King & Country
Captain
- Joined
- May 23, 2005
- Messages
- 5,088
Hi Guys,
Just catching up on some of the more recent “crossfire” on the forum…
1. “Panzer” Meyer Vehicle
We produced 1250 SL’s because…
(a) So many dealers and collectors complained that we only produced 750 of Rommel’s “GREIF”.
(b) Because the Normandy Campaign in general has a much wider commercial appeal than the North African one we felt justified in producing a higher number to satisfy more collectors and, perhaps, reduce speculation.
(c) Fixing the 4 of the figures inside seemed (and still does) sensible and was always how I saw the original piece. I would suggest only the “Signals Officer” leaning out of the vehicle could be a “gray area” and open to alternatives. The other 3 – the driver and the 2 radio operators are performing very specific tasks in the vehicle and should be fixed permanently.
By the way although our promotion photo only shows five figures, the driver (# 6) can be clearly seen in the driving compartment when you actually hold the vehicle and view from the rear.
2. Rising Costs…Rising Prices
Very interesting posts on the cost of the hobby going up…Several points need to be addressed…
(a) Increased Costs of labour, raw materials and transport – all have dramatically increased in the past 12 months. Although we can and do absorb some of these increases, it’s impossible to carry all of them.
(b) Better quality … more detail also equal higher costs. Even our friends Honour Bound have had to dramatically increase their costs because as we all try to “raise the bar” it takes longer to produce an item and all those little “extras” cost a little extra as well.
I’m not complaining…companies like Figarti…Honour Bound…the new Britains and…K&C are all trying to improve our ranges and our quality to meet the increased requirement and expectations of dealers and collectors alike.
3. “How to succeed in business…”
I liked Njja’s comment about how some of us manufacturers need to hire demographic experts to define our market place…I thought we already have…namely good people like Shannon & Pete…the folks at Sierra and several dozen more who deal in and with the “market place” on a daily basis.
In addition the “market place” i.e. collectors are not backward about coming forward with ideas…comments…likes and dislikes about our and other companies’ products regularly.
Why spend even more money (and increase our costs) when we already have a great network of dealers and collectors who we work with and listen to and, importantly, really know the hobby…business and…product on an intimate basis.
I also liked John (Njja’s) comment about how success is 5% skill and intelligence and 95% luck!
My own personal experience is that success is a 95% blend of hard, hard work mixed in with liberal doses of skill and intelligence. The lucky part is just 5% (and I’m very grateful for that).
The great American golfer Jack Nicklaus was being interviewed by a sports commentator once…
“Jack, you’ve been very lucky in your professional career,” he stated.
“Yeah,” replied Jack, “it’s amazing how lucky I’ve been…and you know the longer I practiced and the harder I worked at my game…the luckier I’ve become!”
‘Nuff said.
4. The New Chasseurs
One of the great things about working with Del Prado was it finally persuaded me that K&C should return to Napoleonic era soldiers.
I’ve had the unique opportunity to see (and design) a huge variety of different Napoleonic regiments and units. Some I’ve liked better than others and the Chasseurs a Cheval are one of my personal favourites.
Towards the end of the “Napoleonic Cavalry” series we produced two great Chasseur figures – a guidon bearer and a trumpeter. Immediately, I saw them I wanted K&C to do more and our own revised versions. This we’ve done – five figures in all.
I also felt it was time to do some “parade” style as our earlier French Dragons and the new Scots Greys were both “action” series. So, that was that.
Now about prices – Del Prado are great, great value but they produce literally many, many thousands of each piece and they are produced in factories that specialize in even bigger mass production than the factories K&C use.
Our figures are more detailed and produced in much fewer quantities than D.P. and cost considerably more. Of course FISHBAIT may have the skills and talents to add extra detail and finishes – good luck to him but most collectors neither have the time nor the required aptitude to do what he does.
As for cost increases in these pieces see my earlier remarks on this subject.
It’s impossible to please all people all of the time – I happened to like both “Parade” and “Action” and I like to jump from one to the other.
5. VIETNAM Figures
Good to hear from Rick again – I was worried he had been “Shanghaied”. Looking forward to seeing all his new pieces especially “Vietnam”.
Some of you may recall that K&C produced a whole bunch of Vietnam figures, vehicles and helicopters and even a “Firebase Diorama” back in the late 1990’s. It’s an era and a war that I’ve often wanted to return to but always been sidetracked by other campaigns and eras. So, good luck and great sale to Figarti –I’m sure it will be as big as their “IRAQ” range.
