New Model Army( formerly British Commando) has Pictures! (1 Viewer)

[jazzeum]

I too would like to comment.
I really took a stand trying to give MNA a real chance. But if in fact they have cast molds from previous K&C figures and vehicles, I stand corrected.
Then in fact they are copies, "knockoffs". and in no way would I buy them.
Now I,m really sorry I went and kicked my dog, hope he forgives me.
Gary

Hope he bit you

 

[mike]

When Brit Commando/NMA was set up we did not think we could be everything to everyone and although not wishing to get involved in a cat fight I feel that with all the speculation and comments it is only right to defend our position and put our point of view across.
Since we posted our phase 3 samples on friday the emails have not stopped coming, telling us what a great product we have and when can it be ordered? There has not been one derogatory comment and many have wished us well. I made a great point of saying on the forum these were just samples and if it had not been from the constant email we received here asking for pictures I would not have posted them. I maybe considered naiive now but did not think that because one of our vehicles scheduled for release coincided with an earlier K&C model this would cause any kind of problem. Airfix, Revell, Matchbox and Esci all produce Tiger tanks and other similar vehicles to each other. Wonder if any of them had this kind of contoversy? I am sure each one bought something to the hobby. Phase 4 SDkfz 231/232 will be even better and more different to the one posted on the web site - I am even more determined to put it out now thanks to all the comments. For Gods sakes guys it's only a sample - not even close in quality to the final release. As it is I think it is a big improvement on the K&C version. As for the comments 'why buy a copy when you can have the original?' - all I can say to that is not everybody probably liked the K&C version or wants to pay $300 on ebay.
I am posting pictures on the website tomorrow of the sculpting process so you can all see we had our own model made - not as a 2nd or 3rd cast in some kind of fantasy scenario that was suggested earlier. How can you tell whether the lines are sharp, from a not very good quality photo taken in bad light in a factory? It beggars beyond belief. As for the comment that the kneeling rifleman is a copy of WS39 knocked me over backwards! You really don't know your own products Mr Neilson if you think that is a knock off of one of your models. No manufacturer holds the remit for model poses - a kneeling rifleman is a kneeling rifleman rergardless - sure you can change a few things but hell a dozen manufacturers have produced this pose - you would have to try really hard to come up with something totally original these days for a standard infantry kneeling pose. When we looked at the SdKfz 231/232 we studied the version by Tamiya, Rodden and believe it or not K&C!!! We also looked through several books and took ideas from them as well. To say we have tried to cut corners is incorrect, purely in that it has taken us 6 months to get this far and there is still another 2 - 3 months to go. We could have knocked a copy out in less than a month - think about that one! For those of you on the forum that then jumped on the 'Andy band wagon' and agreed with him just because he said it was a copy without even bothering to ask me (by the way your loyalty never stopped you asking me for photos of my products) all I can say is shame on you. As for the comment that the pictures on our web site are ripped off from 'Matchbox' art - it is actually the art from the Airfix 1/72 British Commandos box - thought you were a toy maker with some knowledge Mr Neilson? A 5 year old kid would have known that one! It even says the web site is under construction so give us a break.
All the best
Mike

 

[Steven Chong]

... Steven, tongue in cheek no doubt, stated that since King and Country has already make a Jagdpanther or a Sherman, no one else should make one. The Sherman is a case in point. If you look at a King and Country DD 27 and DD 45 they are as different as night and day, leading to the conclusion that you can start with the same model, a Sherman or what have you, but the final result will look different ...

Dear Brad,
To clarify my comment, what I meant was if another manufacturer for some reason sculpted their own 1/30 scale Sherman M4 A3 with 105 mm cannon (and assuming they do not have a tanker standing outside the turret shooting the machine gun) or a Sherman M4 A1 (not sure if DD27 with its cast hull is this variant), people could mistake this original tank for the K&C vehicle and conclude it was a copy based only on pictures. Given the passions on this thread, which do influence other toy soldier (or military miniature) collectors, the point in my first post is that manufacturers who do the same type and variant vehicle as K&C face the additional hurdle of whether their product is a copy. This is why I suggested, tongue in cheek, that it might be less controversial if they did not produce something already done by K&C. What new company needs this kind of public comments?

