Mass Battle Anglo-Zulu War British 80th Foot! (1 Viewer)

FirstLegion

Sergeant Major
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First Legion is extremely pleased to present our first expansion to our Mass Battle Series, the Anglo-Zulu War! As we have already done the 24th Foot, we have decided to create the 80th Foot for the Mass Battle Series. The 80th Foot took heavy casualties during the war and played a major role at the Battle of Ulundi, the final battle of the war which finally subjugated the Zulu nation. At this battle the 80th Foot made up the lead face of the large British Square formation and supported by artillery and Gatling guns were able to break the Zulus with withering gun fire and no warriors were ever actually able to make it to melee with the square formation. We sincerely hope you this new addition to the Mass Battle series!

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MB058 British 80th Foot Captain $39.95
MB059 British 80th Foot Trumpeter $42.95
MB060 British 80th Foot NCO $39.95
MB061 British 80th Foot Ready with Bayonet $39.95
MB062 British 80th Foot in Melee $39.95
MB063 British 80th Foot Kneeling Loading $39.95
MB064 British 80th Foot Standing Loading Variant #1 $42.95
MB065 British 80th Foot Yelling Falling Backwards $38.95
MB066 British 80th Foot Standing Firing Variant #1 $39.95
MB067 British 80th Foot Kneeling Under Attack $39.95
MB068 British 80th Foot Standing Loading Variant #2 $39.95
MB069 British 80th Foot Standing Firing Variant #2 $39.95
MB070 British 80th Foot Kneeling Firing Variant #1 $39.95
MB071 British 80th Foot Standing Firing Variant #3 $39.95
MB072 British 80th Foot Kneeling Firging Variant #3 $39.95
MB073 British 80th Foot Standard Bearer - Queen's Colors $58.95
MB074 British 80th Foot Standard Bearer - Regimental Colors $58.95
Pre-Order Ships Early June

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MB062

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Continued.....
 
Agreed, very nice and at a real good price, not something I collect but a welcome addition to the MB line. Chris
 
Prices have already gone up since the first Mass Battle release a few months back.
 
Nothing against FL because most are doing this but when is $40 for one figure cheap.:confused:
Mark
 
When are we going to see NAPS for the "Mass Battle Series"????....Will prices be the same or higher for NAPS?
 
First of all apologies for my little bit complaining here. I collect many FL figures, I will continue doing so, and I love them all.

Just wonder if everybody here think that new mass battle figures are really so good and price so low...

Screenshot_1.jpg

Looking on photos I think quality difference between mass battle and top quality figures for ACW released previously was much smaller than for these figures above. With new mass battle Anglo-Zulu war the difference is really visible.

If I have a choice 65$ for top quality, 40$ for mass battle, 32 $ for W. Britain like on left above - I would never take the one in the middle. Regardless if I search for top quality or not.

New mass battle figures cost now 40$ and just thinking that a few years ago exactly the same price was all top quality fantastic figures:
french line infantry.jpg
I'm lucky I have them. And I know that prices must go up! It is normal.
 
I agree that Mass Battle Naps should be a good seller.......columns and lines of French and their adversaries make great dioramas!

As far as cost we all have to take into account that there are three profit centers in the supply chain....FL, Factory and Retailers.
There have been increasing wages in China and as far as I know there is little or no automation in the toy soldier production cycle.

Now is the $20 to $30 difference between MB and standard FL figures reasonable? That analysis is a little tricky. The price difference would seem to come solely from factory labor.
The sculpting costs are the same, material costs should be close (maybe a little more paint and different brushes?) and perhaps quality control is more expensive.
How much longer does it take to paint the standard figure and how much more does a "master" painter get paid?
My amateur analysis leads me to believe that the standard figure price could be more reasonable.
That said I am a firm believer that the market dictates pricing and as long as collectors are buying and the makers are profitable prices find their level.
Curious what others think.
 
We all have different opinions and especially incomes.If FL is doing well with this than more power to them.What hurt FL's prices is when they went from direct selling to going through dealers which may have been good for FL,great for the dealers but not so much for collectors.
Mark
 
Great news, I hope they follow up with Mass Battle Zulus!
 
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I am not sure I completely agree that going to a dealer model has caused price increases as, presumably, sales by dealers have generated income for First Legion that they might not have otherwise received. Price increases can be caused by many factors of which we are not aware, including the need to generate greater income.
 
Brad I defer to you on business but throwing someone else's hand into the pot has to cause an increase in price.If FL is selling more that is probably the reason the seem to be expanding very well.
 
Mark,

I didn't say you were wrong and you could be right; price increases could be due to many factors.

I do wonder, though, whether FL becomes less competitive with Britains as the prices increase slightly. I have found from eBay sales that sales of figures between $30 and $40 are very sensitive to a dollar or two, either up or down.
 
It's been less then 3 months since the first release of MB Confederates, and there is already a price increase. If the order of releases were reversed, I would find more reason for the increase since in IMO the Rebels have a more involved paint job than the Zulu War figures.

Was looking forward to the future possibilities in the Mass Battle series as a REASONABLE source for good quality figures ........ but it's already showing signs of becoming just another line of expensive figures.
 
The manufacturers are going to do what they need to do If it works for them that's fine.We have to decide if something we want is worth that price we will pay if not we won't.I just saw a figure that I want on ebay but at a price I'm not willing to pay.It's really just that simple.
Mark
 
First of all apologies for my little bit complaining here. I collect many FL figures, I will continue doing so, and I love them all.

Just wonder if everybody here think that new mass battle figures are really so good and price so low...

