Stormtroopers,,,the good,,,the bad & the ugly

[stu]

Hi All

An odd title but something that has been bouncing about for a while now.

Some may have noticed that the shop is looking a little empty !!! Also the website is new.

I have been struggling of late to keep up with everything what with a day job, living and the fact that troop54 has taken over / blossomed of late.

Troop54 was always a gamble for me but also a new venture to pull away from my fellow manufacturers all doing the same thing. Over the last 3 years since the idea was founded it has grown steadily and now takes over most of my time. It seams this has also not gone unnoticed by other manufacturers too.

Stormtroopers was quite frankly grinding to a halt. 120mm sales just dropped off a cliff and I got bored of being told they were too dear,,,no offers etc etc etc. The same started to happen with busts. Its like driving down a road, you know whats going to happen. Sure enough it has.

Couple this with the effect of recasting and its pretty crap to be honest. Recasting not only takes sales but it changes peoples mind set. Mainly cost,,,why pay that,,,I'll wait,,it will be recast soon. Robbin sods charging that,,,If the recasters can do it why cant they. The list is endless. This just drains the life out of you and the WHY of doing it. I suppose this is the Ugly bit.

The bad....I have decided to take a hatchet to stormtroopers and bring it in line with whats possible and down to core products. The sale of the masters is already underway. I don't particularly like this but I cant keep grey armies. Moulds just don't keep and remoulding is not an option for me. The Victorias Heroes range will also be removed and reborn this year. If you want one then they will be there for a while and then deleted.

The good,,,the new website is done. This may yet change further. I have plans going forward and am devoted to keeping it going. New masters are in preparation. I will be making 1 or 2 moulds and then they will be shelved or deleted. Busts sales have slowed dramatically,,,recasters I guess,,,maybe mine are just not popular...hence a more limited run.

Victorias Heroes is to be reborn with new masters. They are being sculpted already. I bought the parts and name and thought the kits would appeal,,,sadly not, so they are being withdrawn. A decision based purely on demand.

This is very much a head and heart point...good in parts ...The ugly side of what our hobby has done and the bad which is a hard thing to do.

I thought now was the best time to do this and the future is hopefully a better one

Cheers

Stuart

 

[Viking Bob]

Sorry to hear that Stu, I have done a few of your busts and they are good, If I had to the room to display them I would do more. I prefer 54-75mm, but your Troop 54 range is 2nd to none and getting better all the time, those last two are superb and I will order them soon.
I wish you all the best for the future ( Troop54)

 

[mick3272]

Hats off Stu for taking the Bull by the horns, not an easy decision I'm sure.
Keep with it. Your right about Troop 54 they are crackers all of them.
Mick

 

[Oda]

You have definitely spoke some very hard and unsettling truths about our hobby.All things aside I wish you the best on your new beginnings.May all things turn out as they should for you.

Oda.

 

[misfit151]

Hi Stu...that's a body blow for me as I have a great collection of your busts and 120's.....I have a few stashed away and will. treasure these...sorry to hear the news.....hope never say never....all my best wishes..Mike

 

[ometz]

You gotta do what you gotta do, but I hope Stormtroopers rebounds. I can only say that the figures/busts I purchased over the past few years are outstanding (only financial considerations have prevented my buying more).

 

[DEL]

Hi Stu. About an hour before your post Davie Mitchell and I were talking about troop54 and how good the range is, Davie has of course painted a few and had great success with them in competition.
Part of our discussion was whether, given all things, it would be logical for you to concentrate on developing troop54.
For many of us the hatchet will be an end to a significant part of our modelling life but things move onwards and upwards.
Coincidentally I've spent most of the morning reworking yours and Carls Dacian bust.
Best Wishes
Derek

 

[Richard Baxter]

A courageous but sound business decision. Your plan sounds realistic and you will continue to enjoy my support for Troop 54 figures.

Keep up the good work and fight on!

R.

