What if ???

[stormtrooper miniatures]

Something I have been asking myself recently and the result of a thread on here in news. The Coldstream Guards 54mm diorama where only 20 odd kits were produced, seamed daft to a lot of people the number released but to be honest I fully understood the manufacturers position.

What if your favourite company went under or released something and then it sold out. All those kits gone,,,maybe not forever but not the same somehow.

I buy less kits than I used to, I guess we all do. There's a lot about these days !!! and its generally all good !!!

My favourite period is WW2 German particularly Stalingrad, Kharkov, Normandy 44 and to be honest I know me stuff as a lot of my friends do. I love books on the subject too. I recently noted a book I should have bought for say £70 when it came out about Stalingrad,,,, Its now £500plus. I know of a kit that's coming out ,,, its mine already !!! but I could put it off

Are there kits and books you want now ,,, on the list !!! Question,,,,What if they not there tomorrow !!!

What would you pay ????

How naffed off would you be , I know how I felt at the price of that book ( Island of fire by Jason D marks,,, Amazon price £619.09,,its gone up !!!)

Naturally there is always something to replace it ,,,,but, What if !!!

Its made me think about what I want to get and put in the loft,,,hidden from the boss of course, but there for when I want it or sell it of course.

What if

Just a thought

Stuart

 

[kagemusha]

My personal regret is not buying a copy of 'HUSH' (the bust)....and the series of dwarves Prickett sculpted ........
Along with a lot of the pieces from the 'Sculpting' section that are one offs...or never to be commercial releases

 

[Bailey]

Yeah, the one off sculpts can be heartbreaking. You know you'll never have a chance at those. Even if a kit is limited production, there's at least a chance you'll find a copy one day.

There are a number of companies that come out with limited production pieces. Terrible Kids Stuff and M Proyec are two that I've got stuff from. The runs aren't as small as 20 though. But there's certainly a difference between a kit that is intended to be a limited run and one where the company closes and all of a sudden there aren't any more.

With so many great kits out there and more coming all the time, I can't think of anything that I would be willing to purchase at a huge mark up. But, there are some where I'd be willing to pay 10%, 20%, maybe even 50% over retail if that was the only way I could get them.

 

[Colin_Fraser]

There are no kits that I feel that way about. If I miss something I can always make my own.

But I collect historical autographs and manuscripts. I still rage over those special deals that got away. The worst was an 18 page Nuremburg debrief dictated and signed by General Heusinger re. the July 20 attack on Hitler. I could have got it on eBay for a decent price if I had grown a pair. The week after, I saw it on another auction site for ten times the winning eBay bid.

Not the same as figures but analogous. We all have our obsessions and missed opportinties. In my case they are generally one of a kind items and one often only has minutes to decide whether or not to "go all in." I still have a long way to go in learning to keep my misses in proportion.

 

[mick3272]

Yeah, the one off sculpts can be heartbreaking. You know you'll never have a chance at those. Even if a kit is limited production, there's at least a chance you'll find a copy one day.

There are a number of companies that come out with limited production pieces. Terrible Kids Stuff and M Proyec are two that I've got stuff from. The runs aren't as small as 20 though. But there's certainly a difference between a kit that is intended to be a limited run and one where the company closes and all of a sudden there aren't any more.

With so many great kits out there and more coming all the time, I can't think of anything that I would be willing to purchase at a huge mark up. But, there are some where I'd be willing to pay 10%, 20%, maybe even 50% over retail if that was the only way I could get them.

I agree Bailey. I dont think punters would pay to much over the top for a limited edition. So would the manufacturer earn a living on limited editions?
The money would be made further down the line when /if it becomes a sought after piece , when its sold on by collectors to collectors. But that dont put bread on your table Stu.

