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Post by rbhjr on Feb 24, 2020 21:42:47 GMT
A general status update from Hat on their 2020 set priorities and a general idea on timing would be fantastic.
Cheers
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Post by Tripod on Feb 24, 2020 22:14:23 GMT
The ex parrot was probably hit by the magic 8 ball,then mauled by Mrs Jones cat and finally buried by Mrs Jones herself. Or maybe I've been watching too long!
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Post by Beenherebefore on Feb 24, 2020 22:16:38 GMT
Maybe the parrot was surprised (and abducted) by the Spanish Inquisition. Because no one expects .............
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Post by paintdog on Feb 26, 2020 7:52:55 GMT
A plastic figure forum can include posts on wargaming, painting, terrain making, rules etc.
However, people overwhelmingly go to such a forum for the figures & if there isn't much happening, they won't come & starting such ancillary discussions are still born.
If the other forum you mention stopped its fairly impressive output, it would die too.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2020 13:25:18 GMT
We are all greedy little beggars who'd like more and more of our favourite era(s) and scale(s). As soon as something is posted there are the inevitable posts of, "...while you are at it can I have x, y, z and w and q would be great too"!
There are only so many ways that Forum Admin can say "I do not have any updates". That said, it seems to me, if one looks back at recent posts, that he/she has been reasonably forthcoming. We know that:
- ACW marching are in the next release, which was hoped to be Jan 2020 (my 'local' supplier had been told perhaps February). Obviously there has been a bit of a hold-up (there's a bit going on around the world at the moment, you may have noticed?).
- The British dragoons are in final stages of sizing--I feel for the crowd funders. I vowed not to be involved after the experience of the first lot (added to which I do not like the funding model),
- In 1/32, from thread '7 Years War Austrians', "Grenadiers and musketeers completed. Waiting for command set." and "7YW Austrian Command set is next then Nap. Austrians".
So, I'd be expecting the coming release, likely next month, to have the latest lot of restocks (and haven't they been pleasing to see/purchase over the past year or so?) as well as two or three new sets. Nothing to set the world on fire... but still useful.
Importantly, there is much to look forward to as Hat is playing the 'long game'. I am encouraged with the insights into the production process that they are developing.
- On 25th October in the 'British Dragoon test shot updated...' thread "Hello! Sorry for the delay but the British Heavy Dragoon set had to be made twice which prolonged the time. These figures are not reduction of 28mm sets but made from large masters and digitally reduced and checked for size."
- On 7th Feb in the 'Nap. Austrian test sprue for sizing' thread "3d figures are scanned in, the grey pictures you see are the 2d images of 3d figures, sometimes the poses are slightly modified to avoid undercutting and the 3d figures are used to produce prototypes of sizing and assistance in production".
So, patience, persistence and positivity, I reckon. The ultimate suppliers of our 'habit' are trying to feed us. Let's enjoy what we have, what we know is coming soon and dream of what is yet to be!
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Post by waynew on Feb 26, 2020 14:43:54 GMT
I wholeheartedly agree. If the delays and "hiccups" - such as minor things like a potential pandemic that has fouled up many industries are frustrating to us I'd hate to think how frustrating these things must be to the folks at HaT, whose reputation and livelihood are dependent. I think my (and here I'll speak only for myself) problems with the delays are minor when I think of articles I've read about hospitals in the US who depend on China for medical supplies who are running out of things so mundane as rubber/latex gloves because the Chinese government has halted at least one ship on its way to the US and turned it around as those supplies were needed in China. As far as I know, no lives are at stake because the Pommeranian Piccolo Players are delayed in shipment or production. I just hope the folks in the factory producing our little guys isn't closed because the workers are sick or quarantined.
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Post by rahway on Feb 26, 2020 18:38:54 GMT
As an example of how the medical situation in Chana is affecting the toy soldier industry see the message below from Scott Lam of Expeditionary Force, courtesy of Paul Stadinger.
Greetings from Singapore!
We have resumed full warehouse and shipping operations on Monday 24, 2020.
However, we can only ship items that we have stock on hand as the production side is stuck. They havere-open but unable to operate fully.
Apparently, the plastic resin suppliers have been mobilized to produced medical-related items and thus they have no spare capacity to supply raw materials to our production for our replenishment runs.
At this point, we don’t have an estimate as to when they can switch back to normal production.
With back-logs to clear, the delay may take a couple of months.
On the bright side, those factories that survive this crisis are going to have orders flowing out of their ears.
As for new releases, we will be starting toolings for the next set within this week and see if we can have a new release by end-March or early-April.
Take care and remember to wash your hands before touching your face when out of house.
Cheers,
scott
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Post by richard on Feb 26, 2020 18:41:14 GMT
As long as Hat are ticking away in the background then that is good enough for me. The hobby requires this once prolific producer to stay in the market. Even if other companies are doing a very good job with improved standards and fast out put, competition is always required. And Hat re-stocks are always much sought after.
It's a shame the forum has gone quiet, and I'm definitely guilty as I have not posted in ages. Maybe admin could throw in a few topics to keep it going-new requests for re-stocks, favourite recent set, suggestions for box art etc. That said, this is probably their evening job and they have got other things to be getting on with!
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Post by waynew on Feb 27, 2020 3:54:42 GMT
Thanks for sharing that info Scott; I just noticed it in my e-mail inbox.
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Post by greentiger on Mar 31, 2020 20:20:14 GMT
Well I suspect there is a lot more hobby activity at the moment - if they can get their product out there this is teh time for manufacturers to get stuck in! Personally I am still wading through my tank mountain but I am wading really deep! Also done some of those enormous Italeri 1790's Austrians - nice figures!
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Post by stevo0113 on Apr 1, 2020 8:05:58 GMT
I too have a tank mountain that's got a lot smaller recently due to the outbreak & have been buying a few of the Chinese kits on ebay i would recommend the opel blitz USA truck & half track the pak 40 & the German half track/prime mover the Blitz is better than the airfix version they are priced between £3 - £5 & come with quite good instructions as well.
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