Potential New Company Has Question on Their Plans I had party contact me about his plans for figures. He is Evan Oelrichs. He is looking into creating his own line of figures. Evan hasdecided on World War One germans with stalhelms that appeared from 1916 – 1918. At the moment Evans is talking to a sculptor. This production is at the earliest stages.
Evan is debating on what opposing army to do. He does know if he should US doughboys/marines from Bellau wood,British infantry or French infantry. He would like your input.
The tenative name for this company is Great War Miniatures. We will keep you inform as we get more information.
Thanks so much Stad, there will be a crowdfunding page available soon, I will post the link here when it is up.
Hello Evan,
I always wanted to see the Airfix WWI 1/72 scale figures produced in 1/32 scale. If this is close to what you have in mind, I would buy your figure sets. Please make them traditional 54mm size and not 60mm. Please make the bases flat, as in Airfix or Marx for example – not sculpted piles of rock or debris. If you produce a set of German figures, then you should plan on eventually adding French, British & American figures as well – that is what collectors or war gamers will expect. Figures in actual fighting poses are preferred, static poses only for generals, personalities, character figures, etc. The figures should be soft plastic, in the colors of the actual uniforms the soldiers wore.
There is already a company called Great War Miniatures making 28mm metal figures. Better do some more research.
I am surehe will change the name after this information.
Maybe Western Front Miniatures or First World War Miniatures then.
I would think you should plan the opponent based on your target market. If you are targeting the American buyers obviously American’s would be the best choice and the same principal would apply if you are targeting Brits or French. Brits are probably the safest choice.
Ed say the best option.I was about say same but not need.
Also what scale? .true 54 mm to match AIP or the new more standard used now 1/30 .
Gas mask had been not cover in WW1 production.
Neither winter long coat uniformed.both raintrench coat and winter coat were seen used during least 6 month of war.
American s in long coat could be used as British, Canadians , US and even free Polish too for extenden war in russia agaist Bolsheviks or Siberian campaing 1918/1926 given more use than just 11 month war in which US was involved directly in WW one.
Best
Hi Evan,
This sounds interesting. I would be interested too if they look good. It is one period that has been missing for the most part in 1/32 scale. I think they should make some battlefield accessories to help sell these figures, like barb wire and craters. I think start with the British and then add on the French and Americans. And like TDBarnecut said, action poses should be used. The one thing about WWI was it was mainly a trench war. So you have guys running from one side trying to get to the other sides trench to clear it. So you should have a mix of men firing rifles, one machine gun crew, some running towards and some stopping in crater in “No Mans Land”. If you do the Americans first, one guy has to have the Trench gun. An nice Winchester Model 1897 with a bayonet at the end would be an instant hit.
If it was me starting a company to do World War One. I would have to do battlefield too. I would have a terrain piece, a square 12 inches by 12 inches. Plus some trench pieces. You could design you own battle field. A small skirmish display or create a huge battle. I start with one or two different plates and then add a new one every once in a while. Start with some basic Infantry sets of Germans and British. Then add French and Americans. Maybe later on some other countries. Also artillery pieces. I guess maybe a Playset with character figures would be nice too.
Anyway, good luck Evan. I will help with your crowdfunding if you want with my site too. Take Care, Mike.
Thanks so much mike!
Hi Evan, No problem. There is a German company that does resin models in 1/32 scale. You might want to take a look at there products for some ideas or maybe they could sculpt some designs for you. Right now you can order heads. This would be excellent for the guys that like to customize there figures. I was looking at this last week. Take Care, Mike.
https://www.jonsmith-modellbau.com/category/home/
The Jon Smith resin heads look good. Combine these with some Airfix multi pose kits and you could make some decent 1/32 WWI figures.
That sounds like a good idea.
As Erwin has said, troops in British style kit could (with some variations) pass for several different allied armies; and that would be followed closely by French with their Adrian helmets. I think, except for the most pedantic, the most versatile would be British Tommies/US Doughboys.
Hi Evan and others, why not do the reverse of the ‘dash through no-mans land’? By this I mean start off your production of figures with poses of the wounded and maimed that attempted the crossing but were beaten back. The poses could be represented by those in arm slings/head bandages/tattered and torn clothes walking with a crutch or held up by two comrades or carried on stretchers. These would show the end results of what were normally futile attempts to gain territory. The following sets could then be attackers and ‘on-field’ casualties then troops waiting in trenches to go over the top and finally trench officers planning the attack in trench command posts.
