We have gotten an update on the Blue Box Pirates. Our source got the information directly from Blue Box. Due to some discrepancy with Target, the pirates are in standby with them after test sample sales. The space also has been given over to action figures from various major companies that Target stores feels will sell more quickly.
Blue Box decided to go Amazon and launch the pirate sets there. The pirate sets are selling great online and they are running out of their first batches.
Soldier sets that are sold under (Elite force) line of Blue Box company at Target have been taken off Target stores shelves also.
The pirate set has 5 pirate poses and 5 skeleton poses in 50 mm scale
The ship has not been released but will be soon tested.
Elves, knights and orcs set is done and packed ready waiting for buyers’ decision.
Target had not signed the sole right distribution yet for the above set.
Neat how the container lid is also a terrain piece.
Yes it was used first on the first Modern nice new soldier set released by them over a year ago with same lid in different color-OG. It follow the style of safari prehistoric and animal sets in large buckets with similar(not same) type cover terrain design with small cave.
The terrain lids are great for WW2/modern trench bunker artillery emplacement. I use them for Japanese machine and mortar position. If you heat them with a hair blower for some time it will change the shape too to create some new form.
These should fit OK with recast MPC pirate ships from (e.g.) CTS, etc..
Hi i brought a set of BlueBox Pirates and Skeletons from Amazon and they are nice looking figures, There are 60 figures in total, 6 of each pose, And nice accesories. My only Gripe about them is that they only measure 45mm, Which is a bit Dissapointing. I Hope that when the Orcs and Knights figures come out they are at least 50mm or bigger?
I was in a Meijer – a Midwestern big box store headquartered in Michigan – some weeks back and they had the soldier bucket (with green terrain piece lid) the pirate bucket, the small GI Joe sized action figures, the APC to go along with the action figures, and other stuff – it looked like the whole Blue Box Elite Force military toy line. I guess when Target threw them over Blue Box cut a deal with Meijer. Aside from Amazon and Meijer, I wonder where else these excellent toys will show up?
Daniel, I saw your comment before about Meijer regional stores company. Interesting. Wonder if they(BB) did as before in target few stores a test sale to see or actually sold a hold batch to them. Because it is small company and regional compared to target nation wide I will assume it was a hold batch.
Same set appear reported as sold in few target stores in west coast then gone out shelves-typical test shot sale .
What happen is big retailers such target ,Wal Mart give priority to major license toy companies and any movie related plus action figures toys or course ,They also do from 1 to 3 year space contract often with major companies. Blue BOX elite action figures start at target in 2012 with military set soldier army coming in late 2013 early 2014. which give them the typical contract time frame ,but apparently the deal did not went again. Now we got Wal mart doing the space troopers Bucket set line first time this year but not all stores had them too and only 4 bucket stock per store I had seen so far. I had visit same stores (5 of them in past 4 weeks and only 2 sets had been sold).( WAL MART ) prefer repack products direct under their brand or distributor rather using or giving space to small companies.These smaller company produce these sets and them just seat it with other line to see any buyer coming and get-buy all . Toys r US have the fantasy set showed first here by admin made by TM brand line and military set bucket too for over 1-2 yeas so far but that is a toy store chain.
NO long ago Wal-Mart did release small tubes of ninjas and robots set with other zombies ,caveman soldiers and pirates figures too.in less than a year most were sold and not replenished after.. It is a hard and quick opportunity to try get them before gone. The producer of monster large set sold by SCS (Direct Monster set)will release a fantasy set in same scale according to a source. No words so far on what is coming with it but base on nice large poses figures done in previews monster large set I bet will be great! and again only probably on line x sale only in amazon or other site.
Erwin, it is indeed frustrating how some of these buckets of soldiers come and go very quickly, like those Imperial Army Men and Zombies etc. at Walmart. My local Target had the Blue Box Army Men buckets for a while – with the non-terrain lids. The Pirate bucket actually showed up very briefly. I never saw it but my excellent and considerate wife picked me up one before they disappeared. Later the Blue Box Army Men and Pirates showed up at Meijer. Here is a link to a map showing the Midwestern states where Meijers are located; these are big department store/grocery store combos, like Walmart; they are pretty widespread around here. While not Target, I can see why Blue Box would find it worthwhile to do business with them.
http://www.meijer.com/custserv/store_locator.jsp
Daniel,thank you interesting company even with no more than 200 stores in about 6 states only they are well keep and one of the first runner of dept. stores supermarket/dept store system in 1962 before Wal Mart and others .By the way what price are selling for in Meijer!?
The price listed in amazon seen to be higher of what the early army sets sold at target$9.99 .
And yes, I agree .Unfortunately not the main items of today toy retailers. So the fast they come the quicker we should go hunting.Look , even the 1.32 scale star wars command line sets sold out and never continued in less than year and half. The small scale do not compete versus action multipose figures of today market
Erwin, Meijer sells the buckets for $9.99, just like Target. I was very sad to see the Star Wars Command go, even though I grabbed up a bunch. Of course with Star Wars toys nothing much seems to last much more than a season – they seem to need to churn and burn. I wonder how long the current Micro Machines line will last. Though these chain store series of buckets seem to come and go, there is still a market for commercial toy soldiers. I’m always amazed that the dreck they sell in Dollar Stores sells out.
What scale was the monster set Erwin?
Tom;it was listed here in this forum, it is on amazon .
The range from 35 to 52/54 mm .But figures are about 50-54mm and come in light and dark gray. There are 11 monster figures and 2 graves. in a clear tube with plenty repeated figures/poses-100 pc total.
Here is the link.
http://www.amazon.com/Monster-Action-Figure-Bucket-Frankenstein/dp/B00W5WSN5A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1447039940&sr=8-1&keywords=big+bucket+of+monsters&pebp=1447039969726&perid=1H0T6Y06WD1S7TCWQRP0.
