New Collector Questions (1 Viewer)

[Sgt. 403]

This is my first post and I wanted to "pick the brains" of more senior collectors before I jumped in wholeheartedly with a collection. I played with plastic toy soldiers growing up and scrimped and saved for some Jack Scruby toy soldiers in high school, which I just sold after 10 years of them sitting in a box. I've still had the "bug" though for toy soldiers and nothing has gotten my attention like King & Country. I know in most every other collecting hobby, the advice is to collect what you like, which I'm sure holds true here, but still, I wanted to ask a few questions.

1. Do you generally pick a time period and stick to it or do you jump around collecting whatever catches you eye?

2. If you do pick 1 time period, is the goal, at some point, to begin acquiring duplicates so that you can put together a decent looking diorama?

3. Having seen another poster that was unhappy that K&C ended his favorite line without filling it out very much, are there time periods that are closer to being phased out than others? I'm an ACW guy, but I've seen someone say on another site that it's not a big seller for K&C. In checking the K&C website, it appears Napoleonics and WWII are safe, but I guess anything could be stopped at any point.

Thanks for your time.

 

[Rob]

A very warm welcome to the forum,hope you enjoy.

There really is no hard set formula,go with what your heart tells you.If you have a period of history you are mad about (most of us do)go with that,otherwise buy what you fancy.I also know there are many collectors who cherry pick from many different eras and this works for them too.Duplicates are good if you can afford them,but the actual sets are more of a goal for me.

As for retiring ranges,not sure of any that are about to go,but thats all part of collecting,you never know whats round the corner.However if there is a set you really must have,don't leave it too long!

Cheers

Rob

 

[Louis Badolato]

Welcome Sgt! I would think that the safest lines for collecting K&C are WWII, Napoleonics, and the Crusades. The Civil War just restarted two years ago, and appears to be doing O.K., so if that is your area of interest, I wouldn't be too concerned.

 

[OzDigger]

Hi Sarge, and welcome to the forum. As Rob has said there are no hard and fast rules as such but I will give you my opinion on your numbered questions.

1) New guys tend to collect what takes their fancy from a variety of eras, and this is ok if you have plenty of money but at some stage most collectors decide on a preferred era and stick to that - to varying degrees. You say you collected plastic soldiers and maybe you can use that as a starting point, for example if it was WWII soldiers maybe you should start with that, or say if they were knights, start with those and see how you like them.

2) With more modern battles you don't need duplicate poses because it was rare to have soldiers in lines like they were in the Napoleonic period etc. Therefore if you choose an era from say the American Civil War and later you won't need the extra expense of duplicate figures.

3) Being from Australia I have always been surprised that the ACW was not the biggest seller in the US but I can't really see K & C dropping that line - in the near future at least. However I can be confident that they won't drop Napoleonic or WWII as those two ranges are their best sellers.

 

[DCN1898]

Hey Sarge,
I just started collecting figures a few years ago. I started with ACW when Don Troiani came out with sets that were inspired by some of his prints. I wish he would have made more of them. I then found the quality of King and Country and now I collect Napoleonic and AWI. The World War II figures are awesome but "the War Department" put her foot down. She keeps me from going off on tangents! Welcome to the forum

 

[binder001]

Welcome to the best toy soldier forum out there.

As the other boys have said; collect what interests you. Remember its your hobby, so enjoy it. Pick the stuff you like first, then if you want you can (hopefully) go back and fill in. Personally, I am "into" the US Army in WW2 so I buy mostly those items.

One question you need to decide is; are you a "collector" or "displayer". One can be BOTH, but some collectors want their items maintained in absolutely mint condition. Some displayers are bold enough to repaint or change the figures to meet their desires or fit the scene. Personally, I know I can't afford all the K&C stuff that I would like to have so I think in terms of scenes or dioramas that I want to build and let that guide my purchasing.

It's your hobby - enjoy it!

Gary B.

