Un-painted K&C miniatures (1 Viewer)

[RoughRider]

How many of my fellow K&C collectors would be intersted in seeing a parallel line of miniatures by K&C that are unfinished that can be painted by us, the dedicated K&C collector?

 

[theBaron]

How many of my fellow K&C collectors would be intersted in seeing a parallel line of miniatures by K&C that are unfinished that can be painted by us, the dedicated K&C collector?

Judging from the number of guys I've seen who repaint them, I imagine there might be some good response.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Alexdakar]

Andy was considering this idea but decided not to do it. That was a couple of years ago so who knows what he'll say now.

 

[RoughRider]

The cost of this is nominal since the product is being produced anyway. There is probably a significant cost savings by not having to paint the miniatures and most of us would still be willing to pay fair price to have the opportunity to paint them ourselves.

 

[Warrior]

I may be wrong on this, but initially Andy had planned on releasing the Fields of Battle range as unpainted castings. The response was so great by collectors wanting them painted that he scrapped the idea and decided to offer them painted instead.

I think the main reason was the majority of the profit comes from the painted figure for K & C, to sell unpainted castings would not be profitable enough. If a painted figure is in the 25.00 to 29.00 range, what could he sell an unpainted casting for, 10.00? Aside from that, how many sales would he gain to those who paint their own figures vs those he'd lose, ie, for every unpainted casting sold, that is one less painted one he'd sell...................

 

[Peter Reuss]

To build on what George said...if you look at ONTC WWII castings they cost about $15 each. The painted figures are around $17.

There are so many expenses that go into producing a figure that saving a little on painting doesn't seem to drop the price much. For a couple bucks more most people would prefer to let someone else paint!

 

[wellington]

This conversation happened a few years ago and it was determined that it would be more damaging to King & Country than anything else....Andy wants to keep his line at a certain level. I think that in the end of it all it was said by Andy that there were plenty of other companies that you could buy unpainted figures from.....In my opinion it does take away from King & Country...this is only my humble opinion and may not represent the majority.


WELLINGTON

 

[theBaron]

Besides, if anyone really feels the need, he can always get out the oven cleaner, strip the figures and repaint them.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Warrior]

Thanks for jumping into the fire Wellington; I think the real reason as you state for not doing it is fear of piracy, ie, taking the figures, making a mold, running off dozens of them, getting them painted and selling them say on Evilbay or somewhere else. Iv'e seen numerous instances with wargaming figures, I think the same thing would occur.........

 

[Wraith]

Thanks for jumping into the fire Wellington; I think the real reason as you state for not doing it is fear of piracy, ie, taking the figures, making a mold, running off dozens of them, getting them painted and selling them say on Evilbay or somewhere else. Iv'e seen numerous instances with wargaming figures, I think the same thing would occur.........

I dunno George...
I know how long it takes me to get a half decent paintjob on a matte figure. If someone were to take an unpainted casting, or copy of a K&C casting, and get them painted up to K&C's standard of painting, I can't imagine there'd be too much profit in it.
I may be way off the mark, but I'd say the material costs of metal + paint are at the lower end of the $25 - $29 range, with the greater cost going towards the painting itself.
Either that or I'm incredibly slow at painting

Either way, if they were offered up as castings, I'd buy them to paint up for the enjoyment of it, but I can see the concerns some may have as well.

Simon

 

[thebritfarmer]

Thanks for jumping into the fire Wellington; I think the real reason as you state for not doing it is fear of piracy, ie, taking the figures, making a mold, running off dozens of them, getting them painted and selling them say on Evilbay or somewhere else. Iv'e seen numerous instances with wargaming figures, I think the same thing would occur.........

You could make a casting off a painted figure though.

Now I don't know if this applies to toy soldiers but it does to my other hobby and that is farm toys. The majority of the cost is in the tooling of the item, to make one mould of a tractor it costs about 50,000.

I think it would have more to do with someone painting a K&C figure poorly and then popping it on ebay as a K&C product. Someone comes along and buys it then bad mouths K&C because the workmanship is poor.

 

[theBaron]

Thanks for jumping into the fire Wellington; I think the real reason as you state for not doing it is fear of piracy, ie, taking the figures, making a mold, running off dozens of them, getting them painted and selling them say on Evilbay or somewhere else. Iv'e seen numerous instances with wargaming figures, I think the same thing would occur.........

Not just wargaming figures. Try a toy soldier dealer who has copies of Ulrich Puchala's 54mm Prussians in his catalog, sold with an Imrie/Risley field piece, as well as copies of the old Phoenix Model Development Atlantis figures. Other vendors have used copies of Phoenix furniture, too. Then there's a fellow on eBay who sells solid-cast copies of old Britains-both military and civilian subjects, current Imrie/Risley, Valiant (Monogram). It's a very real concern.

Prost!
Brad

 

[amhuff1]

My father collected various antiques and Tootsietoys when I was growing up. There was always a concern about the originality of the item. I do not want to see the same concerns about K&C. I believe their product is fine as a factory painted piece. An un-painted offering would only confuse the masses and create unnecessary questions.

 

[Praetorian]

Hi Guys,

Re the request for the above. It’s true that a while back we did consider releasing unpainted castings of the FoB series. Following discussions with dealers and collectors worldwide we came to the following conclusions:

1. The market for ‘paint-your-own’ figures is in decline… both in Europe and the States.
2. Anyone can ‘pirate’ a casting with great ease.
3. The confusion among collectors on the secondary/ebay markets with what is and is not a genuine K&C production would be problematic.
4. Our research indicates the vast majority of K&C collectors want K&C finished, painted products.
5. The profit level for K&C would be much reduced and therefore not worth the effort.
6. All of our efforts should and would be better focused on developing more and better core K&C painted products. Anything else is a distraction.

And that, my friends, is that.

Happy Collecting!

 

[chiefs70]

As a new collector speaking entirely from personal opinion - I am not interested and it would decrease my opinion of K&C.

Firstly, I love the sculpts as well as the painting on the K&C figures. Many of you are much more artistic - and steady-handed - than I so you may not share my view that the painting quality of the figures is beyond my ability.

Secondly, I don't have the time. I buy finished products of quality because I have very little free time and that which I do have I spend on other pursuits. It would take me 20+ hours to paint a figure so the math doesn't swing in my favor. I admire the skilled artists on this forum who can cast and paint their figures but I am simply not one of them. Between work, coaching my sons' sports teams, playing softball myself and other activities it simply can't be done. Additionally, if I had to spend any amount of time ascertaining the veracity of a figure as being "completely finished" by K&C vs "cast" by K&C I would simply avoid the line.

Once again, nothing but respect to the talented folks on the forum - I simply am not on your level.

 

[chiefs70]

Thank you, Praetorian. You have stated my concerns much more thorougly and accurately than I was able to do myself.

 

[Pierre]

...Once again, nothing but respect to the talented folks on the forum - I simply am not on your level.

Neither am I

BTW, who can paint one like the following for me? (matt finish)

 

[kilted vampire]

Neither am I

BTW, who can paint one like the following for me? (matt finish)

Do you have the casting? Or are we just blowing smoke? I can paint the bloody thing.

 

[Pierre]

Do you have the casting? Or are we just blowing smoke? I can paint the bloody thing.

Hi KV-

This is a 90mm figure from Tradition of London.

I guess I order it, get it shipped at your place and finally pay you

There is at least three figures in that serie in which I am interested.

Pierre.

 

[Halo]

Censorship at its best....well played Jazzeum....