They had done some other set as zombie 100 pieces in 50/58 mm scale big bucket too and rare skeleton dinosaur bucket set that bring two fantasy odd scary face nice death tree. The main thing I like from it.
http://www.amazon.com/Zombie-Action-Figures-Bucket-Zombies/dp/B00KBHVSTY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1447039940&sr=8-2&keywords=big+bucket+of+monsters&pebp=1447040290639&perid=1H0T6Y06WD1S7TCWQRP0
http://www.amazon.com/Dinosaur-Skeleton-Action-Figures-Dinosaurs/dp/B00DY8QJY6/ref=sr_1_37?srs=7878987011&ie=UTF8&qid=1447040102&sr=8-37&pebp=1447040107655&perid=0YVE2E4TXQJNEANHW67F
Not really interested in the figures as they are too small for me (a shame) but might be interested in the ships if the price is right and it’s not too bad. Not expecting a Barzso or Conte job but something that could be spruced up to work.
Just went back and looked, with a little work, one could really use the ship.
The ship was listed here with pic.I think this is the first link photo of it plus figures from NYTF listed by admin.I t look more realistic than playmobil and MPC of course.
http://www.stadsstuff.com/?p=3627
any news regarding the status of the ships?
I just picked up one of the buckets via amazon. hopefully the ships will follow suit.
Our source has not heard anything more about the pirate ships.
Any news on the Fantasy Bucket. With the demise of the True Legends Mythical Warriors, we need more fantasy buckets!
What happened to the True Legends Mythical Warriors bucket – why did ToysRUs drop it? Are any of the other buckets of figures being discontinued?
They still have the Knights and Pirates buckets in stock. Either the Warriors sold to well and are OOS or they undersold and were closed out. It has been a few months since they were gone, it could be either. If they are not back by May, I think we can safely assume they are gone.
This line is considered a feeler in TRUs.
If they feel they could sale a different line or else, they retire it.The same playset all over amazon x long too. Retail stores do not hold same products more than two years in a row generally either. Big box usually less.
Well, the True Legends/Heroes Buckets (all three and the military one) are pretty sweet and a great deal for what you get. I picked up a few backup Warriors buckets while I could, it would be nice if they came back, but I will not be broken up about it. 3D printing is about 6 months to a year away from prime time, and already pretty mature in some ways.
Cheers
The True Heroes buckets (and some larger army sets in tubs and soft carryalls) have been in ToysRUs for years. They started with the revamped poses Timmee army clones, Cowboys and Indians, and knights – all with figures originally marketed in the United States in bags by Toy Major. Later on came the pirates and skeletons. The mythical warriors were the last to appear and apparently the first to go, though I think they lasted a couple of years. With these sets ToysRUs has been the most consistent big box marketer of toy soldiers. To the extent the hobby is being perpetuated with kids, ToysRUs is a mainstay.
My opinion.
I’m not trying to impose my opinion neither make those who will love see more in regular stores that nothing else is coming .Neither I want to be negative and I’m happy and very pleased when something odd and new pup up at big box retail.
But I want to be realistic and mention from my experience what is happening.
In the past I worked in retail as main bulk buyers for the largest Retail box .Walmart one of then .
As subcontractor I can attest that the mentality of these top people when tell me to go and buy was far away from this hobby. In a complete other world. I saw things I could had brought and if I try mention the intermediately boss said to me (Nope).For get it.!!!It is sad but true .
It is true those sets ,the so wasted cowboy airfix/else cloned copies generic sets,the army tim mee reworked or base in original sets,the pirates and skeletons copies of Toy Major that TRU got mold license and had then produced by XION HEI in China to make the line they create had been put in sale for few years with the 2014 fantasy set bucket as well. Yes all that is there. Is that a lot!?.
No .
TRUs and other big box stores do not bring those because they want to bring history toy armies soldiers/others to store or get children attracted to any hobby as us ;but to keep spots full with some very cheap product that dad and mom or else will buy to feel a weekend or as party gift.
If TRU were interested to bring any of the hobby line why then ,they did not brought….
Any BLUE BOX 2013 new army set,the 2014/15 Pirates,DSC monsters,DGN 2013- 7 different cheap WW2 armies sets,DGN US civil war and this new reported DGN revolution sets.??
Not to count the many others as SUNJADE Industries LTD painted sets that are very cheap in distribution ,also sold under other distributor all over online in AMAZON else at sale now.??
Also why they terminate so fast and quick all BMC playset line and not even brought business back with AMERICANA repacking x long most BMC sets.?
Even AIP could had sold very low and cheap their products .They try and TRU responded as not interested.
TRUs is not interested about bring back any toy soldiers related back to line at all for any kid benefits. They barely keep it as cheap line all over with same old stuff x years till they need replace.
Look at Wal mart line so small ,they brought few tubes with some neat ninjas,primitives,armies,space and others figures and as fast they appear they disappear.
Now last year they brought the space troopers nice bucket. Let see x how long. They just feel 1 foot space shelf with few of the bucket sets with nothing else around.
Wal mart brought plastoy and SLGHT x few years. Then discontinued Plastoy and other remaining are getting eliminated and reduced to back shelf. That is even do, the line is more costly single painted figures /animals but not much sold and according to few manager I know are easy rob target with over 17% losses per quarter from vendor report account inventory.
They brought the Star Wars Command line in 1.32 scale and it soon died down. Even though they were painted.
The Main head buyers and business at CEO level thought the right.
They can do same or more money by selling a single 3-4” action figure of Star Wars than selling these packs. They suspended the command line even few thought they will never do that.
We are lucky when few buyers out there got lucky at warehouses in China and need to feel some empty lines then choose some cheap or buy some new -nice product out of lucky chance .
When that happen directive are to buyers as to go and buy (Impulse line)=That mean in the big box mentality-Something nice packed easy to make or cheap cost to sale fast in large quantities. No fancy ,neither brand/license.
