Alpine -16033 MG Gunner 12 SS Panzer Division "HJ"
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T50
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Hi Terry
Well, I am disappointed that you, as a figure company, posted such a comment on other company's news announcement. You seem to be questioning my business ethics here. Therefore, I am compelled to react.
1) You do not own the copy rights to the iconic WW2 photo that these 2 figures are based on. The only thing you have the copy rights to is the figure done by Moz Corry in this case.
2) Right down to the small wrinkles, folds, type of gears, pockets and seams, there are no details on these 2 figures that are identical besides the fact that they are individual artist's interpretation of the same photo. In fact, I have done my own research along with other researchers and modelers on this Italian camo coverall in order to get all the details correct.
3) As you mentioned, Moz's version has been around "for a number of years" now. How many more years do you think that it should be the only figure of the subject in 1/16 scale? This particular subject has been covered in other scales in the past... maybe in 1/16 scale by Verlinden as well. If you truly believe that it should remain as the only game in town in 1/16 scale, I have to question your business ethics.
Taesung Harmms
Alpine Miniatures
T50
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What is "AG"? I you mean ammo carrier, I have a plan to make one later this year or next year.
Joe55
A Fixture
Hmmmm,.......looking at it another way, how many Spitfire kits are out there, in the same scale by different companies?
Joe
Joe
T50
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I plan to sculpt ammo carrier as both a piece on its own or as a companion to the MG gunner.
Naturally, everyone would expect a portrait of Otto Funk as he was the assistant gunner.
But there's a couple of problems here.
1) Look at the photo of Otto Funk that JasonB kindly posted above. He is geared up
as MG gunner, not as an ammo carrier or assistant gunner. He doesn't have a rifle, ammo pouches or MP.
Instead, he is only equipped with a sidearm... just like a MG gunner. I will have to give the figure a rifle
and ammo pouches.
2) The way he is carrying the ammo box with his right hand presents an engineering/design issue.
5 parts (upper torso, right arm, stick, ammo box, and the handle of the ammo box) will not fit together as intended all the time.
There are just too many parts involved to illustrate this pose.
At this point, the figure won't be an accurate portrait of Otto Funk.
Naturally, everyone would expect a portrait of Otto Funk as he was the assistant gunner.
But there's a couple of problems here.
1) Look at the photo of Otto Funk that JasonB kindly posted above. He is geared up
as MG gunner, not as an ammo carrier or assistant gunner. He doesn't have a rifle, ammo pouches or MP.
Instead, he is only equipped with a sidearm... just like a MG gunner. I will have to give the figure a rifle
and ammo pouches.
2) The way he is carrying the ammo box with his right hand presents an engineering/design issue.
5 parts (upper torso, right arm, stick, ammo box, and the handle of the ammo box) will not fit together as intended all the time.
There are just too many parts involved to illustrate this pose.
At this point, the figure won't be an accurate portrait of Otto Funk.
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I would give Otto a try. Its a well know photo, and even though he doesn't have his personal weapons, he is carrying the ammo box, ammo belts and a spare barrel slung over his back. Your figure would be historically correct based on actual photo evidence, so whether he actually fits the bill at what we would expect a assistant gunner to look like, it appears he is at least functioning in that role in these photos,since he isn't actually carrying an MG42 himself. Would someone else be carrying the MG42 for him? Plus he is seen in other photo with your guy in the background, so they make a nice set. As far as the engineering of the arm goes, I'm a bit lost. Wouldn't an arm with a slot in the bottom for the alignment of the stick to the shoulder, with the stick and ammo box being separate parts, not work? What I am saying is PLEASE do Otto! 
Oh, btw, you could also make it a trio and add what I assume to be his boss standing in the midle of this photo. THAT would be cool.
Oh, btw, you could also make it a trio and add what I assume to be his boss standing in the midle of this photo. THAT would be cool.
yoshi
Well-Known Member
http://argunners.com/normandy-then-now-otto-funk-and-his-unit/
Here is a nice link. The magazine Argunners posted a now and then article about this unit and the story behind the picture taken.
