Hi I fully support Colin's suggestion for Greek Army in WW2. I would also respectfully support the filling of other gaps: Bulgarians, Slovaks, Italian and French Colonial troops, Royal Navy personnel, Vichy militia, Dutch, Norwegians, Danes and Belgians. A couple of sets of these armies will go a long way to enable us toy soldier collectors to finally have an almost complete representation of all the protagonists of WW2. From a business perspective they make a lot of sense as the main protagonists of WW2 have already been extensively covered. These sets covering niche armies will be highly sought after.

Still do not understand why early war British WW2 and Burma (all those Commonwealth troops) have been ignored by the leading companies. BEF WW2 British have so much potential. The other is colonial Vichy French - Levant, North Africa, Indochina.

Dear Asher,

AWI can be a feasible alternative to 7YW due to a more moderate involvement of foreign parties. This subject is still underdeveloped.

Best regards,

Strelets

That is very true. Despite HAT finally getting around to developing a couple of sets after all this time it still really doesn't do the subject matter justice. With so many Americans and Brit collectors in the hobby the AWI could easily use the Strelets WSS treatment and likely sell well.

With that in mind though, I do have a question for you. How do you guys as a company decide which sets to develop and which ones to shelve? Is there any real tangible way to gauge the publics interest when creating a new campaign or is it simply just a risk. Because while five of us on the forum may wish for more WWI coverage, the hobby base as a whole could be completely disinterested. Furthermore, do the workers of Srelets themselves ever push to develop sets based off own personal interests? If I were in your position I don't know if I could help myself!

Thank you for taking the time to read and respond to us recently by the way. It is always very exciting to hear from you.

Dear Asher,

WWII and Napoleonics are bread and butter in this hobby. That's very true what you're saying about opinion on this forum - it may well be not too representative of a general public attitude towards specific subjects.
First of all, for some reason, not all of the visitors are brave enough to write here. You may have noticed, that usually there are only a dozen or two writing their opinion here on the forum, whereas many more just read it. May be you remember a couple of years ago, when had an issue with import of goods in the UK, we asked our readers about their age. We were surprised to read so many responses from people that usually keep silence here. So the hobby community is by far broader than those writing on this forum. It's a pity that they aren't vocal enough in expressing their views presonally but let us assume, that they are those, that are happy with our releases of "bread & butter ranges" or our choices of less popular subjects:slightly_smiling_face:
Secondly, it's a niche business per se. There are not so many of us in general, in our estimate below 10.000 people. Realistically there's no tool to make a credible survey for such a small number of people dispersed all over the world.
Taking all of the above into account, indeed, every off-mainroad subject is a venture into unknown and in this situation any guess or choice can become a success or a failure. So that's where personal preferances, tastes and interests come into equasion. Rest assured, we use this opportunity to the utmost.:slightly_smiling_face: Just imagine a situation when you're getting paid for doing your hobby stuff! We are on heaven already.:wink:

Best regards,

Strelets

Es verdad lo que comentáis. Pero a pesar de todo yo personalmente estoy encantado con cualquier tema, pero me encantaría que se tratara la guerra de Cuba y Filipinas.

Well I am one of those that read the forum and don't usually comment. Because, invariably, I will always be adding a wishlist! But since this is a wishlist thread, I will add to it.

I really feel most of what I want made has been touched on, but there is always something missing.

For example, I like the upcoming Seminole sets, but it will be incomplete without some regular infantry, or Marines and Sailors (they fight as infantry in the Florida swamps).

I have stopped collecting Napoleonics, but I do collect the sets necessary for the War of 1812. I love the Militia and Tecumseh, and I get assemble a really good British Army from sets on the market, but I really need 93rd Highlanders for the Battle of New Orleans. They look different than other Highlander sets. I need them advancing.

https://www.toysoldierco.com/popup_Product.aspx?productid=3978&imageindex=0&unique=58e17a077

Also US artillery and Marines and US Infantry for New Orleans would be useful too. Since they are mostly defending, not many unique poses are necessary. You could even have room to add a ship's cannon with Batavian Pirates and other militia poses too (like Kentuckians with hunting shirts).