With that said. I’m happy we got once a wile some nice. But expect see same old thing x years and barely once every long a new item coming to Big stores. I wish the opposite but I can not dream as I been there and now I’m not but nothing had change and will x sure.
I agree with what Erwin says. The big box stores have no interest in toy soldiers. First what we have to realize they have only so much space for toys. They are going to look at what will sell quickly. Last year we had a heavy Star Wars push which took up lots of space. Second the perception that buyers have that toy soldiers are a space filler. In the past Wal-Mart and Target had force of Valor figures but they got complaints on the War toys or the Confederate flag so they went safe. So if they do figures they do something safe.
Bill McMasters had an in at Toy R Us that got the playsets on the shelf, but that went away. It is a losing battle for us in major retail.
I totally forgot 21 CENTURY and forces of valor.
With 21 C in Wal Mart case was the amount of losses. I was informed that for 2 years they suffer a lot losses and that hurt back to then as Wal Mart(the largest buyers claim and even sue then after years)
This because 21 century company did not provide product protection at wholesale lever purchase. Meaning if products were damage at stores ,there was not (send back or percentage cover) so Wal mart has to liquidate the product .If you visit Wal mart stores ,you will notice in many stores that because of lack in employees shift arears the dept such are toys are a mess with plenty packs open, half stolen and even played as many kids are playing in stores wile parents do shopping.
For those who had not work in Wal mart I will explain how this work.
Every store has a dept call (Claim) dept or depat 08.
It has a manger ,a supervisor and generally two employees. That direct work with Lost control dept=security .
Their work is to report inventory daily losses, robed products and to send repair those cover by manufacture once returned at store as defective/else among other to keep track if daily losses in the files.
All food/RELATED is lost 100% of course. Other products dept are according to manufactory warrantee and protection or insurance plans.
Toys with exception of major license brands are loss 100%.
In the beginning Wal Mart donate most toys to goodwill and others when open, missing or partially damage toys were taken by this dep.
But from 2001 till present Wal Mart destroy all the toys in the (Compactor-processor bail ) machine ;solely dedicated and managed by lost prevention and Claim dept personnel during such operation done three day a week before 6: 00 pm
I had ben present in Walmart during the process infinity time and it so sad see so many toys ,just because open pack or missing few pieces go to this machines that smash and destroy all .I saw cases after cases of half missing or loose out of packs 21 century go in the machine x years. I could not stop ,neither influence for any type of saving them x donation or else.
Wal mart pride is so selfish that they rather see their losses go to trash that become used by any body else. This is their mentality. They claim is to avoid any demand in non complete or damage partial products that could happen if used x donation.
I can not speak x Target ,but I can said TRU has same process but in limited way as they donate some amount during some season and by areas, contrary to Walmart
Erwin, I really value your expertise and insight. Your information about Walmart and 21st Century and the policy of destroying slightly damaged toys is depressing. I have certainly noticed how sloppy and messed up many Walmart toy departments are – I did not know that one result of this was great amounts of destroyed toys. It is certainly true that the big box chains don’t value toy soldiers. I don’t know what happened to the Blue Box buckets and pirate ships that were supposed to show up at Target. Maybe they will appear once the Star Wars frenzy dies down a bit. The Blue Box buckets that were available in Meijer stores here in the Midwest have sold out and not been replaced. I’m glad that Walmart still has the Corps Elite buckets, but as you say, for how long. That is why I am glad that ToysRUs – for all its faults in not taking other lines – has persisted in selling its True Heroes buckets for a number of years. They certainly aren’t the greatest soldiers, but they must have sold quite a few over the years, maybe planting a few seeds of interest in some kids. (I just thought of this – but if you have one of the dwindling numbers of KMarts near you check it out – they had an army bucket that was marked down last week to $5.24, roughly half price. The soldiers included are a variation of those skinny Matchbox Afrika Korps clones, but the accessories are interesting including a pair of battleships, a decent tank roughly the size of a Timmee tank, and a pretty nice attack helicopter roughly the size of the recently reissued Timmee/PP helicopter – definitely worth $5 and change.)
Thinking about the depressing situation for mass market toy soldiers, I wonder if one problem is the shrinking number of retailers. In the old days we had more variety of stores, including a lot of middle sized stores like Woolworths and Kresges that usually had a nice supply of toy soldiers as well as other inexpensive toys. Now, leaving drug stores to the side, all we have are big box stores and dollar stores. We have talked about the box stores that go for the big splashy lines of toys. As for dollar stores, pretty much all we have in my part of the US is Dollar Tree, which used to sell interesting soldiers but these days just sells junk. An interesting development is the appearance of $5,$3,$1 stores – the one nearest me hasn’t carried anything of interest. Something similar is Deals, which I think is owned by Dollar Tree. The other day I saw a $3 army set that had a pair of cheap jets, a pair of undersized tanks, and a bunch of smaller clones of the ToysRUs armymen. It was nothing to write home about, but a nice set for kids. Maybe if these sorts of places proliferate we’ll see more toy soldiers.
Daniel
Yes it is a sad situation for the mass market for toy soldiers. The stores view them with disdain. It will be interesting DGN’s American Revolutionary War set gets any play.
Daniel.
Yes of course that is part too. I agree and you are correct.
Today all is more monopolized in less variety of stores ,every year less dollars store chain exist.
Sample northeast NY,VT,MA was full of (Yankee Dollar) that carry many not see in Dollar Tree stores or the wrong label (Family Dollar and General Dollar) as not true dollar store. I just to bought many of rare dollar product toys there x years, included the Italeri copies of knights sets and others.
