Next up will be the Austrian infantry sets, the marching and action guys. I know some of you guys will be disappointed that were not getting into cavalry and artillery right away but we have all these masters which we have finished already and need to be put into queue. The cavalry sets need to be researched and worked on to make sure they're workable in the way we want them to be.
And there're also ancients. The only ancient masters we have right now are Byzantines, and unfortunately they're not a popular subject.
There's also a limit to how many sets we can put out a year. If we do 4 sets a release and 4 releases a year, that's 16 sets. How many sets can collectors absorb, that's another question. Is it a matter of "make it and we'll buy it" or "I can only buy a few sets each time"? We can make 'em, the problem is if we can sell them.
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19 comments:
Well,
Let those Infantry men come!
The masters of the Austrian masters looked great so I'm happy whit this news,
Keep up the good work!
Hatblogger,
If you can produce 16 sets a year ,then you would be the leader in 1/32 plastic figure market in no time.
AIP have been the only plastic company to produce a reasonable amount of sets in a year but then they count the different colours as different sets. I think the most they have brought out in one year is 12 sets.
Your current designs are more authentic and detailed than them and offered to the mass market. The other companies TSSD, Weston Toy Co, Cunningham Collectibles and Paragon scenics are really to be
considered 'Collectable' figures with limited availability.
If you can do 4 sets in a release then this would be an ideal situation to start new periods as one release could give the basic troops for both sides of a conflict.
An example would be one of my personal favourite periods, not available in 1/32, is the Franco-Prussian War - (you have these coming in 1/72 soon)
Prussian Infantry
Prussian Infantry Command
French Line Infantry
French Line Infantry command
4 sets, one release, both basic troop types for the conflict. Some extra heads in the sets would give more options.
An additional advantage to this period is that the horse furniture for many of the Cavalry units were almost identical to the ones used in the Napoleonic era, so using the same horses would mean that Cavalry could be offered more cheaply. This is just a quick thought, I can go into more detail if there is an interest.
Many of the sets you produce in 1/72 for WW1 and the Victorian Era would sell very well in 1/32 scale. Maybe you could consider this as a way to go with your 1/32 range.
'Make them and we will buy them' would work if you were offering the variety of periods as you would gain customers that currently don't buy your stuff. Plus the HaT fans would buy them. So I think you could do quite well.
I think everyone on here could pick out 4 sets to make in a single release.
Dave M
Yes Austrians then Spanish Then 7yr war Please,then
Cavarly.
For me it is you make em I'll buy.
I think you can safely corner the 7yr war and Nap market.
I have to say I still like the Byzantines , though 4th on the list.
Are these still in front of the Austrians = Prussian Landwehr command ,Russian command and Barvarian Command? I think Prussian 7yr war action command might also be they are finished after all . so what sort of order would the adove list likely be?
Usually when I have finally decided to do conversions to fill a void, someone comes out with the figures. :-) Your Numidian cavalry was the last time you did it to me.
I think you are stuck with continuing in a particular period or moving around in history a bit. I'm not doing Nappy's (yet) so I await the Byzantines and Greek Hoplites. I'll get these as soon as you producet them.
Bill
@Anth - Yup, the Landwehr and Russian commands are in front, they have to, to complete the Landwehr and Russian infantry. All the ones you see with test shots are already finished, just waiting for the release queue. Think of them as parachutists waiting to jump out of a plane.
@Bill, you are correct, we really should finish a period before going on to something else.
The last two years Hat has stated an intention to do four releases a quarter, presumably of four sets. Because of various production circumstances this did not happen but collectors did not voice any objections and seemed to look forward impatiently to the new releases. A release slate of sixteen would be welcome. If I have been keeping track correctly the 1/32 pipeline at is starting to fill up nicely.
