Poll: Would You Like King and Country To Make War Birds Again? (2 Viewers)

Would You Like King and Country To Start Making War Birds Again?

  • Yes

    Votes: 58 54.7%

  • No

    Votes: 48 45.3%
  • Total voters
    106
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Not open for further replies.
Gideon said:
Brad,

The economics of scale are the least to consider. Those companies are highly un-relaible. There is also the economy of time.

If he were to make them of polystone, find a way to make them lighter and warehouse them in the US to lighten the shipping costs then I would be excited about it.

Why return to the days when so much of his production was so out of reach? In the early days, the people who were introduced to King & Country at my store (with the exception of a few) could not afford to buy the tanks, planes and other vehicles due to cost. The polystone vehicles were released and out they went in quantity. I just view this as a huge step backwards.

Also, wouldn't this be considered a "re-release"? Any of the planes made in the same livery as the original series would kill the secondary market and really agravate a number of collectors. The detail would not be much better than the originals due to the limitations of the materials - so they really would re-issues while only the figures would be better.
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Hi Gideon,

I have to disagree with you in respect of the "re-release" killing the secondary market as there is no secondary market for the warbirds. The only ones that come on eBay are the Corsair (which is still available from some dealers) and the Me109 and I understand that they are not in wood.

At the exception of a Huey, I do not remember having see one the the warbirds on the Net.

Also, if I read correctly one of the post of Louis, he is in discussions to purchase five of them. This is not secondary market, this is private market where, at least, I am not invited. And, as Brad said, with the help of Louis, he was able to bought some of them. I would also like to have a Macchi or a He-111 produced by K&C but I am afraid that it will be impossible without K&C "re-releasing" them.

Pierre.
 
Louis is an expert on this so I will defer to his opinion but it's very hard to find these. I think a lot has to do with networking, being in the right place in the right time. There are certain collectors who are good at ferreting these out. However, I'm not one of them. I managed to find one on my own but I owe that more to luck than anything else. In sum, I agree with Pierre that there is no secondary market out there for these planes. If there is, please give me the number so I can get in the door.

Thus, I don't think it will affect the existing market and I'm not too sure the sellers would mind either. I'm sure the buyers wouldn't be upset either. You're not usually buying these with an eye on resale as you might with some figures or tanks.

On another point, binder, seconded by Carlos, was worried that producing more warbirds, might distract Andy's attention from making tanks, etc. However, I didn't see this point being raised when Andy said he was re-starting the Alamo or starting the Crusader line. It hasn't apparently stopped him from planning future WW 2 releases and, moreover, I don't think he's concerned. So, I don't think those particular objections have a lot of merit.
 
I had an ME-109 that was wood and unipressive, I sold it on e-bay and was later told this was a group of inferior planes built.
I have the polystone 109 and I think it's great, I've heard from the very narrow group that have cornered the market on wood products that somehow the polystone were inferior, I don't see how that could be from a detail point of view and it sounds like production quality issues are a serious problem. I've seen many of the motion model planes and if the K&C are comparable then I would prefer the polystone.
I'll take the polystone Storch now as opposed the the 2 wood ones in the bush.
Ray
 
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I think this entire discussion is exciting! Everyone is fired up which is great!

The talk of finding hidden warbirds is great, how to go about it? The thrill of

the hunt, and the possible find!

The prospect of new planes, an airfield, ground crews, it all is terrific.

If they are made of wood, or polystone, even if they are made or not.....

it is terrific that the possibility exists!

That possibily is what King & Country has brought to the marketplace!

Njja
 
From what I heard from Andy on the subject:

In response to Gideon: You are absolutely right, the Phillipine factories are highly unreliable. That's why Andy is searching for a factory in China that will be more reliable and produce a comparable or even superior product. Further, since Andy is having the models fully designed and produced by a new Chinese factory, it should have absolutely no effect on the release of Armored vehicles. As far as the secondary market is concerned, all Andy has to do is either (1) produce different planes, (2) put different markings on reproductions of previously produced planes or (3) demark the new planes with the year of production (i.e. "K&C 2007") in an inconspicuous location and there will be absolutely no effect on the prices of the rare older warbirds.

In Response to Fubar: I was (obviously) kidding. I have always made everybody welcome at the Symposium. I hope you realized that and were kidding too.
 
Not to belabor the point and I'm not trying to change anyone's mind if they don't like the wardbirds (well, maybe a little bit) but there were a few people who came to the Symposium last year who weren't big warbird fans but had become ones by the time they left. Pictures are great but there is nothing like seeing them in person. The whole effect is a little overwhelming.
 