After years they start reducing to close down last store last years in NY and most areas. http://poststar.com/news/local/yankee-one-dollar-going-the-way-of-penny-candy/article_006a23c2-8aa9-11e3-922e-001a4bcf887a.html
Kmart after the fail union with SEARS went from worst to very bad. Because they united with the wrong already in trouble SEARS.Some said was done in purpose!!!.
Wal Mart had manipulated many vendors and use the BIG massive purchase to brake others deals(I had witness that ); this had created a big dilemma in any competing with then .
Lets not forget Wal mart has over 11500 stores in the world included 9245 regular Walmart stores.
When they buy a generic toy product x all stores the purchase is in 100 000’s to millions, versus TRU’s only 1000 aprox counting all babies RUs and few non toy related stores .
Target maintain prestige because they bring a bit more quality and descent store with more clean shelf presentation. Still they introduce food line few years ago to fight WAL MART low quality food line.
But sample during holiday season Wal Mart and Target bring about 80% of same toys TRUS carry and that kill business in TRUs too.
TRUS’s is actually paying x what they did to others ,such KB toys.
TRUs in last 25 years had close down 189 stores and reopen only 68.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toys_%22R%22_Us
The tales could go on but definitely the lack of mid size stores and even small brand family stores with few stores in areas because of the closing and also bad economic in general since 9/11 from which the country had never fully recovered are responsible in this issue.
Another big responsible are the online stores open by Amazon , ebay and even same exact retail companies such Walmart,Target and TRU that bring all the same product plus others to your house with free shipping in many cases or direct ship to near store. All that have help to the more new generation of buyers to accommodate the purchase to a limit area view in the internet and eliminate the competition plus variety as well.
At same time the future of large big store will eventually reduce to limit products as many will become available only with faster shipping to home.
Wal Mart and Amazon are in negotiation as we speak to do supermarket online with 3D programs integrated and free shipping from local stores around you. The plan is big and was first introduced in 2012 but only few legal and else matter had stop the implement.
Wal mart if officially recognized for the losses of Kmart,sears,TRUS in the competition and target had lost in past only to maintain a good prestige but never get anywhere near.
Unfortunately WM had become the monster that devour all small and any in the middle, but this had been done by others before, included TRU’s.
Their more strong competitor are still the food market or half food market stores because the quality repacked of 70% Wal Mart food is very bad.
Now if economy goes down again, those market will be in trouble as food in low prices will be the main sources and that means good sales in food x WM.
The digital era will eventually eliminate most of what we had seen and lived on.
Je… I guess I talk a lot …
and once again my view base in experience and information I receive from friends in field that pass me their latest.
Sorry my English guys..
Erwin, no need to apologize for your English; I would imagine your command of English is much better than our command our your native tongue. 😉
Thanks Wayne.I try my best
Here is a picture of the army bucket I bought for $5.24 at Kmart:
http://www.amazon.com/Just-Military-Forces-110pc-Bucket/dp/B00YQF77QU
Thanks.I appreciate the link
Yes I had seen it before there ,I think in blue label clear bucket line ,that also have a animal set and dinosaurs too.. I pass as not my like .
Any how I did not know the tank was a hybrid of Tim Mee M60 with Aurbur or Marx M26 Turret. Looks interesting to me!!
Walgreens carries the Timmee like modern GI’s, they been carrying them for years. Never really looked at them too closely they could be clones, but they do have vehicles in these rack bags. My partner claims Hobby Lobby still has BMC bags or they did until recently.
The Kmart bucket tank is interesting – it has a chassis similar to but a bit different from the TimMee tank and a different turret. It also has wheels underneath. I like the helicopter, and the battleships might be useful for someone thinking about doing a naval game. Kmart like Walgreens carries the Imperial TimMee army men and tank clones, in bags and in display boxes. The Kmart where I bought the bucket also added bags of the nice Imperial 60mm cowboys and Indians.
Hobby Lobby still sells BMC Civil War, Alamo, and Revolutionary War bags of figures, along with bags of 65mm vinyl knights and those DGN? 50mm Civil War figures. My Hobby Lobby recently added an inexpensive bag of decent Airfix cowboy and Indian clones.
Other occasional sources of toy soldiers, a step above Dollar Tree, are Dollar General and Family Dollar. Until recently Dollar General carried nice display boxes of New Ray soldiers and vehicles for $8. One of these had a pretty neat armored car that was close to 1/32 scale.
Yes I had seen all those x so many years all over.
Dollar general start with the new ray redistributed Abraham ,tiger and the long ago made canadian LTV model in 2013.
They brought a nice merkava tank too but now is almost gone.Brian and me bought it.
They bring back every late october or november x holiday s toy sales
Then restock back up in upper shelfs to bring summer toys or pack back in store back room .Depending every store inventory or space.they also transfer stock store to store as excange sale product by area sale rating where stores are located.
New ray tanks models are carry in small hobby line shelf of Michael craft stores too.
Big lot bough all left over dragon can do 1:35 scale soldiers sets,after company discontinued the line.
Vendor machines got acces to then too.
But pretty much is all over and reused.
Dollar store and family dollar do vendor purchase every three years.they often send the buyers to Chinese wholesale warehouse in California ports.No even China.
But once again most all same old repackaged unfurtunatelly.
Today u can find more new items first at online most time.
I notice the monster classic set had become high priced now at Amazon.
A new monster set come out too in buckets
More type non classic creepy monsters from 60 to 80 ?
Any how I pass in most at stores as I have then long ago or wasted mold.
No my like.
This recent thread was started by a report that the ToysRUs Mythical Warriors were listed as out of stock at the TRUS web site. That and the subsequent discussion made me curious to check out a few places. I had a 10% off coupon from ToysRUs burning a hole in my pocket so I headed there first. My nearest store has a tub and lots of buckets of the True Heroes armymen. There were at least two buckets of the pirates and skeletons, and one bucket of knights. There was also one bucket of Mythical Warriors and I grabbed it. In the $5-1 section they had bags of 25 JaRu 45-50mm Gulf War soldiers for $2 – overpriced in my opinion, but better that the super skinny, virtual flats Matchbox clones that I saw the last time I was there.
