, a truck is a truck is a truck so I would save my dollars, buy a cheaper vehicle or multiples such as this truck, and divert the savings to resin vehicles or additional figures.

Regards

Jack

 

[Larry Allen]

Larry

I am so far from being an expert here that I am not sure that I would even take my own advice but it is not less desirable across the board, it is a question of use. The tinplate is made from cheaper material and there is less detail so I would assume some 'pure' collectors of vehicles may not see the dollar saving as relevant. It does not serve their purpose. A diorama maker or painter may see the value in the vehicle as a cheaper means of attaining a generic truck (or multiples) for use in a convoy scene where the interest will be focused on the resin Shermans either side of it. To me, a truck is a truck is a truck so I would save my dollars, buy a cheaper vehicle or multiples such as this truck, and divert the savings to resin vehicles or additional figures.

Regards

Jack

Thank You, Jack .... I'll believe that ... ....

I am an K&C AWI collector; JJD 1812 and RSF Indians collector and K&C Japanese Pacific Planes and figures collector... so, as I said, I doubt that there will be vehicles in my future.

I see interesting diverging paths in K&C releases with the KnC Tank; the reduced detail Alamo figures and the Tinplate vehicles.
As was mentioned .. hats off to Andy and company for hearing the woe of some collectors with regard to price. If this trend continues, I wonder where it will pop up next?

I am hoping for two or three more planes to fit on my Japanese Carrier that I am building (AKAGI). But I have to admit I would have to think a bit if the next Japanese Zero was Tinplate or Plastic .... would I buy it .....^&confuse

The current Zero ($259.00) price tag was a bit hard to handle, but I just HAD to have those.
Well, as the saying goes ... time will tell all.

Thank again Jack.

--- LaRRy

 

[waynepoo]

I have seen the U.S truck and as they go they are ok for as Jack said 'fillers' perhaps. Again not my area of collecting so not really an issue for me but two things I don't like about them is 1. no wind screen 2. the tyres have a seem or join line in the centre of the tyre, a solid rubber tyre would have been a better look. Just my two bobs' worth.
Wayne.

 

[Obee]

I saw this one in Melbourne last week when Andy was addressing the troops in Howard's shop....





Looked OK to me, but being a NAP collector, it wasn't much of an interest to me.

John

 

[Desertkiwi]

I have seen the U.S truck and as they go they are ok for as Jack said 'fillers' perhaps. Again not my area of collecting so not really an issue for me but two things I don't like about them is 1. no wind screen 2. the tyres have a seem or join line in the centre of the tyre, a solid rubber tyre would have been a better look. Just my two bobs' worth.
Wayne.

Saw the grey Opel up close while attending the Brisbane dinner and liked it, however as Wayne mentions the seem around the middle of the tyre is fairly obvious and a rubber version would be an improvement. You could disguise the seem's with some 'added' mud etc to hid this. I personally don't mind them not having a windscreen, but understand why some collectors don't particularly like this feature or lack of.

Jack's idea of using them as 'filler's' is a good one and they would be well suited for this. I particularly liked how they are open in the back with the canopy frames exposed and in place. All packed out with cargo/troops etc and I think they would look great, especially if you throw a camo net over it as well.

Again just my five cents worth.

 

[TomNT]

I have also seen this vehicle up close and I think it looks ok although I don't like the lack of a windscreen or the less detailed tyres. I agree with Wayne that it would be a nicer looking vehicle with a windscreen and better detailed tyres although I wouldn't go with the rubber option and prefer to see polystone tyres or the same sort of detailed tyres on the pricer K&C vehicles. I think by making these few changes it wouldn't increase the cost by much but then I'm not the manufacturer and maybe there's a reason why Andy didn't put a windscreen and better detailed tyres on the vehicle.

As Jack said, it's priced so people can afford to buy other vehicles and or figures and it's a good "filler" vehicle in a dio or if you want multiple vehicle's to make up a convoy.

Tom

 

[TomNT]

Thank You, Jack .... I'll believe that ... ....

