My poor wallet!

[TADATSUGU]

Is anyone else getting concerned about the rising cost of 75mm models? I happily welcomed the increase in the trend toward 75mm releases, not least because many of the 90mm models I wanted had price tags I was unprepared, or unable to afford (just look at the recent Pegaso Mounted Samurai!).
At about the £40.00 mark, single foot figures had a reasonable price for the increased detail and improved sculpts, but more recent releases seem to be slowly going along the 90mm pricetag track. Romeo models now produce a couple of mounted figures at £110+ and companies such as Scale 75 are now starting to produce vignettes in this Scale.
How long before most of the new 75mm releases become so ambitious that we won't be able to buy them any more?
Surely vignettes or larger figures are more suitable in 54mm or in a Metal/Resin combo.
I'm not saying producion costs do not justify these prices but is it time to call an end to White Metal kits, apart from limited runs of special editions? After all, Bonapartes can produce a hell of a lump of well detailed resin at a relatively reasonable cost and the detail on the likes of Chronos and Nocturna resin is phenominal.

 

[Tubby-Nuts2]

David,

We all know prices will fluctuate .. Most prices now are less than what they were 4yrs ago! As an example!

I use a couple of pieces from 'Historex', as a template to ascertain which way the market is going!

E.G. 1) http://www.historexagents.com/shop/hxproductdetail.php?ProductCode=S8F34 Was 150 quid, 6yrs ago went up to 198, 3yrs ago now at 160.

E.G.2) http://www.historexagents.com/shop/hxproductdetail.php?ProductCode=90-38 Was 54 quid, went up to 85,.. now 66.50

So what I generally see is a steady reduction in cost's ..although everything is volatile!

Wages have stagnated over the last 7yrs, so I suppose there in lies the 'Pinch' of the wallet.

Regards,

Mark

 

[peedee]

You cannot always assume it's the price of metal being higher than resin,
sometimes W/M is cheaper.
Don't you dare try and outlaw my precious soldats a plomb sir !!!
That would be the death of a dynasty, of a whole era a glorious epoch, a time of adventure a .....

Sorry too much?

Haa haa
Paul

 

[TADATSUGU]

Mark, I stand corrected, but you are referring to the price of older figures, fluctuating with a specific trader, rather than an increasing trend in new releases. I have now retired, so my income has reduced but this has been balanced by more available resources due to having paid off the mortgage and reduced work expenses etc, - nevertheless, I still remain flabbergasted by the thought of £160 for a single figure!
Paul, I would have no problem with a resin coup myself, but fear not, I will defend your Plomb to the bitter end! .

 

[peedee]

Paul, I would have no problem with a resin coup myself, but fear not, I will defend your Plomb to the bitter end! .[/quote]


PHEW

Thanks !

I may very well change my name to Leadbelly in your Honour.

I actually wish all kits were muti-media, resin bodies n 'orses.
W/M weapons and etch brass slings, belts straps and buckles but I'm just kinky I guess

Paul

 

[chippy]

Buy Plastic , There's some great 120mm kits out there well under £20 . mounted figures just over £20 .
chippy

 

[peedee]

Buy Plastic , There's some great 120mm kits out there well under £20 . mounted figures just over £20 .
chippy

Mmmm mm yeah chips baby
You like Mini-art too I guess eh?
Luvvly job,
like 'historex'
for men with specs

haha

Paul

 

[Ferris]

The cost of figures keeps coming up as a point of concern, but in my opinion figures are not expensive at all, even the ones you refer to. Of course, 'expensive' is relative, but look at it this way: That £160 figure is a mounted one; it would take me 6 months at least to finish it...that's £27 per month. Can we really call that 'much' for something that is important to us?

I think 'figures are too expensive' often implies 'If they were cheaper I would buy more'. However, doesn't most of our money go into the grey army? We can make these as large or small as our budget allows.
I would also buy more figures if they were cheaper by the way. Then again, I would probably spend the same total amount. I would have a bigger stock, but my hobby would be just as expensive.

Buy only what you paint, and buy the best figures out there, and this hobby is really not expensive.

Cheers,
Adrian

 

[Ferris]

Of course, if you paint faster than me the picture changes somewhat...
But still, Buying only what you paint, and looking at expense as a function of time, is the way to keep things affordable.

