Match K&C's larger size? (2 Viewers)

[King & Country]

Hi Njja,

Just read your latest post about “no sets going out of production anymore.” Actually there’s a whole bunch of stuff being retired in the coming months (and later) but we have to let our dealers know first. So, watch this space.

“Is everything just going to be made forever?” If you know anything about K & C, you would know that nothing goes on forever…look at our D. Day series…Waffen SS…everything in fact. We’re continually retiring, resculpting, upgrading and, I hope, improving our product all the time. That means existing figures and vehicles moving over and out to be replaced with new ones. Where do you see any infinity?

“What kind of future production numbers are we looking at? 10 thousand, 50 thousand?”

Just where did you get your numbers from? Certainly not from me or anyone at K & C. We have neither the wish nor the need to produce such massive volumes. We recognised a long time ago that we operate in a relatively modest “niche” collectors market. Although it is growing steadily we will never be a threat to Mattel or Hasbro…and we like it that way. So again I say on what basis do you suggest 10,000 and 50,000 production runs? Do you know something I don’t?

Finally, “ Wonder what happened to the limited warehouse storage?”

Well you’ll be pleased to know it’s still limited…very limited in fact. Hong Kong is a small place with an awful lot of people on it so all kinds of space is limited both for people and military miniatures of all descriptions.

Hope my little answers bring a little ray of sunshine into our life and put a happy smile on that cheeky little chap who looks like Tony S. at the top of your posts.

Andy C. Neilson

 

[Njja]

Hi Andy C.

First thank you for taking the time to address some of my concerns. If you look closely you will see both Tony S & I smiling.

I am quite relieved to learn that you plan to continue retiring items. As a collector for over 30 years I have witnessed the demise of Comic Books, Baseball Cards, Lionel Trains through questionable production practices.

I fully admit the stated production numbers were entirely my hullucination dreamed up in one of my military miniature stupors. I am thrilled to learn that you do not intend to fill the Grand Canyon with Tigers!

While I agree with many on the Forum that collecting for monterey gain is risky at best. I also realize that after many years you wish to pass on to your children something worth more then your neighbors Betamax Video Collection.

I once wrote an article on Hess Toy Trucks. A wonderful christmas promotion by the Hess Oil Company. Offered only between Thanksgiving and Christmas every year. I got my first one in 1964, by the late 1980's when my article was published the early ones were worth thousands. Through over production they are now days nearly worthless.

I am delighted to have had the opportunity of sharing this information with you. I am relieved your warehouse is still small. Your ideas, and creativity certainly are not.

I am off to contact my dealer!

Many Thanks,

Njja

 

[Hoot-n-Toot]

I just purchased some Frontline Indians in the Rodgers Rangers series and they seem, much to my surprise, like 60MM figures. I would like to stay with 54MM, but I don't think the manufactures will. I was disappointed when I set a new set of Britons Indians next to the Frontline Indians. So now I will have 2 dioramas in place of one, but that’s where it stops.

I agree the size increases the ability of the painter and sculptor to create better peaces. Howerer; that said the Russians seem to do fine with 54 MM. Could it be that K&C is just protecting its market share? If the industry goes to 60MM why not 75MM or 90MM? My shelf space is limited I will need to stop collecting at 75MM. All kidding aside when the K&C collectors accepted the 60MM figures did they not pave the way for the ? we face today. Think twice before accepting 75MM figures or the cycle will repeat it’s self. We as buy may be in control of the size, but the 60MM horse is out of the barn now and he is not going back in.

Hoot Sorry for the rambeling.

 

[Steven Chong]

I just purchased some Frontline Indians in the Rodgers Rangers series and they seem, much to my surprise, like 60MM figures.

Dear Hoot-n-Toot:
I have the Major Robert Roger figure from this line and found it to be a 54mm from bottom of feet (not including base) to eyes. This should make the figure 1/32 scale. However, this raises a question I have often thought about: Does the height of a figure include the thickness of the base, or is it determined from the bottom of the feet? I understood the traditional measurement of toy soldiers to be from the bottom of the feet to the eyes since most military figures have helmets of varying heights covering the top of the head. I have seen a 1/32 scale figure described as 65mm including height of the base or K&C figures described as closer to 1/24 scale (height is 75mm including base). Hopefully, some of the manufacturers on this forum will share how they determine the height (thus scale) of their figures.

 

[Eazy]

What an interesting thread.

Might as well add my piece.
I like the size of K&C. It really allows the extra details and facial expressions to shine through. I have said in the past how much i like FOV vehicles but my purchase of the Winter Tiger and the King Tiger and the Jagdpanther have made me realise what a superior display product K&C vehicles are.
I still like and buy FOV but they are a toy i can pick up and roll along and play with (does that sound childish lol). K&C vehicles and figures are beautiful items that never fail to get people attention when they look at my cabinet.

That doesn't mean that K&C should rest on it's laurels though as i'm sure Andy is aware. If you are looking for historical accuracy then K&C have a ways to go.

