We are getting hints from various makers of what they may be doing this year. TSSD is hinting Alamo. They already have done the Alamo buildings. Hobby Bunker is thinking about doing new figures or accessories to go with their figures and accessories from the Marx molds. They are not sure if they should do them in 54mm or 60mm. As we get more details we will let you know.
Update: Hobby Bunker has put up some more information today on this project. They have some projects they are working on they trying to make make cost effective and make sure it is worthwhile for the investment.
I have also heard that TSSD may have some Alamo figures in the works, Paragon has also hinted about in the Alamo in the future along with many other era’s, what will be next who can say, I mean after the horse handlers. The Alamo is one of my two main points of interest, the other being Custer’s Last Stand. More Alamo figures means more conversion possibilities, oh boy!!!!!
ED B
Yes that is what I am figuring TSSD will be doing. We will see if Paragon keeps their plan of doing Alamo.
I hope they both come through and stay away from the buckskin boys and the NOG’s. We certainly have enough fo them already. We also have enough shooters, we need hand to hand fighting guys from both sides and of course my favorite, dead guys. Dead guts are the hardest to convert from living actio posed guys at least in my opinion.
Well, one toy soldier manufacturer at least isn’t doing any “hinting” at all. At OTSN Ron Barzos stated forthrightly that next year’s release would be Battle of Yorktown. He even had the prototypes of approximately 12 new Revolutionary War poses for the upcoming set on display in his room.
As for Hobby Bunker, I expect to see Bill Murphy and his son at the Michigan Toy Soldier Show next month, where I will express my preference for 60mm size over 54mm.
As for TSSD, I like all their figures, but don’t we have enough Alamo at this point? Ron Barzso has commented that he himself will never do Alamo, because he believes it has been more than adequately covered by a host of manufacturers. Of course, Davy Crockett frontiersmen can be used in a variety of settings, and I’m sure I will like whatever TSSD decides to offer. But having mastered the art of the horse so well, I was hoping to see Nick expand his Roman/Barbarian infantry range into Roman and Gaulic cavalry, which was actually something he had “hinted” at one time as well.
And as for fellow collector Ed Borris, I expect to see you at Indianapolis Toy Soldier Show in March. I’m getting ready to make my reservations at the Marriott soon, possibly today.
The answer is no, we never have enough Alamo figures. I would say that we have enough Civil War and WW2 figures, but I’m sure people that have interests in that area would dispute that. I’m sure there is some obscure regiment where they only wore one sideburn or wore patent leather shoes that hasn’t been covered.
If the world still exists after 12/21/2012, I plan on going to Indy. I usually do okay at Indy, Texas is out, I have trouble making a dime there and it costs too much to get there, although I do enjoy it there, I just can’t afford it.
Don
I agree Roman and Barbarian cavalry would be great. Hobby bunker would be better to do figures in 60mm to complement the modern makers, but because of the marx molds they have they may stay in 54mm. See what you find out. MY first shows of the new year are Putty Hill and New Jersey depending on the weather.
And unfortunately, cost is why I have never made it to the Marx Convention in West Virginia or the East Coast Show in New Jersey. I did make it to San Antonio a few years back, to see the Alamo, but it wasn’t in conjunction with the show, which hadn’t yet begun. As to Alamo figures, I thought Conte did the definitive figure line, both for Texian defenders and Mexicans, but especially for Mexicans. After buying all 7 of his Alamo playsets, coupled with the later TSSD Alamo compound villages, I feel all tapped out on the Alamo. What I really want is more French Foreign Legion, but I don’t see anything new on the horizon in that department. I do hear that Conte is planning to re-release his Beau Geste fort, but that the accompanying FFL figures will be in metal. Of course, according to Conte’s telephone sales staff, that release was supposed to occur last February. Obviously, it didn’t, and like so many of Conte’s projections, who knows what we’ll ever see.
I hated Conte’s Mexicans, they were all like 7 feet tall with tiny heads with too many marching and firing poses, so I sold them all. Most of the defenders were too fat bodied for my liking, but I kept some of them. At least 1/2 of the defenders were really guys that were supposed to be in other plastic sets ( Zulu, Rogers Rangers, The War with Mexico, Civil War, and the Patriot) and again way too may NOGS and guys in buckskins. I have counted Conte out of the plastic picture entirely, it’s been what at least 5 years since he did anything in plastic and I don’t think he ever will a gain . I’m still trying to unload buidlings from a couple of Conte’s sets, I too bought 1 thru 7, but have since sold off most of it. So, if you discount the Conte sets which I have I need more Alamo guys.
I’m not sure of the moulds Hobby Bunker owns of Marx but certain sets did lack proper enemies. The 54mm Robin Hood didn’t have proper or well sculpted 13th Cent. Men-At-Arms as enemies. Marx had late 15th Century Knights fighting Vikings that looked more like Rome’s enemies. No Apache’s and no Plains Indians with Rifles.
Tom
Hobby Bunker has put up some more information today on this project. They have some projects they are working on they trying to make make cost effective and make sure it is worthwhile for the investment.
Marx Indians looked like Indians from many tribes at least the 60mm Indians, I always thought the 60mm Indian with the knife resembled an Apache. Marx only had two Indians firing a rifle, one 60mm that looked like he came from some eastern trible and the 45mm mounted apparently firing over the horses head could have been a plains Indian, there were three other 60mm Indians holding a rifle and at least one, the one running with winchester over his head looked like a plains Indian.
My only Alamo set had 45mm Fort Dearborn figures who were wrong for Fort Dearborn anyway, they had revolvers and 54mm Mexicans, even as a young child I wondered why one of my Alamo defenders had an arrow stuck in him. As a side note I work near the corner of Wacker and Michigan Aves in Chicago and they have little bronze placques stuck in the sidewalk where Fort Dearborn used to stand, the actual battle was fought over a mile away from the actual fort.
Anyone hear anything else about the Eastwood, and Wayne figures ? Possibly when they might be done, or are they going to be a limited release, or something else ?
I would like to see someone do more Indians, mainly with stone tomahawks, and clubs, in nice hand to hand poses, maybe more with bows and arrows as well. I prefer them over the ones that are done with rifles. I also prefer foot over mounted figures, because they are much more versatile, and cheaper to buy, and take up much less space.
I would like to see some decent Knights, and vikings, maybe a really nice Camelot set. Especially a nice castle that isn’t way overpriced, I have waited for years for someone to do that period and line justice.
Conte was going to do a castle set, but it never happened, oh well to bad. I did buy a lot of his Warlord stuff, and the tower was cool, but I thought it was way overpriced, I bought it anyway, to help support his endeavors. He was going to do the castle that was in the viking movie which would have been really neat, I guess it became cost prohibitive for him, its too bad he didn’t link up with Play Along, or some other company like them, and have them do it for him. It would have been much less, and it could have been done right. I can only wonder what might have been.