Taesung Harmms from Alpine Miniatures shows us new figures available from the company as their June 2015 releases... a 1/35 scale German Grenadiers and French Tanker, as well as a 1/16 scale Panzer Grenadier.

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Thanks!

Quite liking the Frenchie.

I don't know how you manage to improve on something that is so good and yet...every fig does get better!
Nice to see some Heer guys.
J

The figures are nicely-done, but Alpine is always releasing "Heroes of Socialism"-type static poses. We rip Dragon for their "pointing in the distance" figure in every set, yet what about Alpine? There's a reason I've never yet bought one of their figures. I know I'm in the minority, but it needs to be said: a lack of imagination in the poses.

@Bill I know exactly what you mean. The way I see it Alpine figures are great when thrown next to or on an AFV or as standalone figures. There's a few that have good action poses though. In any case it's great seeing some 44-45 era Heer figures from Taesung, not to mention the Frenchie and another great 16th scale figure...even if he does have a "hero of socialism" look. lol

Gents, thanks for the kind words and constructive comments!

You're welcome.

Bill-
I can understand what you're saying but as the old saying I've just made up goes "WW2 German sells" and to be fair Alpine do these type of figures extremely well.BUT the sales of these figures allow Taesung to go off the beaten path and release some other sets which may not do quite as well (Russian scouts,French tanker,Italian paratrooper and maybe even the US tankers circa Vietnam)

I've bought his WW2 US soldier and tanker figures,they are exceptional,especially the recent 44/45 GIs and their apprehensive 'pre battle' look,and even after every German release I think it makes the wait even more worthwhile because of that quality,but at the end of the day it is a business,and not many survive doing what they love.....sometimes pure economics kicks in but with figures of this standard maybe everyone wins (?)
(and Taesung takes note of what the forums are kicking around,pretty neat to have direct access to the owner )

So maybe we'll have different nationalities,maybe we'll have different poses,just have to wait and see

Steve, perhaps it's because Taesung's figures ARE so good that I'm increasingly disappointed with the same static, standing poses. I have sunk several hundred dollars into resin figures over the past 18 mos., so I'm an active consumer. But usually the figures I'm buying are those from Stalingrad or others who bring situations to life.

Take https://armorama.kitmaker.net/news/19652>this Hummel crew for example, and how it's right out of a photograph (or could be) of real soldiers doing real things. I know, soldiers do stand nobly and point off into an unseen distance.

I'm sure Alpine is making money, and I have no knock on the quality of their products.

Bill-
I too have purchased figures from the Stalingrad range,the POW line in particular,and yes,I would love Alpine to do something similar,as with AC Models 'Kiwi Tankers brewing tea' (although several hundred would now be throwing their arms in the air at the thought of more mugs of tea!!!!) And it may be financially beneficial if Alpine do go down a similar 'different activity' route.
But here we can only suggest and cajole,but you never know.....

although we might be blessed with another version of Verlinden's 'Things to do'.......

Guys, thank you all for taking time to leave comments.

I do appreciate and read all comments, both positive and constructive. As for the poses and subjects, I strictly look at what my dealers want. What sells more? The dealers have the answers.

As Stufer pointed out, I do get to test out the water here and there with different poses and subjects. I sculpt and cast and package and this and that.

And I am not interested in making all those "interesting" poses and subjects that don't sell.

I hope this is only me, the old grump getting it all wrong and you don't really mean "I'm here to take your money not to listen to your crappy ideas" by that...

No, what I meant is that I need to be very careful what to make for each release in order to continue on. The dealers have better idea on what sells.

