Musketeer, Earl of Manchester's Regt, ECW. Stormtroopers direct New Release

[baronband]

Well that escalated, no wonder the poor Musketeer is keeping his head down! For my two pence worth I think the bust is great and I for one have had that look on many an occasion after a near miss or very loud bang. For me its an action pose and a good one too. It will be on my long, long want list thats for sure.

John

 

[TADATSUGU]

Why is it that, again and again, the same few people react so strongly when the likes of Gaudin and Mark express their dislike of a piece (usually if it is a Carl Reid or Maurice Corry piece)?
They react as if it is a done deal that everyone will like these pieces. Bad news for them, not everyone does. When you rave about every single piece that comes on the market you simply show no objectivity.
I think Both sculptors do some exquisite work, but I find most of their pieces flawed to my eyes. Weapons and equipment, facial features are fine but I often find the anatomy and proportionality to be very questionable. There are many pieces by these sculptors that I would have otherwise bought if I did not think this. I would join it with the praise and buy numerous kits if they looked right to me but they don't. I think this is what Mark S was probably getting at. But I guess he knew that he would attract the usual stoning if he was more blunt about it.
Many of Moz's pieces look off balance (to me), some of Carl's hands or heads look out of proportion, (to me). The piece in question here looks OK from the side view but the frontal shot looks very odd, (to me). I am amazed anyone else does not see it, but that is my opinion, and It is just as valid as someone who thinks the piece is perfection personified.
This is not an attack on the sculptor or the company selling it. It is just how some people really feel. Just because you don't like it, that is no reason to censor their opinion. Has it ever occured to you, that e Carl or Moz might even attract more customers if they listened to criticism a little, instead of getting their backs up and shouting no fair.
There I've said it!

 

[Martin64]

I was wondering when you would show up martin...many thanks for your input.

Stu,
thank you for taking the time to reply.
I did not want to comment about the obvious on an otherwise lovely sculpt splendidly painted - especially because you did not ask for feedback - so my input you were waiting for was delayed. It would have been great to get some chins up but didn`t work out. Critical comments admittedly don`t buy models.
- I already own some nice figures from your line and if that is the only thing what these threads are just about I will leave it to looking and buying.
Good luck with your venture!
Martin

 

[Wayneb]

David,
I completely understand what you are saying;But you are leaving out the human element.That being no one is perfect.Would you rather have them machine made and even then what would they do?Scan the human anatomy but who would they scan?Someone perfect?And whos' eyes....Yours?.....Sorry,no one is perfect,and as far as imperfections go from the human hand;if it's fixable,I'll fix it to my taste.And there's always the fact if you can do better..do so.
So until perfection arrives;I'm satisfied with what's out there.That's why they call it a conversion.Even if it's a finger.That's actually part of the fun of this hobby.It gives a little leeway so you can make it your own and use your own creativity.Everything you said was based on "your eyes"......are your eyes perfect?..........Respect your opinion...hope you respect mine.......Wayne

 

[TADATSUGU]

Wayne, Of course I respect any response that is reasoned as yours is. The reason I purposefully stressed (to me) so much was to make it clear that I accept my assessment is only a personal one. I am just offering an alterative opinion. I have no objection to anyone else buying the figure or liking it, I just think that members should get a balanced reaction to any new release.
I was writing primarily to defend Mark S's position and to protest the usual, "how dare he" type of response anyone who criticises Moz or Carl's figures almost always gets.
I really did not mean this to get into a Moz, Carl bashing session. I have some of their earlier figures. I admire their skill in most areas and am still mulling over buying some of their recent output that I have some issues with. I just don't get the apparent shock some people have when what I see as valid critisism, that would be accepted in good faith by most other producers, is made. For example; the recent Alexandros (I think?)Wellington figure was critisised for a mis-alined coat and strange stance - other posters disagreed, but no-one took anything personal from it or reacted as if the sculptor had been discredited.
I do appreciate imperfection in the human form, I like character in a figure and I can make adaptions to figures, as I often do. That is not the issue.
Let's leave names out of this now, but I have for example, seen recent figures which appear, in the box art at least, to have arms not long enough to reach the sculpted groin, figures wearing slung pelisses that have sleeves which are not long enough to reach two thirds the way down the figures arms, and arms which look like empty sleeves. All these figures were unanimously heaped with unconditional praise. I just don't get it.

 

[stormtrooper miniatures]

I don't understand why it is a problem if I question somebodys comment to justify why they have made it.

If I don't then I must agree with them.

If I don't ask then how can I learn and understand why they think this and then use this to improve what I do.

I pride myself in what I do and what I produce surely its only responsible to ask for feedback.

I have received feedback via PM and I can only thank them for the professional way in which this was done and I must applaud this....Many thanks !!!

This is this not about sculptors,,,,I would ask this for any of my products sculpted by any of my sculptors.

Sales.....these died years ago,,,if you think its protectionism forget it. I know make 1 or 2 moulds of a piece and they are history,,,unless I see any worth.

Many thanks to everybody that has taken the time to comment and hit the like button it is very much appreciated .

