When "white metal" is the head of everything …
In the first part of this material, it was discussed that since there are certain hobbies, and therefore people who are fond of these hobbies, then there may well be those who make money on these hobbies.
Before us is a package of a figurine made of "white metal" by David Kass ("Ice Trail" company), depicting a major in the Danish Marine Corps in Indonesia. Why he started with her - I don't know. Probably decided to start getting rich on rarities.
Of course, there are many ways to make money on bread and butter, but everyone talks about what he knows.
Later, Ice Trail released this figure of a British machine gunner of the First World War with a Lewis machine gun on his shoulder at a scale of 1:12. Very realistic and beautiful.
As already noted, there are game and collectible figurines. However, games are also collecting. The only difference is the degree of convention. In collectibles, they strive for naturalness, down to dirt on pants and shadows on the face, while play ones, in the "traditional" style, on the contrary, are painted with bright nitro-dyes and shine. There are amazing scales and just amazing series. For example, figurines of "soldiers" on a scale of 1: 6, that is, very large. And they dress in fabric clothes! The level of detail is very high. Each such figurine is just a work of art and they are very expensive.
Soldier of the Red Army on a scale of 1: 6.
At one time, when the release of such figures was just beginning, and I was still publishing the magazine "Tankomaster", I wrote that such figures can even be made acting. For example, a musketeer with a musket on a forked stand could fire a shot due to the simplest electric ignition system, a Petrovsky bombardier could fire a grenade from his rifle mortar, and a pistol cuirassier (or pirate Teich) could shoot from a pistol! Thinking, it would be possible to make even an archer or a crossbowman take shots, and such "acting" figures would become your unique selling proposition.
Danish sergeant 1601 Typical soldier of the period 1570-1648. Scale 1: 6.
But it is easier, however, to produce more traditional figurines, all in the same "traditional" style, which is still very popular. Their height is 54 mm and they are usually painted with glittering paints.
For example, such as these, depicting soldiers of the Civil War in the United States.
There are varying degrees of conventionality even in the "traditional" style. These are owned by the British firm "King and Country". But who prevents the release of a whole collection of our domestic figurines of the 1812 era in the same style? There were only 12 hussar regiments then. Moreover, the uniforms of all of them, except for one, differed only in colors, but not in details. So you can release the soldiers of 11 regiments in the same injection molds! The same goes for the infantry. With the exception of the Pavlovsk grenadier regiment, the uniforms of all infantrymen were the same (well, it is clear that the rangers were different from the grenadiers) and differed only in color trim.
And this is a completely peaceful set … "Old Hong Kong".
By the way, this set is a great hint. Why, in fact, all your soldiers have to fight? Why not make a set "Russian peasants of the 19th century", in which to show different regional types of Russian peasants - men, women, children? Mowers and reapers, sowers and fanciers, shepherds, milkmaid … Merchants and clerks, innkeepers and "sex", loaders and artisans, student girls and policemen, and even … a demonstration of the "Black Hundred" and revolutionary-minded workers. Heroes of the novels of Dostoevsky, whom the West loves to read in order to learn the "mysterious Russian soul." A short text for the figures. Series - "Russia the Great: session 19th to 20th". Nobody releases such figures. They would again become a unique selling proposition, namely, it provides the product with good sales. Here you just need to remember the words of my favorite movie hero - the Chief Commerce counselor of the Snow Queen from the Soviet film of the same name: “You need to get rich on rarities. Ice is rare in the summer - and I sell ice. Flowers are rare in winter …”.
French musketeers of the 17th century Samples of pos.
Today, thanks to the Internet, it is not at all difficult to find photographs, drawings and detailing for soldiers of various eras. So in order for your "lineup" to be extensive, you should take a few of the most popular topics. For example, the Penza company PTS in the 90s produced figurines of 17th century soldiers. Who was that? Warriors of the Penza fortress! Archers, Cossacks, swan hunters, gunners and collars, as well as the archer's head - that is, all those who were mentioned in the "Construction Book" of the Penza fortress at the time of its foundation and then in 1675. Do you remember what time it was, especially 1998? Not up to the soldiers, right? And … in Penza, we have not sold a single one for free sale. They were sold straight to the West and … to officials who went abroad, as gifts and souvenirs. Sold to foreigners who came to our city. Figures of Russian equestrian soldiers of the 13th century on a scale of 1:72 went very well. And they had an interesting twist. Usually, such figures are somewhat arbitrary due to the presence of a shield - it interferes with casting what is behind it. And the spears are short, because long ones cannot be cast out of "white metal" - they break or come out disproportionately thick.
Sergeants with halberds and protazans 17th century. Samples of pos.
