Where are we headed...

9/27/2010

Sorry guys, didn't get around to doing the update last night. Mrs. Point Man and I were up in Amish country for a three day weekend and I just didn't feel like doing much of anything when we got back into town late yesterday afternoon. It was a good trip. I always enjoy hitting the three or four decent Antique places that are up there and I came back with some interesting items; a Vietnam Commendation Medal, ribbon and pin, still in the presentation case, a WWII Vintage field telephone and some other little goodies.

Not going to really do a BLOG UPDATE this morning since I can't upload images from this location, but I do want to continue the discussion from Friday if I haven't already exhausted the subject. I thought it worth mentioning that TRU actually has a cheap figure on the shelf right now. Don't rush down there, you would not be interested in it. It is about on the level of the Power Team and perhaps not even that good. But there are four figures that are retailing for about $10 a piece. The only 1:6th figures on TRU's "Military" aisle. I don't know who is producing them and the quality is pretty foul, but there is at least something on the shelf. Unfortunately it is not enough. The space alloted to these figures was two boxes wide on an entire off brand military aisle. That is not going to cut it and more than likely it will fizzle out. Of course, in 1992, Duke had about the same amount of space and we all know what happened with that. So, does it have a chance of coming back full force or not? I don't know. I do know that the Military aisle at my TRU has grown in the last year, but I don't know if that is significant, or if they just needed some filler till Christmas merchandise came in. We all seem to be in agreement though, it would seem to be a smart play if manufacturers wanted to introduce new people to large scale figures that they would get some sort of introductory line into one large retail store like Wal-mart or Target. I really do not think that Hasbro will be a player in the 1:6th market any more. They seem to simply not be interested in going there. Too bad. I know most of us don't really think a whole lot of their product, but they do serve the purpose of creating new business.

Well, that's all for today, until next time, have a good one!

11 Comments

Panzercommander (HOH)

9/27/2010 01:31:56 am

I'd like to see people enter the hobby at the Dragon level personally - but that isn't always possible (and not something that I did either). I guess it is good to know that there is something out there though Point Man - thanks for the recon report!

I stumbled upon this post on the Sixth Division the other day about the TUS Panzer Commander being just being released at TRU:

<a href="http://onesixthnet.yuku.com/topic/8991" target="_blank">21st Panzer Commander Out</a>

What's interesting is that given the time frame - no one had easy access to a digital camera yet and that this figure was a viable option for many collectors at the time based on where the hobby was at in 2002.

Man it took me back though...

Enjoy!

Panzercommander (HOH)

9/27/2010 01:33:14 am

Ok - I guess my attempt to do an HTML code failed epically. Here's the link - just copy and paste...

http://onesixthnet.yuku.com/topic/8991

Point Man

9/27/2010 03:32:16 am

When I think back to where we were in the first part of the decade, I guess I feel sort of nostalgic, if that is the right word. I really liked being able to walk into a TRU or a Wal-mart and be able to buy a vehicle that I had seen in someone's pics online. I liked being able to go to the hobby store and spend 30 to 40 minutes picking out a figure(s) to buy from their selection of Dragon, 21st and BBI figures. For me, those were great days for the hobby. I think there are still some good days for the hobby when Dragon can be successful with a $300 SAS Jeep and others are selling figures for $150-$200. I mean...somebody is buying the stuff. It isn't me, but as long as folks continue to buy and give manufacturers the return they are looking for, the hobby will survive in some way, shape or form. I just can't afford to pay those kind of prices. I can't do it and not expect to be murdered in my sleep by my wife. It's just too much. I am really sort of amazed that she let me get a Medicom Batman last year, but the expectation was that it was sort of a one time treat. I would love to pick up some of this modern special forces, private contractor type stuff that is being put out now, but I can't pay those prices.

What I am not sure about is where we passed that point where vinyl pouches and elastic straps weren't good enough. It has to be museum specs anymore or we aren't satisfied. In the process we have become reluctant to haul it out to the sandbox and take pictures anymore. Wow! it's too bad really, we have sort of lost that simple childhood-like fun we used to have in the hobby and have become scale modelers. Mind you, I am not complaining about where the detail has come to, I love it as much as everyone else. I just think I have lost that balance that use to let me haul everything out to the backyard and then lay on my belly for hours with digital camera in hand. Now, I have to take the photos in my dirt free "Studio".

As far as where I would like to see the hobby go, I would like to see one of the manufacturer's put some $20 to $30 priced figures in Target or TRU. Probably modern figures with a modest selection of accessories. I think $10 cheapos are probably not going to get anyone excited, but a decent starter level figure for around $30 would probably bring a new round of folks into the hobby. The timing is good because there is nothing available at that level. Something similar to what BBI did a while back, but maybe just a little bit better. I always thought that 21st's original idea of doing a basic figure and then producing uniform sets was the way to go. They just could never really keep their distribution up to the demand. For something like that to work, you have to do it at Barbie levels. That would be hard to do unless you were going to have an exclusive retail chain. I would not make it Wal-mart though, that is just a little too short-lived.

Panzercommander (HOH)

9/27/2010 03:56:44 am

I agree completely Point Man! I wish I had had a hobby shop around in those days that carried some of the BBi and DML figures - if it wasn't 21st C I had to purchase it second hand through people on the boards or beg my Dad to let me phone in an order to War-Toys with his credit card...

