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on several occasions we had enquiries regarding old out-of-production sets that aren't available any more.
In your opinion, should any of them be re-released? If positive, which ones?
Best regards,
I think a re-release of Medieval Britain would be a big winner but otherwise I don't think much of the old stuff would stand up now. Perhaps think about remaking some, such as Caroliginian cavalry and infantry - I know that the Normans can stand in for Caroliginian to some extent but a set with the distinctive Caroliginian helmet on all figs would enable collectors to give that distinctive look to an army or diorama.
Depends on your business model. I suspect re-releasing all sets for a specific period (say Crimean War or such) simultaneously would attract new buyers (say every five years, redo a period - re-releasing the big box sets might give you some idea whether other sets should also be released).
From my perspective, I have "sufficient" of most of your old sets but occasionally am tempted by just one more ....
* CRIMEAN WAR CAVALRY SETS in BLUE COLOUR:
(1) BRITISH LANCERS,
(2) LIGHT DRAGOONS,
(3) HUSSARS,
(4) INTO THE VALLEY OF DEATH (Single Box Set).
(Re-run in the Original FLAT BLUE COLOUR, not the newer shiny used for French Cavalry) Note - The other Heavy Brigade sets are fine as is in Red/Teracotta already Authentic.
* ALL FOOT ROMANS in (1) SILVER COLOUR or (2) TERACOTTA RED COLOUR.
Note: Not everyone paints and I never bought more in Grey Colour after the first boxes I bought for my Atlantic War Ships Contribution. Romans just don't look good in Grey. The Grey Colour really turned me off because the Romans looked So Great in RED and SILVER - My Tastes - Authentic Colours make me spend my money! :-)
To be honest, I would suggest all...there is a huge demand for the sets. Obviously a survey of dealers would give the answer to which of the "deleted" sets sold the best and which they are still keeping in thier storerooms.
I recently spent a lot of time trying to get hold of the Confederates command set 2 for a wargamer...it took me a lot of time and effort to finally track down a set and this was only because I knew the dealer and finally convinced him to release one from his "reserve".
I say reserve, because it appears a lot of the discontinued sets are being withheld to increase the future resale price...unfair to those of us who want to add to thier collections. The very fact that it known that there are sets deleted from the line after a considerably short period (in comparison to other manufacturers)can lead to panic buying among collectors..the same can be seen with the caeser sets...the older discontinued sets are anything up to 1/3rd more expensive than the newer ones.
If I were you...I would release the older sets...this would stop a "holding back to increase dealers profit" mentality and reduce a lot of frustration among collectors.
My personal preference...the medieval britian set...and not as a big box set with the three other sets, just this set on it´s own. I know many many people who use these for wargaming and dios but the big set is ;
1. very hard to find now
2. people are reluctant to spend a lot of money to get hold of the one set.
If the molds are still available...why not?
Thanks for asking
Cheers
paul
1. The Medieval Britain as a standalone set. It would sell tons of copies for sure. I can't remember how many people told me they are desperately looking for it on Ebay.
i would imagine people would like the sets that only come in the big box sets released on their own.if you cant do that then the command sets for acw and napoleonic.
Napoleonic command set 2 British and Austrian. Can get Russian and Prussian still om ebay and French unmounted set. However, the British and Austrian set has not been seen for 6 months on ebay.
quick list:
Medieval Britain - if possible just the new figures from it (and that applies for the all combo kits - why not release just the really new figures from all of them as standalone kits? and you may ask for some bigger price than)
Don Cossacks in summer dress
Roman legion on the march
French cuirassiers in winter dress
Napoleonic allied staff 2
Confederate mounted generals
I would love to see some oldies be re-released, but only if you made them in national colors like you've done with your later sets. I loved you Medieval line, BUT, they were all the same color!Here is my wish list;
001 French Army Camp: blue
004 Vikings vs Franks: metallic blue
005 Army of Joan of Arc: metallic blue
006 Army of Henry V: metallic red
007 Army of William Wallace: metallic green(tartan)
008 Carolingian Cavalry: metallic blue
009 French Foot Dragoons & Polish Grenadiers: blue
010 Russian Dragoons of Peter I
015 Nap Russian Uhlans: green
017 Medieval Russian Horsemen: metallic green
019 Nap Russian Hussars: green
021 Swedish Army of Charles XII: blue
081 Army of Robert the Bruce: metallic green
I go along with the Medieval Britain set's new figures esp the joker and the "Burgher of Calais". One of Strelets' finest figure sets.
The Crimean War Russian General Staff and Hospital (0051) set's new figures released as one set would also provoke me into action. These would go well with the camp set mentioned in the newer posting above.
It would be a shame to re issue an old set if there are still plenty of those in circulation. I am not sure how you find out about that. Check out a garage in Barking? Releasing the new figures part of a big box set is in a way releasing an old set in a new format and a little less speculative. If thousands (of, say, big box Medieval Britain) turn up on e bay at a ckd price nothing lost because the jester, lecher, executioner, cook, surgeon* etc sprues by themselves would still be very attractive and cheaper.