Barzso Playset News from Jim Clouse , Jim has posted this on several web sites and I have to share you with it here. I know many of you have seen it but I know there are others that have not.
Hi All,
Some big news coming from Barzso Playsets. While Ron has been quiet the past year or two, he’s still been busy.
Ron has been looking for a better formulation of plastic resin to run figures in – – and has found it! The company that runs the figures are on board and have produced a selection of Ron’s previous figures.
The new material is more durable than the original resin, figures come out of the mold with straight weapons, etc. I have some of the early mold shots, and I even went to the length of dropping a firing guy on my concrete basement floor – no damage! Paint also adheres very well to the figures.
Here is a list of the figures that are available in the new material:
Pirates – Powder Blue
Confederate Casualties – Gray
Woodland Indians – Gray
Union Casualties – Powder Blue
Civil War Camp Poses – Powder Blue
Barbary Coast Pirates – Gray
1805 US Marines – Powder Blue
Lewis and Clark Character Figures – Powder Blue
Due to the higher cost of the material being used, prices will be $20 for eight figures (single poses, no duplicates). Ron said depending on collectors’ reception of these figures, he plans on making new figures for 2018.
Figures will be available at the Chicago Show this week, and will be added to the website soon after.
Best regards,
Jim
I just posted the same thing, lol. I am glad that Barzso Playsets is still around and might start making some more new sets. I guess the price increase is the new norm, but it is worth it if we get some new sets from Barzso. I also did an interview with Ken Ciak from LOD Enterprises and he is working with Ron on some new things too. Very exciting news, I can’t wait to see what is next.
Very good interview. It looks like people will be seeing some exicting things. I will be curious on the plastic as I have not been a fan of the resin pieces because they break easily.
Thank You about the interview. Yes, the resin was a problem with a lot of the figures. It sounds like it will be good for both Barzso and LOD.
Best news I’ve heard all day!! Love Barzso products. Barzso accessories are among the best in the industry.
Fantastic news: I hope he re-runs the conquistadors in grey. Will warmly welcome and support any new sets he or Ken bring to the hobby.
Yes it will be very interesting how things turn out.
Maybe someone can take some good photos of them in Chicago and send the pics to Admin for posting here? That would be swell.
That’s why I stopped buying Barzso after 1st few purchases cuz I actually play with them not just set up scenes and they had too traumatic injuries in hand to hand combat.I do like the accessories though. The way I read this the new figure will still be made from some type of resin so would have to hear about how they are from others before I try because RESIN STINKS!
I agree Brian ,we may need see how it works first in others hand .I notice the Barzso early resin do not get affected in very cold weather outside .
I personally do not have issue with resin barzso as i don’t play with them but care good and put in display if any .Still i know they brake easy .
My main issue is that often the figures come with skin type desiccated death arms and legs or short weapons or odd marks in faces from the small bubble effect of resin material.
CONTE resin afghans and scottish frontiers sets do not have that issue ,they use a better resin,least in one i have .
best…
Agreed
Great news! I’m really hoping they get around to the Lewis and Clark Indians, Conquistadors and Aztecs, and the Mexican War sets.
Cool! Barszo Pirates reissues! I hope that resin is better. I sure wish they were in plastic, though.
Ron had some new woodland indians in the new material at the London Show in June, the material looked more like plastic than resin to me, I didn’t get any as I’ve already got more of the old figures than I need but I think Peter Evans got some so maybe he might be in a better position to let you know what they are like.
THE barzso new production reissue of same old set will reduce the price in old produced playset and sets that went high as discontinued before .
The same way many Marx has depreciated after sets are being reissued .
Great news indeed! I hope the figures become playable now so my kids will be able to play them with no risk to damage or break the weapons.
