Points-to- Ponder (3 Viewers)

[jazzeum]

I do think that K & C has considered the ideas but based on their sales of past product, they don't want to make the investment.

Polls are nice but it doesn't necessarily reflect the intention of a person to buy the product.

I also don't think you can draw the conclusion that because a retired item does well in the secondary market means that collectors will purchase them if they are re-introduced. A case in point is the Pacific. Collectors have made repeated requests for K & C to make them and Andy has come on here several times saying that they were disappointed in the sales, both in the first versions and the later improved versions.

 

[marco55]

They could do as Jenkins has done by getting collectors to commit to buying a set before it's made and if there is not enough commiting to it,it doesn't get made.
Mark

 

[HAWKEYE]

i don't believe i am asking for the company to deviate from their production plan or produce more than the current buying public will purchase. Would i myself if i had a factory make 1,000 german sets and at the same time produce 1,000 russian sets. Heck no. Probably a 3 german to 1 soviet set ratio.
Myself and the others are only asking to consider these products down the line for future consideration. Imagine collecting civil war items but only the confederates are the main focus.how about american revolutionary war figures and only the british redcoats are available...... Ok. Lets do napolionics but only produce the french. How about battle of britain but...... No raf.
Check out the current treefrog poll on this subject : 77 total votes 53 say yes in favor of production.this is just a small percentage of the collecting community but the odds in this example are more than 2 to 1 in favor. Again for future consideration . Only a friendly exchange of ideas. By the way it seems many of the pacific sets,fall of berlin german and russians have been selling on the secondary market for considerably more than their initial retail price. Cheeeeeers ^&grin

hi panzer ace,i think andy knows deep down that the russians would sell, especially on a 250 series t34. Its a matter of timing. The figarti tanks are excellent but we all know that if kc would make them that we would buy theirs first. Gordon, i will just let you know that each year in chicago i talk to a lot of collectors and they alway s agreed that the jagdtiger would sell as well as russian tanks and i might also add normandy falschirmjager in the right camo patterns. Tommy gunns are nice but the cama should be in geometric patterns. Give andy time , he won't dissapoint. I am sure we will see something russian to go with the kursk tiger mkiii and those beautiful cossacks, take care hawkeye

 

[MapleLeaf]

i read the whole thread and like Andy said
why are the others companies not making Russians
I'm amazed at the fact that TG and CS are having
big succes with their new Berlin 38 series the controvercial range
Amazing ain't it
Now back to the Russians

 

[GJB22]

They could do as Jenkins has done by getting collectors to commit to buying a set before it's made and if there is not enough commiting to it,it doesn't get made.
Mark

I like this idea, I would be the first to sign up.

...And where is that Stuka?

 

[jomartvr]

Hi Gordon and Andy,
I agree with Mark's suggestion. I think that it would be one way to move merchandise and give collector's truly limited edition sets.
Best wishes,
Benjamin.
P.S. Concerning NE008, how about a companion figure squatting next to a small fire with a finjan/coffee in the fire?

 

[Guy]

Well said Gordon and Andy
But a question that everybody should ask is : What makes a figure sell ? :

For me there has to be an immediate click between figure and buyer.What causes that click? First of all it has to be a figurine out of an era in which the collector is interested, followed immediately by the exclusivity of the figurine, something the other manufacturers have not yet released, a special pose, the overall finish of the figure, facial expression, the whole expression of a set of figurines- they have to tell a story-, the quality of the sculpting and the paint work.The originality ( can be through pose, weapons, uniforms, etc...)Figurines that you can directly imagine in a dio and a situation.In short a figurine that inspires you.Do you collectors out there see a figure and think"this one I've got to buy"? or is it just me ?
guy{sm4}

 

[Rob]

Well said Gordon and Andy
But a question that everybody should ask is : What makes a figure sell ? :

For me there has to be an immediate click between figure and buyer.What causes that click? First of all it has to be a figurine out of an era in which the collector is interested, followed immediately by the exclusivity of the figurine, something the other manufacturers have not yet released, a special pose, the overall finish of the figure, facial expression, the whole expression of a set of figurines- they have to tell a story-, the quality of the sculpting and the paint work.The originality ( can be through pose, weapons, uniforms, etc...)Figurines that you can directly imagine in a dio and a situation.In short a figurine that inspires you.Do you collectors out there see a figure and think"this one I've got to buy"? or is it just me ?
guy{sm4}

Nope its not just you. Figures and AFV's do have an immediate 'Jump at you' effect that helps you decide straight away that you want them, I have always found K&C's Bulge figures have this effect time and again. But there is also a totally opposite reaction too. Sometimes figures are released and at first glance you think 'I'll let those go' , and then gradually over time you look at them and start to want them and before you know it you are hitting the order button, this can take months even years but it still happens. An example of this for me were there D Day Glider troops, they gradually grew on me until I had to get them, now they are amongst my favourite of that range.

Rob

 

[mario]

I do not know what to buy first{sm2}.(RAF, Bulge,King & Country Warbirds,SS....)
You have someone FOB56-54?What do you think is better FOB56-54 or
LAH121-119??????Hard decision!!!!!
mario

 

[Fat Boy]

I do not know what to buy first{sm2}.(RAF, Bulge,King & Country Warbirds,SS....)
You have someone FOB56-54?What do you think is better FOB56-54 or
LAH121-119??????Hard decision!!!!!
mario

^&grin

I know this from somewhere? Ah sorry.........that´s me after every new dispatch....