2011
1. 9314 Bavarian Infantry Command (mold ready)
2. 9400 7YW Prussian Command (mold ready)
3. 9401 7YW Prussian Infantry Marching (mold ready)
4. 9402 7YW Prussian Infantry Action (mold ready)
5. 9323 Prussian Landwehr Marching (mold ready)
6. 9324 Prussian Landwehr Action (mold ready)
7. 9325 Prussian Landwehr Command (sculpting complete)
8. 9322 Russian Infantry Command (sculpting complete)
9. Napoleonic Austrian Infantry Command (sculpting masters?)
10. Napoleonic Austrian Infantry Marching (sculpting masters?)
11. Napoleonic Austrian Infantry Action (sculpting masters?)
12. Napoleonic Spanish Infantry Command (sculpting masters?)
13. Napoleonic Spanish Infantry Marching? (sculpting masters?)
14. Napoleonic Spanish Infantry Action? (sculpting masters?)
15. French Long Coat Marching Infantry (sculpting masters)
16. French Long Coat Marching Infantry Command (sculpting masters)
2012
1. French Bardin Marching Infantry (sculpting masters)
2. French Bardin Marching Infantry Command (sculpting masters)
3. 7YW Austrian Infantry Command (not started)
4. 7YW Austrian Infantry Marching (rough sculpt)
5. 7YW Austrian Infantry Action (not started)
6. Napoleonic Cavalry Set No, 1 (not started)
7. Napoleonic Cavalry Set No, 2 (not started)
8. New Punic War sets?
9. New ancient range?
10. Napoleonic Artillery Set No. 1 (not started)
11. 7YW Prussian Artillery (crew rough sculpts)
12. 7YW Prussian Dragoons (rider rough sculpts)
13. 7YW Prussian Hussars (rider rough sculpts)
14. 7YW Prussian Cuirassiers (rider rough sculpts)
@Rahway, one can dream!
I like that list Rahway!
No I'd move the 7yr war stuff forward
Yes bring on the Austrians!
Rob C,
You make them, I will buy them. Simples!
(Sorry, that is a UK TV reference, so apologies to the US and further afield)
But seriously, I am happy to spend on the sets I want (and even some I did not realise I wanted). Of course, I am not really that sure that my normal purchase will keep HaT going. For example, most decent 1/72 Naps sets I buy 8 to 10 boxes. Which is a lot for me, but HaT probably make only £1 per box, assuming normal mark ups for distributor and shop. So although I talk big, I am not totally convinced what difference this makes.
Another example. I have just spent £300 on 54mm stuff (HaT and Italeri). But again, I reckon HaT only get 1/4 of that (and half was Italeri, so probably less than £40. So a major monthly spend for me pays for a takeway and a beer for HaT.
Or, in more detail. I pay around £9 for a box of HaT. I make up units of 32 figures a-piece, so two boxes per unit. For my Lasalle game, I need 6 units of Prussians to start with, so that will be 12 boxes of Prussian infantry, plus a couple of command sets. A supporting brigade has four units (I think), so my next purchase/painting will be 8 boxes and a command (using up the surplus from original sets). French will be similar. So a game that involves 12+ units of infantry (and cavalry/guns), that will only be playable in the garden (a unit is four bases, and each base is likely to be 12cm by 8cm (5x3 inches?), and musket range is 4 base widths, artillery is between 12 and 18 base widths), will only require probably 24 boxes give or take, and then additional brigades.
So I am trying, but not sure it helps too much. Sorry.
@Marc, that is why a lot of companies sell direct.
Keep them coming in rhythm of 16 per year!
HB - that is fine with me - anytime you decide to sell direct I will send you my money direct.
Byzantines have the problem there is no nation nowadays they can be linked to. The same for our view on history. They still are important as they have fought more against the Turcs and Saracens than the crusaders.
How about the hoplites?
RBH Jr said...
VERY Happy to hear that the Austrians have finally moved to the head of the line! Thank you! Thank you!
It is good to see that the fine looking masters for the Austrian infantry are going into production. Having interchangeale heads for shakos and grendier caps would be an added bonus if this is feasible. How would you fit that on to the sprew with back packs etc? Following this with Austrian cavalry and artillery later in the year if it is possible would fill a major gap in the market currently. Russian cavalry and artillery would also be good to think about for longer term plans
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