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Post by waynew on Apr 12, 2020 2:11:34 GMT
The less work involved in getting a figure ready to use the better as far as I'm concerned. I've had my vote and would prefer choice of heads to hats any day. I had a bunch of fun with the 1/32 scale Prussians (not) and hope the hats have stayed glued to their bodies, even though I enjoyed the flexibility in choosing my proportion of troop types. It's a trade off. But at 1/72 scale the smaller the pieces the fiddlier. I think that (and size) might be a major factor my case of 1/72 scale Prussians remain in the box unpainted as they seem to get pushed back in the queue as other sets come forward less fiddly. I expect they'll be pushed forward as now I have Austrians to go with them. As soon as I finish the projects that have been on hold.
One day...
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Post by Chris Dodson on Apr 12, 2020 7:32:37 GMT
The figures look beautiful and it is good that Hat do a little market research.
However, production, marketing and sales are what count in business.
Your major competitor is turning out new sets at pace and I fear that you will begin to loose your market.
I personally would like your ACW troops, a masterclass in moulding, to fill the ranks for Antietam.
However, if they are not available, I can not buy them.
Chris
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Post by Neilad on Apr 14, 2020 16:05:54 GMT
So I didn't vote on this but visit the forum regularly and can't see what the fuss is about. For those that have said they wouldn't buy if both heads were off and suggesting that at least one head on. Are you saying if the wrong heads were on you also wouldn't buy? Sounds a bit over the top to me and if done right would not be a big task. We're talking about attaching a head, not arms, legs, torso, weapon. Take a look at the Perry plastic figures or games workshop for that matter. They come with different parts to offer the consumer more options and I would applaud that where warranted. We're not talking to that extent and if so I could see the aargument against it. The Caesar WWII sets would be a good example of going to the extreme and the sales results there, speak for themselves that the market doesn't want to have to put figures together. We're only talking about a head here though. It's not the first time this has been done, as we have separate arms on many a cavalry or command set, and would much prefer the head than just the hat/helmet as suggested with the SYW figures. The head configuration is completely different so wouldn't work as a head piece replacement in this case. I found the attachment of heads on the Nap British command figures much better than that of the SYW Prussians and would say from a practical perspective makes better sense to be the whole head. Even if the figures had a 50/50 mix of the two type of head on and the other off, you'd still have to carefully cut the heads off half the figures if you wanted all in one type. Wouldn't it just be easier if all the heads were off to begin with? I see this all the time on the forum about I wouldn't buy if it was like this, and I call BS. Maybe you buy one less set than you might of, but there will be others that will buy an additional set because of the extra flexibility, so the sales would even out. I think, provided it's engineered right, the better the flexibility of head the more likely the sale. Obviously not losing figure poses would be desirable also, so one may have to weigh up that if complete separate heads means less bodies then It might be better to opt for a set with a 50/50 mix of head type on and similarly off to not lose on figure count, and at least everyone gets half the figures with the desired head already attached.
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Boom Boom out go the Lights
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Post by Boom Boom out go the Lights on Apr 15, 2020 19:18:32 GMT
I'm ok with having all heads separate _IF_ the heads come with long necks that fit tightly into a hole between the shoulders. That way, only glue is needed (probably simple white glue will do) but no metal pin.
If a manufacturer succeeds in producing said thight fit, it greatly enhances the product value since not only can the customer choose between heads but also position them in a natural way slightly turned to the side if so inclined.
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Post by Bid Kahuna on May 8, 2020 4:56:40 GMT
I also wonder how a set of figures without heads is going to be received by the general market, some folks just don't want to assemble small fiddly parts. I suspect there will be less genuine resistance to the separate heads than there is mock outrage as an excuse for HaT bashing but still, the separate heads might have an effect on sales. I think the key here as to the effect on the general market is the question of whether the body will be molded with a socket for the neck peg or whether the buyer will have to invest in a pin vise or drill to assemble the figures if they do not already have one.