 

[grasshopper]

The root issue may well be less the recasters et al, but at some point those in the cottage industry simply burn out and get worn down by the inevitable naysayers. It’s hard to sustain passion day in day out when that passion is usually about creating, and less the day to day slog of day jobs, processing orders, dealing with complaints..etc. I admire the commitment of any small bus8ness owner. When I was working and my computer died, I needed to travel..whatever..there were people for that..the small business person does it all..
Hats off

 

[stu]

Thank you all. It means alot.

Stormtroopers is very much my passion. A huge driving force and troop54 is a part of it.

Its time for a clean sweep a sort out and a few changes. Evolve or die. This is that point.

Recasting is a huge factor. It scares the shit out of me that i will loose other kits to it. At the last count i think i had 12 kits...not too many but more tjan enough. I spent 3 months sorting out ebay and drove myself mad fighting a bunch of idiots . I won by pointing out the failings of their own incompetence .

Things will hopefully be turned around by euro but the range will be alot smaller.

Many thanks

Stuart

 

[Barrie Harris]

Hi Stuart ,
Sorry to read what is happening with " Stormtrooper' s", Busts. I have a small collection of them .
Always great to paint , glad' v a few put away awaiting to be painted .
You' v always been a great help to me , for extra / mislaid parts .
Nothing was to much trouble for you . ( Other makes take note ).
Wish you well and good luck, with your new shop .
Cheers ,
Barrie(Newbee)

 

[fmargem]

Sad news...
I was checking the 1/9th Roman Legionaire yesterday on your site!
I´ll buy it soon.

 

[Tommi]

WOW!!! Thats a bit of a blow but you got to do the right thing that you feel best for you and move on and try other ideas. Just glad I have most of your range sat on my shelf

Tommi

 

[Babelfish]

Whatever the name Stu your stuff (Stormtroopers, Grenadier, Troop54, Black Sheep ...) has always been a byword for quality, and as long as you manage to keep the faith the hobby will be the better for it.

I haven't bought from you in a while but I have no doubt that I will do so again in the future, and I'm pleased to have a healthy stash of your 120s, busts, plus a couple of T54s for good measure. Keep up the good work!!

- Steve

 

[Huw63]

Hi Stu,

I was saddened to read this as both the Stormtrooper products and customer service have always been outstanding. The same high standards are being adhered to in Troop54 which is fantastic news for the customers. Thank you for the past and for your honesty in the present, a refreshing change in this day and age.

I now wish I'd got that Vendel Saxon and wish I could get a 43rd Officer to join those of the the 52nd, 60th, and 95th!

Best wishes

Huw

 

[MCPWilk]

The figures are superb, but Troop 75 might have been easier on those of us whose eyesight isn't what it was!!

Good Luck.

Mike

 

[MrBMB]

As a figure painter I can also tell you that there are so many more figures /options/companies coming out all the time. Sometimes................a lot of the time I am not able to buy all the figures I want, so then a wish list starts. Then the stash grows and u slow down buying until you see something you just have to have. More companies mean less demand or viewer sales. I don't mean this is a bad/rude way, just saying as a person that has been around for awhile there is so much to choose from its not funny. The other boring ones are age, cash flow, storage issues and how to hide all this stuff when your partner walks in the room.

 

[polyphemus]

I'm sorry to read this but in light of the reasons given I think it is inevitable. 54mm figures are just too small for me so I welcome the suggestion that there may be occasional further larger scale releases. Not that I don't have a stash of Stormtrooper/Grenadier/Milimen 120mm figures & busts already.
I'd like to take the opportunity to thank Stuart for all the wonderful product & service over the years and wish you all the best for the future. This hobby needs suppliers like you.

Geoff

 

[Nap]

Stu

Been watching this thread and all I can say is I feel you have made the right decision , albeit I can only imagine how hard it must have been .

Time to concentrate on Troop 54 ...as said some great kits and sure more will come .

What's the plans on the current busts on site , maybe the moulds could be sold if useable

ALL of us RESPECT your decision and wish you every success with T54

See you at Euro if not before

Nap

 

[megroot]

Sad to hear this about bust's Stu.
Euro will not be the same for me. Never leave without a bust in my shoppingbag.
But when you feel good with this hard decision, so be it.
See you at Euro

Marc