Keep them quality, keep them reasonably priced, and keep them coming .
Mick

 

[Martin64]

As long as limited runs are a commercial necessity it`s fine with me. If it`s about lifting the price level to make the buyers pay above a resonable value it turns me off (for example Richard the Lionheart by Pegaso). Anyway in both cases it is highly unlikely that I will be among the anxious buyers hoping to get their copy before it´s all over.
Being short of time for hobby issues it`s the flawless anatomy that does not need to be corrected or aspects that make me put an otherwise interesting model back in it`s box to work on it`s problems "when I got the time" that make or break the decision to buy or not beside the theme.
So what would I pay? I guess what it´s worth in my eyes and what my wallet allows...and if it`s no longer there tomorrow maybe so am I

 

[megroot]

As long as limited runs are a commercial necessity it`s fine with me. If it`s about lifting the price level to make the buyers pay above a resonable value it turns me off (for example Richard the Lionheart by Pegaso). Anyway in both cases it is highly unlikely that I will be among the anxious buyers hoping to get their copy before it´s all over.
So what would I pay? I guess what it´s worth in my eyes and what my wallet allows...and if it`s no longer there tomorrow maybe so am I

That is exactly what my thoughts are.

Marc

 

[Ferris]

Well, in my view the quest for certain items is part of the fun. To find certain things after many years, and for a decent price as well, for me is one the hobby's pleasures. Funnily, these items often lose their high value after finding them and adding them to the stash! I recall there is some saying about the journey being more important than arriving that I think applies.

Cheers,
Adrian

 

[Babelfish]

Having missed out on a few "must-have" kits in the past due to them going OOP and/or the company making them going "OOB", these days if something really grabs me I just buy it because in today's climate you never know just how long it will be around for. I never buy any model with anything but the best intentions of painting it, but from time to time I'll review the stash and decide that my interest in this kit or that has waned so I'll offload it - usually for a few quid less than what it cost me, but sometimes I'll get back what I paid for it or even make a bit of a profit, so over time it evens itself out more or less.

Kits-wise I'm fortunate enough to be able to afford pretty much anything I might want to buy (within reason) and I always look forward to my annual "blow-out" at Euromilitaire. But having said that, I like and appreciate a bargain as much as the next bloke and I refuse to pay daft "collector" prices (i.e. multiple times mark-up) for anything. There is nothing I'm that desperate to have.

As others have pointed out there are great releases coming out all the time, so if I were to miss something I wouldn't loose too much sleep over it because there'll always be something else. As Stu pointed out in his other thread yesterday, it's a jungle out there for manufacturers, but as painters we've never had it so good, with so much quality available to us from so many sources and with new companies springing up seemingly all the time.

- Steve

 

[custer760]

Great thread Stu,Yes there are quite a lot of figure Kits out there that I wished I had bought at the time and just as many which I bought,then resold and now wish that I still had it (thinking about Ceremonial Studios Conan the Barbarian with a girl at his feet) Had the kit a couple of times,was persuaded by friends to sell it to them and now....Cant find one.
Anyway,next time you buy a figgie and have all those Dreams about how you want to paint it or Display it,write it down!! And then, before you consider selling.....Read your Dreams again and decide then!
Regards
Pete

 

[stormtrooper miniatures]

Many thanks for taking the time to join in , its been something I have wondered for a while now.

I have recently in conversation come up with this,,,,

Todays new must have kit is yesterdays old news !!!! Whats next !!!

I like your idea pete !!!!

Stuart

 

[peedee]

I just don't understand one part of the the market place.

It seems I am in a minority but it is that of someone elses perceived value of an 'old' kit.

One of your current kits Stu, has a fair market value and correct RRP today based on quality, and sometimes availability eg your black list of casts as a mould was nearing end life.

But I and We are supposed to pay a similar price for 20-30 year old kits of previous generation quality because some else sets their value on it's worth because of oop or rarity.

This annoys the holy beejesus out of me because a new hope design, Airfix or whatever figure is always of the same lower quality from back then.

If you disbeleive me, try insuring them for these values.

This is why many stay unsold on fleabay in my opinion.

Ask me a stupid price for something second hand at a show, you will take it home again unsold.

In the case of the current trends Stu, please don't compromise on your quality standards, anything else you do and why, should be respected here by a knowledgable community.