 

[Sgt. 403]

Thanks for all the replies. binder 001, you're right about this being the best forum. I had posted a similar message to another forum and a week later only had 2 replies. Also thanks for the collector displayer distinction. I had never thought it about that way. I don't think I'd be altering the figures, but I'd definitely want to display them. I've got a 3 year old that while I wouldn't want him playing with them, but would want him to be able to see them so he could hopefully pick up my love of history. OzDigger, thanks for the point about duplicates. I like the color of the Napoleonics, but I've spent a good amount of time reading about and visiting ACW sites, so I feel like I could do a diorama with them fairly easy.

A new question. Is there someplace that lists the retired K&C figures? I know in looking at the latest dispatches that they are retiring a few ACW figures. Should I buy those first?

 

[Spitfrnd]

Welcome mate. As to your question on K&C retirement lists, there is a great link to a data based compiled by a member in this thread.
http://www.treefrogtreasures.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13513

Depending on your area of interest, I can suggest that it is useful to check out more than one manufacturer. There are many quite goods ones for several ranges, including some you mentioned. Enjoy your collecting.

 

[Rob]

Thanks for all the replies. binder 001, you're right about this being the best forum. I had posted a similar message to another forum and a week later only had 2 replies. Also thanks for the collector displayer distinction. I had never thought it about that way. I don't think I'd be altering the figures, but I'd definitely want to display them. I've got a 3 year old that while I wouldn't want him playing with them, but would want him to be able to see them so he could hopefully pick up my love of history. OzDigger, thanks for the point about duplicates. I like the color of the Napoleonics, but I've spent a good amount of time reading about and visiting ACW sites, so I feel like I could do a diorama with them fairly easy.

A new question. Is there someplace that lists the retired K&C figures? I know in looking at the latest dispatches that they are retiring a few ACW figures. Should I buy those first?

Yes i'd buy the retiring sets you'd like first,this then leaves you time to pick up other stuff at your leisure.Funny thing with retiring items,some are gone in a flash and other are are around for some time.

Often a retiring item is a sign a new version of it maybe coming in the future.

Rob

 

[Jagdpanther]

Welcome to the Forum! Buy what you like, or if you have a particular period you love then go with that. But like every one else said go with the retired stuff first.

 

[Njja]

This is my first post and I wanted to "pick the brains" of more senior collectors before I jumped in wholeheartedly with a collection. I played with plastic toy soldiers growing up and scrimped and saved for some Jack Scruby toy soldiers in high school, which I just sold after 10 years of them sitting in a box. I've still had the "bug" though for toy soldiers and nothing has gotten my attention like King & Country. I know in most every other collecting hobby, the advice is to collect what you like, which I'm sure holds true here, but still, I wanted to ask a few questions.

1. Do you generally pick a time period and stick to it or do you jump around collecting whatever catches you eye?

2. If you do pick 1 time period, is the goal, at some point, to begin acquiring duplicates so that you can put together a decent looking diorama?

3. Having seen another poster that was unhappy that K&C ended his favorite line without filling it out very much, are there time periods that are closer to being phased out than others? I'm an ACW guy, but I've seen someone say on another site that it's not a big seller for K&C. In checking the K&C website, it appears Napoleonics and WWII are safe, but I guess anything could be stopped at any point.

Thanks for your time.

........................................................................................................

Great questions, and Welcome to the Forum!

Reguarding King & Country WWII has certainly received the most attention
and releases. There was a time when The Napoleonics were very limited, but they are quite popular with a lot of Vocal supporters and they have quite a
few releases to choose from (or buy all with lots of duplicates)

You should of course buy what you like, and do it with confidence. You should find a nice assortment to choose from. The added benefit is the incredible demand for the products. Should you decide in the future to switch to a different era there is an excellent chance you will find ready buyers for any item you want to replace with another series.

Here on the Forum you will find many knowledgable collectors that are more then willing to assist you with any questions you might have.

