The past few months I have been talking about the new plastic figures from Russia. The problem has been I have had to use photos of the figures to give you any information . That problem got resolved this week when I got a set of the Pvblivs Romans and two sets of Russian Revolution. I got these figures through a European friend who I contacted back in March before some of the European Shows as I knew possible Russian collectors might show up with them at these shows. He was able to get me these figures so I can help you on your buying decision.
The Pvblivs Romans consists of a set of four figures: centurion, standard bearer, auxillary bowman and Roman soldier with javelin and shield. The figures are available in red and green. The figures are a nice soft plastic and have no flashing. The poses are well done and the detail is nice and sharp. The figures are 2 1/2 inches from top of the figure to base. The figures themselves are 2 3/8 inches tall. I have done comprasion of the TSSD Romans and Marx 54mm figures. for you to decide to if you want to add to your collection.
TSSD Romans with Two of the Pvblivs Romans
Marx 54mm Figures with the Pvblivs Romans
I hope these pictures will help you in your decision. The four Pvblivs figures will not be cheap. Right now you are talking at least $9.00 for the four figures plus postage from Russia. I have no idea if anyone in the states is planning on carrying them. If you are into anicents I would seriously suggest you look into these figures.
From the photos, it looks like these are highly compatible with the new TSSD Romans. And if anybody (Hobby Bunker seems like a likely suspect) actually starts carrying them here, I plan on acquiring a few. I can’t believe someone would make such nice figures and then not bother to release them in the U.S. market, which presumably is still the biggest single toy soldier market. These are exactly the unusual type of figures we used to see on the old Stad’s List.
Or, maybe Steve Weston Toy Soldiers of U.K. might carry them, since he’s already in Europe, but has U.S. outlets, and always shows up at OTSN.
Don
I will answer both of your comments here. The problem why no one in the states does not have are several reasons. First they may not be aware of them. I forgot to take a sample of the Russian figures with me to MFCA to show. Second the cost of the sets may set them back. When I talked to Steve Weston on the figures he was concern on the cost. Third people have had bad dealing in Russia before and are not thrill dealing with Russian. Related to that there may be a problem for the company to produce quanities need to do a large wholesale to foreign country. Some of Russian companies are not set up for credit cards or paypal to take payments.
That said, I am sure these figures coming into the states in the next six months despite all the obstacles I already mention. The figures are nice and a nice addition to a store’s mix. As I mention before I have a friend who is trying to get them as soon as he has them, I will let everyone know.
Finally Don, yes this is something I would have had for the Stad’s List. The situation is today I would pass on them as the markup after all my expenses would be too low. It is something I discovered after I closed the business and took the human job. I realized my mark up on new items was only 20% after expense where with old items I was looking at 100% or more on old items. When you added in the competition carrying the same item, it was not a good investment. My friend Les found out the same thing when he carried remaindered books in his used book business. He saw the mark up not there and discount carrying them.