Hi Peter:
Thanks you for consult.
You're right; there are many toy soldiers and figurines manufacturers in Argentine as you said. There are more people as "Meulen", "El Templario", "Pessot" and "Antigua Militaria". I believe that all they makes an amazing quality work as Beau Geste, Honour Bound and Manes Marzano.
You're also right when you say Argentine market isn't very strong; really is a small market and was almost destroyed for a biggest economical crisis at 2001.
This is the reason because we try to enter into international markets as American and European. But this isn't so easy for us. I.e.: is almost impossible to get Pay-Pal system as payment method for us because this service isn't available in Argentine. Only way to get Pay-Pal (if I don't wrong) is opening an account in an American or European bank, but this is so hard (impossible for me, for example).
Another problem we have with postal services to send our packages with soldiers. International Couriers (DHL, Fedex, ecc.) are very expensive for us (from usd$ 50 and up). We have another service too much less expensive but we need to make an "armored" package to treat that our lovely work don't arrives destroyed at destiny.
Mine is a familiar and artisan job. I'm the sculptor of group (also I work for another manufacturers of wargame miniatures as you can see on my website). Sometimes I make convertions from my own figures.
Mi first son and, sometimes, my wife paints the soldiers. I've painted too time ago, but last year ago I've been very occupied with sculpting work.
I sure you that I love this work, or "hobby-work", better.
Almost all our toy soldiers you can see in website were made from special orders first. Frequently collectors request us special soldiers. Then, these soldiers are converted in "line production" pieces. Our is a very flexible structure of work, because we have a low production in comparison with great toy soldiers enterprises, as you know.
This way we made up our "Spanish Civil Wars" (or Carlistas Wars) range.
Finally (I hope you don't get bored with this longuest message) we live in Buenos Aires city, but luckily, far from the city's center.
If you are interested to see pictures from different places in Argentine, you can see at:
http://www.soldadosgalileo.com.ar/private/fotosarg.htm
At your service for any other question; is a pleasure for me be in touch with different collectors.
Kindest regards:
Leonardo