I don’t think this will reduce the price of playsets unless he re-issues the complete sets. If he doesn’t re-issue all character figures their price should stay the same too, however, I think the loose figures will go down dramatically at least the ones where new figures are produced. For example the new figures should not affect the asking price of French Regulars or Davey Crockett Pioneers, people may be hesitant to buy those figurers though if they believe new ones will be re-issued shortly. I think most people will adopt a wait and see attitude. I mean there’s no guarantee other sets will be re-issued at this point, I know I won’t try to sell the figures I have until I see which sets are going to be re-issued. I don’t imagine he will re-issue each and every figure set, but it could happen.
Well most people want are the non charters as characters were mainly x playset always and can be use as what they are x only.
Yet if goes reissuing many sets as far those already listed as coming.
He may well easy reissue charcters in small sets and still sale x way less that are priced now. A ridiculous inflated price that is a rob in my opinion.
The foam building most people skipped as well x the prices not as much need.
Playsets are way not economical profits to make if entire all new produced.CONTE , Barzso and TSSD had run by same bad experience. Unless using reissues mix w few new production like CTS . You need invest way too much versus profit in any short way.
But again we will have to see and wait as will take some time to reflect how affect .But personnaly I wish it reduce the inflation x the sake of buyers .
My thoughts.
Best.
I have seen the Woodland Indians up close and personal, believe me, you’ll think they are plastic, they are not brittle, it will take a lot of effort to break the tomahawks on these guys. It could be my poor old eyes but this new resin/plastic mix seems to bring out more detail on them. I think of them as an improvement, kind of like Marx going from rubber on their 60mm Pioneers ( some had trouble standing) to vinyl with bases. Like CTS did with their first horses, had to have stands, they re did the plastic now they don’t need stands. Just my opinion. Barzso did bring about 20 bags of these Indians to the Plastic Warrior Show, sold out. I’m kind of surprised that news wasn’t mentioned somewhere.
Hi Mike, it wasn’t the Plastic Warrior show he brought them to but the central London show, which is mostly for new white metal figures like King & Country, that’s why it hasn’t been mentioned anywhere, it went under the radar.
Marx went from using rubber like vinyl to using polyethylene soft plastic in the 1950s. They never used rubber. I think the 1930s Auburn farm animals were rubber, but all of the early 1950s “rubbery” figures made by Marx, Auburn, Ideal and PECOs were made in rubber like vinyl. Unfortunately PFPC got this wrong and although by about issue 20 they started using the correct terminology they never explained their earlier mistake.
I never heard of Rubbery material terminology as per material type .
Either is a rubber with a different grade of properties or is a plastic ,vinyl,PVC ,polyethylene else. .
Rubber are synthetic and natural made and their properties could varied from 20 Duro to 100 Duro hardness.
It main characteristic that differentiate from rest are.
Specific gravity.
Abrasion resistance.
Tear resistance.
Compression set.
Resilience.
Elongation.
Tensile modulus.
Tensile strength.
No water tolerant under 50 duro
Limited strength life.
Best..
The “inner circle” name for the older Marx figures was “rubber-like vinyl” and ingrained like modern political beliefs. When someone’s mind is made up, they don’t like to be confused with any facts. Old Catholics are still afraid to eat meat on Fridays.
Like the “small barbed wire spool” from Capt. Gallant HP accessories compared to the “large barbed wire spool” from Western Jailside Town. I really think that the Capt. Gallant version is a spool of fuse for the TNT box, but try to tell anyone different. BUT in another 100 years, no one will care……..
Yes ignorance spread fast and furious ,knowledges take century to be accepted.
Good Holly fridays is the only day Catholics are refrain eat meat out of tradition and respect by absolute penitence Canon law.
Rest of fridays is not mandatory obligation but is official cannon 249-254.as way observation in tradition base in theological belive .
The church and parishioners reserve the choices under circumstances and date that friday fall during year.
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P4O.HTM
I’m catholic.
Best ….