A place to look for inspiration in designing WWI figures could be the metal dimestore soldiers and Elastolin composition figures from the 1930’s. There were some very creative toy soldiers made back then. Just a thought.
If I was doing this I would do the Winter overcoats as Erwin suggested but have plug in heads if possible. As Ex Force, Paragon, and Conte did/does. This gives the buyer more options and makes it easier for the producer to cover different units or earlier uniforms. For the standard British overcoated soldier add a head with a gas mask and helmet, a head wearing the 1914-15 soft hat (0fficer style hat). The Germans with a gas mask head, Pickelhaube helmet head, soft cap head. French soldier with Adrien helmet, 1914-15 Kepi, Mountain troop Beret, gas mask Adrien helmet.
Great idea, this is what I was thinking I think I will do US infantry from Bellau wood first with rifles, trench guns, and a Winchester model 1897 and an officer with a colt 1911, if the first run goes well, the second set will be German infantry y set 2 and probably either British or French troops. The German infantry set may contain a mg08 and or a flammenwerfer flamethrower as well as snipers and troops throwing grenades, the third set would be hand to hand fighting poses showing the brutality of trench warfare, I appreciate all of your input very much and as I stated before the crowdfunding page will be up very soon and I will post the link here.
Please bear in mind that AIP already does an extensive range that has been around for a long time, is still readily available and is very cheap, they pretty much have the WW1 market sown up in US and Europe. I think you would do best to make figures that complemented AIP in style but featured poses and types they haven’t already done. Build your range around what collectors already have, there is no point reinventing the wheel, but remember we only need so many machine gunners and flamethrowers.
Good luck and best wishes with your plans.
Personally AIP is not my style of figure I would like to do figures on par with ex force, cts, conté, tssd etc., they are a fantastic company but I think there will be a market for a higher quality figure, thank you for your input!
i wish armies in plastic figures were better myself i appreciate what they tried to do but the level of detail is no where near conte/tssd i second adrian helmet figures because i never see any decent ww1 french figures i myself am not a huge ww1 guy but could adapt as i have before i feel like what the hobby needs is more civil war/dark age/ww2 sets to go with my already expansive collection of vikings, confederates, German soldiers, and U.S. gi’s i like the idea of expanding to new eras i just tend to stick to my favorite eras the most always could use some post ww2 figures too modern sets are seriously lacking and i’ve always wanted some commies in 1/32 to fight my massive amounts of marx and tim mee gi’s that have no one to fight
And any with long coat and Adrian helmet head could be used as Italian and Romanian easy too .Very good point idea Tom.
The separate head was initially intended by AIP but not conceived in the WW1 sets .it could be done to do the gas mask set or not.
Well thought.
Best
Sorry I miss the Belgians too..
Since the Germans, French, and Russians contributed by far the most manpower to WWI, as well as being the earliest participants, I would think that would be the most logical order of introducing WWI armies. Then add the British, and finally the Americans.
But since the planned producer intends to go to crowd-funding right from the get-go, it seems like the actuality of the whole project remains uncertain.
1/32 scale WW1 AEF vs.The Huns .
If the sculpting is on a par w/the Russians(incredible detail) a price per
of $5 ea.would not be tough to deal with.
U.S. with rifle grenadiers,Chauchats,Hotchkiss MGs,’97Winchesters,
37mm Gun team,French Engineers w/flamethrowers.
Both sides with& without gas masks.
Perhaps movable and,extra heads,arms?
Casualty figures?
Looking forward to this endeavour.
Good luck!
Thank you!
$5 per figure would be too much for most of us I believe.
BOBBYGMOORE
What do y’all think of ottoman vs. ANZAC troops at Gallipoli instead not sure which collectors would have more of an interest in?
Well, I think WWI is low on the totem pole of popular themes anyway. If it was my project I would stick to the more main stream aspects of the war. I don’t beleive Anzacs would be too popular here is the US. US Marines are always popular here, once a Marine always a Marine. Anyway, I don’t believe there would be too many buyers of Anzacs and Turks for a good return on your investment. Maybe there is a large untapped market in Australia and New Zealand, but it would be a risk in my opinion.
That is more direct dedicated to UK and Australian collectors only.
The figures could be use x palestine and muddle east campaing as well.
But will lack interest x most US collectors in my opinion.
The need x cavalry will be a plus and require making then as complement..