I would support AWI, but they are getting pretty well covered, I guess.

And I would definitely support Spanish American War of 1898.

The Mexican War 1846-1848 really only has US Infantry, though some of your Seminole War volunteers will be militia there too. But I guess the Mexicans for Imex Alamo set is supposed to be used against them, but they aren't really accurate for either use. And I would love the San Patricio Battalion that fought at Chapultepec:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/252905335310508955/

https://www.reddit.com/r/BattlePaintings/comments/11jcpof/saint_patricks_battalion_which_fought_for_the/#lightbox

And for that same Mexican War, I need Texas Rangers and DEFINITELY US Dragoons (they carried the day at the battle of Resaca de la Palma, 1846). The Dragoons will also be useful for Indian fights for all the 1840s (like with Comanches).

I love your Civil War US Cavalry set 151. I would love to see a similar set for the Indian Wars of the 1870s and 1880s. The Airfix and Atlantic sets are inaccurate. I liked your US Cavalry mounted set but I'd like a dismounted skirmishing set like the ACW one.

I love your WWII early war US sets. And even well covered wars like WWII need US Artillery, especially US Army and Marine crews with 75mm or 105mm guns.

I think much of my favorite periods have been covered or at least touched on, so I can't complain. And that which hasn't is too small to warrant making sets. I use your British from the Nappy Egypt sets as American Legion at Fallen Timbers (similar helmets). Okay, I have spoken. ;-)

Well Done Strelets Team!

* Seminoles (Will purchase many)
* Volunteers (Will purchase many)

* Tecumseh (Love these - already purchased many)

My wish to go with the above would be for ...

** Pioneers Daniel Boone Style in Terracotta Color plastic wearing Racoon Style Hats including Women and Families to:

01. Garrison a Fort Boonesborough (Siege of Fort Boonesborough)
02. To Wagon Train with Imex Conestoga Wagons and Airfix Wagons
03. To fight in a Wagon Circle against Native American Indians

Thank you for reading and listening to us! GC

Well, as you asked;

I’d like to see more 17th Century conflicts covered.

Thirty Years War
English Civil War
Wars of Eastern Europe
Very niche, but I’d love to see the Sedgemoor campaign of 1685… Royal forces and Rebels.
This could be done as an adjunct to a Wars of the Meague if Augsburg which I’d love to see. Only a few years before the WSS but very different!

Back in my box now, thank you

LEAGUE of Augsburg! Not ‘Meague’!🤦🏻

Hi Asher
You make some good points. When I posted the other day it was the first time in several years that I had. I couldn't even remember what name I posted under.

I am one of those disinterested in anything post 1815, but don't disregard others interests. I may look, but don't touch.

There is lots of scope to expand USA and Canadian sets for the war of 1812, and a host still for untouched Napoleonics, such as Italian and Polish horse Artillery, Austrian Hussars, Danish infantry and Dragoons, both Austrian Landwher and later French National Guard in semi civilian costumes (worn by the majority), Hungarian Insurrectio. Add on to these extra firing line etc for mainstream forces and our Host will be busy for years.

Personally I would like to see Indian sepoys, Mahratta Indians, and Haitian rebels, but not holding my breath for those. Still, I have lots to be going on with in the interim.

It’s definitely could to hear from you Dannym and Arlin. I would also be interested in many of the sets you both mentioned, but I must say I respect Dannym’s discipline to not get involved with anything post 1815. I like to set my limits from 1700-1945. My interests are always shifting depending on a current book I’m reading, movie/documentary I just watched… not long ago I listened to a fantastic series of podcast episodes on the Haitian Revolution and thought what awesome figures could be made of this. Military history is just too fascinating to not want to model it all. But alas, my wallet says otherwise.