Rubber Like Vinyl is the actual term used by the manufacturers and can be seen printed on Auburn toy boxes. See the Auburn page at my web site toysoldierhq.com for examples. The term “rubbery” I used was not meant to indicate a material terminology but to simply explain how the figures felt when handled. Unfortunately PFPC in it’s early days called the rubber like vinyl figures “rubber” and called the polyethylene soft plastic figures “vinyl”. This cause a great deal of confusion when buying. Eventually they got it right but never discussed their error.
(Rubber Like Vinyl) is a name put= made up by seller of the toy,there not such thing in industry terminology on production.
They use it that same way the wrote (“unbreakable plastic figures” in every box .
Back in years many toy makers use wherever to advertise as was not legislation stipulating manufacture to specifically describe material used .Neither today need to write in toy box but is strictly observed and monitored by agency and gob at production level to avoid issues.
I understood the” Rubbery”thing out clearly.
Both are made up things.
Rubber is rubber.
Vinyl is Vinyl.
polyethylene is polyethylene
Both polyethylene/vinyl oppose in component and can not be fusion or mix in industry with Rubber whatsoever.
Yet. Both could be made as appear close in outside appearance .
The process of making Rubber in all it variations is complete separated in industry and require a complete different process.In fact many factories producing Rubber do not produce polyethylene,vinyl,PVC or plastics as require complete different machinery and chemicals that will cost much more.
I worked x years dealing with plastic/rubber manufactures and went to extensive training,videos and factory for containers in industry.That was the main job that give me opportunity to travel to China and see their industries as well US 99% factories there.
Never ever heard anyone mention it at industry-factory level.
Rubber figures sink in water.(sample-old Marx,Auburn,reamsa )
Soft plastic,polyethylene do Not .sample -Later marx,Reamsa and rest
Rubber figures got hardened with time,loosing flexibility .sample Old MARX ,Aurburn toys,etc.
Rubber surface had way more pore superficie given hard time to be clean after years versus more smooth surface of Plastics and polyethylene.Old Marx suffer it versus new.
Polyethylene/soft plastic,PVC Not GOT hard with time or lose flexibility but suffer crystallization out extreme weather exposure or If mix with soil with chemical or mineral during years with not Sun.
Sample .Some Marx,(Landfill found)Lido,Timpo=(that also suffer because bad mixing too done )
The terminology was correct apply as Rubber figures in Marx .
Just not same rubber as Aurburn
Rubber as well polyethylene have many plenty textures and pores according to Dur level giving in industry.
Marx was obvious trying to be better than Auburn till the switch complete to polyethylene.Yet Marx figures suffer same issues after time as any standard Rubber does.
best regards.
Jim Clouse post some pictures on another forum. I cropped them and then enlarged the pictures. The figures look truly amazing, almost like he sculpted new figures.
https://warhorseminiatures.com/2017/09/19/latest-news-first-look-at-barzso-re-issued-woodland-indians/
Great pics!! Funny – the guy laying on his back with arms spread out is listed on eBay now for $50!!!!! New figures should end this nonsense.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Barzso-davy-crockett-playset-pioneer-/302454601426?hash=item466bb2f6d2:g:ZOQAAOSwb-tZvIoc
His prices on his other items are very high in price.
Don’t really see sales for high prices, unless there’s a surplus listed one at a time. Anyhow, this particular $50 ask will be available with 7 other figures for $20 or $2.50 plus shipping cost.
Picture looks like TEN vs. eight figures stated in original post; so assume $20 for 10 = $2 each? Anyhow, glad I didn’t spend $50 for a single figure. Re-cast at 4% of original via eBay is something I can live with. Have paid $5 each for old Barzso pirates but never $50. I wonder if he’ll be recasting accessories.
The guy laying on his back was one of those non-character figures that were only offered in playsets, therefore he is rather scarce and he garnered a good price due to his limited availability. If he’s reproduced or re-issued his value will decline .
Isn’t there a similar figure to lay on the alter for the Aztec priest to sacrifice in the Montezuma set with the pools of blood?
Here he goes – 5 rows down on left:
http://www.michtoy.com/spip-3-0-5/?Conquistador-Aztecs-Playset-by
Yeah he’s another of those only available in playsets poses. He may actualy be the same guy , I have never seen the Aztec scarifice up close. They have just removed the hat.
