New releases for September 2010 (1 Viewer)

[Phantom Warrior]

Well, what else can I say ... the SCW is certainly a BIG surprise from John.

I do not agree with the random packing of the #423 tank... seems to introduce an element of chance in a hobby, where most collectors are carefully planning purchases. If the limited production 423 is intended to "reward" dedicated fans of the series or of AFVs, then these should be bundled as a pair of 423 & 424 together. That way, buyers of single vehivcles will get the more widely available # 424. Not sure if this agrument makes sense to other collectors.

I sticking with JJD's pre-20th century. ... so I hope JJD does not introduce random packing in the other ranges. I like to mass my troops in lines & columns

OD

Agreed. I do not like the chance aspect. There is no benefit that I can see. It reminds me of what happened with baseball cards just before that whole industry tanked. And it is easy to check inside the box.

Terry

 

[OzDigger]

Oh my GOD!!! If that Condor Legion Panzer Ia is as nice in person as it is in the photos, with the hinged hatch and incredible track detail, John has just leapfrogged Figarti, Honour Bound and First Legion right to the front of the line on armored vehicle production!

I already pre-ordered mine, plus the Gatling Gun, Gordons and British Standard bearer from Culloden. Great month of releases!

True that, very impressive tank models

Now all I need are some Normandy Nazi tanks from JJ

 

[lancer]

Agreed. I do not like the chance aspect. There is no benefit that I can see. It reminds me of what happened with baseball cards just before that whole industry tanked. And it is easy to check inside the box.

Terry

Yeah, the baseball card thing was a disaster. I forsee a feeding frenzy trying to get both tank numbers (hope there isn't a special insert #422). Still, I like that tank. JJD has me hooked as I love all his stuff even though I only collect 3 series, (soon to expand, I fear). At any rate, the baseball card industry screwed themselves with that special insert, limited edition crap, so be careful with that road. -- Al

 

[Combat]

How about this for a coincidence - Osprey has a new book on Spanish Civil War tanks!

http://www.ospreypublishing.com/store/Spanish-Civil-War-Tanks_9781846035128/

 

[jazzeum]

Osprey's book on the Condor Legion may be of interest. See here.

Osprey has also put out a variety of books on the Spanish Civil War that may be of interest such as a brief history of the War, the (dreaded) Spanish Foreign Legion, International Brigades and the critical Battle of the Ebro.

 

[Combat]

Osprey's book on the Condor Legion may be of interest. See here.

Osprey has also put out a variety of books on the Spanish Civil War that may be of interest such as a brief history of the War, the (dreaded) Spanish Foreign Legion, International Brigades and the critical Battle of the Ebro.

I have the one on the Spanish Blue Division which is excellent. Most Osprey books are really good with a few exceptions.

 

[VIRIATO]

The mini is a little cause for concern.

I'm interested in a range about the SCW (which not was just a run up to WW II because of the nature of the conflict: long seeded antagonisms between rich and poor) and not necessarilty the Condor Legion. However, I'll probably break down and get one of these regardless

This is a really interesting period, and from what I've read (mostly the excellent A. Beevor book you mention ) it was a lot more complex than just the rich against the poor. Religion, tradition, liberal (european-british meaning not the american meaning) democratic ideas, communism, anarchism, fascism, all played their part. The Russians also intervened on the Republican's side (and ultimately hijacked the Republican side, possibly a big factor in their losing the war due to fear of communism). I remember my deceased father telling me when he was a young boy he did hear the artillery across the border from Portugal... It's a period that certainly lacks due toy soldier attention.

Paulo

 

[OzDigger]

This is a really interesting period, and from what I've read (mostly the excellent A. Beevor book you mention ) it was a lot more complex than just the rich against the poor. Religion, tradition, liberal (european-british meaning not the american meaning) democratic ideas, communism, anarchism, fascism, all played their part. The Russians also intervened on the Republican's side (and ultimately hijacked the Republican side, possibly a big factor in their losing the war due to fear of communism). I remember my deceased father telling me when he was a young boy he did hear the artillery across the border from Portugal... It's a period that certainly lacks due toy soldier attention.

Paulo

Hi Paulo, to save me a google expedition, can you explain the difference between Euopean and American liberalism.

 

[jazzeum]

This is a really interesting period, and from what I've read (mostly the excellent A. Beevor book you mention ) it was a lot more complex than just the rich against the poor. Religion, tradition, liberal (european-british meaning not the american meaning) democratic ideas, communism, anarchism, fascism, all played their part. The Russians also intervened on the Republican's side (and ultimately hijacked the Republican side, possibly a big factor in their losing the war due to fear of communism). I remember my deceased father telling me when he was a young boy he did hear the artillery across the border from Portugal... It's a period that certainly lacks due toy soldier attention.