Family Dollar – nothing
Dollar General – they have replaced the nice New Ray Victorious Mission $8 sets with an inferior set with some thinner soldiers and vehicles and accessories made from what looks like thinner and more fragile plastic.
Kmart – the buckets are gone – not surprising at $5.24. There were still plenty of Imperial TimMee army clones, both in bags and in the display box. The cowboys and Indians were sold out, but had been replaced by bagged sets of Imperial firemen and a fire engine, police and vehicles, and construction workers and construction vehicles. In the $5-1 section there were little $3 mini-tubes by Boley – including 45 mm clones of Airfix, Matchbox, and TimMee soldiers and a tube of the small, skinny zombie clones that briefly made an appearance at Walmart a while back.
Bottom line – if you want the Mythical Warriors bucket, there may be a few lingering on the shelves of your local ToysRUs.
I’m not really in to anything between 1/72 and 1/32 or 54mm scales, but I did pick up a couple of the sets at Dollar General recently as I thought the truck and HUMMV included in the sets (I’ve seen two variations, one with the truck and the other with the HUMMV) weren’t too bad and with a paint job might be useful to me. And the price at $8 isn’t too bad. I figured if I could use anything else it would be gravy. The figures aren’t all that great but might paint up okay.
Yes Wayne I got that HUMMV..I like it too.In fact I got two of them and they come with the wasted new ray figures that were cloned from ARCO or other ?!.I may had a blink there!!-Sorry
By the way you guys may want check Walgreens has a nice more detailed replica Humvee ,least my stores near me.$6.99 till last week I saw.
I’ll have to check out our local Walgreen’s.
Daniel I try post from my phone before one comment and looks like I went nowhere I will try rewrite it again.
Admi if come double I apologies as do not know what happen.
Oh here is ..
I had pass in most as I had overseen those x many years all over either repacked all else.
Dollar General new ray was a 2012 purchase made after TOY FARE by then(the buy every three years to feel warehouse distribution) on seasonal items. Most are second had products or left over.
Also they send to warehouse ports located in California were the ships with cheap imports from china load their container and do purchases at port on hand.
New Ray Abraham, Tiger 2,the LTV base in Canadian nato model and long ago produced were repacked and distributed to be sold in DG from 2013 .I may miss other models..
They put then in shelf out usually by October or November x holiday sales.
After they restock to upper shelf or put back in cases and inventory in back room till next season to make space for spring/summer toys lay out.
Remember Dollar general toy section is one double or single isles according to store space. Most range from 9 -12 000 sq FT.
So the New Ray you saw are left over not sold from previews years. Also same as Family dollar they do store to store transfer after finding area/item best sale.
So chances are you find the same armor missing in one been sold in another not far from it.
DG did carry an odd Merkava and Abraham 1.32 scale motorized in box that armor fan Brian and me got in 2014/15 ,after is almost gone disappear out all shelf/stores.
Family Dollar from 2003-2008 bough a lot left over star wars and sold then in single pack from 2-5.00 each depending.
Big Lot bough dragon can do 1.35 scale German ww2 sets figures and sold then cheap after company kill the line .After the left over from Big Lot were distributed or sold to machine vendor suppliers.
Like I said is a lot of left over around but most repeated second hand products unfortunately …
I had pass most..
http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/1jcAAOSwI-BWO86i/s-l1600.jpg RE:Merkava if anybody comes across one in your travels I’m always looking for them.Paul has my email address,Thanx.
http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/muoAAOSwwbdWO87O/s-l1600.jpg Different view
Brian u had not completef the platoon yet? 🙂 🙂 🙂
Nein,LOL.
Erwin, your knowledge is fantastic! I really liked those New Ray sets. Given that there is a Dollar General in every single little town in southern Indiana and northern Kentucky, I may start dropping in to them as I pass by to see if they transferred in some of the leftover New Ray boxes.
Daniel I try help passing.All vendors see each other all time and pass/share info about the store company we buy to.
Try visit the store in the season they pull the toys out back room best.
Dollar General and family dollar do not destroy inventory at all.They kept till sold but also buy in much less quantity.
Never ask an ast manager.They last few there and replaced often.Better ask store manager.Of course there exception .
Hi have any of you guys heard anything more about the BlueBox Knights vs Orcs tub of figures?
Ive been patiently waiting for them to come on the market but as far as i can tell there’s no sign of them. Perhaps the distributers are waiting until the New Warcraft Movie comes out in June, As that may persuade more people especially the kids to buy the figures after they’ve seen the film to re-enact the battles. If the figures dont come out in stores like Target or TRUs i would imagine that they will come out on Amazon just like the BlueBox Pirates and Skeletons which i brought a tub of. If the figures are not out by July i would start to worry that they may never come out? So as i say guys anyone know anything about them?
No me.Sorry
Hi Erwin ok that’s fair enough but do you think they will be out sometime this year? Hopefully. If at all?
Darren they can not swallow what they did I think; so my though is ,they will come out soon or later. When ??.It is a lotto question. If I get any info trust me, you guys will know here first. But I’m not after the information now …So my bets is they will pup up online first.
Sorry I can not help on it…
Hi Erwin ok thanks for the info, Yeah i always check this site out for New information and upcoming figures, As i think its one of the best websites, I know you will let us know if you have any new information regarding the BlueBox figures plus any other figures, So i guess i will just have to be patient, But thanks anyway, Im hoping they will be out sometime this year?
Resently I promote the ARW DGN brand new sets.So far not a single store had then.
It clearly show the lack of interst promoting any history using standard sinple army toys.
And these represent the war that made America free to become the first new world country free of European power.
