Thoughts on the latest offerings from Britains (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter DMNamiot
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hhenry
Specialist
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Richard,
I think everyone will agree high-detail painting is the first priority. I liked the photo covers used for the earlier WWII figures. I think they would again be popular and worth the extra cost.
I also like the burgundy boxes, since I'm also a vintage Britains collector and they are a trademark of Britains to the point that other manufacturers have copied them.
Please continue burgundy boxes for traditional, classic series and limited editions. Perhaps consider using more modern photo or artist drawn labels for the matte WWs? Not sure what ACW would be best with.
Would the cost of reproducing famous prints by famous artists like James Dietz or a lesser known artist on the labels be too expensive?
damian
1st Lieutenant
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For goodness sake chaps.
Red boxes are cool. Work on getting the product right not the packaging. I was a loyal Britain's fan until about 2004/2005. I mean the Knight of the Round Table set is probably the only set which I have ever felt I would not want if it were given to me. Since last year things have improved and the new catalogue (not that I actually have one) looks fantastic. I ventured back last year and purchased the WWI stuff. I will probaly not buy WWII stuff as I already have KC stuff and the two don't mix. I am bored with American Civil War as ialready have a lot of it. I do like the gloss Crieman and Indian Mutiny. It is important to remember that Flashman was there. He was the only male to escpae from the massacare at Cawnpore as far as I remember. So hopefully 2007 sees Britains getting back to where it should be.
Red boxes are cool. Work on getting the product right not the packaging. I was a loyal Britain's fan until about 2004/2005. I mean the Knight of the Round Table set is probably the only set which I have ever felt I would not want if it were given to me. Since last year things have improved and the new catalogue (not that I actually have one) looks fantastic. I ventured back last year and purchased the WWI stuff. I will probaly not buy WWII stuff as I already have KC stuff and the two don't mix. I am bored with American Civil War as ialready have a lot of it. I do like the gloss Crieman and Indian Mutiny. It is important to remember that Flashman was there. He was the only male to escpae from the massacare at Cawnpore as far as I remember. So hopefully 2007 sees Britains getting back to where it should be.
johngambale
Sergeant Major
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1/30th Scale is the Only way to go! So, take it from there!
Shiloh
Staff Sergeant
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Gentle Friends,
On this issue, I agree with Dave. W. Britains would not seem correct to me without the traditional boxes filled with 54mm figures.
I also agree with Damian. The sculpting and painting of the figures are far more important than the appearance of the container in which they are packaged. Further, most of the boxes are stored when the figures are displayed. Consequently, usually only the collector ever sees them. Why pay an additional $5.00 for a box that is hidden from the public view?
Warmest personal regards,
Pat
fishead19690
Command Sergeant Major
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Well said!
Keep them 54mm and keep the prices down and the box the same If you like 1/30 scale buy K&C.
The Lt.
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I wasn't suggesting getting rid of the red boxes. I was suggesting making them look like the vintage Britains boxes with artwork on them. Obviously the figures are most important. Believe me I'm all about tradititon. As for Gambale, we know what you want- 1/30 scale, WW2, nothing else. 1/32 is the true toy soldier scale. If you guys want bigger figures, why don't you just collect GI Joe's?
damian
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I really hope Britains continue to recover. The whole industry is rather interesting. In 1998 it was Britains who lead the way to Matte figures with those fisrt Civil War sets including the Troiani ones. WWII started slowly as in 1997 when I started collecting it was still mostly colonial stuff and Waterloo. Andy Nielson lead the way with WWII but it was a bit of a slow burn type process. He really took off in about 2001-2002 and the sets from then on were really a cut above anything else on the market including KC earlire efforts. Britains however went into decline with the quality of their figures becomming more and more problematic. There was a Collecotrs Club Napoleon who really looke awful and there was no standardization amongst their products. With K and C you can always recognize the maker just by looking at teh style of the figure. The same goes for Trophy and Little Legion. Thankfully Britains seems to be on the come back
This brings me to the point of deciding what series Britaisn should develop. Obviously WWII is a best seller but the market is really in some ways sewn up by KC. I realize there is a debate about the scales and pehaps this is a niche which Britains can work on. But perhaps it would do to pay attention to some less crowded field that can be worked on and developed. Look at how East of India have been successful by competing in a less crowded era as have CVonte and Frontline with their French Indain War stuff. Obviously you want to make profits fast but sometimes a long term viewpoint is useful. The Delhi Durbar stuff was great. Those Britains elephants were every bit as good as Beau Geste's and quite a bit cheaper. With some clever marketing and aggressive consumer eductation this may blossom. The colonial wars have been negelected of late and that is why I am gald to see the Crimean and Indian Mutiny stuff. Obviously the Zulu War stuff is also popular.Lets not firget the Sudan. With Trophy having closed there will be a gap in the market for old style action glossy figures.