I hope you have a lot of fun and enjoy this interesting hobby.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

A new question. Is there someplace that lists the retired K&C figures?


Sagers Soldiers www.toysoldiersusa.com has a fairly complete, up-to-date list with photos of all the K&C pieces.

Terry

 

[maddadicus]

The only advice that I might to all of the excellent suggestions is that the price of retired items might sticker shock you, as a newbie. The early K/C ACW stuff had a look of its own, but are hard to find and thus can be expensive...I probably would concentrate on K/C newer and recent retired figures and sets. Myself, I am a big ACW fan, but early on, I chose a different mfg. But I am also a big Zouave buff and my K/C picks would be those PA. boys in dem purty, girlie uniforms. Michael

 

[OldDragon]

Hello binder

... welcome to the forum. Collect what you like and if you like K&C only, as aside from WWII, most should be able to manage two lines given the spacing of new releases & if we dont go chasing the older retired items.

Which lines ... ? It will help if you have access to a brick & mortar and be able to see the figurs for yourself. Next best, would be to visit one of the many TS shows or looking up posts of various collections on this forum.

OD

 

[GulfportEagle77]

Sgt. I'm new to collecting also. I started on the ACW line first and have pretty much gathered up most of the Confederates.

Just in the past couple of months I've started on the Union figures.

It's really hard to beat the quality of K&C, especially ACW line compared to some of the others out there.

 

[Simpson & his donkey.]

Hi Sgt. 403 welcome to the forum.I can't help you with your questions because I am still asking them.I want everthing but I have a tight budget.Good luck on which series you choose.Simmo

 

[Capitolron]

Sgt. 403

Welcome to the Forum !

Of course there is only one range to collect in K&C : NAPOLEONICS !

Just kidding - really there are some many great figures to choose from when looking at everything King & Country has to offer. I started out as a Civil War and American Revolution - King & Country Collector - then Andy came out with these wonderful Napoleonics and I was gone !

For several years I bought all the OLD Civil War K&C figures and collecting a large mass of American Revolution 1776 figures - as well as my Wonderful Napoleonics - then I found this forum and starting talking to all these WORLD WAR II guys and slowly I was pulled in and start buying WWII !

Then King & Country started making the Crusaders - had to have those - right ? ... Yep, I have all those releases now. Later - K&C came out with the WORLD WAR I range - I went ... Oh So Cool ... BOOM ! I am collecting those guys.

Thankfully - King & Country went back to producing Civil War figures which are better than ever - yes, I have all them too.

I guess my point is - you come into this hobby with your Collecting Ideas - but, be surprised when you change direction and collect other things you thought you would never collect in the beginning.

On the CIVIL WAR RANGE - It is going to be around for quite sometime - Andy has told of some of his ideas - which are all great - and we will be having many, many exciting things to collect there. So don't worry - if Civil War is your love (mine too) jump in - you should be albe to find all the ones that have been retired recently and if not - let me know - I will be glad to help you !

WELCOME to the MADDNESS !

Regards, Ron

 

[Sgt. 403]

Thanks for all the advice and tips. I forgot when asking about whether the ACW series might be done, that with the sesquicentennial starting in 2011, it would seem a bad time to end a series right when interest should be picking up. So I'll probably go with those.

Thanks Spitfrnd for the link to the list with all the figures. That list currently shows 39 ACW figures, with 6 showing they are retired. maddadicus and Old Dragon both mentioned starting with the newly retired figures as opposed to the older retired figures. I see from the K&C literature that they started in 1983. Is there a generally considered "BC" and "AD" for the figures? Since maddicus mentioned that the figures looked different, I didn't know if it would be obvious if I saw a figure not included in the CW001-CW039 line being sold right now.

 

[Capitolron]

Here are some of my OLD K&C Civil War figures - It will give you idea what they look like.

 

[aujj65]

Ron, what did you use for the river? - looks quite effective.

Jeff