Most sale non history related if bring something is like pirates generic ,mosters Dragon ,fantasy or just moder armies.
Most to match few games or movies out.
The cowboys and indians are only left and poorly cheap sets in most.
Few will pull any civil war or ARW
It is sad.Education system also had help in the non promoting history campaign by skipping or mention it only superficial.
Speaking of New Ray, I see a “new” 1/32 jeep online that looks better detailed than there older 1/35 Jeep. I am not sure if this is the old one repackaged and labeled 1/32 or a new version. Does anyone know?
If is new ray brand is exact same.
I have the new ray 2016 catalog line.
New ray did cast line is been sold under another distributor now.They had done nothing new in armor since.
They just keep repackaging then every year.
I notice no long ago new ray armor pack in cases with 1:32 scale depicted .No the 1:35.
But those were pack by a differet seller distributor.
Thanks Erwin! CTS has one listed and the hood opens and I couldn’t remember if the old one had that feature.
Your welcome Tom!
Yes It is in the reedited revised version and second edition had the pull back action too.
By the way the New ray military line is not longer offered by new ray company but a distributer who took over most their stock. I miss spoke mention new ray 2016 catalog. Sorry
here is the main seller for then importing from China.
Y & W INTERNATIONAL INC.
http://WWW.YWTOYS.COM. But this is at wholesale scale. I check the 2016 catalog I got from them and still there.
Here In US the main seller at best prices is
//www.3000toys.com/catalog/products.aspx
Another distributor/seller is (In air classic amour) that distribute then in the kit configuration case packed for stores such as Hobby lobby, Michael and others
The MILITARY line is not cast/made any more from New Ray factory with except of trailer truck carrying a tank I think. Discontinued since 2013.
Happy to see that I caused this thread to blow up! I saw Erwin mentioned mold licensing. With the flurry of prepainted fantasy figures over the past 10-15 years, I am surprised that someone has not licensed some of the cool monsters molds from Dreamblade (Wotc/Hasbro), Mageknight (Wizkids) or another line. Do preorders with a Kickstarter (ala Reaper Bones) or via Hobby/Comic store direct distribution.
There is only another year or two left for this business model of to work with enthusiast, home 3d printing is really almost ready for primetime.
Bad news about Blue Box fantasy set! I just read this on the Fantasy Toy Soldiers blog.
I bet if the Warhammer movie is a big hit this summer, Blue Box will be kicking themselves.
http://fantasytoysoldiers.blogspot.com/
“I recently got some bad news about the Bluebox Elves v. Orcs set that I have been eagerly anticipating for the last several months. My friend Joseph Svec got in touch with someone at the company and learned that it is not going to be produced. Joseph sent me the email blow about a week ago, but I have been so busy that I just read it today.
Greetings Shaun,
I looked up the contact information of Blue Box USA to inquire regarding the status of the 54mm Orcs & Elves figure set shown at Toy Fair last year, and the response was, “the Orc / Elves set did not go into production for 2016 and we have no plans to produce this in the future.”
I asked if one could purchase test samples or prototype figures and mentioned that I had heard that some sets had been produced, and received the below reply.
“Sorry – proto types are not for sale. We’ll show them again at future
events.
We definitely did not produce any live product.”
That is disappointing, as I think based on the photos I saw, they were the best new fantasy figures I have seen in ages in ages.
I thought you would want to know.
I hope all else is well,
Joseph
So, it is still possible that it will be produced someday, but don’t hold your breath. “
Sad news indeed! I wonder what the word is about the continued production of the army and pirate buckets, not to mention the promised pirate ship. This confirms everything that Erwin has been saying about the toy soldier market and big box chains. If the army and pirate buckets are going to disappear, at least we had them – they were lovely figures, the armymen much better than most anything else current in the mass market. Only the Corps Elite figures were comparable, and in a very different style. By the way, if you like fantasy figures Shaun’s site is indispensable.
Dan
I have been checking and found that Blue Box cancel the pirate ship and knight bucket. The company felt that they did not get enough orders for these items. Maybe in the future they will do it. This happens a lot in the toy industry. Items are shown at toy fair and if the sales are not strong enough it is cancel despite the cost of molds or samples. Sadly it is the way business was done.
I hold better breath in see then release by another much later.
When things like this happen generally they sale the mold/else right away.
This is because lack of interest at big purchase let producer/maker stop any mass production.BB is fast smart company of non stop 60 years, they won’t loose time/money holding a mold invested and some stock. (Specially figures mold, not ship).They will try push it up some how by selling to some one that will release it in the lower market probably.
My thoughts!!
Any how I will not wait for then and if come ;WELCOME!!!
x those waiting in nice orcs, wait for new coming from Russia.
those orcs will be nice armed and in armor.
Hey Erwin, what scale are the orcs? It says they are underscale and based on Zvezda orcs, which were quite nice, but only 28mm. Will these be a little bigger than that? Anything 40mm and over would be usable.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iE2_6q9D82A/UEe6Wg48gQI/AAAAAAAAAKU/9koyel2PuiA/s1600/Zvezda-Orc-001.jpg
Zvezda orcs:
Will be 50 mm scale according to update of one person.I will have two set on the mail soon.
They are definitely above 45 mm and base on those armored orcs with Viking type horned helmet, but not exact poses as Zvesda.
So far 4 poses plus one extra weapon to create a 5 poses.
Hi, I’ve been lurking here for quite awhile but never really thought about posting before now. I found the BBI pirate buckets at a Wal-mart last week about 30 miles from where I live in central PA. I was just browsing and had no idea they would have them there. I bought one bucket then and another one tonight. They’re priced at $8.88 each which is a great price. There looked to be about 12 buckets or so on the shelf. Just wanted to let you guys know so you can look out for them if so inclined. It’s a real shame about the pirate ship. I hope BBI finds a way to market it.
