Note from Andy (1 Viewer)

[Chuck Harris]

Gary

It sadden me to hear about your loss of position after 34 years of service. I had read earlier what kind of work you did. I liked that question when it was put up on the forum. The thing I have found about this group is that even if we do come from all parts of this country and some from other countries, we have grown into a family of sorts.
My prays will be with you and your family.

 

[Leadmen]

Gary: I too am sorry to hear about the loss of your position. I remember asking my daughter who is a heart surgery RN about your job and she said what a highly skilled position it is and also stressfull. I hope your future will turn out better. In Michigan there is job losses everywhere- I know- I was forced into taking a retirement or nothing. When I got over 50 with others it seems your services are not appreciated anymore. Take Care. Leadmen (John).

 

[victory]

Gary, I echo everyones sentiments. If its any consolation, with the mass exodus going on in the New Orleans metro area, plenty of job avalibility around here.

 

[noli-poli]

Gary:

I too was laid-off by AT&T last December 2004 as a result of the company being sold to SBC. Sold my house in NJ and moved to Phoenix, AZ. My home sale profit paid-off for the new house here (bigger and better) in Metro Phoenix (Peoria)..was able to set aside a few $$ for K&C. There's a lot of work here (specially in healthcare) as the place is booming...I yet have to meet a native Arizonan. Everyone I meet is either from the East or West coast.

It's tough to be 50 looking for a job in marketing. Just recently enrolled in a Pharmacy Tech course. A lot of retirees here (the leading edge of the baby boomers) moving in from the East coast and Florida (can't stand the 9 hurricane per year, I suppose).

The key word in any sunshine state is now healthcare, healthcare, healthcare!

N-P

 

[Leadmen]

Re: Note from Andy-Binder

Hello: I don't know if you would be interested in a job in Grand Rapids Michigan. My daughter at Spectum Health says they are short of perfusionists in the brand new heart center hospital. Just a thought. John

 

[Fullyautomatic]

Sorry to hear about the job situation Binder. If your willing to relocate check out PPD Inc. Wilmington NC.World based there.Huge research company with on line applications I believe. I worked for them for about a year but a bad study and a better opportunity came along so I left. I have many friends that still work there and are pretty happy and well PAID!!!!. Wilmington has a couple of other research companies around there to-Quintel or something like that. Also based in Morrisville,NC just outside of Raleigh,NC.PPD has an office there also.
Good luck...

 

[King & Country]

Re: Questions for Andy

To: TREEFROG
Re: BITS ‘N’ PIECES

Hi Guys,

There’s been a few points on the forum recently that need some answers…so here goes ---
1) Attn. “Noli-poli”
Re the canvas/ polystone top covers for your GMC’s. Sorry, they’ve all long gone. But even if we had any they would not have fitted the newer GMC which was a slightly larger model.
2) Vectis Auction
Yup! They’re all very early Roman figures made by K&C. Originally for my good friend Chris Howse in HongKong who also allowed us to sell some.
3) American Rev. Figures
We’re working on a whole big batch of new Americans…a few Brits…and some amazing Woodland Indians. I’m sorry I can’t tell you more but they’re great (believe me). Release date: March / April 2006.
4) Display Trees.
I think I used Dept. 56 ones which are pretty cheap and cheerful!
5) American Rev. British Cannon Colours
Officially British Artillery during the Rev. and Napoleonic Wars was a shade of blue/ gray – definitely not PURPLE as Wellington suggested.
6) Retiring Napoleonics
Only the French Voltigeurs are being retired – all single pieces no sets! About 7 or 8 figures.

Hope all this helps. Best wishes and…happy collecting!
Andy C. Neilson

 

[King & Country]

Re: “BITS ‘N’ PIECES”

To: Treefrog

Re: “BITS ‘N’ PIECES”



Hi Guys,



Sorry I’ve been “absent without leave” for a few days – pressure of work is a lousy, but true, excuse!

Anyway here’s a few answers, comments etcetera on recent posts…

1) K&C Plastics

Strange as it may sound I did give this quite a bit of thought before deciding that it was not for us. Obviously I’ve seen Conte’s plastics which I quite like…and Ron Barzso’s efforts which are quite spectacular…Nick of Toy Soldiers of San Diego and my old friend Tony Ciccarello of Toy Armies in Plastic both produce excellent work. Plus, of course, Bill McMaster of BMC who licensed the rights to our original “Iwo Jima” sets to reproduce in plastic.

All of these guys, as I said, are doing a darn good job so why try and steal their rice bowl?

Another aspect of this is that with plastic you have to make certain compromises in production which you don’t have in metal.

Probably most important is that although I like good plastic figures I LOVE metal – the weight…the feel…the quality.

Finally, I’m so busy designing metal miniatures I’ve got no time to do anything else! So, metal fans fear not K&C is staying just where we are.

2) Louis’ K&C Book

I can’t wait to see it – Louis is not just a K&C fan he’s become “The Source” – even for me. He remembers stuff I’ve long forgotten although that could be me having a “senior moment”. After all he’s only a young whipper-snapper (and a lawyer to boot).

I’m also proud to have him (and the other guys) as a friend.

3) Most Dubious Awards

Heck, even I’m amazed at some of the K&C prices for older items…and I made the stuff! However it’s living proof of the quality, passion and originality all of us at K&C have tried to put into our work since our earliest days.

My only regret is that I did not keep a sample of every item we ever produced. Ah well, such is life…

4) Frontline & John Jenkins

I spoke with Gerard of Frontline just before Chicago and he told me that John Jenkins had stopped producing with them and left them in the ‘lurch’.

However he did say both him and Howard (of Frontline) were hard at work on similar scale figures which would not disappoint collectors.

Speaking for myself, I thought Jenkin’s figures were excellent and Frontline reproduced them beautifully.

I look forward to seeing Frontline’s additions and replacements.

Well, that’s the story so far…Adios for now and…happy collecting!



Andy C. Neilson