Best wishes and…happy collecting to one and all.
Andy
Just catching up on some of the more recent “crossfire” on the forum…
1. “Panzer” Meyer Vehicle
We produced 1250 SL’s because…
(a) So many dealers and collectors complained that we only produced 750 of Rommel’s “GREIF”.
(b) Because the Normandy Campaign in general has a much wider commercial appeal than the North African one we felt justified in producing a higher number to satisfy more collectors and, perhaps, reduce speculation.
(c) Fixing the 4 of the figures inside seemed (and still does) sensible and was always how I saw the original piece. I would suggest only the “Signals Officer” leaning out of the vehicle could be a “gray area” and open to alternatives. The other 3 – the driver and the 2 radio operators are performing very specific tasks in the vehicle and should be fixed permanently.
By the way although our promotion photo only shows five figures, the driver (# 6) can be clearly seen in the driving compartment when you actually hold the vehicle and view from the rear.
2. Rising Costs…Rising Prices
Very interesting posts on the cost of the hobby going up…Several points need to be addressed…
(a) Increased Costs of labour, raw materials and transport – all have dramatically increased in the past 12 months. Although we can and do absorb some of these increases, it’s impossible to carry all of them.
(b) Better quality … more detail also equal higher costs. Even our friends Honour Bound have had to dramatically increase their costs because as we all try to “raise the bar” it takes longer to produce an item and all those little “extras” cost a little extra as well.
I’m not complaining…companies like Figarti…Honour Bound…the new Britains and…K&C are all trying to improve our ranges and our quality to meet the increased requirement and expectations of dealers and collectors alike.
3. “How to succeed in business…”
I liked Njja’s comment about how some of us manufacturers need to hire demographic experts to define our market place…I thought we already have…namely good people like Shannon & Pete…the folks at Sierra and several dozen more who deal in and with the “market place” on a daily basis.
In addition the “market place” i.e. collectors are not backward about coming forward with ideas…comments…likes and dislikes about our and other companies’ products regularly.
Why spend even more money (and increase our costs) when we already have a great network of dealers and collectors who we work with and listen to and, importantly, really know the hobby…business and…product on an intimate basis.
I also liked John (Njja’s) comment about how success is 5% skill and intelligence and 95% luck!
My own personal experience is that success is a 95% blend of hard, hard work mixed in with liberal doses of skill and intelligence. The lucky part is just 5% (and I’m very grateful for that).
The great American golfer Jack Nicklaus was being interviewed by a sports commentator once…
“Jack, you’ve been very lucky in your professional career,” he stated.
“Yeah,” replied Jack, “it’s amazing how lucky I’ve been…and you know the longer I practiced and the harder I worked at my game…the luckier I’ve become!”
‘Nuff said.
4. The New Chasseurs
One of the great things about working with Del Prado was it finally persuaded me that K&C should return to Napoleonic era soldiers.
I’ve had the unique opportunity to see (and design) a huge variety of different Napoleonic regiments and units. Some I’ve liked better than others and the Chasseurs a Cheval are one of my personal favourites.
Towards the end of the “Napoleonic Cavalry” series we produced two great Chasseur figures – a guidon bearer and a trumpeter. Immediately, I saw them I wanted K&C to do more and our own revised versions. This we’ve done – five figures in all.
I also felt it was time to do some “parade” style as our earlier French Dragons and the new Scots Greys were both “action” series. So, that was that.
Now about prices – Del Prado are great, great value but they produce literally many, many thousands of each piece and they are produced in factories that specialize in even bigger mass production than the factories K&C use.
Our figures are more detailed and produced in much fewer quantities than D.P. and cost considerably more. Of course FISHBAIT may have the skills and talents to add extra detail and finishes – good luck to him but most collectors neither have the time nor the required aptitude to do what he does.
As for cost increases in these pieces see my earlier remarks on this subject.
It’s impossible to please all people all of the time – I happened to like both “Parade” and “Action” and I like to jump from one to the other.
5. VIETNAM Figures
Good to hear from Rick again – I was worried he had been “Shanghaied”. Looking forward to seeing all his new pieces especially “Vietnam”.
Some of you may recall that K&C produced a whole bunch of Vietnam figures, vehicles and helicopters and even a “Firebase Diorama” back in the late 1990’s. It’s an era and a war that I’ve often wanted to return to but always been sidetracked by other campaigns and eras. So, good luck and great sale to Figarti –I’m sure it will be as big as their “IRAQ” range.
Best wishes and…happy collecting to one and all.
Andy
