new range? WWII? (4 Viewers)

[sammy719]

I do.

Actually, we'll discuss the scale of the figures in more detail when we actually release including updating the scales page on our website with images with rulers and a comparison photo. Suffice it to say, those of you wanting to add these to your existing collections will be hard pressed to get them to fit in with what you may already have from other makers. They're just stylistically so different than what's already out there. You are of course free to do what you want, however, they'll work best when displayed in their own displays. You'll see why soon enough.

The flip side to this, of course, is that we'll give you everything you'll need to create complete displays in their entirety with only our products. So if you have aleady invested heavily in a WWII collection, not to worry, our releases are extremely specific and can easily be a sub-collection within a broader WWII collection.

Regards,

Matt
First Legion Ltd

Thanks Matt, I consider myself a big WWII fan mostly all in K&C, but can't wait to see what you all have come up with, the two figures look fantastic, hope to hear from you all soon...Sammy

 

[jazzeum]

Unfortunately, if you have a K & C collection, that doesn't sound like very good news so these are apparently 54 mm or 1/32nd scale.

 

[FirstLegion]

Fair enough.
Maybe I should rephrase things.
I do not know how the series will sell.
I do not even know if it is the Eastern front as has been pointed out.
FL make some great looking Napoleonic stuff so I am pretty sure whatever they do release will be spectacular.
I just know that at all the talks Andy gives guys ask him about the Eastern Front and he says it does not sell. This does surprise somewhat me as the WInter 88 that K and C made about 10 years ago is now considered a classic and that series when it came out was marketed as Stalingrad. There were some Russians and a T-34. As I said I wish the new series well and hope that it is a great seller.

I'm pretty certain that what K&C would consider "poor" sales, we'd consider to be a resounding success!!! Remember - First Legion = 1 year old company with very little market penetration at this point. First Legion = very small production runs. Three years from now, I hope that our perspective on both of these points will change, but right now, I'd happily accept our range selling as well as what a failure for K&C sells at in terms of units sold!

As for Eastern Front selling or not selling, while I'm not saying that our figures are Eastern Front, our belief is that anything that is very well done will sell just fine and we certainly believe that our new WWII figures are the best figures we've ever done. I can't imagine that there was a huge demand for "The Battle of Snowshoes" either, but that seems to be doing ok.

Regards,

Matt
First Legion Ltd

 

[FirstLegion]

Unfortunately, if you have a K & C collection, that doesn't sound like very good news so these are apparently 54 mm or 1/32nd scale.

Or apparently not! Though we list all of our ranges at "54mm" as a label, I've been pretty clear in other threads what our actual sculpting scale is and have an entire page of our website dedicated to the topic. I'm not going to go into it any further here as that information will be posted to our site very soon.

What I DID say, however, is that they are "stylistically" so different than what's out there that they won't match. Figure height is by no means the be all and end all of figure compatibility! Would you display a connoisseur St. Petersburg or other Russian Maker's WWII figures with your K&C WWII figures? Why not? Well, same exact reason applies here. If you would display them together, then I stand corrected - they're perfectly compatible! Further, I'm only one man and it may be my perception that they don't match well - others could feel differently.

Finally, as a collector, I can't imagine that the creation of any new figure range that is beautifully done and worth collecting could ever be perceived as "bad news." While this forum might, the broader world doesn't revolve around K&C my friend...

Regards,

Matt
First Legion Ltd

 

[Nick Nasta]

Matt,
They have to be over the top with the detail your sculptors generate. Your WWII figures will be the best out there!
Nick

 

[jazzeum]

No, I wouldn't but then I don't have any St. Petersburg as they're not compatible with my K & C collection and, therefore, I have no interest in them.

This, probably, will be the result here as well. Moreover, if you're going to focus on Germans that would diminish my interest. However, I also have that issue with K & C.

 

[Harrytheheid]

Or apparently not! Though we list all of our ranges at "54mm" as a label, I've been pretty clear in other threads what our actual sculpting scale is and have an entire page of our website dedicated to the topic. I'm not going to go into it any further here as that information will be posted to our site very soon.

What I DID say, however, is that they are "stylistically" so different than what's out there that they won't match. Figure height is by no means the be all and end all of figure compatibility! Would you display a connoisseur St. Petersburg or other Russian Maker's WWII figures with your K&C WWII figures? Why not? Well, same exact reason applies here. Further, I'm only one man and it may be my perception that they don't match well - others could feel differently.