This brings me to the point of deciding what series Britaisn should develop. Obviously WWII is a best seller but the market is really in some ways sewn up by KC. I realize there is a debate about the scales and pehaps this is a niche which Britains can work on. But perhaps it would do to pay attention to some less crowded field that can be worked on and developed. Look at how East of India have been successful by competing in a less crowded era as have CVonte and Frontline with their French Indain War stuff. Obviously you want to make profits fast but sometimes a long term viewpoint is useful. The Delhi Durbar stuff was great. Those Britains elephants were every bit as good as Beau Geste's and quite a bit cheaper. With some clever marketing and aggressive consumer eductation this may blossom. The colonial wars have been negelected of late and that is why I am gald to see the Crimean and Indian Mutiny stuff. Obviously the Zulu War stuff is also popular.Lets not firget the Sudan. With Trophy having closed there will be a gap in the market for old style action glossy figures.
I agree with Damian about WW2. I have no idea how much WW2 Britains sells. Maybe it's their best seller? I have no clue. But it seems most people who collect WW2 buy K&C. I think Britains is the leader in Civil War, Am Rev and they should continue developing the Napoleonic line. But they should definitely come up with more traditional toy soldiers. With Imperial and Trophy gone, their is a gap to be filled. I don't know about overall sales but at my local shop the new gloss figures sell out right away.
desk11desk12
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damian
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The other important issue about being successful is that of sustainability. A collectro needs to know that the company he supports will not leave him in the lurch. A range must be added to on a regular basis. Andy Nielson is a master at this. Every 18 months or so he upgrades his Ancient Egypt series. A dedicated collector will mop up everyting and then wait for the next update in a years time. Britains in the past were not doing this. The North Gate diorama that came out in 1999 was very good. But there was no follow up. I have had that set sitting in my cabinet since 1999 but there have been no more French voltigeurs and no more Coldstream gaurds. It has taken 8 years but finally it seems that I will be able to complete my display. Even the Crimena stuff may be compatibel with some of teh Crimean stuff Britains released in the 1990's and early part of this decade.
DMNamiot
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Hi Guys,
Damian has raised some very valid points and I am sure the good people over at Britains have taken this sort of information to heart. I for one would really prefer to see them continue to do the eras they are doing with less emphasis on WWII since they are not likely to keep up with K&C in this area. That said I think they can keep an edge on K&C if they dont retire their items as quickly as the K&C does. I'm not saying have larger set runs necessarily but having them available for a longer period would give some of the small collectors who dont have the budget a better chance to acquire an item with out the need to mortgage the house.
Jrsteel also has made a very good observation about the gaps left by Imperial and Trophy and Britains would be well advised to try and grab up some of that market. I for one would love to see some of the bigger sets like Imperials Heirloom sets done by Britains for eras like the Boer War or the Shik Wars or the Crimean or even a British Square from Waterloo. They would be pricy but well worth it since you could get the whole set for one cost and not have to try and build a set from a bunch or smaller sets. I know there are lots of folks out there that want single figures and thats also an area where the Britains company can make a lot of head way.
But wishes and dreams are great as long as they are econmicly feasible for the company to make a buck or two so I guess we'll have to wait and see where Richard and Ken take Britains. I suspect it will be a great ride!
All the best
Davev
Damian has raised some very valid points and I am sure the good people over at Britains have taken this sort of information to heart. I for one would really prefer to see them continue to do the eras they are doing with less emphasis on WWII since they are not likely to keep up with K&C in this area. That said I think they can keep an edge on K&C if they dont retire their items as quickly as the K&C does. I'm not saying have larger set runs necessarily but having them available for a longer period would give some of the small collectors who dont have the budget a better chance to acquire an item with out the need to mortgage the house.
Jrsteel also has made a very good observation about the gaps left by Imperial and Trophy and Britains would be well advised to try and grab up some of that market. I for one would love to see some of the bigger sets like Imperials Heirloom sets done by Britains for eras like the Boer War or the Shik Wars or the Crimean or even a British Square from Waterloo. They would be pricy but well worth it since you could get the whole set for one cost and not have to try and build a set from a bunch or smaller sets. I know there are lots of folks out there that want single figures and thats also an area where the Britains company can make a lot of head way.
But wishes and dreams are great as long as they are econmicly feasible for the company to make a buck or two so I guess we'll have to wait and see where Richard and Ken take Britains. I suspect it will be a great ride!
All the best
Davev