What have you come up with? Cast the arm with the shield, throwing it to the side, and then bending it at the elbow. Vixint is a material for making a casting mold, such a trick was allowed and the figures immediately gained liveliness. Well, the spears were made of great length separately from the polystyrene sprues from the models, stretching them over the candle flame. There was a hole in the fist of the right hand, into which the already painted spear was inserted, and the figure itself was painted and the spear did not interfere with the painting process. They put two female students from the local art school to paint them - and it was good for them, and for us!
Very beautiful figurine, isn't it? "Black Prince" in person. Very high quality painting of armor and clothing. But … a gross mistake in the figure itself. He was supposed to be wearing a bascinet helmet, and here we see a tournament helmet for spear fighting. Knights who fought on foot did not wear such!
Of course, it is not worth undertaking such work from the "bay-flounder". You need to think over everything and prepare. Study foreign magazines, look at catalogs, determine labor costs and solve many more other issues. For example, come up with good, strong, beautiful and cheap packaging.
I received such an English magazine in the fall of 1991. I looked over it and thought: “And why did our Soviet government hurt us so much? Why can they have all this there in their "decaying West", but we cannot? Where is it, declared from the high rostrum, social justice?"
And this is the cover of the Russian magazine "M-Hobby" with the image of our "Penza" T-60 tank and a figure of a tankman in a sheepskin coat. Then the T-60 was produced not yet by Zvezda, but by some other company. Well, we made a new turret for it, tracks made of "white metal", an exhaust pipe and other "small things", as well as a figure of a tanker. The model was appreciated both in Russia and abroad. So you can always find your niche in the market.
By the way, contrary to the common but stupid judgment, the judgment of the ignorant, advertising “there” does not cost that much. Often it is there … it costs nothing at all, you just need to know how, where and how to give it. But this information costs money here. That is, even a novice manufacturer of figurines of soldiers has the opportunity to declare themselves in the USA, England, and Japan for free, but then, further, developing your business, you can do paid advertising there.
And again, you need to know what exactly is published “there” and refer to it, since printed materials abroad are treated with respect. Here again, to the choice of the topic … What do we have soon? October 2017. One hundred years from the date of an important event in the history of our entire civilization! “City of the Sun” Tommaso Companella tried to translate into reality and in a sense it succeeded. But … all events are also directly related to the figures. Take, for example, the polystyrene sets of Dragon figures from Hong Kong. There are four figures in them, united by a common theme. You can do the same for us. After all, "ahead" we have a Civil War! "White and Red", "Kappel" and Chapayevites, "colored regiments" of the White Guard, Dutov's Cossacks and Budyonny's Cossacks, Trotsky's "Chinese" and interventionists on the territory of Russia. Well, and, of course, Makhnovists, Grigorievites, Chapanniks, Greens … Batka Makhno's tachanka with an inscription in Russian on the decals - on the front, “Fuck you leave!”. Behind - "Fuck you catch up!" The beauty!!!
Here are ready-made samples for figurines on a scale of 1:35 on the theme of the Civil War in Russia: a white general, a Kornilovite - "who is painted like a poster, then a Kornilov soldier!" Rice. I. Zeynalov.
We take old issues of the Zeikhgauz magazine or the book of the British publishing house Osprey “Civil War in Russia” (white, red and interventionists) and make on them the “KOMUCH army”, the national “armies” of Khiva and Bukhara, “Comrade Sukhov” with a Lewis machine gun, Chapaeva on horseback in a burka, going into a psychic attack of the Kornilovites … Sales are assured, because "an egg is dear for Easter", and "Easter" here it is, very soon!
British Army Guards Grenadiers.
However, the sustainable sale of their products can be organized in a slightly different way. For example, to release figurines of soldiers of the British army using these postcards. Thousands of tourists come to the Royal Arsenal in Leeds and the British military museums every year. I would like to buy something as a keepsake, and the children ask. And here you are, and even made in Russia. With love and very high quality.
Coldstream Guard
You can produce sets of two figures. One in full dress, the other in "service". Different years, different regiments, but best of all painted in the traditional style. Agree with some castle, or rather, a castle shop in England, where this regiment was stationed and all … you to them, they to you!
Royal Horse Guards.
Even such a "trifle" as the name of your company, and that will make a difference. For example, we had a company "Provinces of Russia" and its name was not only meaningful, it also emphasized the provincial level of production with its … high quality. Made me think. "Oh yes, the Russian province!" They do it no worse than ours! Moreover, foreigners who are accustomed to Tamiya boxes really liked our black-and-white photo packaging! Unusual!
Royal Military Police.
It is clear that, having embarked on this path, you will have to remember one important rule: the first year you feed your business, the second year you and the business feed each other, and only in the third year does the business start feeding you. But patience, work, skill and a certain amount of luck overcome everything in the world!