Thank you for your insight as well Strelets. Learning about the business aspect of the hobby itself is also very interesting in my opinion. In terms of the “bread and butter” I completely understand. I forced myself to get into Napoleonics a couple years back just because of its popularity in the hobby, and all the new sets you were constantly producing for it. I did not want to be left out! And now these years later I completely understand the Napoleonic addiction. I started collecting WW2 not along ago for the same reason, although I told myself I’d limit my focus to just the Eastern and Balkan fronts to keep my spending in check (and early war pacific). All in all I’m always happy to see the bread and better and I’m always happy to see the random surprises as well.

I am another of the readers but not contributors of this forum, but I love the topic of new areas of expanding the range of figures so I’ll add my two cents. My painting range is ACW to pre WWII and as such would love to see more WWI, especially Balkan armies and provincial versions of the French. Even an Annemese set of WWI troops. But I would really love to see the RIF range added to with Spanish troops from the 1920s and see that expand into the Spanish Civil War. Soooo much room for sets and only some Bum figures or Minairons white metal.

Bob:Annamese (Vietnamese for WW1) just saw a photo - what a great suggestion 👏. I also support suggestion re Spanish troops re RIF war - we only have the Arabs from Strelets. Spanish Civil War is another superb idea. Someone in the thread referred to Haitans Revolt and Danes re Napoleonics. I add Neapolitan troops and set of the Emigres. The Revolutionary wars just before the Napoleonic remain uncovered. Just dreams that may be one day become true.

I’m one of those lurkers who’s been around for years but very rarely contributes. I would just be happy to see units from Waterloo completed like KGL light infantry, Dutch -Belgian Carabiners and Jäger/legere etc

I love and collect all periods and I'm very excited about all the suggestions above. However I feel that one of the most neglected areas of the hobby is the post 1945 era although Orion have recently brought forth a number of great Vietnam era sets. Some of these may not be commercially viable or could be controversial but I hope that one day Strelets produce some sets for :

Korean War (Commonwealth Troops, USMC and Chinese in winter clothing)
Indochina (French Foreign Legion, Paras, Vietminh, heavy weapons)
Middle East Wars Yom Kippur, Iran / Iraq War (Israelis, Egyptians, Syrians, Iranians, Iraqis)
African Wars in Angola, Rhodesia, Biafra, Congo, etc (African revolutionary armies, South Africans, Cubans, Sealous Scouts, Portuguese, Rhodesians, Biafra, Mercenaries, etc)
Falkland Islands (Argentinians, SAS)
Latin America (Contras, Sandinistas)
Afghanistan (1980s Soviets in winter clothing)
WW3 (1980s British, American and Soviets in NBC clothing)

Perhaps a generic set of "African Revolutionaries" like what Caesar did in the past could work. Or a generic set for the 1950s /1960s with older weapons and then a more modern set for the 1980s? Something similar could be done with a generic "Middle Eastern Arab Army" which could serve for Egypt, Syria, or Iraq.

Maybe one day...

Good morning!
My preferences in chronological order
Spanish War of Succession; Bourbon sappers, Bourbon siege artillery, Catalan miquelets

General Persing's expedition
US infantry and cavalry,
Pancho Villa's Mexican irregulars, General Huerta's infantry and artillery

Battle of Adua
Italian infantry

Russian-Japanese War
Japanese infantry in winter uniform
and Russian infantry in winter uniform

World War I,
Turkish infantry at Gallipoli and Turkish assault troops,
British infantry at Gallipoli

Rif War
Spanish infantry
(Annual disaster)

World War II
Australian Chindits at Kokoda
and Gurkas on Italian front
Yugoslav partisans, Philippine Guerrillas

Korean War,
Commonwealth infantry and Chinese infantry in winter uniform

Indochina War
French paratroopers
troops Algerians
and viet minh

African Wars
Katanga, Congo, Rhodesia

Sincerely
Josepmaria Claravalls

As some have recommended the Spanish-American War, I also would like to buy the American figures to use in the:

* 55 Days at Peking
* Boxer Rebellion

One theme can satisfy two Periods of Conflict.

Thank you! - GC