Stuart

 

[TADATSUGU]

I don't understand why it is a problem if I question somebodys comment to justify why they have made it.Stuart

You have every right Stuart, and none of my comments were aimed at you. I do buy from you at events but I am maybe more selective than some. I suppose negative comment here may have some effect on sales but I do not think it likely to be significant. (I hate lowry paintings but I do not think saying so on an art based site would affect the sales of prints).
This (I thought), was a site predominantly for figure modellers not for producers to advertise new product (although I do value those, like yourself, who do so).

Think of it this way;
1) Producer A posts a new model. Twenty members shout "fantastic, best ever etc". Ten members think "yes but that musket is wrong for the period", but they are afraid of starting a rumble on the site so they keep quiet. Result? Twenty purchases.
1) Producer B posts a new model. Twenty members shout "fantastic, best ever etc". Ten members voice their reservations. Producer takes note, checks the facts and recasts the weapon for future releases. Result? the first twenty have probably bought it anyway but maybe now the other ten want to buy it too. Thirty sales, everybody wins.

O.K. that is over simplistic, I agree, but the point is, someone pointing out what is a fault to them doesn't necessarily mean everyone will suddenly decide not to buy it.

 

[stormtrooper miniatures]

David

Let me make this clear,,,its not about sales or protecting them.

its about a bust which in my estimation is a perfectly normal representation of a human being,,, that is neither disfigured nor a hunchback within any normal human postural parameters. Disfigured and hunchback are terms for postures/anatomy which are obviously not normal.

In question is the anatomy and posture of the bust,,,nothing else. To my trained eye this exists within normal human parameters,,,I am a Registered Osteopath of 24 years and I can tell you the posture and mechanics of movement of this bust are normal. Otherwise I would have told Carl to change it,,,that would not have been a problem for either of us.

I asked for an explanation of their comment ,,,that's all,,,is that not a fair request within a community of like minded people. Just because I am a manufacturer am I not a member of this community.

Stuart

 

[TADATSUGU]

I asked for an explanation of their comment ,,,that's all,,,is that not a fair request within a community of like minded people. Just because I am a manufacturer am I not a member of this community.
Stuart

Sorry Stuart, I never meant to question your right to question those particular comments. This thread so far has not so far (and thankfully) attracted the "usual type of mudslinging I had anticipated from other similar comments in the past. Maybe things are improving. I'm not questioning your medical expertise but the second photo (from the front) still looks odd to me, lets agree to disagree. Hope the figure does well for you.

 

[Claude Portsmouth]

This thread is another example of why I have vowed to look in, say nothing and buy what I like.

I am thankful that the manufacturers both big and small post their figures on here so that I can keep up to date with their releases and produce a shopping list when I attend shows...........My advice to the producers is keep up the good work and ignore some of the garbage that goes on here. Success is based on sales nothing else matters.

Claude

 

[Graham]

So true Claude but you have to remember that comments like this can damage sales especially for the small producers.

Everyone has the right to like or dislike a product but there is no point in labouring negative comments unless it is malicious and I don't believe this is the place for that sort of thing.

 

[Martin64]

So true Claude but you have to remember that comments like this can damage sales especially for the small producers.

Everyone has the right to like or dislike a product but there is no point in labouring negative comments unless it is malicious and I don't believe this is the place for that sort of thing.

My two cents:

One cent about malice:
I am hesitant to post another time on this thread but the image that negative comments - I guess this term relates to critical comments - are driven by malice does not work for me. It implies that comments are just made to damage somebody else and leaves out the fact that some critical commenters on this thread were asked to elaborate further about their reasons.
Hostile reactions on other than positive comments are not what a "forum" is about IMHO.

One cent about sales:
I like to be informed about new releases on this forum but if you put your work on display - as a free advertisement for your business or just for private purposes - you have to take the risk that other members are free to give feedback - which means all kind of feedback.

Why should sales be damaged by a critical comment at all?
As a potential customer I don`t care too much if other members like a piece I am interested to buy but benefit from their input about historical background, details and necessary corrections that might improve a figure.
No matter how many "best model ever", "must buy" and other positive posts a new release from a big or small producer will get - if it is flawed in my eyes I will not buy it. I guess the same goes for many other members over here.

Cheers, Martin

 

[Blue Thunder]

What a mess here! Somehow it reminds me the absolutely amazing citation from the founder of Twitter "social network is all about bitching"​

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How right is the man! ​

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Just my 2 cents ​

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The pose is a classic Canon: It's a head / neck rotation - Even in Renascence treaties you can see already identical poses.​

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Art students, both painters and sculptors, learn from the beginning that in a neck rotation, simultaneously, a slight hunchback effect occurs: Very easy - they learn with naked models, and the teacher points students what is happening and why it is happening.​

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So an easy suggestion to all skeptics reading these words is just to undress your torso, rotate your head and see how you spontaneously look slightly hunched the bathroom mirror: That happens because neck muscles, that sustain the head, have an end to elasticity - and that tension must pass through artwork to the viewer to properly replicate the behavior of the global human body balance.​

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Otherwise you say: "dang it's wooden" Familiar sentence, isn't it?​

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Happy people - it's a great piece. And once again body narrative tells a story on it's own: That is indeed Carl Reid most notable signature in the figurine world! ​

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A fantastic release!​

Cheers​