I have Conquistador & Aztecs Playset number 29 intact with ceal and all .Moment they will become reissued ,i will have it sold and see how goes.
bEST.
Michael, are you the editor/publisher of the “WarHorse” toy soldier blog? If so, I very much enjoyed the Ken Ciak/LOD interview you did, which I just read. It was very interesting finding out about Ken’s future plans and projects.
Yes, that is me. Thank you for your kind words. Barzso Playsets is one of my favorite companies. I am glad you enjoyed the interview, it was a lot of fun to do. Ken is a great guy, I hope he has as many sets as Barzso one day. He has a lot of passion as an owner, which is nice.
The figures look great! I broke down a few months early and got some of the original pirates at higher prices per figure since I didn’t get them the first time around, and thought they weren’t coming back. Now I’ll be able to get nicer figures at better prices. So it goes. Looking forward to these being issued and I hope he’ll do the accessories as well!
Now you can resell the olds back if want before most realize they will be cheaper.
best..
Wow, thoe figures look much nicer than the originals, I think people will snap them up.
If I may add my appreciation of the news; I thought it was just me who thought the detail on the new figures looked better than the originals.
I might be in the minority, but I also hope there are some re-issues of the foam buildings and some of the accessories as I missed some the first time around (before my kids were raised or I realized the limited production of the playsets) – and would like to pick them up.
One of the things I always liked (and even my wife appreciated) was the attention to detail in a Barzso set – like the coyote chasing the roadrunner pieces (or the coiled rattlesnake) in the “Battle of Cherubusco” set. Great news that not only is Ron back (not that he really went anywhere), but that it looks like Ken Ciak will join and perhaps carry on the work is great for the hobby I think.
The guy laying on his back was a human sacrifice in the Azetecs.playset and he was in the Davy Crockett Wilderness Fort as part of a two figure “scalping” duo. He was only available in these two sets and yes, he did have his hat by his head in both playsets.
This poor guy had bad luck with Indians!! Anyhow, let’s see what happens to the $50 price for the brittle original single figure when the new one actually becomes available after the “unveiling ceremony” in a set of 9 other figures in better material for $20. I guess some “purists” will require the $50 original and hope USPS doesn’t bang the package hard enough to break him in the mail.
Like I say watch for all prices in resin figures to drop drastically soon .Already the set reissues have figures only included in playset before .The more he releases the more Playset and sets original made will depreciate as they are not at all vintage and not nostalgic value what so ever but just price high out of demand as not longer made.
If some get the CONTE sets back again the prices will go down as well.
I bet with these news many will try rush and sale off as much old resin Barzso stock they have to avoid being stuck with old resing less detailed versus new made figures ,sets and accessories.
This will probably will be in the mind of many going to Chicago
The main characters are not what people buy more neither affordable as insane too pricey and too specific made .People are looking x all general sets and few odd poses- accessories.
Even the large foam building are skipped by most as not space or else/.
my thoughts..
When I pay too much for genuine old vintage 1950s & ’60s Marx products, I’m actually seeking NOSTALGIC MEMORIES as much as the tangible products. I don’t have that with Barzso or much else since my chosen childhood toys under the Christmas tree or at birthdays were 99% Marx boxed playsets.
I agree and that is why people will not pay x any Barzso that price any more if reissues come out .
The reason Barzso come high was after the stopping production and because limited done .Most had been recycled from collectors to others out of not more interest or make money at shows or ebay,others fall to hands of resellers from diseased collectors .
Other day i saw a CONTE resin afghan/frontier playset set put x sale x 500.00 at ebay with offer accepted choice ,it was sold for much less .Few sellers are lucky .I out of nostalgic appreciate values on any vintage but not in new figures sets done recently.Still is my personal view please and i respect what others may like to use the money for .
Does anyone know if the fgures are available and where to buy them?