View attachment 191558

Looking on photos I think quality difference between mass battle and top quality figures for ACW released previously was much smaller than for these figures above. With new mass battle Anglo-Zulu war the difference is really visible.

If I have a choice 65$ for top quality, 40$ for mass battle, 32 $ for W. Britain like on left above - I would never take the one in the middle. Regardless if I search for top quality or not.

New mass battle figures cost now 40$ and just thinking that a few years ago exactly the same price was all top quality fantastic figures:
View attachment 191559
I'm lucky I have them. And I know that prices must go up! It is normal.

Of course if you are happy with the price and quality of the 24th Foot figures, then by all means collect those. As for comparisons between our normal figures and our MB figures, it's really not a valid comparison for the most part. Our MB figures are extremely well done relative to the price and it's really not a good comparison to compare today's MB 80th Foot figure price to 3-4 years ago British 24th Foot Price. The 24th Foot would be a bit more expensive if produced today and the quality of that production really highlights just how amazing a value that they (and most of our other normal quality figures) are at $65 each!!! it doesn't diminish how good the MB figures are at $40 if that makes sense. Our normal figures are priced around $65-$75 these days but look like $130-180 figures. :) It's just not possible to produce an $18 figure and have it look like a $40 figure. ;-) It's certainly not any worthwhile comparison to compare French Line infantry produced 9 years ago by FL while selling direct (Marco does have a point) to figures produced 9 years later given the reality of currency valuations, labor costs, etc.... Plus, if a collector wants a second regiment of FL Figures for their Anglo-Zulu War collection, in this case the 80th Foot, this is it. The figures will not be done to normal quality because we've of course already done them as the 24th Foot. Again, the Mass Battle concept is to allow larger and more varied dioramas at a reasonable price point. They aren't meant to compete in terms of painting with our normal quality figures.

In terms of MB Pricing, the pricing for a standard MB figure will range from $36.95 to $39.95 depending on the amount of work. Won't be higher, won't be lower regardless of figure range (so Frank, MB Naps will be in that price range). We had originally conceived the range to be priced at $38.95 and even the advertisements for the ACW show a price of $38.95 but we changed that at the last minute and went to market at $36.95.

Having seen the figures, I'm confident that those who collect them will be quite pleased with them. But if you are looking for value in terms of quality of sculpting and painting relative to price then of course our normal figures are king and will remain so. One of the secondary reasons the MB figures were conceived is that many collectors aren't going to spend $70 on a figure regardless of whether it's really a great value and is the same quality of figures twice as expensive! The MB figures give them an option to collect FL at a price point more palatable to them while still getting a really good figure.

Best,

Matt
 
Consider me sold Matt on the mass battle. I am mixing them with the regular Rebs and they go well together.
 
Appreciate the post from FL stating their intended prices for a standard figure in the MB line. The range of 36.95 to 39.95 for a well done figure seems quite fair in todays pricing of "toy'' soldiers.
 
Of course if you are happy with the price and quality of the 24th Foot figures, then by all means collect those. As for comparisons between our normal figures and our MB figures, it's really not a valid comparison for the most part. Our MB figures are extremely well done relative to the price and it's really not a good comparison to compare today's MB 80th Foot figure price to 3-4 years ago British 24th Foot Price. The 24th Foot would be a bit more expensive if produced today and the quality of that production really highlights just how amazing a value that they (and most of our other normal quality figures) are at $65 each!!! it doesn't diminish how good the MB figures are at $40 if that makes sense. Our normal figures are priced around $65-$75 these days but look like $130-180 figures. :) It's just not possible to produce an $18 figure and have it look like a $40 figure. ;-) It's certainly not any worthwhile comparison to compare French Line infantry produced 9 years ago by FL while selling direct (Marco does have a point) to figures produced 9 years later given the reality of currency valuations, labor costs, etc.... Plus, if a collector wants a second regiment of FL Figures for their Anglo-Zulu War collection, in this case the 80th Foot, this is it. The figures will not be done to normal quality because we've of course already done them as the 24th Foot. Again, the Mass Battle concept is to allow larger and more varied dioramas at a reasonable price point. They aren't meant to compete in terms of painting with our normal quality figures.

In terms of MB Pricing, the pricing for a standard MB figure will range from $36.95 to $39.95 depending on the amount of work. Won't be higher, won't be lower regardless of figure range (so Frank, MB Naps will be in that price range). We had originally conceived the range to be priced at $38.95 and even the advertisements for the ACW show a price of $38.95 but we changed that at the last minute and went to market at $36.95.

Having seen the figures, I'm confident that those who collect them will be quite pleased with them. But if you are looking for value in terms of quality of sculpting and painting relative to price then of course our normal figures are king and will remain so. One of the secondary reasons the MB figures were conceived is that many collectors aren't going to spend $70 on a figure regardless of whether it's really a great value and is the same quality of figures twice as expensive! The MB figures give them an option to collect FL at a price point more palatable to them while still getting a really good figure.

Best,

Matt
First of all I am a collector of FL figures. Originally, with their introduction of Napoleonics, I was turned off by the price compared to what I was already collecting. I thought the quality was higher but because I enjoy larger dioramas i would prefer more quantity at prices affordable for me. When the Renaissance Range came along, however, their uniqueness and quality reeled me in and I
have about 75 of those figures. Then the Prussian SYW cavalry was introduced and I bought them all. So for me uniqueness and my interest in a period or army decide my buying decisions.
I think the MB series are a very smart strategy for FL. They will attract more price conscious buyers as well as those who want the more populated dioramas.
My personal concerns are whether the standard FL figure are worth $30 more than the MB painted figures. Frankly right now I see mixing them where both are available.
 

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