Limited editions don't make me buy anything quicker than I would normally, something else really good will be on here next week anyway.

All the best.

Paul.

 

[prhayes68]

I constantly see new releases that the impulse buyer in me wants to grab immediately (your Capt Nolan bust is a prime example Stu). However, reality then kicks in as I have a limited budget for hobby expenses and can't justify buying every new release I want (it would land me in divorce court ). Sometimes the figure is gone before I ever get a chance to buy it but, if I'm realistic, will I ever actually paint everything I currently have in the grey army. With work, family and other commitments I squeeze in figure painting when I can and by that score I already have plenty to keep me occupied for years. I picture my kids going through all this stuff one day when I'm gone wondering why Dad started a stockpile of resin and white metal. So, if I'm philosophical, I can say I'm spoilt for choice and there will always be something for me to paint.

Pete

 

[Viking Bob]

I constantly see new releases that the impulse buyer in me wants to grab immediately (your Capt Nolan bust is a prime example Stu). However, reality then kicks in as I have a limited budget for hobby expenses and can't justify buying every new release I want (it would land me in divorce court ). Sometimes the figure is gone before I ever get a chance to buy it but, if I'm realistic, will I ever actually paint everything I currently have in the grey army. With work, family and other commitments I squeeze in figure painting when I can and by that score I already have plenty to keep me occupied for years. I picture my kids going through all this stuff one day when I'm gone wondering why Dad started a stockpile of resin and white metal. So, if I'm philosophical, I can say I'm spoilt for choice and there will always be something for me to paint.

Pete

I agree, I am in the same boat, I collect and will paint my GA too but I will paint mainly British Napoleonic, Crimean war. If I miss a figure, I am not too concerned, yes I am pissed but that's life.
With so many figures being brought out by so many company's, we are spoilt for choice. Not only that but I have to sneak them past the wife.

 

[Eludia]

I am an unashamed impulse buyer and generally if I see a nice figure I'll buy it if I have the cash available, the tag "limited edition" means nothing and doesn't influence my decision much at all (except as an excuse maybe to Mrs Campbell as to why I should have that particular figure right now). If I miss out then that's life, I probably wouldn't have got around to painting it anyway and there's always a chance that it'll pop up again some time.

You experienced this yourself Stu when I saw that paratrooper under the archway that you had on your table at S&L. It was a very nice piece and immediately I decided I wanted it, and would have probably paid any price you asked, within reason. I have never painted anything at that scale or from that period before but, simply put, I just thought it was a really nice, high quality, model and that's the deciding factor for me. Scale, period, genre, rarity or current crazes are all side issues. There are a lot of very nice, boutique quality models on the market at the minute, we're spoilt for choice really so if I miss a particular piece it doesn't really bother me too much. There is always something just as good, or better available round the corner that will probably be just as enjoyable to paint.

P.s. I still want that model though so if you come across one on a dusty shelf out back.....

 

[stormtrooper miniatures]

Many thanks for taking the time to comment .

As a manufacturer I am constantly wondering if to remould a product or not. I also always used to make 2 or 3 moulds of everything. I know make 1 mould !! and I am still asking myself ,,,do I remould this kit.

Stuart

 

[mick3272]

Only you can answer that one mate.

All I would say it MAY be worth while making two moulds
and re release some of your figures / busts at a later date,
as we have new people taking up the hobby all the time.
I know from my own experience that there are a load of
figs out there that I wish I could get that went out of production
whilst I was on my hobby sabbatical .
Mick

 

[Eludia]

I would think that if the first run sold well then there's a good chance you'd be able to shift a second, or even a third run. If it was a bit of duffer on first release then I think I'd be a bit more cautious.

However, if it was initially released as a limited run then I think that any collectors who bought into the original release would be a bit miffed if their Limited Edition 1/50 suddenly wasn't so rare any more. If you're more of a painter rather than a collector then I don't think it matters as much and you'd be happy just to see a nice piece rereleased.

As for me, I'd love to see some more V12 busts

 

[Viking Bob]

I will second what Billy says