That's what I thought,on other forums Taesung is very open to ideas and suggestions,and if it aint gonna sell then maybe that isn't the way forward,no matter how much we want it! (especially if by 'we' it's actually 3 blokes in Swaffham)

And yes,I have a suggestion/query......how about some D Day Rangers at Omaha,or GI medics tending to casualties on the beach (medic figure and wounded GI)? didnt think it would hurt to ask.......and Im looking for an LCVP to populate with wounded/medical personnel

Just eagerly awaiting payday so I can get the last US Tanker release

There are many obstacles to have wide range of figures. Besides the ones mentioned above, it is very difficult to find sculptors especially in 1/35 scale. I have been making most of the 1/35 range for Alpine lately, and there is a limit to my interest, speed and capability. If I can find talented sculptors who have different taste and interests, Alpine would have wider range of figures...

Reading ya! Keep on rocking it!

Cristian

Because they don't make 'heroes of socialism' or static, pointing figures?

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/news/19671

Ken, that's droll, for sure, but how about these?











Not sure what sells and what doesn't, but Stalingrad is at the cutting edge in my opinion of figures currently. Given that they are moving into quarter scale, I would presume that means their figures are popular and sell, but I have no connection with the company (other than that they take my money on a regular basis ).

all of these figs are very well executed for sure. But Alpine already has a nice niche and is filling said niche fantastically IMHO so why fix what ain't broken? The quality is always very high and that can only be good for us non-sculpting nimrods.
Taesung did make a very brilliant set of running WSS grunts and also some rapidly advancing guys in winter clothes. I would like to see how well they sold compared to the static poses. That may be the issue right there?
Because...at the end of the day,it has to SELL. It's not a hobby for him as it is for us.
Not affiliated,just in awe of anyone that can sculpt a 1/35 head.
J

Guys, thank you all for taking time to leave comments!

Those action posed figures J mentioned did well (even with all the negative comments like "no, not another SS set).
But it takes more time and effort to make them. And as I have been making all the 1/35 scale figures lately in Alpine range and a few 1/16 scale figures as well, I have to be careful how to manage my time. On top of that, I made an extra 1/35 figure (the French) this time. This would not have been possible if I was making complicated poses.

And all these has to happen every 2 months as Alpine has its release schedule. Also, the way I market 1/35 figures (as singles, as sets) has something to do with poses. Each figure has to be marketable on its own. If I make two figures lighting cigarette for each other, it would be difficult to market them as singles. Someone mentioned "the lack of imagination" above. I wish it was that simple.

Taesung,
Thank you for continuing to release figures on such a regular schedule.Even if some are not our particular cup of tea, it is nice to know that something is always coming soon. Mostly however, I want to thank you for this particular give and take on the current thread, it helps to understand the 'why' of what you are doing a bit better. It sure clears up just about everything when you here it from the source!
Cheers,
Rick

^ This.



By now I think we are all well familiar with what Alpine does and I think it is also obvious by now that it works very well for many. For other type of poses there are other manufacturers, why do we have to try compare the two when there is clearly no comparison?

I have every one of Alpines US figure sets ( as well as various Corsair Rex, Evolution, SKP, Mantis, Bravo 6, Masterclub etc.) in static poses, and as someone who builds and *completes* models based on small vignettes with groundwork and only one or two figures on a fairly regular basis, these figures are exactly what the scene needs to raise an otherwise boring stand alone model to that of a scene with scale and context. I just don't need sets of thirty guys running, sleeping, shooting, drinking, etc. filling up the shelves in my stash that I'll never build to completion.

Having said, I am a staunch follower of the statement, 'to each their own'. I just fail to see the point in projecting ones own needs and desires that are fulfilled by other manufacturers on one who doesn't fulfill them, versus simply ignoring said companies release announcements. I think those Stalingrad sets are amazing, (and I've already seen them all) but they don't interest me so I ignore their release announcements instead of asking why they don't concentrate on much more 'droll' subjects. To me, it's akin to walking into a restaurant I don't like and telling everyone why I don't eat there. Clearly the clientèle does, so what's the purpose? I'm just not seeing one.



*and I'm not trying to single anyone out here, it's merely something I see internet modelers as a whole doing constantly on message forums and social media ad nauseum



Build what you like, like what you build