I like this figure very much. It's an interesting pose of a fanatic German soldier of just 18 years old. He survided the war.
Something curious about the dates of birth and passing away: birth: 6 june; passing away 11 septembre.
Here is a nice link. The magazine Argunners posted a now and then article about this unit and the story behind the picture taken.
I like this figure very much. It's an interesting pose of a fanatic German soldier of just 18 years old. He survided the war.
Something curious about the dates of birth and passing away: birth: 6 june; passing away 11 septembre.
MrBMB
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Hi
I really like this figure John did of his converted S&T German
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/76/1d/f4/761df4583f277b062ddbb6dc6a968774.jpg
Any chance of getting John to do him again for Alpine
No idea of time/history but would he work with a Luchs 1/16
Love that figure more than the original S&T figure...................Nice one John
I really like this figure John did of his converted S&T German
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/76/1d/f4/761df4583f277b062ddbb6dc6a968774.jpg
Any chance of getting John to do him again for Alpine
No idea of time/history but would he work with a Luchs 1/16
Love that figure more than the original S&T figure...................Nice one John
Martin64
A Fixture
Some more background info about these soldiers and the situation they were facing at that young age:
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=29705
Otto Funk is carrying two surplus cannisters for barrels of the MG 42 btw.
Cheers, Martin
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=29705
Otto Funk is carrying two surplus cannisters for barrels of the MG 42 btw.
Cheers, Martin
Foxwood Figures
Well-Known Member
Whow!
All I have said is that sales of your figure will be lower - as will sales of our figure - by having something so similar around! i.e some customers will buy yours and some will buy ours. No more and no less. From a commercial point of view, launching a figure that is already available elsewhere, especially from such a great sculptor as Moz, will result in less sales than a completely different figure, all other things being equal. I am not sure how you can assert a simple commercial fact into a question of your ethics. No intention was ever intended or I believe made.
Terry
Foxwood Figures
Martin64
A Fixture
IMHO no need to worry already about Alpine`s number of sales and to be disappointed, Terry - I for my part have all the time been waiting for a great sculptor like Taesung to get this one right and most probably it`s not just me!
By your post(s) other members are now aware of the great sculpt by Moz and that it is available from Foxwood again which might increase the number of sales for you as well. - I thought so far that this figure disappeared when Moz did the same some time ago.
So maybe a win-win situation for you and Taesung.
Cheers, Martin
By your post(s) other members are now aware of the great sculpt by Moz and that it is available from Foxwood again which might increase the number of sales for you as well. - I thought so far that this figure disappeared when Moz did the same some time ago.
So maybe a win-win situation for you and Taesung
.Cheers, Martin
T50
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There always have been and will always be new interpretations of given subject if it is based on a iconic photo or famous illustration. If this gets on your nerve, good luck!
The Moz Corry figure was released a number of years ago and already ran its course in terms of its sales potential. I see that you recently have acquired the master. Its sales number won't be so high even without Alpine's new version IMO.
Moz Corry is a great sculptor, indeed. But what a rude comment to make especially to the sculptor of the other figure! Frankly, I feel quite confident in my figure.
Foxwood Figures
Well-Known Member
I am sorry you continue to take my comments out of context. Moz is a great sculptor as indeed you are - two of the best around. I was just trying to make the point that commercially their are two very similar figures on the market now. Our figure continues to sell as well as we thought when we purchased it, bearing in mind that we have positioned ourselves as a sightly different company to many others in that we tend to mostly buy older, oop masters and then offer them as such.
We wish you all the best for the sells for this one.
Terry
Foxwood Figures
We wish you all the best for the sells for this one.
Terry
Foxwood Figures
TIGER11
Well-Known Member
How long; or what do project the release of the 2nd figure? ammo carrier ?
T50
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