Joe-You mean Blue Box -BB right!? with blue and tan figures inside?
Sorry, you’re probably right. I was thinking they were the same company. The bucket has the Elite Force logo, the terrain piece for a lid, and contains the blue skeleton pirates and the tan pirates with the nice female sculpt. I’ll see if I can post some pics tomorrow of what I got and get some more pics up later in the week of the product on shelf. They were in the toy section but I don’t know how to categorize the aisle I found them in. One side of the aisle had things like some girls’ doll toys and the buckets were on the other side of that aisle. It didn’t look as though anyone had bought any since my purchase last week as there was only one empty spot. I hope these sell well and maybe they will once the weather starts getting better and kids need sandbox toys and such. Anyway, I don’t know what Wal-mart having these means for the future of the line but I figured you guys that know about this kind of thing could maybe shed some light on what’s going on.
Joe.Yes those are no need pictures we all see before I guess ,Also showed in fantasy blog link.http://fantasytoysoldiers.blogspot.com/2015/05/bluebox-pirate-crew.html
Thanks…
Yes those are BB and come after the army same elite force, it part of same series/line small bucket line.
Same been in Amazon for some time after announced by Stads here.
Interesting pupping up at Walmart locally. Any PA Walmart should get then too if was regional purchase distribution .So may be regional impulse or distribution test. Like happen to few Targets stores last year and the gone.
Can you post stock number or other info. I’d like to see if a local WM or online has it as well. $8.88 is a good price.
Cheers!
After looking on the internet, I think it’s the SKU you’re looking for. I’m going past that Walmart tomorrow so I’ll stop in and look. I think it should be on the price label on the shelf. I’ll then post it here tomorrow evening if that’s okay.
Joe
That will be fine.
Joe if you can and able to take picture of the actual WM label(Yellow and white) in the shelf will be great, I can do much better with that information that any from buckets,buckets come from factory and unless repack by company selling it nothing change, I got one long ago from amazon.
Its perfect legal to take a picture of label in WM.
If any ask you, tell yo are a private person, not comp researcher please.
There’s a Hobby Lobby here in town where I live. I was in there last week, about the only BMC bagged sets they had left where The American Revolution and Civil War. The rest of the bag sets are made in China knock offs.
The amount of free fantasy figures in the 3D print verse is already staggering, and I assume in other genres as well. With high quality printers now below $300 (with hacking) and $400 (plug and play) and filament at $15/kg, our universe if about to get more varied and colorful. It will not be thru the big box retailers it seems.
Oh yeah, if anyone is looking for/dreamed of a really cool modular castle and isn’t afraid of spending money, I give my full recommendation to:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dwarvenforge/dwarven-forges-castles-3-d-modular-terrain-for-gam/description
It is for 25mm/32mm scale. It is still ongoing and more stuff be added for free/paid.
And if you have less money, but want cool castle/city stuff and a have a 3d printer:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/winterdale-2-medieval-fantasy-citadel-collection#/story
This one has ended but can still be funded and ever more models are being opened up.
Cheers!
Jack
The figures are mostly 25mm. The cost for a good quality printer is above the 300 hundred dollar threshold and the time to make the figure is time consuming. Right now a scanned person figure can cost $75.00 and higher depending on the size of the figure. It is not there, but is coming in the next few years.
Thank you for your thoughts. As to printed terrain and such, well crafted digital files and be scaled up and down, unless going very large, scale is not that much of an issue.
Recently I have had some prints done for me that were astonishingly good, so much so that I have just sold off a good amount of my Dwarven Forge Terrain and will be picking up a sub USD 300 printer this weekend from the specialist that did the printing for me. This field is moving very fast, combo machines scanners, printer, plotters/CNC machines are also popping up. But yes, it is still a bit away from mainstream, but not that far off. Even Mattel is getting in on the action:
http://techcrunch.com/2016/02/15/mattel-unveils-thingmaker-a-300-3d-printer-that-lets-kids-make-their-own-toys/
Jack
It is getting cheaper every day and everything is moving fast. It is like the personal computer early days when you had to pay $800.00 for a dot matrix printer. I just replace my laser printer $50.00 plus sales tax. It is going fast. The problem is doing high quality 54mm figures. right now a figure is taking time and is expensive. The scan figure takes at least hour possible more if it is multi color. $76.00 and up. Next year it could change base on some things we are seeing. Keep us aware of your new project
Hi Attack Jack, Like you 3d printing is something ive been looking into lately as i think its probably the future for people like us that’s interested in Toy Soldiers. Ive read the comments from other people on this website and i agree that this subject is in its infancy but the Technology is definately good enough now in my opinion for 3d printing Toy Soldiers, But i also agree that the machines are a bit expensive at the moment. Ive looked around the internet and theres not much going on from what i can see, But the best site ive found is http://www.3dshook.com As far as i can tell they are just starting out 3d printing Toy Soldiers but they’ve got some really nice looking figures on there with more to come i hope. So at the moment instead of buying an expensive machine and doing it yourself you could get a company like this to print them for you at a reasonable price. As i say its something i want to get into eventually but it probably isn’t the time yet.
All test preproduction design figures and toys done by toy factory are done using A 3D sample before final approval. Of course the minimum 3D scanner /printer used at factory industrial cost at company level is between 5000 to 25000 USD
These are machine that do not get hot and need cooling every time doing one sample and uses 0.01-0.02 detail .
When u see the sample pictures of EXPE DITIONARY FORCES SOLDIERS ,those are done in 3D.
The main problem is the heat and cooling and detail of deep detail.
It will take some years before the same machines are down in prices to general public.
By then we will be able to use our imagination.
however 3D creator are looking a way to increase price in other way.
No high quality printer is that price at all.
Sorry.
But the future ,problaby by 12/15 years or so from now this hobby will be reduced in the new products big time too as 3D will avalible for many indiduals to make their own small sets of their like or choice.