Further, as a collector, I can't imagine that the creation of any new figure range that is beautifully done and worth collecting could ever be perceived as "bad news." While this forum might, the broader world doesn't revolve around K&C my friend and it would have been a HUGE mistake on our part to try to match what K&C is doing (actually, I don't think we could have if we tried!). Such strategies are for followers, and we simply don't see ourselves that way or run our business that way.

Regards,

Matt
First Legion Ltd

Just my opinion of course, but I believe these are very, very, interesting statements for a miniature figurine manufacturer to make on a public forum - and are a refreshing change as well.

Regards
H

 

[FirstLegion]

No, I wouldn't but then I don't have any St. Petersburg as they're not compatible with my K & C collection and, therefore, I have no interest in them.

St. Petersburg figures are also around $150 each - I would think that goes a long way in deterring interest in them to a broader market more than their incompatibility with K&C does...

This, probably, will be the result here as well. Moreover, if you're going to focus on Germans that would diminish my interest. However, I also have that issue with K & C.

Personally, I doubt that will be the result. If I thought that, we wouldn't have created the range at all would we?

And, as I've already said, we'll give you everything you need to create a complete display. This means two things:

1. We won't only do Germans obviously, but will do their opposition in the same detail.
2. Compatibility with K&C simply doesn't matter as you can still have your K&C collection on one (or in your case, 20!) shelves, and then have a small little shelf dedicated to a First Legion display.

There's no reason you can't have both. After all, just becase it's WWII doesn't mean they have to be displayed with all other WWII figures you have. You don't display your Napoleonics together with your WWII figures do you? Well, try looking at it the same way. Open up your mind a bit, because if you don't, you might miss out on some wonderful figures....

Regards,

Matt
First Legion Ltd

 

[jazzeum]

Or apparently not! Though we list all of our ranges at "54mm" as a label, I've been pretty clear in other threads what our actual sculpting scale is and have an entire page of our website dedicated to the topic. I'm not going to go into it any further here as that information will be posted to our site very soon.

What I DID say, however, is that they are "stylistically" so different than what's out there that they won't match. Figure height is by no means the be all and end all of figure compatibility! Would you display a connoisseur St. Petersburg or other Russian Maker's WWII figures with your K&C WWII figures? Why not? Well, same exact reason applies here. If you would display them together, then I stand corrected - they're perfectly compatible! Further, I'm only one man and it may be my perception that they don't match well - others could feel differently.

Finally, as a collector, I can't imagine that the creation of any new figure range that is beautifully done and worth collecting could ever be perceived as "bad news." While this forum might, the broader world doesn't revolve around K&C my friend...

Regards,

Matt
First Legion Ltd

My collection is mostly K & C so from that perspective it is bad news. I'm sure you'll do well with them but, in all likelihood they will probably hold little interest for me, even though I'm sure they will be very well done.

Of course, I'm only speaking as a collector, not the moderator, "my friend."

 

[Nick Nasta]

Matt,
The K&C crowd are tuff to try to sway. Most are true die hard K&C collectors and that's that.
Nick

 

[FirstLegion]

Matt,
The K&C crowd are tuff to try to sway. Most are true die hard K&C collectors and that's that.
Nick

While I agree with that in most cases, I think Brad's a reasonable guy and his point is warranted, at least from his perspective. I'm only trying to present a counter point of view to his. Neither of us is wrong...he's just giving his perspective and I'm giving mine. This is after all the point of the forum!

My only point is that compatibility with K&C is a pretty irrelevant point as far as we're concerned. If it turns out to be a bigger issue and we lose out on sales because of it, well, so be it. We're not changing what we're doing...

 

[FirstLegion]

My collection is mostly K & C so from that perspective it is bad news. I'm sure you'll do well with them but, in all likelihood they will probably hold little interest for me, even though I'm sure they will be very well done.

Of course, I'm only speaking as a collector, not the moderator, "my friend."

Well, I'm sorry to hear that Brad. I think you'd have really like them...Perhaps you'll change your mind later on as the range develops.

I of course only assumed you were speaking as a collector, so no worries there. It's all good...

