Zvezda - New WW2 line.

[Paul]

probably went to TMP

[Shaun]

On other news were are seeing some more guys voicing their dismay over the loss of big sets on zvezda's facebook page so hopefully we will see something of a awakening amongst the community. Im not going to bow out of this fight just yet .

[Shaun]

We organized the polls here, and people wich were aware of it did make their vote.
The results speaks for themselves.
We are the highly representative sample of their buyers, and so far I think they made a fortune with their 1/72 figures range.
But now things are going to change.

Nobody has nothing against small sets, which are very nice addition to their production.
But most people will buy a couple of boxes of their interest and this is it.
We are quite disappointed that Zvezda for the first time is cancelling previously announced sets, and is going to change their up to date successful policy.
I'm afraid that now they have some business 'genius' with 'revolutionary' ideas. If things went wrong, the recession will be accused.

Mixing of scales? If this is just a cover to avoid possible Flames of War copyright, and to sell much cheaper and better 1/100 vehicles in that - small - market, then O.K. Otherwise, mediocre.
The first rule in every business is that you must 'know' your customers.
It seems they do not care anymore for 1/72 enthusiasts, collectors and wargamers.

Never mind, as PDA said - there are others to take over the leadership, and earn money.
And btw, Zvezda has no match for the Ceasar's recent German tank crew.

Excellently put zzed . You should be putting up the pressure on zvezdas facebook page not me

[Peter]

@PDA: who are you? It seems to me you just went into this discussion just for the discussion. Of the other guys I've seen their work and of them I know what they are talking about. So show your work here on the forum! Untill then your comments are just blabla to me!

Full sets for me. The only small sets I buy are teh special ones like Valdemar, FBMinis and so on. From Zvezda I expect sets with a command sprue, and troops.

[Benno]

Please try to be respectful to eachother. Everybody is entitled to his or her opinion.

I agree with PDA that this forum does not represent the entire hobby, but I do think it's one of the few online communities that gives a pretty good reflection of the 1/72 hobbyist.


I think the new Zvezda system mainly focuses on gamers (the ones that play Settlers of Catan, Monopoly, etc.), not on miniature wargamers, painter or collectors. From a marketing point of view this could be a very smart move. They could sell a lot more in toy stores than in hobby (web)shops. Perhaps this system also makes the hobby more easy accesible for young people.

In twenty years most of the 40-50 year olds, who are buying the figs now, have stopped with this hobby. Who have to buy the Zvezda figs then? Right, the young ones. If they get young people to buy these figs, then the tanks, then get to paint them, who knows how many new people get into "this hobby"? Children are the consumers of tomorrow. If you get their loyalty at a young age there's a big chance they stick with your company when they grow older. That's why MacDonalds gives "free" presents in their Happy Meals. Later when they walk in the city and get hungry, they think of MacDonalds.

I wish Zvezda the best on their new venture. Perhaps the small sets are financially such a big succes they have enough money to make more "regular" sets in the future.

[Benno]

@PDA: who are you? It seems to me you just went into this discussion just for the discussion. Of the other guys I've seen their work and of them I know what they are talking about. So show your work here on the forum! Untill then your comments are just blabla to me!

Peter, you don't have to post photos of your work to have an opinion about something. PDA is free to share his opinion.

[Shaun]

The youth this day age i think would take up to this hobby quite easily if only they had the right exposure. When i was doing some school holiday activities at the WA army museum id set up a table of some painted up figs to sell, id make no profit but i did get remimbursed for the figs and supplies. I bought 28mm thought 20mm way to small no interest. I was proven somewhat wrong the kids really got enthused with the 1/72 s, id put a few of my zvezda collection there i wasnt allowed to sell that small scale them but they showed more interest in them then they did the 28mm. Sculpting was eveything perry miniatures sold very well, in comparison the victrix mini sold none go figure.

2 main reasons why , the realistic portions appealed to them and they prefered more modern periods Machine guns and such. Zvezda had the right appeal sculpting wise to the young demographic they just need to get the theme right. Itd be mighty difficult for me to use let say odemars bods, theyd probably laugh at me and giggle sculpting is everything the more realistic the better .WW2s a good place to go, but if they went ultra modern themes the amount of young blood they could pool would be enough to see the hobby through the next 100 years.

But i digress

Not much we can do yet till zvezda answer their facebook page, some of the responses i get from them is conflicting but nonethless.

[Peter]

Peter, you don't have to post photos of your work to have an opinion about something. PDA is free to share his opinion.

But that's what I did, sharing my opinion. And I show my work here on the forum

[PDA]

Please try to be respectful to eachother. Everybody is entitled to his or her opinion.

I agree with PDA that this forum does not represent the entire hobby, but I do think it's one of the few online communities that gives a pretty good reflection of the 1/72 hobbyist.


I think the new Zvezda system mainly focuses on gamers (the ones that play Settlers of Catan, Monopoly, etc.), not on miniature wargamers, painter or collectors. From a marketing point of view this could be a very smart move. They could sell a lot more in toy stores than in hobby (web)shops. Perhaps this system also makes the hobby more easy accesible for young people.