 

[binder001]

I do not know what to buy first{sm2}.(RAF, Bulge,King & Country Warbirds,SS....) You have someone FOB56-54?What do you think is better FOB56-54 or LAH121-119??????Hard decision!!!!! mario

Buy what you really enjoy. Don't think about resale. Pretend that the market might collapse and you are "stuck" with these items - what do you want to have on your shelf? What brings you the most pleasure?

Gary B.

 

[Rob]

Buy what you really enjoy. Don't think about resale. Pretend that the market might collapse and you are "stuck" with these items - what do you want to have on your shelf? What brings you the most pleasure?

Gary B.

Very good advice^&cool

Rob

 

[lancer]

Buy what you really enjoy. Don't think about resale. Pretend that the market might collapse and you are "stuck" with these items - what do you want to have on your shelf? What brings you the most pleasure?

Gary B.

The basic truth of collecting. Well said, Gary. -- Al

 

[Cyber Field Marshall]

Always appreciate the Neilson brothers comments on this forum, its one of the main reasons I continue to blog here. Their perspective on current events influencing my favourite hobby are always a good read and usually spark an interesting and informative debate by the Treefrog Forum community.

 

[Combat]

I've lost track of how many times Andy has said no, no, and no only to see KC produce it at some point. I wouldn't sweat it or waste time arguing about whether Russians sell. They are coming. On the notion that no other company does them - doesn't FL do an entire line of Russian Stalingrad figures? They seem to be doing well.

I've never fully understood the rationale that the forum doesn't reflect the opinion of the larger collector base. Obviously, not every toy soldier collector in the world participates here, but you don't need everyone in the hobby to participate to get a good sense of the likes and dislikes of collectors. There's no reason to believe the opinions expressed here vary significantly from collectors who do not participate. Nielsen doesn't contact every TV viewer to determine the most watched shows. They take samples and extrapolate from that. Most of this is to downplay expectations or maybe hide the ball from other companies regarding upcoming releases. I'm sure Andy doesn't like to disappointment anyone by promising something only to have them wait and get frustrated. It's coming though...

 

[Currahee Chris]

I've never fully understood the rationale that the forum doesn't reflect the opinion of the larger collector base. Obviously, not every toy soldier collector in the world participates here, but you don't need everyone in the hobby to participate to get a good sense of the likes and dislikes of collectors.

Ok but would you be willing to take a leap of faith, invest scores of your own money and assets and expertise based on what the chuckleheads on this forum (myself included) believe should/shouldn't be done??? Not me says I!! {sm4} I can't blame him for that.

I do see your point to a good extent as I cannot see another historical period outside of ACW, WW2 or Napoleonics busting through as one of the top dollar periods. Still, there are limits to the feasibility of launching a line and it appears as if he understands them.

 

[PanzerAce1944]

"combat" I like your point of view here. As for myself I would much rather keep my collection all King&Country than mix in other brands of figures in the same display. To me it just seems out of place. Diorama pieces are not an issue but looking at the figures you can tell that "THERE IS A DIFFERENCE" if you compare side by side different makes.This is why I choose King&Country because I prefer their style of sculpting,Detail, Painting, etc. Hopefully someday they will supply again some commie counterparts to go with my large assortment of WW II German vehicles and figures.I also feel that once you commit yourself as a "SERIOUS" collector and purchase tens upon tens of thousands of dollars on one particular brand of miniatures in addition to all of the space in your home that this all requires, a simple suggestion or request for add on items to compliment a series that is already the #1 seller I don't think is asking too much. If producing miniatures of the victors of the eastern front campaign of WWII is asking K&C to take a leap of faith then I guess i will purchase a bunch of SONS of the Empire figures and some camels and have them attack my VOLKSTURM collection on the eastern front.
^&cool ^&cool ^&cool

 

[Phantom Warrior]

I was told there would be no Italian armour. We now have a Semovente and an M13/40 tank. An artillery type SPG done on a 250 basis would not surprise me nor would an Italian armoured car. That would pretty much take care of the main Italian AFVs.

I was also told no Russians. I believe this one. K&C already made a T-34/85 and a captured T-34/76. If the moulds are intact, they could also do a limited run of Russian marking T-34/76. After that, it seems like they are leaving the few other Russian AFVs to Figarti, and I am expecting some from them - possibly this tear (just a guess)

Terry

 

[mario]

Buy what you really enjoy. Don't think about resale. Pretend that the market might collapse and you are "stuck" with these items - what do you want to have on your shelf? What brings you the most pleasure?

Gary B.

You're right Gary. thanks guys:smile2:
mario

 

[Rob]

Who knows what's coming in the future and anyone can change their mind, but the message is pretty clear from Andy/Gordons post, not from K&C soon. Also I don't think the FL comparison stands up, yes they do Russians of course but are of different scale, so Figarti appear to be the only major producer making them in our main scale, so far there have just been a few but more are on the way I'd imagine, meantime folks could always hunt down K&C's originals on eBay.

Of course another aspect is not just about the in and out and costs of making Russian, it's also about the good business sense of concentrating on the lines that are proven sellers year in and year out like D Day, North Africa, Bulge etc, not easy to just divert for an experiment.



Rob