 

[Nick Nasta]

While I agree with that in most cases, I think Brad's a reasonable guy and his point is warranted, at least from his perspective. I'm only trying to present a counter point of view to his. Neither of us is wrong...he's just giving his perspective and I'm giving mine. This is after all the point of the forum!

My only point is that compatibility with K&C is a pretty irrelevant point as far as we're concerned. If it turns out to be a bigger issue and we lose out on sales because of it, well, so be it. We're not changing what we're doing...

I understand where you are going with this. I collect many different scales and there is a display section for each

 

[OzDigger]

I certainly appreciate a new company wanting to improve detail in this hobby but I am not convinced that being too different to K & C is such a good idea. I believe that Figarti and Honour Bound sales have suffered because the vehicles and figures are a bit to realistic making them appear more bland when mixed with K & C.

I had this exact feeling when I checked out the four FL French sets recently. Yes, they were well detailed with realistic weathering but I felt they looked rather drab compared to the K & C versions near them. And THAT IMHO opinion is what helps K & C sell so well. They may not be totally accurate but they LOOK good, which is what the majority of collectors are interested in - be it rather shallow.

That said, Figarti has already proved with their WWII German Rocket sets that there is a niche for higher priced well detailed and weathered models. Provided it is a dedicated range that collectors with established collections can get into. And it seems this is the plan of attack for the new FL WWII range, and good luck to them I say.

 

[Flammenpanzer]

I think if the figures are painted and sculpted as well as your other cuurent figures they will be a hit. I sold off most of my K&C stuff except for a few early war pieces. From the small pic posted I probably will buy most of FL WWII figures. I believe the detail of the figures will warrant the cost.

 

[Fusilier]

Is it just me, or does it seem that nearly everytime a new thread is started in the First Legion subforum, it quickly degenerates into First Legion vs. King and Country? Personally, it is really getting old.

How about starting over?

Hey guys, First Legion is soon going to post thier new WW2 line. For those of us who are interested, prepare to be blown away by the quality!

Perhaps we can just leave it at that.....

Noah

 

[FirstLegion]

I certainly appreciate a new company wanting to improve detail in this hobby but I am not convinced that being too different to K & C is such a good idea. I believe that Figarti and Honour Bound sales have suffered because the vehicles and figures are a bit to realistic making them appear more bland when mixed with K & C.

I had this exact feeling when I checked out the four FL French sets recently. Yes, they were well detailed with realistic weathering but I felt they looked rather drab compared to the K & C versions near them. And THAT IMHO opinion is what helps K & C sell so well. They may not be totally accurate but they LOOK good, which is what the majority of collectors are interested in - be it rather shallow.

That said, Figarti has already proved with their WWII German Rocket sets that there is a niche for higher priced well detailed and weathered models. Provided it is a dedicated range that collectors with established collections can get into. And it seems this is the plan of attack for the new FL WWII range, and good luck to them I say.

Thanks for your well considered post. I do understand what you're saying, I really do, and it would seem like sound advice - but for better or worse, we're not really looking to fill "niches" so we'll continue to do what we're doing and let the chips fall where they may.

One last point - the bases on the WWII figures aren't square/rectangular. We do rectangular bases for our Napoleonics because they're meant to be setup in close order formation in base to base contact. This doesn't apply to WWII of course, so the bases aren't rectangular. The bases are, however, quite beautiful in their own right.

Regards,

Matt
First Legion Ltd

 

[FirstLegion]

Is it just me, or does it seem that nearly everytime a new thread is started in the First Legion subforum, it quickly degenerates into First Legion vs. King and Country? Personally, it is really getting old.

How about starting over?

Hey guys, First Legion is soon going to post thier new WW2 line. For those of us who are interested, prepare to be blown away by the quality!

Perhaps we can just leave it at that.....

Noah

Thanks Noah - well said.

 

[Panzer]

Personally, I believe the more realistic the better! These two First Legion WWII figures look appealing to me and from the teaser shot, look very well done. I'm looking forward to seeing the entire set.
Semper Fi!
Rick

 

[fmethorst]

Personally, I believe the more realistic the better! These two First Legion WWII figures look appealing to me and from the teaser shot, look very well done. I'm looking forward to seeing the entire set.
Semper Fi!
Rick

I'm with you, realistic, focused and historically accurate. If you are going to compete in this space you need differentiators and it appears FL have done their homework.

The more I think about this series the more intrigued I am.