Tracked Vehicles (1 Viewer)

[jazzeum]

I'm just wondering if we're facing the law of diminishing returns with this subject. We are all agreed that improving the tracks would be nice and that maybe the tracks on the pre-polystone vehicles were nicer. Not having these and just looking at photos doesn't always help. But that's not the point here.

There are many postings where people harp on this subject. Andy is probably no different than most people. When you keep constantly carping on a subject to a person, sooner or later they're just not going to pay attention. Andy is constantly reminded that he should change the tracks, that HB is much better, etc. And that may all be true. Andy has said himself that this is something he's evaluating and so forth. But at some point if we constantly keep bringing it up, he's just going to shut us off. It's not as if it's costing him sales. I'm sure that people aren't ceasing to buy his product because of that fact alone. So, it may be wise to not bring it up so often. As the old saying goes, you get more bees with honey than you do with vinegar.

Just my two cents.

 

[Flammenpanzer]

I really like the tracks the way they are. The vehicles have a more handcrafted look and not pumped out by a machine or designed by a computer. I display my stuff in a static position and don't need them to roll around , and sometimes more detail will bring more breakages.

 

[Combat]

I passed on the KC Panther and others because of the improvements demonstrated by Honour Bound. The track issue will probably continue to be discussed until KC makes some changes in response. It is really the only glaring deficiency in a great product line - so hopefully andy is working on it. I think it is disappointing that no progress has been made to this point.

 

[jazzeum]

I don't think it's a question of making the change; I think we're all agreed on it. I think it's a question of how we get him to do that. I also think there were more problems with the Panther than just the tracks.

 

[Njja]

I have to say I like the panther, I have been so pleased by the items made

available for me to collect by King & Country that we need to cut them a

bit of slack! Sure now that Andy C has built up a market place others are

going to rush in, but I will always look at King & Country 1st before I spend

some cash........my banks don't want me just throwing their interest dollars

around! Ha!

Njja

 

[Rob]

I think Brad is right here in general terms as well as about the tracks.If someone is always harping/moaning on about a particular subject i would imagine after a while it becomes tedious and as much less of the desired effect.People are more likely to influence Andy by making suggestions as opposed to making it a personal Crusade.I really want to see a return of the Red devils, but i know a sure way of not getting them is to start bombarding Andy with emails suggesting i am throwing my toys out of the pram if i don't get them!. I have to say i have not really studied the HB tracks,are they very much superior to K&C'S?.

Rob

 

[boot51]

I don't think it's a question of making the change; I think we're all agreed on it. I think it's a question of how we get him to do that. I also think there were more problems with the Panther than just the tracks.

Brad, I agree with you on this one. For me the problem with the panther tracks was that they are clogged with too much debris, maybe that's supposed to be "realism", I don't know. It's just overboard in my opinion, but then again that factory fresh doesn't work for me either, somewhere in between would be nice. And yes there are other issues with the panther, but every time I look at that tank I like it a little more, and you just can't do any better than those K&C figures. If you go back and take another look at K&C's Wittman/winter tigers and even the two king tigers, I think you'll see that the tracks and wheels are really quite good, even to the point of rivaling those of Honour Bound. Maybe they don't have the detail of Figarti, but I've heard that those tanks are quite fragile and even subject to breakage. I don't think I want my K&C tanks to reach the point of such finely detailed tracks that I have worry about them breaking in shipping or when I remove them from the box. Andy, if I ticked you off why my overly harsh comments on your panther in past, I hereby apologize, I've seen the light. Yes, I admit I do like the Honour Bound panthers, but King and Country is still King of the Hill, just keep doing what you're doing.

Fred

 

[King & Country]

Hi Guys,

Believe me I’ve heard you loud and clear on this particular subject and I agree with you!

Every product we’ve ever made can always be improved upon – that’s one of the great joys about this hobby and business.

Now onto specifics…

Over the next few months collectors, including my old pal Louis, are going to see a whole bunch of improvements – especially on the tracks.

Have I learnt something from HB and Figarti – darn right I have! It’s only fair ‘cos I bet they learnt a whole lot of stuff from K&C…That’s show business for you after all. But as all us manufacturers say – be a little patient.

From my perspective I’ve got to experiment with a degree of trial and error before putting an item onto the market – I do want to get it right.

Every company (K&C included) has its own “signature” style – some collectors like it…others don’t…and many don’t care one way or another. This forum is great because there are some outstanding enthusiasts on it but it’s still just a relatively small number of a much larger group of collectors worldwide. I listen to your likes and dislikes and on occasion I totally agree with them and act upon your advice and criticism but I also try and look at the “bigger picture” as well.

At the end of the day I honestly believe K&C get it a lot more right than wrong more often than most of our competitors or critics would like to admit.



Best wishes and…happy collecting!