Where is the zimmerit anti magnetic mine paste on the King Tiger and the Jagdpanther and the Normandy Tiger? A lot of scale tank fanatics would not be impressed by those admissions.

I have to admit i'm kind of frustrated when i see K&C SS tank commanders wearing wehrmacht splinter camoflage. And why were the Afrika Korps paratroopers wearing a jump smock splinter pattern that didn't exist? They look great though as do the cheerily attired Normandy SS and the Italian campaign Fallschirmjagers from a couple of years ago.

Ken Olsen's ONTC FJ's had much more realistic jump smocks in my opinion. Although to be honest of that 3 piece set the only pose i really liked was the grenade thrower. Now if K&C's FJ's had ONTC coloured jump smocks things would be perfect.

Basically i'm saying nobody can lay claim to perfection and i eagerly await what is produced by all toy soldier/military miniature producers in the future.

 

[Eazy]

Where is the zimmerit anti magnetic mine paste on the King Tiger and the Jagdpanther and the Normandy Tiger? A lot of scale tank fanatics would not be impressed by those admissions.

OOOPS i mean ommissions

 

[Hoot-n-Toot]

I may of misspoken when I called the frontline figures 60MM. Take a look at the photo below. Don't you think they are mismatched. Hoot

 

[Steven Chong]

I may of misspoken when I called the frontline figures 60MM. Take a look at the photo below. Don't you think they are mismatched. Hoot

Dear Hoot:
They do look mismatched -- but more due to the difference in bulk. The Frontline figure looks like a bodybuilder or football player and the Britains' like a skinny person. I think one of the toy soldier magazines mentioned the Frontline Indian figures looked too muscular.

 

[Ken Clarke]

Dear Hoot-n-Toot:
I have the Major Robert Roger figure from this line and found it to be a 54mm from bottom of feet (not including base) to eyes. This should make the figure 1/32 scale. However, this raises a question I have often thought about: Does the height of a figure include the thickness of the base, or is it determined from the bottom of the feet? I understood the traditional measurement of toy soldiers to be from the bottom of the feet to the eyes since most military figures have helmets of varying heights covering the top of the head. I have seen a 1/32 scale figure described as 65mm including height of the base or K&C figures described as closer to 1/24 scale (height is 75mm including base). Hopefully, some of the manufacturers on this forum will share how they determine the height (thus scale) of their figures.

Hi All and just to reply the Steven's question as regards scale and what 54mm actually means in my opinion. The scale is 1/32 scale and represents the height of the figure from the bottom of the feet (not including base) to the top of the figures head (not obviously including hat) and in an "at attention" pose!

Apparantly the average height of armies throughout the 19C (where figure making first got going in a serious manner) was 5 feet 8 inches tall.

So therefore mathematically:

5 feet 8 inches = 68 inches.
68 inches multiplied by 254 (inches to mm convertion) = 1727.2 mm
1727.2 mm divided by 32 ( 1/32 scale) = 53.975 mm

and hey presto rounded it comes to 54mm!

In fact they actually should be 53.975mm figures!

I hope this helps.

Ken Clarke-Jervoise
The East of India Company

 

[Steven Chong]

Dear Ken:
Thank you for the explanation and welcome to this forum! It was a great pleasure seeing your wife and you at the Chicago Show. As evidenced by my purchases, I really like your new Ancient Greek figures, and I look forward to the future releases you mentioned.
Steven

 

[TLP]

Dear Hoot:
They do look mismatched -- but more due to the difference in bulk. The Frontline figure looks like a bodybuilder or football player and the Britains' like a skinny person. I think one of the toy soldier magazines mentioned the Frontline Indian figures looked too muscular.

Are you kidding me? The "skinny" guy, he has some seriously ripped ab's! He looks like he is in great shape. The other guy looks like his raiding party has been stealing cow's for the past five years, very succesful at it too!

Yes mismatched! Heck the Conte WWII and even the ONWTC figures would be some big boy's as well when compared to say the FOV and 21st vehicels.

 

[Steven Chong]

Currently waiting 5 hours in Tokyo for a connecting flight back to the U.S. , but I had a chance to meet with Andy in Hong Kong. He confirmed K&C determines the size of figures from the bottom of the feet to the level of the eyes. When I get back to the US, I will be posting pictures taken of the K&C Hong Kong store and the K&C headquarters. The headquarters has over 20 deep cabinets filled with thousands of K&C figures and vehicles!!! For those of you who like conspiracies, I also found out that the Treefrog Treasures website is blocked in Shanghai -- I do not think they like sites with public forums.

 

[sceic2]

Well of course, it only makes sense to block the Treefrog Forum. We ARE SOO political in nature and who knows, perhaps this group of "revolutionaries" will bring down the entire Chinese government. After all, each of us has a large army at our disposal. I am looking forward to seeing your pictures.

 

[jazzeum]

Well, I do understand the point of view. In a dictatorship, you hardly want that kind of thing happening. Sad. One of these days, that cauldron is going to blow.