What's stopping you buying GHQ stuff? (Apart from Money!)

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whenimaginationfails
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Post by whenimaginationfails »

Mostly the pile of unpainted miniatures I already have and the resulting guilt.

BurtWolf
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Post by BurtWolf »

I echo the last post - I have well over 70 unopened packs. I keep painting a few here and there but get sidetracked by buildings and terrain. Short of a few things, I have to stop buying until I kill off the backlog.

dougeagle
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Post by dougeagle »

Lack of interest. Seems like players are more into small skirmish sci fi, or steampunk or the dreaded costly GW gaming. FoW has a bit of a following, but not lots.
Doug

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copperhill
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Post by copperhill »

Hmmmmm... Nothing. Not the numerous unopened packs. Not the organized loose armor that's waited literally for years to be painted and will surely wait even longer. Not the entire two car garage devoted to my obsession. Not too much guilt evident, budget isn't a problem. The wife is understanding. Carry on...
It's 2016, let's focus on completing projects!

CDP
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cost

Post by CDP »

For me it is not really the money or lack of it, rather the current exchange rate between USD to the AUD. I just completed an order yesterday, 8 packets at around $86 USD. The exchange rate brought that up to $136 AUD. Ouch! All of the packs are miscellaneous parts. Armour with guns no bigger than 37 mm. Not that i regret the purchase. Just have to be a bit more specific with what I order.
Cheers

Carl D Peachey

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Post by CG2 »

Interesting posts!

I started the thread because the lack of particular models was putting me off starting new ranges but it doesn't appear to be stopping other people.

I'd love to see GHQ do a Kickstarter. I'd guess it costs under $3,000 to design a new model and a pack costs around $15 in the USA? I guess you'd need to sell around 600 packs to make it worth while under normal circumstances and this why less '** CENSORED **' models don't normally get produced. Maybe something like a Bailey Bridge Combat Command would be good for this?

For example :

- German Jadgtiger - under 100 built but '** CENSORED **' - GHQ model
- British 5cwt Utility - 30,000 built but not '** CENSORED **' - no GHQ model

I've seen plenty of hints at how GHQ select which models to pick and, obviously, this forum is only one of the channels they receive information from. Maybe if they don't want to try Kickstarter, perhaps they could run a vote on this forum and, if it is manufacturable at reasonable cost, guarantee to produce the 1 model with the most votes each year?
CG2

kfeltenberger
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Post by kfeltenberger »

CG2 wrote:Interesting posts!

I started the thread because the lack of particular models was putting me off starting new ranges but it doesn't appear to be stopping other people.

I'd love to see GHQ do a Kickstarter. I'd guess it costs under $3,000 to design a new model and a pack costs around $15 in the USA? I guess you'd need to sell around 600 packs to make it worth while under normal circumstances and this why less '** CENSORED **' models don't normally get produced. Maybe something like a Bailey Bridge Combat Command would be good for this?

For example :

- German Jadgtiger - under 100 built but '** CENSORED **' - GHQ model
- British 5cwt Utility - 30,000 built but not '** CENSORED **' - no GHQ model

I've seen plenty of hints at how GHQ select which models to pick and, obviously, this forum is only one of the channels they receive information from. Maybe if they don't want to try Kickstarter, perhaps they could run a vote on this forum and, if it is manufacturable at reasonable cost, guarantee to produce the 1 model with the most votes each year?
Two things....

1. How many people would realistically buy a Bailey Bridge combat command pack? I'm talking out in the real world, not in the forum... There would be a lot of people that thought it was neat, but I sincerely doubt that enough of them would fork over the money to make it profitable for GHQ.

2. For any sort of special run or whatever, money would have to be fronted by those interested. I've been involved in too many game projects where we got a lot of interest and "I'll buy that!" comments, but when it came time to put the money on the table, well...suddenly crickets.
Kurt

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Post by CG2 »

First let me point out that the CENSORED word in my previous post was 'S*xy' and nothing worse!

I know that many Kickstarter projects go nowhere, possibly even the majority, but some are wildly successful, for example the recent Plastic Soldier Company one for 25pdr guns (only 15mm and 1/72 scale so I hope no-one will mind this reference). Clearly you have to pick your target carefully but I would have thought the Bailey Bridge example might well work - some people will buy multiple packs and there must be far more people buying GHQ than attend this forum even as 'lurkers' or the numbers just wouldn't add up.

GHQ haven't chosen to do it so far but I would guess that the reason isn't just financial.
CG2

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Post by Extra Crispy »

Eureka do an interesting thing. They have part of their site where you suggest a pack or range. They add it and then gamers can indicate purchase intent. That way if X number of gamers sign up to buy, Eureka will make them. Number needed varies by figure size.