Andy C. Neilson

 

[jazzeum]

Jeez, what are we going to talk about when we no longer have the tracked issue to discuss. It's going to be a very quiet day on this board

 

[boot51]

Jeez, what are we going to talk about when we no longer have the tracked issue to discuss. It's going to be a very quiet day on this board

Don't worry, Brad. I'm sure our friend John Gambale will think of something.

Fred

 

[OzDigger]

I feel we need some definition of the actual term tracks here. Personally I don't have a problem with the look of the actual tracks on K & C tracked vehicles.

My problem is with the excess polystone surrounding the road-wheels. I guess myself and others continued to use the general term tracks for the sake of simplicity. On occassions K & C uses vegetation type effects in an effort to diminish the look of the excess polystone with mixed results, the recent Panther being a backward step imo.

Honour Bound and others have shown that it is possible to improve the details of the entire road-wheel, tracks, and suspension system which was beyond my expectations.

There are a number of collectors that are happy with the K & C tracks etc they way they are. However I'm convinced the majority would prefer improvements in that area. Andy has already said that K & C will pursue whatever suitable improvements they can, and it can only be a matter of time before these improvements appear.

Will continued harping delay the changes? Frankly, I doubt that very much as it is unlikely to speed the changes or delay them. No doubt continued improvement requests and other 'demands' such as special wants lists from collectors does annoy him at times, but that's business.

 

[Louis Badolato]

Guys,

Andy just replied to a PM I sent him with a gently sarcastic (and extremely funny) comment which leads me to believe that not only have my complaints about the tracks been heard loud and clear, they are beginning to grate on his nerves. So I think its time to cut him some slack and take his word for the fact that improvements are in the works.

Louis

 

[Combat]

This is a really strange thread. I think Andy will make improvements or not regardless of anything said on the forum.

 

[Firebat]

Hi Guys,

Believe me I’ve heard you loud and clear on this particular subject and I agree with you!

Every product we’ve ever made can always be improved upon – that’s one of the great joys about this hobby and business.

Now onto specifics…

Over the next few months collectors, including my old pal Louis, are going to see a whole bunch of improvements – especially on the tracks.

Have I learnt something from HB and Figarti – darn right I have! It’s only fair ‘cos I bet they learnt a whole lot of stuff from K&C…That’s show business for you after all. But as all us manufacturers say – be a little patient.

From my perspective I’ve got to experiment with a degree of trial and error before putting an item onto the market – I do want to get it right.

Every company (K&C included) has its own “signature” style – some collectors like it…others don’t…and many don’t care one way or another. This forum is great because there are some outstanding enthusiasts on it but it’s still just a relatively small number of a much larger group of collectors worldwide. I listen to your likes and dislikes and on occasion I totally agree with them and act upon your advice and criticism but I also try and look at the “bigger picture” as well.

At the end of the day I honestly believe K&C get it a lot more right than wrong more often than most of our competitors or critics would like to admit.



Best wishes and…happy collecting!

Andy C. Neilson

The Messiah speaks..................and what he says is COOL

 

[red devil]

I think we should give it a rest - he's not deaf and is bound to be working on it anyway. I think he does a great job regardless, even though sometimes I do not agree with the SL runs of 50 million!!
Keep up the good work Andy my son!!

 

[sceic2]

If we, the forum writers, were not complaining about something, on a consistent almost perpetual basis, I would believe that something is wrong. Life is like that, full of complaints, always seeking the perfect. Too bad the perfect can never be attained.

I too believe that we ought to cut K&C some slack and not keep up the brow beating. My reason for saying this is simple; look at the improvements made from the first resin vehicles like the DD39’s (GMC 6x6 truck) predecessor the DD07 or the multitude of improvements in figures. Compare the painting and facial expressions (among other attributes) between WS08 (Officer with three advancing Panzer Grenadiers) and WS58 (New Fighting Patrol). Compare the differences between any of the earlier releases in any of the variety of series that K&C produces and you will, if your honest with yourself, see visible and dramatic changes in quality and styling.

The carrot works far better than the stick.

 

[Peter Reuss]

The carrot works far better than the stick.

So you're proposing whacking Andy with a carrot??

So much for Minnesota nice .....

 

[OzDigger]

So you're proposing whacking Andy with a carrot??

So much for Minnesota nice .....

A carrot Peter, I think a caber would be more appropriate for a Scotsman

 

[maddadicus]

I vote to leave the tracks alone. If he makes them any more realistic, then I won't be able to scrape up the excess fuzz from my rug, when I play with them on the floor.....Michael

 

[OzDigger]

I vote to leave the tracks alone. If he makes them any more realistic, then I won't be able to scrape up the excess fuzz from my rug, when I play with them on the floor.....Michael

The tracks on my cheap FOV tanks actually turn when I play with them