 

[mtsc1021]

I believe that NMA deserves a chance to respond before everyone jumps to the conclusion that they made a copy of a K&C vehicle or a figure. The wrong information can harm or destroy even the most honest of people. Just because someone chooses to produce something in the same vein as another company is no reason to trash him if his work (patterns) is original. It is clear the majority of people on this thread are die hard K&C fanatics which is fine but don't ruin a guy without due process. If his products don't appeal to you...don't buy them. It serves no purpose to attack without all the facts or to tear apart something just because you don't like it. I believe Andy should have discussed this matter privately with Mike before he posted his accusations because if they are not true a lot of damage has already been done and that is truly wrong! I also believe it is in the best interest of the hobby to let the two of them sort this out privately and all these comments should be removed by the forum until resolved. Remember false accusations can ruin an honest man. Would any of you like to be accused of something without due process? Chat Rooms and Forum are a dangerous weapon when used irresponsibly or without thought towards the person on the other end of the comments. What purpose does it serve? Use these forums for constructive thoughts and ideas not destructive ones. When something doesn’t appeal to you...it’s simple... don’t buy it...give the other guy a chance to make up his own mind. Period.
Rick Berry
Michigan Toy Soldier Company

 

[nmrocks]

I promise to keep an open mind on this, I always try to think and say the best about various matters. In the end, the product will stand or fall on it's own legs. This is a small group with a severe addiction, to which I also confess.
I still wish them good luck and await there first products.
Ray

 

[jazzeum]

Dear Brad,
To clarify my comment, what I meant was if another manufacturer for some reason sculpted their own 1/30 scale Sherman M4 A3 with 105 mm cannon (and assuming they do not have a tanker standing outside the turret shooting the machine gun) or a Sherman M4 A1 (not sure if DD27 with its cast hull is this variant), people could mistake this original tank for the K&C vehicle and conclude it was a copy based only on pictures. Given the passions on this thread, which do influence other toy soldier (or military miniature) collectors, the point in my first post is that manufacturers who do the same type and variant vehicle as K&C face the additional hurdle of whether their product is a copy. This is why I suggested, tongue in cheek, that it might be less controversial if they did not produce something already done by K&C. What new company needs this kind of public comments?

Steven,

I generally agree with you but I think your point only applies if the other manufacturer's product and the King and Country version were so similar in appearance as to raise the possibility of causing confusion in the minds of third party buyers. For example, based on what we know of the forthcoming Panthers from Honour Bound and King and Country, that possibility seems slight.

 

[Steven Chong]

... Phase 4 SDkfz 231/232 will be even better ... I am posting pictures on the website tomorrow of the sculpting process so you can all see we had our own model made ...

Dear Mike,
While I appreciate there is a time difference and you are running a company or companies, I wish you had posted your response earlier. I also assume from your post that the vehicle pictured is a SDkfz 231/232, and not a SDkfz 222 as listed on this and the other forum. I look forward to the pictures of the sculpting process (and possibly pictures of other announced vehicles being sculpted?).

 

[Pierre]

I believe that NMA deserves a chance to respond before everyone jumps to the conclusion that they made a copy of a K&C vehicle or a figure. The wrong information can harm or destroy even the most honest of people. Just because someone chooses to produce something in the same vein as another company is no reason to trash him if his work (patterns) is original. It is clear the majority of people on this thread are die hard K&C fanatics which is fine but don't ruin a guy without due process. If his products don't appeal to you...don't buy them. It serves no purpose to attack without all the facts or to tear apart something just because you don't like it. I believe Andy should have discussed this matter privately with Mike before he posted his accusations because if they are not true a lot of damage has already been done and that is truly wrong! I also believe it is in the best interest of the hobby to let the two of them sort this out privately and all these comments should be removed by the forum until resolved. Remember false accusations can ruin an honest man. Would any of you like to be accused of something without due process? Chat Rooms and Forum are a dangerous weapon when used irresponsibly or without thought towards the person on the other end of the comments. What purpose does it serve? Use these forums for constructive thoughts and ideas not destructive ones. When something doesn’t appeal to you...it’s simple... don’t buy it...give the other guy a chance to make up his own mind. Period.
Rick Berry
Michigan Toy Soldier Company

Hard to be against your plea, Mr. Berry.