Paulo

Spain is a land of contrasts and, at least in the first part of this century, it had many things pulling it one way or the other: the divisions between rich and poor or class divisions; anti clericalism (a rich tradition in Spanish history); separatist impulses (which are still evident in the Basque region), including central control versus regional independence; and authoritarianism versus liberty.

Although Spain appeared to be a very Catholic country, actually very few people went to Church and it was more lip service than anything else. The Church was part of the traditional forces and, thus, the peasants, poor farmers and workers were alienated from the Church. The libertarian impulse also led to a very strong anarchist impulse so that in Cataluna (where Barcelona is located) anarchism, throught the anarcho-syndicalist trade unions, the Confederacion Nacional de Trabajo (CNT) and Federacion Anarquista Iberica (FAI) was a very important factor. In fact, without the CNT-FAI, Barcelona would have probably fallen to the Nationalists during the revolt between July 18-20, 1936.

Beevor suggests that the Spanish Civil War was the culmination of these issues, which had been going since medieval time when the Reconquista (the reconquest) from the Moors began.

 

[Fraxinus]

John's tank looks amazing, but the drawback that I see is that all the damm tank-heads will now be clogging our discussion board. Where else but the John Jenkins board can we discuss the feather display differences between Oneida and a Mohawk or how the 44th got into white britches. Combat knew the answer to that last question without even having to look it up !!! We have a great board here!!!

 

[chalklands]

John's tank looks amazing, but the drawback that I see is that all the damm tank-heads will now be clogging our discussion board. Where else but the John Jenkins board can we discuss the feather display differences between Oneida and a Mohawk or how the 44th got into white britches. Combat knew the answer to that last question without even having to look it up !!! We have a great board here!!!

Maybe there should be a 'JJD Vehicle' section on the forum!!

Don't understand about the tank number........have I missed something obvious?

Back to the Sudan. Really like the Naval Brigade figures firing rifles. Hope John does a few more of these (wounded, at ready etc). The Navy/Naval Brigade seem to have had a presence at most conflicts in the 18th/19th century. Good to see some for a change,

 

[10TH LA.]

Always like to see new additions to any manufacturer !!!!!!!!! but the Condor Legion for me is to new a time period ...... to bad John could not of thought of the Boer war first....... good luck anyways !!!!!!!!!!!

 

[desk11desk12]

This is a very interesting release from John Jenkins and like most of you said already, it really came out of nowhere.

I never saw this coming but John has good instincts about new product lines and this Spanish Civil War release is worth watching and for others to collect.

I like the tank details and would really like to know details on materials used. The opening of the hatch isn't new (Figarti has done it and Collector Showcase still does it) but it does further increase the collector’s expectations and therefore influences the market IMO. I'll see the tank in person at the Chicago show.

Question: Is this a shot over the bow to over WWII manufacturers that there is a new sheriff in town? We'll see, but remember you the collector ultimately wins in these situations. There’s nothing like stating the obvious is there. LOL.

Carlos

 

[Louis Badolato]

This is a very interesting release from John Jenkins and like most of you said already, it really came out of nowhere.

I never saw this coming but John has good instincts about new product lines and this Spanish Civil War release is worth watching and for others to collect.

I like the tank details and would really like to know details on materials used. The opening of the hatch isn't new (Figarti has done it and Collector Showcase still does it) but it does further increase the collector’s expectations and therefore influences the market IMO. I'll see the tank in person at the Chicago show.

Question: Is this a shot over the bow to over WWII manufacturers that there is a new sheriff in town? We'll see, but remember you the collector ultimately wins in these situations. There’s nothing like stating the obvious is there. LOL.

Carlos

Knowing John, it is not a shot across the bow. John's business model is to fill in historical gaps other manufacturers are not addressing, and thereby attract other manufacturer's collectors interested in these eras without competing directly with the other manufacturers. I think addressing the Spanish Ciivil War is brilliant. Its an era constantly referenced in WWII fiction and non-fiction books, as the confilct wherein many WtWII personalities gained their experience. The early war and pre-war vehicles, aircraft and uniforms present in the Spanish Civil War will be very attractive to many WWII collectors. Plus at $138, the tank is very affordable compared with the vehicles produced by the other 1:30 scale WWII manufacturers. I think this range will do very well.

 

[jazzeum]

This is a very interesting release from John Jenkins and like most of you said already, it really came out of nowhere.

