At some point Andrea made a turn.It started producing far fewer pieces than it did in the past.The new ones were generally smaller,flatter with much more "subtler" sculpting and rather more expensive than before (to make my point compare Henry the 8th-a masterpiece of sculpting-with the matchlock-ashigaru that came after or the master of St.John).Back in the day,Andrea was a veritable giant not only producing many pieces every month but also producing monumental figures and dioramas(Viking longship,Holy land castle,Trebuchet,U-boat to name a few).Nowdays it's a shadow of it's former self.I don't know if the downgrading of its quality(sculpting) and quantity of output were the causes or the consequences of its "fall" but they are there.I think that the grandmaster is a faulty sculpting to begin with.Nevertheless you can find in Andrea's range some fabulous pieces to paint (for Instance try the Norman with the hawk on his wrist and the hunting crossbow in his other hand, mighty inspiring stuff).
Oda.