Understanding Del Prado (1 Viewer)

[schnuffy]

I am a novice! I need help.

I am US based and own (via Europe) the entire sets:

Napoleonic Series
Napoleonic Cavalry
Medieval
Men At War (but I find additional figures on E-Bay)
Relive Waterloo (although the figures do not match the "instruction booklet"

Partial
US Civil War (very sporadic delivery from Michigan Toy Soldier)

Questions:

Can anyone get the Hougomont farmhouse together?
Is there another Men at War set?
Has the quality dropped with the Civil War or is it just me?
Any one need specific issues of Men at War as I have a near double set?

I would enjoy talking to anyone about Del Prado issues.

 

[steveo]

I have mixed feelings about Del Prado,without them and their affordable figures i wouldn't have started collecting King and Country.I have collected most of their series and have to say the Napoleonic foot figures are the best,and easy to pick up off eBay uk, i am collecting Cavalry through the ages,the painting is hit and miss and sometimes the horses appear quite small for the figures,the American Civil wars not too bad the foot figures are fine for the price,but again the mounted figures are in my humble opinion are total C**p(but what do you expect for the price?)
My main problem with Del Prado is their VERY POOR customer service,you have been warned!I expect to speak to UK customer service and end up speaking to Indian,South African personnel,who cant understand me and i themThey send figures out to you out of sequence,damaged or sometimes not at all,their charges appear on your credit card statements with just the charges,but no series,or figure details,and it takes a month for the figures to come,so they charge you in mid January and you get them in February,most confusingIts been that bad recently that i have had to contact my credit card to stop payments to Del Prado,until they sorted my order (which they did).I have heard of some customers contacting the Spanish Head office to sort their problems!
In my humble opinion stick to Ebay
ps(the foot figures,20th century,Napoleonic,medieval are worth collecting)

Rant over,regards Steve

 

[jomartvr]

Hi Steve,
Do you own the mounted French Foreign Legion and Sharifian pieces made for the Del Prado History of Cavalry series?
IF you own them what do you think about the painting. I purchase the figure from the Crimea and repainted it. For the price who cares.

Thanks.
Benjamin

 

[steveo]

Hi Benjamin,yes i do own these but haven't thought about repainting them,but when you think about they are cheaper then white metal kits,so maybe i shouldn't complain I really think what lets the newer figures down is the almost lack of shading,and the midget horses
Heres some images of the latest American civil war figures i received last week
N17-20th Maine private
N18-Stonewall Jackson on a Shetland pony?
N19-Abraham Lincoln
N20-1st Cherokee Rifles actually a pretty good figure and the horse doesn't appear that bad.
It also appears that i am missing 13 to 16,which Del Prado have charged me for but not sent
Then a few images of a cabinet which contains some of my Del Prado Collection,i am afraid they are quite mixed,Napoleonic Mounted and Foot,Medieval Mounted and Foot,and 20th century Figures and some samurai .
regards Steve

 

[steveo]

Some more of my Del Prado Collection

 

[jomartvr]

Hi Steve,
Nice collection and thanks for posting the images.
I am tempted to start collecting the Napoleonic cavalry as the detail is great for the value.
Best wishes,
Benjamin

 

[bearybones]

Hi Steve,

I just ordered my first Del Prado figure, ME002 Richard the Lionheart's Lieutenant, for the large crusades diorama I'm currently building. This figure looks pretty nice on the computer screen. I'm considering ordering a few more Del Prados soon. I guess I'll know soon what I think of this manufacturer. You sure can't beat the Del Prado price. I see that you have the Hospitaller crusader knight. Would you mind giving me your personal opinion, as to the quality of that figure. It looks quite nice on the computer screen.

George

 

[steveo]

Hi George,
heres some images of the figure you are after N2: Richard the Lionhearts lieutenant.Its actually a pretty good figure,most of the early ones are,i got a closeup of the face for you.
I will post some more images for you next,of more medieval figures.
Regards Steve.

 

[steveo]

George,here are some more figures that i had in the cabinet:
Betrand Du Guesclini c1370
Simon de Monfort France 1214
Sir William Marshall no other details given.

The 2nd group of foot figures as follows:
Frederick Barbarossa Germany c1175
Scottish Spearman Bannockburn 1314
English Longbowman Crecy 1346

The 3rd group of foot figures:
Hosptialler Brother Knight c1330
Richard the 1sts lieutenant C1189
Southern French Crossbowman mid 13th century.

So as you can see the quality of the medieval figures is pretty good,as i said before generally the earlier figures are pretty good,its the latter figures that seem to slide in quality.I just hope they arrive in one piece otherwise its superglue and touch up paint time
Happy collecting
regards Steve

 

[Captain]

Hi Benjamin,yes i do own these but haven't thought about repainting them,but when you think about they are cheaper then white metal kits,so maybe i shouldn't complain I really think what lets the newer figures down is the almost lack of shading,and the midget horses
Heres some images of the latest American civil war figures i received last week
N17-20th Maine private
N18-Stonewall Jackson on a Shetland pony?
N19-Abraham Lincoln
N20-1st Cherokee Rifles actually a pretty good figure and the horse doesn't appear that bad.
It also appears that i am missing 13 to 16,which Del Prado have charged me for but not sent
Then a few images of a cabinet which contains some of my Del Prado Collection,i am afraid they are quite mixed,Napoleonic Mounted and Foot,Medieval Mounted and Foot,and 20th century Figures and some samurai .
regards Steve

Steve, I have only one Del Prado and it's the JEB Stuart figure. I'm not pro or con Del Prado but, just to let you know Gen. Jackson's horse, "Little Sorrel" was a small horse and many first hand accounts talk of how ungainly Jackson looked on him. So, they may have that one right.

