Matte Durbar (1 Viewer)

thebritfarmer

thebritfarmer

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Posted in the London show pics and courtesy of UKREB

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Hopefully Richard will be able to add to this and provide us with some more information.

I for one think that it certainly is a great piece and hope that Britains will take the plunge and start producing the Durbar in Matte as I am sure it would be a winner.

Does anyone know which Durbar this is based upon?
 
That sculpt seems to be based on a painting by Menpes and is in his book. It is the Jaipur flagbearer - a figure that is available from Marlborough in gloss.
 

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I admit I am confused: we have a very popular Durbar line in gloss from Britains - but it has been discontinued. Activity on EBay and this forum indicates that there are a lot of die-hard fans for this discontinued line that hope the line will be revived in the future.

Now, we have a matte Durbar line that - to my knowledge - is a novelty - all other manufacturers fully embrace gloss for the Durbar line to optimise the colors of these figures.

Wouldn't it make more sense creating new figures for the existing Britains line than starting a new line in a totally new finish?
 
The painting from the Menpes book was the guide for this new piece sculpted by Alan Ball. This is in our now standard, 56-57mm size like all of our other Matte ranges developed under 1st Gear.
We have taken a serious look at several of the period images from this book, and other sources, that would be interesting to develop. Any one of them would make excellent additions to this first W. Britain set in Matte.
As always we are interested in hearing your comments!
Ken
 
Perhaps they plan to do a matte & gloss version (as in the case of the Zulu wars)

The old Britains gloss series certainly seems to be popular on ebay and seems to command very good prices. However for people such as myself (who doesn't have any Durbar sets) This is a great opportunity to get in on the ground level. If they start just doing gloss I wouldn't buy them as I don't own any of the previous sets and would therefore make for an incomplete collection.

Matte seems to becoming more popular and I think if the trimmings are done in "gloss" gold, silver etc I think it will be great :)
 
I don't collect gloss figures but speaking of Elephants (and reading my new Osprey War Elephants turned me in an admirer of this particular animal) i always admired the glossy Elephant Battery from VC - Mutiny range...i wonder if we 'll receive something similar in the future in matte version..i hope so!
 
thebritfarmer said:
Perhaps they plan to do a matte & gloss version (as in the case of the Zulu wars)

The old Britains gloss series certainly seems to be popular on ebay and seems to command very good prices. However for people such as myself (who doesn't have any Durbar sets) This is a great opportunity to get in on the ground level. If they start just doing gloss I wouldn't buy them as I don't own any of the previous sets and would therefore make for an incomplete collection.

Matte seems to becoming more popular and I think if the trimmings are done in "gloss" gold, silver etc I think it will be great :)
Click to expand...


I think you are making an excellent point. I can see that it has some appeal to start new - and if the customer prefers matte, the manufacturer avoids the competition with the more established gloss lines.
 
Andanna said:
I think you are making an excellent point. I can see that it has some appeal to start new - and if the customer prefers matte, the manufacturer avoids the competition with the more established gloss lines.
Click to expand...

It is a bit of a risk I would think. This may not blend in as nicely with a glossy range and customer such as yourself, Pat, Dave and others may not want 2 separate Durbar ranges.

May be they are going to produce pieces not covered in the previous glossy range, which would kind of suck as you miss out on some very nice pieces.

I guess we will have to wait and see how it pans out.
 
When will it be released?

And is it the start of a range?

JPB
 
I have the gloss WB Durbar stuff. I like the look of the new matt set and will be very tempted to get one
 
Gentle Friends,

I guess it is my turn to voice my preferences. Presently, I own a complete line of the earlier Britains glossy Durbar figures. I am enormously proud of these figures and I enjoy their glossy finish. It will be a disappointment to me if the Durbar line is re-introduced in a matte finish only. While I am excited about the prospects of new Durbar figures, I want to be able to blend the new figures with the figures I presently own.

I do understand the appeal of a collector being able to start collecting a new line of figures from the very beginning of the line. However, if a matte finish emerges as the only option, it will pose a very difficult decision for me. Already, I have separate displays for Britains Durbar figures, for Beau Geste Durbar figures, and for Hocker Durbar figures. I do not look forward to establishing a fourth set of displays for the Britains matte finished figures when I already have a great display of the glossy ones. Ultimately, I may opt for purchasing more of the glossy figures from other manufacturers. Only after I see the new figures for real will I be able to make the decision regarding what direction my Durbar collection will take.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat
 
wadepat said:
Gentle Friends,

I guess it is my turn to voice my preferences. Presently, I own a complete line of the earlier Britains glossy Durbar figures. I am enormously proud of these figures and I enjoy their glossy finish. It will be a disappointment to me if the Durbar line is re-introduced in a matte finish only. While I am excited about the prospects of new Durbar figures, I want to be able to blend the new figures with the figures I presently own.

I do understand the appeal of a collector being able to start collecting a new line of figures from the very beginning of the line. However, if a matte finish emerges as the only option, it will pose a very difficult decision for me. Already, I have separate displays for Britains Durbar figures, for Beau Geste Durbar figures, and for Hocker Durbar figures. I do not look forward to establishing a fourth set of displays for the Britains matte finished figures when I already have a great display of the glossy ones. Ultimately, I may opt for purchasing more of the glossy figures from other manufacturers. Only after I see the new figures for real will I be able to make the decision regarding what direction my Durbar collection will take.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat
Click to expand...
I had a similar dilemma when WB introduced the matt AZW range. I have started to collect that range and am enjoying it.
Maybe we shoul change teh words from Paul Mcartneys
EBony and Ivory side by side on my piano keyboard to
Matt and gloss side by side on my diplay shelf in perfect harmony
 
damian said:
I had a similar dilemma when WB introduced the matt AZW range. I have started to collect that range and am enjoying it.
Maybe we shoul change teh words from Paul Mcartneys
EBony and Ivory side by side on my piano keyboard to
Matt and gloss side by side on my diplay shelf in perfect harmony
Click to expand...

Hi Damain,

Ha! :D Your wisdom is never lost on me! No matter what Britains decides to do with this line, I will probably be hooked!

Warmest personal regards,

Pat ;)
 
The elephant was a lovely piece to see in person & i am very tempted to get one but at the end of the day i proberbly wont as i normally stick to gloss!!!! Its a shame they went in this direction with the durbar :(
 
Hello All!
I have to tell you that we always come back from shows with pretty much the same results.
Some one will come up to our table and point to a Gloss figure and say..."If you would do this one in Matte I would by it!".

Five minutes later someone will come to the table and pick up the same figure and say "I really love this one...will you be adding an NCO in Gloss?"

So several times a year we sit down to work on a line list for the next go around and we say..."Well this would be a nice figure but should it be Gloss or Matte?"
In the end we try to be creative... and that isn't always easy if you look at the long history of Toy and Model soldiers. So at this moment we will offer a Matte finished Durbar set... It seems like a new approach to an old subject. Who knows what will come up next?
All the best!
Ken
 
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