I never saw this coming but John has good instincts about new product lines and this Spanish Civil War release is worth watching and for others to collect.

I like the tank details and would really like to know details on materials used. The opening of the hatch isn't new (Figarti has done it and Collector Showcase still does it) but it does further increase the collector’s expectations and therefore influences the market IMO. I'll see the tank in person at the Chicago show.

Question: Is this a shot over the bow to over WWII manufacturers that there is a new sheriff in town? We'll see, but remember you the collector ultimately wins in these situations. There’s nothing like stating the obvious is there. LOL.

Carlos

Oh my GOD!!! If that Condor Legion Panzer Ia is as nice in person as it is in the photos, with the hinged hatch and incredible track detail, John has just leapfrogged Figarti, Honour Bound and First Legion right to the front of the line on armored vehicle production!

I already pre-ordered mine, plus the Gatling Gun, Gordons and British Standard bearer from Culloden. Great month of releases!

John seems to have a knack about knowing what collectors want so who are we to say otherwise. I'm obviously excited and hope it's a huge success and gets people interested in Spanish history. In an email exhchange I had with him, he said that he wanted to broaden his collector base and wanted to make something that would appeal to the 20th century collector but was a little different.

With the Spanish Civil War, his approach looks like it will be a go slow approach since he calls this a mini series. However, I think if it does well, he might expand it. I've ordered both tanks.

According to the release, the materials are mixed media, including polystone, resin and metal.

It seems to me that John must have studied all the manufacturers, First Legion, Figarti, Honour Bound and K & C because I agree with Louis, this looks from the photo like a superb tank, maybe one of the best I've ever seen and at a good price to boot; this may be his way of saying "Move over boys, there's a new player in this poker game."

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Excellent tank. If I am reading JJ's announcement correctly, the price is for the tank onl. It sounds like the figures will be separate??

Also you won't be able to order both tanks as the second one will be 15% of production and no way to tell from the outside of the box which one it is. Hopefully JJ will change his mind about that - even by just putting a sticker on the box of the second version. No problem for people who want only 1 tank but a real pain for collectors who want both versions.

Perhaps the dealers will at first sell the 2nd tank only with the purchase of the first.

Terry

 

[fortdearborn]

I don't know if an opinion from an infrequent contributor is of any value, but I, for one, am very excited by John's newest -- and totally unexpected -- foray into the Spanish Civil War (SCW)which I have been studying and collecting since I was a kid.

Ironically, for me, John has produced lines in 4 of my major fixations: the SCW, the Jacobite Rebellion of '45, the French and Indian War, and the War of 1812. I have been collecting toy soldiers since the 60s and no other manufacturer has zeroed in on those particular periods, let alone all 4 of them.

John, get out of my head! Its getting downright spooky the way you have created lines in four of my favorite topics of military history.

I'm sitting typing this on my laptop in my living room where I can see my original poster from the SCW featuring the International Brigades as well as my SCW helmet collection; my ship model of the Niagara from the War of 1812; my framed photograph that I took of the Culloden Battlefield on my first visit there in 1973; and, besides my bookshelves lined with John's French and Indian War figures is the framed photo of Rogers' Island in the Connecticut River which was owned by my high school girlfriend's grandparents and where we spent many a long afternoon together. As my various mementos demonstrate I am seriously committed to the study of these periods and I just can't get over my sense of good luck that John has ventured into all of them, not just one of them.

Thanks to readers for indulging me on this posting which is longer than the usual posting, but I am just blown away that John has hit on yet another of my interests. I feel that I need to share this observation with somebody, and this posting is about the only way I have of acknowleging John having focused on my favorite periods.

I would like to take this rare opportunity of my posting to publicly thank John for not only producing the best conceived, most dynamically sculpted and amongst the most accurately painted figures the hobby has yet seen, but also for having the courage and business accumen to venture into these relatively obscure (but quite dramatic) periods of military history. John could have just followed the crowd and produced figures depicting the more popular periods such as World War II, the American Civil War and the Napoleonic wars but he didn't. And, I, for one, am **** happy he trusted himself and his instincts.
Marc ***nes
Chicago

 

[Peter Reuss]

Marc - Is there a 5th era you're fond of?? Might be helpful to know what John will do next!

Sounds like you're hitting the jackpot!

 

[jazzeum]

Marc,

Glad to meet a fellow afficionado! How about some photos of your SCW collection. Also, what are some of your favorite books?

Regards,

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Spoke to Jenkins about the Panzer I, and he said he is fixing the problem of only 15% of the tanks having the number 423. So it looks like collectors who want 2 tanks with different numbers will be able to get them easily.

Terry