Question for Ken Osen (1 Viewer)

[Winky]

Ken, really nice to talk with you at the show. I'm the guy who built the crazy bridge. I wanted to pass some info on to the Marx board and wanted to confirm it with you before I do so.

I think this summer you had indicated on this board that Conte had not asked you to sculpt any further buildings for the Alamo beyond Alamos 6 & 7. At the show I believe you also indicated that you were not sculpting for Conte any more. Can you confirm both pieces of info? Can you also indicate whether, so far as you know, any new arrangements have been made to sculpt new Conte Alamo buildings, either with yourself or some new sculpter? Thanks much for the help. One of the guys on the Marx board was looking forward to completing his Alamo; his comments lead to a discussion about other non Conte Alamo alternatives for him to choose, like buildings/wall sections available from Hobby Bunker, CTS, Barzso.

Dick

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

At this time I am not aware of any new buildings being sculpted to finish the Alamo compound...altough I am aware of some WWII buildings being worked on for Mr. Conte.
I do not know who is making the patterns, but I am sure that they will be nice. I have sculpted a fair number of figures and scenics since my contract with Conte Collectables ended and many of these new items are not yet available. I may also do other new items for this company from time to time, but really cannot discuss that here.
Right now I can say that with all of the work that I am doing for Conte, Troiani Historical Miniatures, Corgi, ONWTC and W.Britains, there will be a lot of new figures and scenics to choose from.
All the best to you...

 

[Winky]

Sounds great, Ken. I gather you are still doing some sculpting for Conte, but that you are doing so on a per request basis rather than as part of a contract. Can't wait to see the profusion of new stuff you're doing for a variety of manufacturers. Your sculpting has been a great source of pleasure for many of us. Thanks.

Dick

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

Thanks for the compliment! Designing and producing new products is great fun...except for the deadlines...that reminds me that it is indeed a real job! I can say that there has been a number of WWII and American Civil War sculpts finished recently for several of the companies mentioned. There are also projects for other perods including WWI and Napoleonics... the others will have to wait a bit until I can discuss them.
As far as plastics go, there has been some interest in additional WWII sculpts for Conte Collectibles, and from what I can see of the quality of the most recent product, I hope we follow through here. These would be a selection of ONWTC Germans and some additional figures thatwere done for Conte. They should blend seamlessly.
That is my whole thrust here, to give collectors choices in periods and poses, but to be able to mix manufacturers to get the products they want. Very few companies can truly provide all of the variety that various tastes want. There isn't enough time or product development money in any one place to do that. It always frustrates me to start a range and then change direction to do a different period or scale for even one company. Even at ONWTC we will probably continue to introduce other periods and then go back and continue to exspand existing ranges and periods. It would be easy for me to spend the next couple of years doing just GIs, Brits and Germans for the campaign in Normandy France. I would like that, but it won't happen. Right now I am finishing up another batch of ACW and have already started some WWI figures.

 

[Winky]

Ken, thanks much for all the info! Wow. So much new product coming down the pike. Very exciting. I wonder if metal guys have discovered the high density foam pieces your sculpts have been reproduced in. Everybody's seen the Normandy church, but there are so many others. When painted, foam pieces you've provided thru your sculpting as well as others like Hobby Bunker, Barzso Toys, and Classic Toy Soldiers have really offered people interested in large scenics quite an incredible range of choice.

Dick

 

[gk5717]

Everybody seems to be doing adobe buildings, I assume it is somewhat in competition with Contes failure to complete the Alamo.
I sure wish the powers to be would do more WW2 stuff. The Build O Rama buildings look kinda small, however his other dio pieces are nice.
Gary

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

The funny thing about the foam products is that I had to have the first items for the Barzos Rogers Rangers set made on spec because Ron felt that "The collectors I know will not buy them if the are not plastic like the MARX scenics". I knew they probably would because of the great model RR products that were already market proven...I suppose the rest is history.
As far as your wish for WWII buildings, as I mentioned there will be a limited number of NW European structures made and decorated by ONWTC right here in the US. I would not expect any until late next summer and they will very limited with small runs.
Every time I go to Europe with the ONWTC crew I take photos of interesting buildings and details to put in our research file. Many of the buildings clearly have repairs from war time damage. For some of the unlucky property owners this included WWI and WWII damage. Look for rural French buildings from Normandy, Brittany, Pas-De-Calais, Picardy and Ile De France.

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

Here is an update for those interested...I spoke to Richard and he thinks we will still do the needed buildings to finish the Alamo compound, I seems to make sense for me to finish this one up so they will all go together...