I voted yes, because I have always loved airplanes. Saying that, I am not sure that I would pay $200 or more, for one. I believe that price point would make this line a product only for the elite. The average schmoe probably could or would not keep up in collecting these. Really, if we could take a poll of how many would buy at least one, would we find a majority of collectors diving in or bailing out.......Just my thoughts Michael
 
maddadicus said:
I voted yes, because I have always loved airplanes. Saying that, I am not sure that I would pay $200 or more, for one. I believe that price point would make this line a product only for the elite. The average schmoe probably could or would not keep up in collecting these. Really, if we could take a poll of how many would buy at least one, would we find a majority of collectors diving in or bailing out.......Just my thoughts Michael
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Hi Michael,

You are already part of an elite who has enough money to buy one of the useless and most egoistic product manufactured in the world: military miniatures and I do not think that there is a lot of levels in elitism.

Pierre.
 
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I must admit that I like the quality of the polystone warbirds very much & find them more durable. Living in Arizona might have something to do with my wood models ALL cracking at various places despite a temperature controlled environment & extensive care. Come to think of it-they also cracked when living in California! Not sure if this is a production issue or if it pertains to the type & quality of the wood and or both. But I will also take what I can get. Thanks for reading!

CHECK SIX!
 
Regarding the $200 price point, I think that would only be the average price of small airplanes like fighters or a Storch. In his thread, "C-47, Dakota," noli-poli stated his 1/30 scale, wooden C-47 Dakota cost $1800, plus $200 for shipping. Even if the cost can somehow be cut by 50%, you are still looking at $900 or more for the larger wooden airplanes. Very few people would pay amounts like that. As alluded to by Gideon, high price was the major problem with the original Warbirds, as well as all the original wooden tanks and vehicles -- just too expensive for most collectors.:(
 
Well, Andy said he plans to start with a Storch so I would like to take this in small incremental steps and work our way up from there. I have a February 2000 price list which indicates that for single engine fighters the price varied from a low of $243 to a high of $294. The bigger planes, like the B-17, Lancaster and Junkers, were $769.

So, if we start with the single engines, yes, it's a little expensive but doable, especially considering the increase in the collector base.
 
Gentle Friends,

I have given this survey question much thought in the past two days. It confuses me somewhat because I think the real question is: Would it excite you enough to purchase Warbirds if K & C were to begin to make them again? The answer I would give to the question as I have phrased it above is No. There are already too many figures, land vehicles, etc. that I would like to buy, but funds and space do not permit me to purchase everything I would like to own. Therefore, I must make choices. And,...I simply would not purchase the warbirds as there are other sets I would rather have.

Now, "Would I like King and Country to Make Warbirds again?" It really does not matter to me one way or another if they are produced again. I think it only matters to those who would become excited enough to buy them.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat
 
Hi Guys,



I’ve been reading and enjoying the many, many posts on the above subject and thought I would put in my tuppence worth…



1. Producing warbirds was one of the most enjoyable and most frustrating exercises in K&C’s history.

As most of you know way back then all our planes were made in the Philippines with all and more of the problems that come with it. I won’t bore you again with the details.



2. As my good friend Louis Badolato knows the number and variety of aircraft K&C produced over a 10-15 year period was quite staggering – even to me!

Everything from tiny Boeing P26 “Peashooters” to massive B29 Superfortresses and just about everything in between!



3. This time around I’ll use, if possible, China as the base of manufacture – it’s less expensive…more reliable…and therefore can keep the collector’s cost (and ours) to an affordable price.



4. Unlike before we’ll produce one particular aircraft model and, hopefully, sell out, before we release the next one.



5. At this stage I’m concentrating on single engine aircraft – so don’t expect any 1:30 scale DC3’s, Lancasters or B17’s.



6. I believe there’s a lot of K&C collectors out there who like military aircraft (especially WW2) that would complement their figure and fighting vehicle collections. I know I do. It’s a market we can grow together.



7. But I want to make it affordable for most not only for the select few. I also don’t want to do yet another Mustang or Spitfire. FOV, Corgi and 21st Century have already done a pretty good job on those particular aircraft. I’ll be looking at the more unusual, less common types…



8. Being realistic the earliest I think we can produce is first quarter 2007. Just in time for the “Westcoaster” and Louis’ Symposium – in fact I can’t think of a better venue to introduce something like this.



Well, that’s all for now folks!



Best wishes and…happy collecting!

Andy C.
 
Dear Andy,

I will reserve a display space at the Symposium for the release of the new Warbird (and accessories like ground crew and fuel bowsers I hope)!

Regards,

Louis
 
Yes, just bring them with you. I have the funds awaiting :)
 
Andy,
Thanks you for putting an end to the great question!

I for one , like Louis, have been asking for these birds to fly again. I think Andy has the right approach. I will join Louis at the symposium with cash in hand:D

Thanks again Andy,

Bill Sager
 
I first stated no, but if the plane was in the $200 range, and this is the important part, if it contained several figures, as the Meyer halftrack, then yes I would by it. But just a plane with no figures, probably not.
Gary
 
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