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Post by Ironsides on May 8, 2020 5:51:53 GMT
I think the problem of seperate heads lies more with the tooling, a peg attached to the head with a socket is clearly the best solution, but is it possible in this scale bearing in mind that the tool is going to be a lot more complex in its design with multiple moving pins at right angles to the movement of the 2 part mould...
No I think scrap the pins and supply the figures in a true gluable plastic, preferably gluable with regular or liguid plastic cement (the easiest) that way you can leave one set of heads on which can be cut off and another alternative head glued in its place...
That said the current plastic glues very well with CA Gell, no pins, no drills, no complex tooling....
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Post by Graeme on May 9, 2020 2:35:20 GMT
I think the problem of seperate heads lies more with the tooling, a peg attached to the head with a socket is clearly the best solution, but is it possible in this scale bearing in mind that the tool is going to be a lot more complex in its design with multiple moving pins at right angles to the movement of the 2 part mould...
No I think scrap the pins and supply the figures in a true gluable plastic, preferably gluable with regular or liguid plastic cement (the easiest) that way you can leave one set of heads on which can be cut off and another alternative head glued in its place...
I did think a socket in the figure might be too much to expect. Actually I had no idea how such a thing might be done until I read Your explanation; and yes, it sounds too complicated. But I think any spare heads (either one or both) need to have pins attached to the neck; I have a pin vice drill and I don't have a problem with drilling holes in the figure for the neck pin. If anyone just wants to glue the head on or if anyone wants to use dressmaking pins or heated metal pins then the plastic pins can easily be cut off.
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Boom boom out go the lights
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Post by Boom boom out go the lights on May 10, 2020 15:01:19 GMT
Maybe I was unable to explain this well.
HäT have done it before: e. g. 8256 WW1 British infantry has extra heads on long necks, perfect for headswaps.
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Post by Ironsides on May 10, 2020 17:12:23 GMT
Yes but your post does imply holes moulded in the necks:
"that fit tightly into a hole between the shoulders"
and:
"If a manufacturer succeeds in producing said tight fit"
I cant say I know of a single manufacturer who has managed to do this for a few figures let alone in bulk for a full sprue, though there is the single exception the MG from Hät Set 8148...... this is a wonder in itself....
The problem I see here is if holes in the necks are not realistically possible then there's no point in having a headless corpse... that you have to drill to fit the heads.
So the realistic option is full figures with a set of alternative heads with pegs for those who want to spend a lot of time drilling with a pin vice.
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Post by minuteman on May 10, 2020 20:18:25 GMT
So the realistic option is full figures with a set of alternative heads with pegs for those who want to spend a lot of time drilling with a pin vice.
Earlier this year I replaced the tiny heads on 2+ boxes of Revell Napoleonic British infantry (about 100 figures) with the better-sized heads with Belgic shakos from the HaT Peninsular War set. The old Revell figures look a lot better for it, and now constitute 3 large battalions of British Foot Guards in 1815 (1:30 figure ratio to actual). It took me about a minute to complete each head swap (30 minutes for a battalion), and the process was greatly aided by the HaT heads having moulded pins already. With the right sized drill bit an exact and secure fit is possible.
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Post by stevo0113 on May 10, 2020 20:52:30 GMT
I would accept any changes that makes hat able get the the set out quick as possible we seem to be going round in circles getting nowhere.
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Post by Brian on May 11, 2020 0:27:03 GMT
I would accept any changes that makes hat able get the the set out quick as possible we seem to be going round in circles getting nowhere. I am in agreement it's nice to be consulted and being able to give our input but that process has now exhausted it's self, it's now time to use all the information gathered and make a decision on how to go forward. If it means heads both off is going to cause more problems than it solves then it maybe more practical to leave one set of heads on, hopefully all is well in China and it's in a position to start manufacturing plastic goods again and Hat will have plans ready when this time comes.
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Post by Mstdpum on Jun 28, 2020 11:23:39 GMT
Both heads off please
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Post by AKO, on Aug 27, 2020 21:27:39 GMT
Both off, and in my hands - Any day NOW!
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