That will affect the sales and new makers big time as many more selfmaker will be making figures with out need to wait.
And in the world of new production it well could be a Death .
For now is far in the infancy steps I can tell and assure it.
Hi Erwin you probably know much more than me about this subject and i agree with you, But i think things could move very fast and perhaps be available mainstream in perhaps just a few years. I wouldn’t be to bothered about 3d printing if there were many Great figures coming out, But instead its just a steady drip of figures from mainly just a few Eras and a few countrys like the U.S. and recently Russia. Where countrys like England where im from produces vertually nothing now, Where as years ago we was one of the biggest and best producers of Toy Soldiers up until say the mid 80s. Also another thing that would push me towards 3d printing is the lack of certain figures that rarely or never come out in 1/32 scale such as certain Fantasy figures and Historical figures like Aztecs, Egyptians or Saxons to name but a few. For instance i was really looking forward to the BlueBox Fantasy set but was very dissapointed when they were cancelled.Because lets face it another set like that may not come out for years? So with a reasonable 3d printer you could just shrug it off and make some yourself, But of course as has already been mentioned we are not there yet,But i live in Hope.
Darren I agree. Technically will be less time.
I just put an estimated and over exaggerated .
The only thing I see .It won’t be x long production or large quantities x long.
Yes, we will be able to do many limited run figures x sure and will be a lot fun.
So eventually the profit era of toy soldiers in this hobby will died down in most as long production won’t be in demand and 3D self product will be easy handy.
Hi Erwin im not bothered about huge armies of thousands or even hundreds of figures. I would be very Happy and very satisfied with limited runs of certain figures, That would be fine by me and yes it would be a lot of fun. If someone could produce a small set of say 20 Fantasy figures in 10 poses or 20 Inca figures in 10 poses for example for a reasonable price i would certainly be interested in buying a set.
Darren.I may had miss explain myself wrong.
What I mean ,is x hobby sellers will be bad as they won’t be able to receive large quantities from maker to resale.So will affect their supply profit line.
So x individual purpose may be great as small quantities as far issue with detail and plastic material cost and quality get better.
Historical poor or never represent figures will be great.
Still x makers with idea to sake to wholesale and hobby stores will not be good even in short production make sets of such type as they will and had never been.in demand.
The amount of collectors that all collect all eras are much less than those collecting the more demanded era figures such WW II,Napoleonic,US civil war…
Sets of Incas and conquistadors are not that high demand as either short history period,poor movie represented and exploted or else.
So once the 3D is avalible persons to do their own w detail, it will be a blessing.
For those w business depending in long production will be a hurt.
For those investing in short run 3D production they will need to continue trying making sets of high demand not exclusively poor represented sets in order to gain profit quick or they will got stock w then x long before sale.
Darren
The problem is time and cost. Looking at 3d shook the average time to make one figure is two hours. for some people that is too long and also the cost of the plastic. You are correct on the need and desire for short runs. In our hobby the runs that TSSD have done are the way of the past because of the time it take to initial run. Short runs are the key to the future of the hobby. 3D printing will do it how soon is the guess.
Hi yes i see your right about that, Im still learning about 3d printing as ive only just started looking up on it. As you say short runs are the future and would satisfy many collectors. Ok at the moment we are not there but Hopefully in a few years.
In 15 years I will either be 80 years old or more probably dead. I hope it becomes affordable and less time consuming before then.
Old toy soldier collectors never die, they just get brittle and crumble into little bits.
Ed ,it was aprox.
I hope u be alive and playing still.
Yeah I know. I already have a 3d printing figure of me. I’m already immortal.
LOL!!!
Erwin, tell me more about the new orcs from Russia that you mentioned? Are they from Tehnolog or another company? How do I get some? I’ll post about them whenever I can get my hand on them.
Nevermind, I read the Romans post. Those figures look amazing.
Shaun they are great figures as you saw they are based on Zveda’s Orcs.
FWIW, I saw maybe 4 of these buckets at one of my local Wal-Marts yesterday. I was a bit shocked to see them. Priced just under $15.
Do you have the stock info?
Hi Patrick What figures are you talking about mate?
True X Warriors set and the Knights set are now both OOS on TRU.com 🙁 Pirates is still available!
It was expected.As I mentioned before,they are impulse merchandise and so far almost 3 years there.So it last a lot.Any how there plenty in amazon still.
This is sad news. Erwin knows the business, and I guess ToysRUs could not sustain such a range of figures – at one point they had police and firefighters and cowboys and Indians as well as the knights and fantasy figures. I’m glad the excellent pirates and skeletons are still around, at least for a time. What will be really interesting is to see if they drop their line of armyman sets – the buckets, bins etc.
TRU will need feel theur impulse space soon,either new stuff or repacked same items will come back eeventually.
The pirates and skeletons were firs designed as painted figures x TM=Toy major LTD in 2003,I got their original ,as off 2008 I notice first with out TM logo bellow base come unpainted and bit (2-4 mm ) lowers in size.(I can provide pictures of both x compere too).
TM still have their original Chinese artist designed 12 nice poses knights made for the dragons and fantasy creatures ,they did.
Here is main (trading wholesale business level) main web site line where you can see what they carry as off today, not all is theirs,only TM stamped had been done x then such knights,fantasy,animals-dinosaurs and pirates skeletons.
http://www.toymajor.net/
Just checking back here a year later to see if there was more info on the excellent Blue Box pirate ship. One of those dream items that never made it to market yet, I guess. If you have any update on these, I’d like to see it Erwin. I’ll check out toymajor website.
I went overboard on the Skeleton figures (Jason and the Argonauts style warriors) and double ordered so I have a couple hundred purchased about a year ago. I would rather have had the extra pirates figures instead. I have plenty of ships to man! It was just be nice to have the Blue Box ship as part of the fleet!