Best
i don’t need ww1 figures in my life but if their sculpted nicely i will probably buy them the only advice i have is just don’t make them too cartoony tssd pulled it off but after them nobody else has made a decent 60mm figure in that style i would like to see a return to 1/32 instead of the 60mm figures it would be refreshing to see the same level of deetail in a smaller package hopefully we could bring it back to the good old days where you got a bag of figures and they weren’t very expensive that being said though i’m a realist and know we will never get tim mee/marx style bag of green army men back anytime soon i have a niche in this hobby where i ever see a expanding backnig for more eras but not more posses for the eras we already have if you wanted to impress me make some dark age figures and some american civil war i always can have more ww2 germans and ww2 U.S. gi’s
Hi Evan this is not Era of collecting but its always nice to see a new company and figures come into the Toy Soldier market, And there is not alot of WW1 figures out there as far as i know. My advice would be to start off with Germans and British and then introduce French and U.S. troops later. I would do the figures in 1/32 54mm scale and not the bigger figures. Make most of the figures action poses with just a few static poses like Captains/Generals, And finally you could add things like mud craters for men to hide in, And sandbags and barb wire, And maybe even the British first ever tank, Just my thoughts.
It’s seems like ww1 is not a major interest of most collectors, I am going to do some more market research and nail down an era forsure thank you all for your kind words and wisdom!
I don’t think you would go wrong starting off with something safe like WW2 and then branching off into other eras. What is needed in WW2 is more Winter U.S. G.I.’s infantry and weapons teams sets. Also more Winter German infantry and weapons teams. There is a lot of room for Pacific War Marines and Japanese. Some Korean War Pork Chop Hill type G.I.’s and Winter Marines to fight the CTS Chinese and North Koreans would be welcome. I don’t think your WW1 figures are a bad ideal, for later on.
BOBBYGMOORE
Evan, TSSD asked the question of which figures he should produce for his next project, and the resulting responses are still on his website (on the coming attractions page). Lots of people gave their input into their preferences, which may be useful to you.
Evan I honestly dont know how WW1 figures would sell in todays market. My main eras of collecting are Ancient and Medieval, If you did decide to do something different would these eras interest you at all?
They do but I think I will try those after I have some ded under my belt I think WWII or civil war would be a safe bet for a first figure set.
*sets
Tony of Armies In Plastic (AIP) started out with WWI, and mentioned to several people he felt it was a very successful line for him because that era had been so neglected by other producers.
If you throw out a general question on a site like this, asking for opinions on what “everyone” thinks you should produce, you will get a jillion different answers, most of which conflict with each other.
WHATEVER you might ultimately decide, you will get the following excuses from those who choose not to buy your product:
Wrong scale
Wrong color
Wrong uniforms
Wrong weapons
Wrong poses
Wrong plastic
Wrong era
Wrong season of the war
Wrong period of the war
Wrong price
Perhaps you should just pick a subject, scale, and style you yourself are interested in, and then proceed, confident that what you yourself find interesting others will as well.
I have yet to see a single toy soldier manufacturer who made a product I have actually purchased start out by asking my opinion of what I thought he should produce.
Rather, they all just went ahead with what they themselves wanted. Then — lo and behold — it turned out others wanted and were interested in the same thing.
If you can be so easily dissuaded from your original plans by a few collectors saying they aren’t especially interested in your chosen era, then just try announcing a new era. I guarantee you will find an equal number of naysayers for that era, and ultimately, any era you happen to suggest.
And even if they like your era, they won’t like your scale. And even if they like your era AND your scale, they won’t like your price. You will find it just goes on and on — ad infinitum, ad absurdum, ad nauseum.
There is absolutely no way you will ever be able to make everyone happy.