I am an K&C AWI collector; JJD 1812 and RSF Indians collector and K&C Japanese Pacific Planes and figures collector... so, as I said, I doubt that there will be vehicles in my future.

I see interesting diverging paths in K&C releases with the KnC Tank; the reduced detail Alamo figures and the Tinplate vehicles.
As was mentioned .. hats off to Andy and company for hearing the woe of some collectors with regard to price. If this trend continues, I wonder where it will pop up next?

I am hoping for two or three more planes to fit on my Japanese Carrier that I am building (AKAGI). But I have to admit I would have to think a bit if the next Japanese Zero was Tinplate or Plastic .... would I buy it .....^&confuse

The current Zero ($259.00) price tag was a bit hard to handle, but I just HAD to have those.
Well, as the saying goes ... time will tell all.

Thank again Jack.

--- LaRRy

I'm looking forward to seeing that carrier Larry. You must have a bloody big house or sizable shed to fit the bugger in though! {sm2}

Tom

 

[wayne556517]

How does it go scale wise against the older opels ?

 

[TomNT]

How does it go scale wise against the older opels ?

I saw it at the Brissy do and shop mate and unfortunately there wasn't an older opel to compare it against. From what I can remember, the pic's below and then looking at my opels to make a comparison, they seem to be relatively close scale wise.

Tom

 

[RISORGIMENTO]

I am still waiting for this....

 

[DM101]

I am still waiting for this....

Count me in too {sm4}

 

[WesternOutlaw]

Count me in too

I am still waiting for this....

Me three - not a fan of the open tin plates although I must admit that it doesn't look too bad from the pictures. I just get that budget department store vibe from the tin plates (like those motorcycles, vintage cars/fire engines, and airplanes that always have bent wheels and propellers, but look good on a bookshelf).

I own the DAK Opel Blitz which I feel fortunate to have found from a second party seller and would love to see a grey version.


Blitz! by Western Outlaw, on Flickr

 

[Larry Allen]

I'm looking forward to seeing that carrier Larry. You must have a bloody big house or sizable shed to fit the bugger in though! {sm2}

Tom

Hey Tom .... I was inspired by Robin's wonderful carrier display and decided that I have to do that myself. It is about 8 feet long and about 3 feet wide ... at this time. It is based on the Flagship AKAGI in her pre-Pearl Harbor markings, but I have taken some "artistic liberty" and rely upon a flexible interpretation of the words ... BASED ON.

I decided that I will take a different approach than Robin's and do a very detailed Flight Deck with Elevators , Sponson levels, an accurate Bridge superstructure and more. I am taking pictures along the way and will do a "How-to-build" thread. I fear that I am a good number of weeks away from that point but I will post a few pictures on the forum if anyone is interested in seeing a pre-view.

Yes, I brought an old 1790's Colonial House 25 years ago and have been fixing, fixing, fixing it ever since. So ya' I have 19 rooms in my house and (two) Toy Soldiers / Model Ships rooms. Once again I can take a picture of those if needed.

BUT ... Sorry I don't want to high-jack this great thread so I post elsewhere if needed.

But back on topic .... I am fearful that we might start to see two K&C product lines ... and the focus swing to the "Economic line" away from the "Quality Line"

Maybe it is just my old paranoia starting up ... {sm2} ... pills, where are my pills .......

--- LaRRy

 

[DM101]

Me three - not a fan of the open tin plates although I must admit that it doesn't look too bad from the pictures. I just get that budget department store vibe from the tin plates (like those motorcycles, vintage cars/fire engines, and airplanes that always have bent wheels and propellers, but look good on a bookshelf).

I own the DAK Opel Blitz which I feel fortunate to have found from a second party seller and would love to see a grey version.


Blitz! by Western Outlaw, on Flickr

Mine is a Summer CAMO piece and with the Canvas add-on gives more flexibility in many scenes - yes would like a GREY version too :salute::

PS: Only for this OPEL the seat/bench is in the MIDDLE and the soldiers are sitting facing outside - not sure is that correct as I could not find WW2 pictures of such seating configuration so far {sm2}