What happened to my Britains? (1 Viewer)

[maddadicus]

Maybe folks are getting sick of my rants, but Britains made their reputation on sets, 6 foot figures or 5 horse figures in gloss. This idea of putting out 1 figure of 1 unit, at a time is driving my collecting mind ,nuts. I want marching sets, complete marching sets. I am tired of picking up the odd F.I.W. single figure ,with the hope that I might eventually get 6, down the road to complete, just that 1 unit. Now try to plan for completing 7 or 10 units. My Britains collection is the only incomplete ,oddball, hit or miss setup, that I have..Military figures normally walk or march, not stand with their feet wide apart ...which eliminates a number of the F.I.W. units for me to collect. The Sudan figures are great. What would it kill to make a 4 or 6 man marching set including an officer. How about the camel set with 3 troopers and officer. I have been collecting for years and I liked the old glossy marketing. Giving me a promissory note, that maybe, sometime down the road, we the mfg. might fill in some of the units, does not cut it for me..Very hard to plan, when a new owner, a new sculpter, or a new direction can make all future planned releases, null and void...Britains got me ,with their new quality and direction, but I am not sure, I understood how hard it would be ,to consistently collect them..Just my thoughts...Michael

 

[thebritfarmer]

I think cost has to factor into that Michael. A 6 figure set would sell for about $120. For me personally I probably would have to pass as I don't have alot of cash to put towards my soldiers at the moment. Adding one or two figures a month is more do-able and allows me to keep a toe in the water so to speak. I do agree however that there is nothing quite like the old sets of Britains, 5 mounted figures or 7 or 8 marching soldiers....great stuff !!!

 

[4th Hussar]

I agree with Michael. I started out buying singles but quickly moved to sets. I buy a few new singles but mostly old sets

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

It might be useful to point out a few things that might put your mind to ease.

The first is the issue of figures with feet apart. You will see these again...as well as figures marching.
Please remember that in the British army...before the introduction of the 1764 exercise, the men were at the position of the soldier with their feet placed apart.
This was in the Dutch fashion, the early trendsetters for drill.
With advances in technology (the introduction of the flintlock) the men were able to stand with the feet together with the lighter weapons...and more important, closer together because it was safer without the lit slow match of the matchlock muskets.
The F&I period predates the use of the 1764 exercise in the Prussian style with feet together.
Notice that some of the figures are at attention with the feet together as they postdate this period.
I had someone else mention this 'mistake' with the 1760s Guards drummer and fifer. Not understanding the change in the drill over the years led this collector to think it was a mistake. It certainly would have been in the Nineteenth century!

The second issue was hit right on the nail-head as far as our reluctance to introduce many of our new figures in set configurations only. Price point.

We have tried to offer figures at prices that allow folks to build sets over time. If someone wants to build a unit we have moved in that direction too.
Over the last year and a half we have gone back an added music, NCOs and officers where the sales indicated interest.
This new catalog will offer the first boxed sets of Redcoats as four figure sets. The 45th Regiment of Foot will have four different sets availible, and even here we have configured them so someone can build a unit as they like. Here is what you will see:
1. Four figure set of battalion (Center Company) men
2. Four figure set of Grenadiers
3. Four figure set with musik and NCOs
4. Four figure set with Colours, pioneer and officer
5. Two piece set of a mounted officer
This will allow you to buy what you feel you need to build a display.
Later this year there will be NCO, Ensign, Officer and Musik additions to several other periods and units as singles for those that prefer to build one at a time. Some of these will be marching and some at attention.
A few of the more unusual subjects will continue to be in unique poses for some variety.
Sorry to make you crazy, but I hope this helps a bit.
Ken

 

[Al Fisher]

Now you know why I make my own! I've made units that WB never made; none of the figures have an arm molded against the body; the painting is better (at least for older figures); and the cost is reasonable. Of coure, I can't write a check and get a unit overnight, but it certainly has been worth it!

Al