In twenty years most of the 40-50 year olds, who are buying the figs now, have stopped with this hobby. Who have to buy the Zvezda figs then? Right, the young ones. If they get young people to buy these figs, then the tanks, then get to paint them, who knows how many new people get into "this hobby"? Children are the consumers of tomorrow. If you get their loyalty at a young age there's a big chance they stick with your company when they grow older. That's why MacDonalds gives "free" presents in their Happy Meals. Later when they walk in the city and get hungry, they think of MacDonalds.

I wish Zvezda the best on their new venture. Perhaps the small sets are financially such a big succes they have enough money to make more "regular" sets in the future.

Now that was well said.

Benno, I meant no disrespect to your forum, and I think you understand what I said when I said it doesnt represent all of the hobby. I agree it is a reasonably good representation of a lot of points of view regarding 1/72 figures, but as I said, that is not the totality of the hobby.

You make my point, but better than I said it - Zvezda have a very diverse offering of games and gaming material; 1/72 plastic figures are but a small part of their mix. They know what sells well, and what doesn't. With an eye on the future, I believe they are trying new strategies, and this Art of Tactic small sets is but one of those strategies. I hope it hooks new people into the hobby. For me personally, the small sets suit me and the way I enjoy the hobby.

I'd like them to carry on making big sets as well as these small sets. But I dont want them to go out of business by making big sets if those big sets dont make enough sales revenue for them. And only Zvezda have all of that pertinent information.

[Alex]

My friends!
You know very well that I am far from wargames, but am close to "Zvezda" (Geographically) and I can tell you is that you can reconcile all: these guys from my high Olympus equally deaf to all opinions. And as their supporters and as their opponents. They just spit and see how it flies down the ... can be. They are happy that their business is successful, and the main purpose for them - to promote its game system and the figures for these are the chips.
But whereas most of the figures seen as a possible use for the game and for dioramas and artistic painting, but now it's time to specialization. Some pieces are less expensive and simple, others - more expensive and complicated. May soon change, and technology once again it will be the same shape. But while the "zvezda" (for his business) has chosen the way buyers and vote the "right" or "wrong."
And I want to say is karma is a must - but almost everywhere, which discusses the "zvezda" there is a demon squabble "

[Paul]

At the moment my area of interest..middleages isn´t affected..but even if they were to bring out 4 man sets, I wouldn´t touch them. To me if the sales idea is to make profit for them..then ok..that´s what a business is for..but..as with another thread...don´t complain the sets aren´t there if you never asked in the first place or they cost a fortune for 4 bods.

[Benno]

But that's what I did, sharing my opinion. And I show my work here on the forum

You know what I meant Peter.

Benno, I meant no disrespect to your forum, and I think you understand what I said when I said it doesnt represent all of the hobby. I agree it is a reasonably good representation of a lot of points of view regarding 1/72 figures, but as I said, that is not the totality of the hobby.

I know you mean no disrespect to this forum and I agree it's not the totality of the hobby.

[Paul]

But a hell of a lot of the 1/72nd fans either are members or look in here..and, as I have said..not just here it´s on other forums and It´s been discussed on blogs as well. But obviously according to fuzzy logic that ain´t the majority...so what would be???? Look at the poll results..6% of the voters are for!!!! I would tend just mildly to say that is a majority of those that have voted..or???
Just my opinion but now I have to get back and do some painting

[zzed]

we are still friends, which is much more important than Zvezda's destiny
I expect no one will be offended for more than 1 day

[Shaun]

Its unfortunate that 20mm industry is taking such a beating , whilst the 28mm is exploding. I guess we are all feeling the strain of what clearly is a downturn of the hobby to what it used to be.

[Shaun]

I know everyones sick n tired of me going on and on about zvezda and wotnot. So heres the deal on zvezda's facebook theyre asking the question NOW. You want big full sets or small? go and vote where they will see it on their FB page . We get more than 40+ votes in total that go either way small or big, ill leave the forums (for a good while) and the issue to rest permanently
Thanks to all the facebook mini fans for making zvezda ask the question big thank you from me to them.

May the better format win

Link:
http://www.facebook.com/questions/14113 ... ?qa_ref=qd

[Chris]

I've just voted... for big sets...

[Ian Bruce]

So have I.

[Paul]

Looks like the noisy minority are getting thier say...at source...but still, it isn´t every 1/72nd mini collector in the world ..so it probably doesn´t count

[steve_pickstock]

I hear what you're saying Paul, but when we're asked if we want to keep something we're quite passionate about, we're supposed to say "no it's okay - you can stop doing those figures now"?

When I looked this morning at 7.30 GMT there were 49 for keeping the big boxes, 9 for the little boxes, and 9 for both. Truth to tell, it's not about keeping the big boxes and losing the smaller boxes, it's about value for money, let's face it 30+ poses for £8 is better than 8 poses for £3; it's about choice - more poses in a box, both of which benefit all interested parties in this. After all there is always someone looking for unused figures.

If the world was fair we'd have both large and small sets and then everyone would be satisfied, but it looks like we may have to choose and it looks like more people have chosen bigger boxes.