It's amazing how many don't come *close* to hitting the target despite the assurance that "loads of gamers want these."

I'm strictly a WW2 gamer with regards to GHQ. So if it won't get on the table I won't buy it. Bailey Bridge? Nope. I even admit to feeling silly that I own a lot of artillery that should be no where near the FEBA.

So that really leaves you with selling to modelers and collectors. After all, what game function does an ambulance serve? None in any game I know so I don't own any. (Well, actually I do own 2 that were part of a second hand purchase. But they have never seen the game table that I can recall. I guess they would make nice "scenery" but then if I want one I have to buy a pack of 5....)
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CG2
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Post by CG2 »

Yes - that sort of facility would be good.

Interestingly, GHQ do make ambulances - WC-54 Dodge Ambulance GHQ Stock # US84 - but I guess we'll never find out if GHQ think it was a worthwhile model to have produced.
CG2

ferret701
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Post by ferret701 »

This is kind of a tough question. I buy almost all the GHQ releases (or friends send me a few examples), and I do the same thing for the new H&R models. In addition, I buy a lot of new models off of Shapeways. Basically, I'm trying to have as wide a selection as possible of painted models to photograph for my website, www.microarmormayhem.com.

So basically, I'm buying small numbers of most newly-released GHQ models (and everyone else's), but rely on ebay/trading for bulking out my collection (and, more importantly, giving me something to paint and base). Given that there are some weeks in which I'm painting up 50+ models, there is just no way I could afford to go all new production, at least not for long.

That said, I think we are in a very good place in the industry right now. While the total number of manufacturers is down (H&R having acquired Skytrex and Ian Armstrong Minis, CinC and Scotia no longer making new models, ISM long gone), GHQ's new models consistently amaze me and are now covering a lot of important models that were ignored in the past. Add to the much improved stuff coming out now from H&R and the vast array of good (but very expensive) Shapeways models, we are now spoiled for choices.

Alright, that's a big enough rant. Suffice to say, I was pretty pessimistic about the industry when I started my site 12 years ago, but am vastly more optimistic now.

6milPhil
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Post by 6milPhil »

I've been playing microarmour since the seventies and I've never felt so spoilt in choices, the scale could have died off after all, so I'm quite happy with what's available - it's easy to make do. :D

WHM
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Post by WHM »

I first got into microarmor when I saw them in Wargamers Digest. There was an article about the Army's Dunn Kempf and it was love at first site. Since then I bought a lot of microarmor but to be honest my collection is disorganized.

Dunn Kempf! That was what I wanted! That looked really cool. Once even got to see it but they wouldn't let me play so I set out make my own. I built some terrain boards but was not satisfied so went back to the drawing board. At Historicon one year GHQ set up a display I think for Gettysburg and it was wonderful! But not quite sold yet on the terrain maker.

Years come and years go but i always liked GHQ. theirs was the best. #2 was alright and got a few, the rest were lumps of lead. I new some guys and one was a driving force to try to instill microarmor in out NG armor unit. I also had another friend to get together and play.

Finally because of a comment from one of the guys i broke down and got some terrain maker and then I got a lot. I'm building my own Dunn Kempf. Room for maneuver and none of the tank Napoleonics for me. I also wanted to build terrain to refight the Valley of Tears. Bought Isreali armor and thought I could sub my Soviets for Syrians. i used to work on the stuff in the garage before going to work.

But times changed. friends move on and never did meet anyone else who like this sort of thing. The one used to argue all the time. I wanted to use terrain and he wanted to use ASL map boards. I was trying to get a "feel" if you know what I mean and map boards were not going to work.

It would be nice to share the interest, discuss history, and drink good beer. plus my dad needed help so some years have passed and i really haven't done anything. And as such I haven't bought/painted/built anything. I still like to see what's posted and love the terrain pictures the best. i have bought some board games because I do like this sort of thing. I used to go to the HMGS shos in this part of the country but Historicon moved and frankly did not want to make the trip. Went some to the other shows but not in the last few years. Storms/weather/work schedules/or maybe just to tired and did not feel like driving a couple of hours, but thinking i would like to try for Fall - In.

Just seem to have drifted.

ed*b
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Post by ed*b »

Similar to a previous post, the buying has stopped as we are in rented digs with everything packed in boxes while we wait for the House Of Our Dreams (TM) to be constructed. I do have the boxes with unpainted models, paints, brushes and other items segregated, but the reference books for ship camouflage are spread among the 375 boxes of books I packed for the move. Maybe I'll dig out and paint those that don't require research...

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