Adrian

 

[John Bowery]

Exchange rates for currency also fluctuate a lot also and should also be considered. Any thing from Russia should now be very reasonable for the exchange rate.
Cheers
John

 

[Paul Kernan]

I don't so much have a problem with the unit price but rather the volume I am forced to buy....damn you, Carl Reid

 

[MCPWilk]

There are a number of 120mm resin kits available for <£30, and Miniart 120mm kits are about £15 for foot figures and <£25 for mounted ones.

Mike

 

[Ron Tamburrini]

The Pegaso 75mm range is still the best value for money .
Soldat d plomb mounted are what they are and should never change apart from knocking up some 75 stuff also
Romeo are a bit pricey and that stopped me from buying the mounted Mamaluke although I can afford it.
It is a misconception that resin is cheaper as the sprue is all waste but as with metal you can remelt and reuse .
Extra cost re metal is in the quality of the mix; the above two metal kit manufacturers get it bang on , wish I could say the same for some others; so much so I will never buy there stuff again as it was back heeled into the trash .

 

[Ron Tamburrini]

The cost of figures keeps coming up as a point of concern, but in my opinion figures are not expensive at all, even the ones you refer to. Of course, 'expensive' is relative, but look at it this way: That £160 figure is a mounted one;file://localhost/Users/ronaldtamburrini/Pictures/iPhoto%20Library/Originals/2012/23%20Sep%202012/e8dc9f6a7c012157601c9005bcee03b7.jpg..that's £27 per month. Can we really call that 'much' for something that is important to us?

I think 'figures are too expensive' often implies 'If they were cheaper I would buy more'. However, doesn't most of our money go into the grey army? We can make these as large or small as our budget allows.
I would also buy more figures if they were cheaper by the way. Then again, I would probably spend the same total amount. I would have a bigger stock, but my hobby would be just as expensive.

Buy only what you paint, and buy the best figures out there, and this hobby is really not expensive.

Cheers,
Adrian

Six months to finish a mounted Adrian !! I aim for six weeks ; but my aim is not all that good as I have a Post Militaire Mounted Dragoon which requires the attachment of his carbine , he's only been waiting 30 years

Ron

 

[Tubby-Nuts2]

David, and everyone else!

Have you ever noted that your respective, 'Wife('s)', or 'Partner's', purse is always at least 4 times the size of our wallets ? ... and yet we get the incoming 'Flack', for expenditure. ???

I have just seen the size of my wife's purse, (it's massive)!

I suppose its a mystery of life, and a conundrum that cannot be sorted without a high risk of 'Pain'.

Mark

 

[Ron Tamburrini]

David, and everyone else!

Have you ever noted that your respective, 'Wife's', or 'Partner's', purse is always at least 4 times the size of our wallets ? ... and yet we get the incoming 'Flack', for expenditure. ???

I have just seen the size of my wife's purse, (it's massive)!

I suppose its a mystery of life, and a conundrum that cannot be sorted without a high risk of 'Pain'.

Mark

Just tell her you won the figure at a competition , will work about twice

 

[Tubby-Nuts2]

Ron,

Aye, followed by the phrase 'You lying git', and then being clubbed by the self same purse that was questioned in the first place! .. No thanks.

Mark

 

[yellowcat]

Not sure why my wife does not like my hobby. She thinks that I am wasting my time and money on figures and she wants me to sell all my grey army.

 

[Martin64]

If the mentioned top brands are nowadays asking too much for their products is to be answered in the eye of the beholder/customer. Without doubt other brands are cheaper and offer excellent value for money. IMHO prices should reflect that the product still has to be built up and painted by the customer. Despite of two promotions my income did not increase to the same extent throughout the last decade like the prices of the top brands - not to mention other costs of daily life. But it is not important how we feel as individual customers about the price tag - as long as the number of sales create the income the producer is aiming at there is no need for a change.
And it is nothing to be ashamed of if you make money with your enterprise so I feel that some producers should deserve to own a Porsche or else if they like to have one. They are running a business and all the risk involved is upon their shoulders. If the sales are ok nothing needs to be revised about prices on their side.
If you as a customer feel that the prices are still cheap go ahead and support them - buy their products.
My two cents.
Cheers, Martin

 

[Mirofsoft]

You can also search for second hand
here on PF or on the bay, my last buy was an Ademola bust, painted, 200m for 8€, the 90mm Pose Militaire Saxon ( painted ) for 2.25€, a Barton 90mm Landsknech for 10€, a Superior Model Brunswick Dragoon for 10€, 4 Aquila 90mm by Somov for 19€ each,
make some search , and lucky are the people living in the US