Evan,
I have been a long time visitor to the Stadsstuff site but have never posted until now. I have to piggyback on what Don said. Don’t change your plans because some collectors think another period would be better. Honestly, and this is coming from someone who started off collecting World War II figures and then moved to other eras, World War II and the American Civil War are over represented sectors of the toy soldier production world. I feel exactly the same way about the Alamo. These are amazing periods but they’ve been done time and again (often with new contributions adding little by focusing on the same types of sets that have been already produced i.e. American GIs and Wehrmacht over Canadian or Polish infantry (where are my Volksturm???). World War I/The Great War is an era that desperately needs to be expanded. Tony did excellent work with what he released but even his releases don’t cover the period. Anzacs, Italians, Turks, Austro-Hungarians, early war era troops such as BEF or early French army, and many cavalry, artillery, and machine gun sets have not been produced and probably should be produced. What I suppose I am trying to say is that your initial idea is very strong. Don’t be discouraged because X collector only wants dark ages figures or x collector just collects Alamo and the American West. There are quite a few collectors like my brother and I who dabble in all sorts of periods. The russian production of the last few years proves that even niche sets of ancient or medieval history of Eastern Europe have buyers who would be interested in purchasing them. What I would say is that you may be better served going with shorter production runs to start with and weighing demand from there. I know my brother Charlie and I can definitely be counted in for multiple sets of any Great War figures you might want to produce. WWI French would definitely be awesome but so would any other Great War sets. I can’t wait to see what you come up with
-Alex
It is like a chicken or the egg type arguement for collecting WW1 plastic figures in 1/32. Very few Makers ventured into plastic WW1. Those that did (AIP, Reamsa) the sculpting was underwhelming. What else to collect if you don’t have a choice? Plastic Toy soldiers sky rocketed in popularity in the 50’s so naturally all the Toy companies did Toy soldiers based on WW2 which was fought a decade earlier and just about every boys Dad or Uncle was involved. WW1 was doomed to the backlist of priority for Toy manufacturing. How many good WW1 movies were made in the 50’s and 60’s? The Blue Max? Now that WW2 has been done extensively in Plastic it is now time for WW1. Just like TSSD took a chance with Vietnam and I think did well.
Evan if WW1 is your passion and preferred era for your first foray into toy soldiers give it a go and see what happens. Don is right about collectors having there own preferences and that is not going to change, I certainly have mine and most others probably do to and there have been many discussions and arguments about it over the years. Perhaps do your WW1 figures first and then after if your not sure ask and see what most people would like to see next. Just an idea and good luck with whatever you decide to do.
Evan,
My brother and I are very excited about the prospect of your new production of Great War figures. Thank you for asking collectors for their input.
What caught my attention the most was your idea of Gallipoli figures including ANZACs and “Johnny Turks” . Love it! This is a very important part of the war that has been so far neglected in 1/32 scale plastic.
We’ve seen WWI “doughboys” and even stalhelm WWI Germans from AIP and Emhar, which are great, but its been done. I’m not discouraging those sets either, I just wanted to let you know that we also strongly support some of the more obscure troops in the Great War. Machine gun teams, artillery and early war soldiers representing the BEF, France, Germany and Austria-Hungary would be an epic first!
Either way, good luck to you and don’t get discouraged by a few nay-sayers!
Thank you all!
Hi Evan: look to CTS figures, they get the scale right (around 58mm and compatible with all) I feel that true 1/32nd/54mm just look too small against AIP and others now.
John i like your reasoning, Yes 58mm would be a brilliant scale for all figures which as you say would fit with just about every figure, I wish everyone would do that then i wouldn’t have to moan anymore.
I like that idea too.
Agreed
I would really like to see parties of trench raiders for both sides, armed with maces, knives, shovels, pistols and grenades in hand-to-hand poses. Don’t give the figures neat, tidy uniforms. Make them look like they really have been living in the mud and filth of the trenches for months. Have some in helmets, some in caps. Give some of your British those goatskin tunics. You could make some sets with faceless hordes in standard uniforms and poses to pad out the battlefield, but please do some nice character figures as well. WW1 trench warfare lends itself very well to 1:1 skirmish gaming.
I think WWI would attract buyers. Make your figures compatible with AIP because those are the figures that most plastic collectors, gamers, and dioramists would have. I second the suggestions to make these figures fit gaps in the current AIP line – gas masks, trench coats, machine gun teams, etc. Its probably wise to start off with the Germans, British, French, and Americans – but once you get going you can do Anzacs, Ottomans, and other sets that offer new opportunities for plastic WWI soldiers. All the best as you move forward!
I don’t have too many AIP figures and none in the WWI theme. Last night before I went to sleep I saw this on ebay, a custom WWI playset. These is what I envisioned when Evan gave his idea for starting his company. Even these painted AIP figures gave me the feeling of buying this set. Now, If a company was to produce some quality figures that captured action of battle like the displayed set, I would buy it. Those men charging through “No Mans Land” desperately trying to destroy the opposing side before they are destroyed will make an amazing display.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/playset-toy-soldiers-54mm-ww1-German-French-trench-accessories-2002-used-oop/263706055572?hash=item3d661b1394:g:SKIAAOSwr-Ra9DL7
Evan, if you can produce some figures that are detailed and have some action filled poses you will get collectors to buy your products. Yesterday WWI was the farthest thing that I was thinking about, but today I am. Good Luck.