 

[steveo]

It might be just me or childhood memories,but most horses i have bumped into have been massive and quite stubborn and overpowering (especially if me and the family are picking Fruit,or near a gate,go figure) i shouldn't judge all horses as equal
steve

 

[bearybones]

Steve,

Thanks for posting the picturtes of your Del Prado figures. It is very much appreciated. I agree that the Medieval figures look quite nice. My first Del Prado figure should arrive any day now.

George

 

[beating retreat]

I have mixed feelings about Del Prado,without them and their affordable figures i wouldn't have started collecting King and Country.I have collected most of their series and have to say the Napoleonic foot figures are the best,and easy to pick up off eBay uk, i am collecting Cavalry through the ages,the painting is hit and miss and sometimes the horses appear quite small for the figures,the American Civil wars not too bad the foot figures are fine for the price,but again the mounted figures are in my humble opinion are total C**p(but what do you expect for the price?)
My main problem with Del Prado is their VERY POOR customer service,you have been warned!I expect to speak to UK customer service and end up speaking to Indian,South African personnel,who cant understand me and i themThey send figures out to you out of sequence,damaged or sometimes not at all,their charges appear on your credit card statements with just the charges,but no series,or figure details,and it takes a month for the figures to come,so they charge you in mid January and you get them in February,most confusingIts been that bad recently that i have had to contact my credit card to stop payments to Del Prado,until they sorted my order (which they did).I have heard of some customers contacting the Spanish Head office to sort their problems!
In my humble opinion stick to Ebay
ps(the foot figures,20th century,Napoleonic,medieval are worth collecting)

Rant over,regards Steve

I totally agree I had lots of problems collecting the Napoleon At War series at the finish of the series I had 3 figures missing from the set contacting Del Prado distibution was a nightmare never got the figures had to complete the set by getting the missing figures from Ebay

 

[kilted vampire]

The problem I see with D P is there is no quality control. What seems to happen is that in the beginning of the series there is a learning curve. As the series progresses the painting seems to improve. The Napoleonic range is a good example of the learning curve. Early figure paint jobs very rough and later they are very good.

 

[steveo]

I suppose its that when you are used to collecting King&Country,rightly or wrongly,in my mind i start to associate the Del Prado figures with King&Country and their standards.
I mean if you look at their own hype on their website:
http://www.delpradosoldiers.com/index.php it says over 6 million figures sold in the UK alone:Seems a bit optimistic to me.If they are producing even that quantity of figure, then the quality surely wont be there
Del Prado never sells them as High End Figures,only as a weekly partwork,and really for £7.95 per figure can we really complain,also because of the amount that's knocking about,you can pick up a bargain,i picked up 1 to 30 of the medieval series for £40 delivered with booklets off ebay and if your not bothered about the booklets ive seen figures go for 50pence
So i suppose you pays your money and you takes your choice!
regards Steve

 

[kilted vampire]

Generally speaking it is hard to knock the figures for the money. The sculpts are usually pretty good. The packaging is under the industry standard. The painting varies. They do not retain their value. I love to repaint them. I clean off the loose paint and voila! I have to agree with you Steve, one pays their money , one takes their chances. If it looks good to you buy it.

 

[trooper]

I am disgusted with Del Prado. In December I asked to subscribe to their new series of miniature Napoleonic helmets. My details were taken and I was given a customer number. On January 13th money was taken from my credit card. Since then I have received nothing. I have phoned them twice and on each occasion was told that items were in the post and should arrive any day. I have Emailed them three times asking them to either send the goods or refund my money and haven't even had the courtesy of a reply. In my opinion they are not worth dealing with and I hope this example of their business practices serves as a warning to all who would want to subscribe to their products.

 

[aujj65]

I am disgusted with Del Prado. In December I asked to subscribe to their new series of miniature Napoleonic helmets. My details were taken and I was given a customer number. On January 13th money was taken from my credit card. Since then I have received nothing. I have phoned them twice and on each occasion was told that items were in the post and should arrive any day. I have Emailed them three times asking them to either send the goods or refund my money and haven't even had the courtesy of a reply. In my opinion they are not worth dealing with and I hope this example of their business practices serves as a warning to all who would want to subscribe to their products.

Your not the first to complain about the subscription system, but when I collected the Napoleon at War series first time round I just got them each week from the newsagents - no problem what so ever. Perhaps Del Prado have a better relationship with the newsagents / distributors than they do with paying up front customers! It's all wrong imho.

Jeff

 

[kilted vampire]

Gee Trooper,

I am sorry to hear of your problems. I do not know anyone who carries the Helmet line. Some of their figures are quite nice but, they do have lousy business ethics.