I personally think that most of the current Dragon figures should be sold at about $30.00 based on what they have (or don't have) with them in the box. Many older Dragon sets, however, were really well stocked and those should obviously command higher prices. I wish something like that would happen - I miss going to the store to buy a figure - something I got to re-experience on the Italian figure hunt when I hit a bunch of Tuesday Morning stores.

Hopefully they'll be slightly better than what BBi released into the stores - those weren't quite up to par with their normal releases!

As much as I have spent on my figures within the past year or so - there isn't ONE figure that I wouldn't take outside for a photo shoot - including my Japanese 2nd Lieutenant - who is entirely kitted out in Battlegear Toys, Newline Miniatures, and DiD items. It's a shame so few people do them anymore though - that's what got me into the hobby!

Hope a few more people weigh in on this discussion!

okimbored

9/27/2010 08:32:46 am

Not much more I can really add to whats already been said. I never saw a TUS figure outside of TRU, same with BBI, I totally missed SOTW at walmart though I do remember seeing a few of them. I think IF there is a low dollar savior for the hobby it's Power Team, if they would just produce figures a little more often then just Christmas time, and make a few figures in other genres besides modern, even if they would give the U.S. the U.K. releases just for someting new I'd be happy.

Like I've said in the past, what we really need is for a collector to hit the lottery for about $300 million, I really believe even I could sucessfully produce figures with enough financial backing. Think of Power Team quality in American Revolution, western, ACW, WWI, WWII, Nam, you get the idea. something like a dozen or so boxed figures and everyting else carded.

As for taking it out to play, I'd love to but it's still September and we're in the low 60's daytime, low 30's nights. I'm just to damn old for that lol

Panzercommander (HOH)

9/27/2010 11:31:49 am

I'm hoping to be that person OK - though instead of the lottery it's going to be the right bet at the Derby next year (or in the next few years...)

Seriously - that'd be a dream come true - the money - and to produce some damn good stuff in 1:6th scale!

Point Man

9/27/2010 09:03:37 pm

I remember when the SOTW stuff was really out there, it was Target in my AO. I thought the Revolutionary War stuff was some of the most interesting stuff they did. Then later on, they actually had some pretty good weapon sets and gear. Their uniforms were never much, but there were some pretty nice accessories. Target was really the place with the early 21st stuff, the Nam and modern cards, but later on it sort of dried up around me and TRU was the only place to go. I had three of them that I could hit in an hour. We also had this place called Planet Toys that sold Sideshow and I bought a lot of Civil War stuff from them. Ahhhhh... the good old days (I mean when I had money).

Hammer Six

9/28/2010 12:01:17 am

There isn't much I can add to the above as I think you all have nailed it.

The days of me buying 2-3 figs a month for a total of $100 is long gone. I have only bought like 3-4 figures this year all in the 70-80 dollar range.

If I had the dough I would open a hobby store that handled nothing but one six and may be smaller scale military figures ( similar to the sizes we saw at the Detriot show). I really belive there is a market locally for military figures.................just look at our local Hobby shops that carry the Allied/Axis board games and the scale model(not in kit form)Armor/Arty/ Infantry figure sets being made to suppliment the game.

With the level of patriotism in this country today there is no reason that a BBi,Powerteam couldn't make a decent modern GI at the 20-30 range and get Target/TRU to carry them for the younger set.

Panzercommander (HOH)

9/28/2010 12:12:36 am

Oh yeah... I forgot that some places used to carry Sideshow items in stores! Man - those were the days!

I remember one time I passed on a TUS Pacific weapons set I saw at Target and immediately regretted it because I knew now I had to find it online somewhere (this was in my pre-credit card days - so it was a particular challenge!)

Man I felt like an idiot doing that.

Another time I had negotiated a trade for something awesome (that I don't remember now...) from a guy in Canada off of GL's. He wanted an MIB WWII 101st AB Screaming Eagle Value Pack set - you know - the 101st AB Para with all the gear, the .30 cal, and the Bazooka – but couldn’t get one in Canada so I agreed to pick one up in trade. I had one shot to pick one up at TRU when my parents were going that way and I get there and low and behold - I can't find one! So I scour the isle up and down and I FINALLY find one in the hidden reserve stock (you know - a place for reserve stock that is hidden behind an advertising display - these were behind something that lifted up on the shelves - disguised (poorly) with either 21st C adverts or those from GI Joe...) Man - I was sweating it though - it was my only shot to pick one of those sets up for this trade and I desperately wanted to do the trade.

Needless to say - I was one happy camper when I found the LAST ONE!

I bet Gunshy made a sweep up to Centerville and bought them all... that's why I had such a hard time finding ONE!

Point Man

9/28/2010 03:21:52 am

Man, I had forgotten about those panels that TRU kept stuff behind. I don't remember who first told me about them - probably Scott, but there were several times when I lifted those things up in various TRU stores and found the item that I was looking for. I don't know if it was really for reserve stock, or if that was just stuff that employees were hiding for themselves. I hope it is the latter, because it would serve them right when they opened it up and found their prize gone. Man, I'm mean!

Dr.Zorkon link

9/28/2010 06:47:26 am

GOOD TIMES GOOD TIMES. How I miss the days of going to 4 or 5 stores,in about 5 miles from the house. One thing I can only say about the high price of figures today is that it seems to be raising the price of the older figures or keep them from sliding in price. I'm glad I have a boat load of 21st/sotw/power team and sideshow figures.Just mite have cash in on them .

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