Sculpting begins tomorrow I will keep you all informed and send prototype pictures when I receive them.
In Stahlheims they could also be Austr0-Hungarian troops, so they could oppose Russians or Italians. I’m fine with British or Americans, but hope there would be one or two poses on either side with a different kind of uniform – like a trench coat, or a forage cap instead of a helmet.
Regarding the World War figures maker Don Ducote from HTF I believe is the name of the company that has done a new set of French in trench coat or actually the typical French uniform called with helmets he’s also working on the German to which will be redesigning of previews he did earliest .. They looks great. So far he has made about 60 figures and it’s working making more.
The figure all the style as half swappet figures they have very nice design he had also made a nice French light tank as well in plastic and resin and , you should check his website link
Best
Is this in 1/32? Who is the maker?
Yes. 1/32.he makes swapped figures in plastic since 1990s and and only US true maker home made figures.
His name is Don Ducote.
Company. Heritage Toy FIgures.
Best.
Here is link. I think.he had not bn update french photos yet.
As he post them in his FB group ..
http://heritagetoyfigures.leadhoster.com/
Thanks for the link, Erwin.
As usual, Don Ducotte of Heritage Toy Figures makes the most beautiful swoppet figures around.
And he does what several of us have been talking about above: He produces an original, creative product for an era which is not yet saturated by other manufacturers, and thereby CREATES his own market.
I think Tony of Armies In Plastic (AIP) did the same thing: He recognized that nobody collected WWI plastic because their wasn’t anything for anyone to collect. He single- handedly created a market for that era with a very extensive line of affordable WWI Infantry, followed by WWI lancer cavalry & Russian mounted Cossacks. Formtec added some beautiful WWI trench systems, and Steve Weston added excellent productions of WWI British & German tanks. All of a sudden, lots of collectors were adding WWI to their list of eras, including me.
Similarly, I didn’t collect the Vietnam War era because, again, there wasn’t too much out there. Nick of TSSD and John Stengel Jr. decided the time was right, and each made beautiful offerings (in Nick’s case, a complete boxed playset). Then MARS and Plastic Platoon make significant offerings. And now, its an era it’s worthwhile to collect, with plenty of stuff available.
And when a manufacturer brings out a beautiful, original, creative product, only infrequently do you hear the words, “Sorry, it’s not the era I collect.” Rather, much more frequently, the words you hear are “Now I’m starting to collect that era”.
I could go on and on: When Conte offered his three Zulu War playsets, he created a whole new market in this country for that era. When Ken Ciak of LOD created his near-comprehensive Trojan War line (figures, chariots, battlements, ships) all of a sudden there was an whole new Ancient era many collectors immediately adopted. The same could be said of Ron Barzso with his French & Indian War/American Revolution sets. And CTS with their outstanding Korean War sets.
None of these successful toy soldier entrepenuers sat around moaning “I don’t know if collectors are interested in that era.” Instead they swung into action and produced some truly great figures, and collectors flocked to them.
I appreciate Don Ducotte reminding us of all this with his great new WWI swoppets.
another thought i think the problem isn’t your time period but how many poses you do if you do ww1 just stick with it i hate seeing incomplete ideas it seems in this hobby allot of new comers start out with 1 or 2 sets and then can’t continue don’t bounce around from topics either i would like to see a full range of ww1 i decided a long time ago if i ever was to do go and make a set the next set would be in the same topic i love how conte is one of the only producers who give you 30 gi’s from ww2 cause mixing brands never looks right imo its easier for me as a collector to buy more of your projects if you are consistent that being said don’t listen to what other people want but do what you want and stick with it
Also some austro Hungarians and Ottoman Empire. Traditional 1/32 please.
WWI is an era that I longed for when I got back into collecting. I got about every AIP WWI set that was produced and eagerly looked forward to more. I can foresee jumping on this new venture if the era is WWI and the price is in line (for example, not at the low end of metal toy soldiers pricing). I would agree that forces for both sides would be necessary to make a go of it, so Jerries and Tommies would be a good start from my perspective. If they were late war, it would allow for current AIP sets to mix in, as well as leave the door open for producing other late war figures. Just my two cents. Best wishes for much success on the new venture.