Pierre.

 

[Shannon Reuss]

Alright folks time for a breather. Rick, I understand your concern and see your point but Mike has requested that I post these pictures for him so I can't delete the thread. I think we should all just back off, let NMA complete their vehicles and figures, wait for the finished products and continue this discussion at that time. If Andy and Mike have issues with each other over what has been said or done, please carry on your conversations privately for now while the rest of us adopt a "wait and see" attitude. These early sculpt pictures have been submitted by NMA and I post them for you to see:

 

[DMNamiot]

Wow someone needs to take a chill pill!

Hi Shannon

Thanks for settling down the wild indians here. I do like the pictures of the models you've posted for the guys over at NMA. I hope the wild indians here settle down and take the time to examine the product before they decide against it. Besides whats wrong with a little competition for King and Country? Free market right guys?

Dave

 

[Alexdakar]

I'm still going to buy them all.

 

[gk5717]

If they are of K&C quality,I,m buying also.
Not knowing the process of making vehicles and figures, after reading Andy,s post, I assumed that MNA simply got a K&C vehicle, made a mold of it, then produced a vehicle from that mold. Now that would be wrong.
But if it is their origional mold, although similar, I,m looking forward to their product.
Good luck, Mike
Gary

 

[mike]

Dear Mike,
While I appreciate there is a time difference and you are running a company or companies, I wish you had posted your response earlier. I also assume from your post that the vehicle pictured is a SDkfz 231/232, and not a SDkfz 222 as listed on this and the other forum. I look forward to the pictures of the sculpting process (and possibly pictures of other announced vehicles being sculpted?).

Hi Steve
It is difficult sometimes to find the time to submit a timely reply especially when we have so much else going on here. However I found that this thread gave me more information as to what people were looking for then a whole life time of market research! It is one of the great things about forums when people get passionate - you get to hear what they really feel. I feel that we may not now bother with SS infantry figures but offer the market something else instead. After all we do not want to sit in someone elses shadow for too long. As for the SdKfz 222 - sure we want to release one of those - it is a fantastic looking vehicle - one of my favourite along with the 231/232 - but what are people going to say? If we do I will make sure there is no way it can be mistaken for a K&C knock off. The benefit for you guys is that we will now try even harder to make a better product.
Regards Mike

 

[mike]

A big thanks to all you guys out there who emailed and posted support for us on the forum. There are some great people out there and I look forward to meeting you all some day.
Regards mike

 

[desk11desk12]

Has anyone noticed that only the mortar team prototype pictures remain on this site?

Maybe they're coming out with some new pictures. I look forward to seeing them.

Carlos

 

[mike]

Good detective work!! Please check out the website for details of our first release. I hope you will all be happy with the result. Not quite the finished product but close enough. It has taken months of work to get this far and has been a real labour of love. There will only be 300 of these made with NO winter or desert version of this crew to come out either so get them whilst you can. Visit the website to see the results www.thenewmodelarmy.com, if you want more photos of this set that have not been released please feel free to drop me a line at; info@thenewmodelarmy.com and I will happily send you some more.
Regards Mike

 

[Peter Reuss]

Here are some images that Blake asked us to post:

 

[Eazy]

I really like the mortar crew. Looks excellent. I like the way the mortar is a seperate piece and looks well detailed.

 

[Steven Chong]

The facial features of the officer with distinct teeth and tongue are fantastic! If the actual production figures sold to collectors have the same level of detail, NMA has upped the ante.

 

[Alexdakar]

Excellent. I better start making room.