We have just heard from Ed Borris what Barzso Playset’s next offering will be for OTSN. Ed tells us that Ron Barzso told him his next offering will be a foam Roman Coliseum. Ed does not know how big it will be as Ron did not have one on display. Ron hoping to have some seated Roman figures and a pair of gladiators to go with it. As we get more details we will pass them along.
We thank Ed for the information.
Is ED some kind of MOLE in BARZO’S company?
Will it be carpe diem or caveat emptor ?
No, not a mole he’s just a friend that lives near by.
Everything Ron Barzso does is great, and I’m sure the Roman Coliseum will be no exception. But I wonder what has become of our Battle of Yorktown playset, with the 8-10 sculpts that Ron has already completed? Ed, I know you and Ron are both in the Chicago area, and you’ve been to Ron’s house before, so the next time you see him you can pass along my question, in the friendly spirit in which I intend it.
I’m sure Barzso has dozens of unsolicited suggestions every year for what his next playset should be. I myself wish he would consider doing a Trojan Horse, and possibly a “Walls of Ilium” sculpt, to go along with all my Atlantic Greeks and Trojans, and my Conte Spartans. About a year ago, I was bidding on ebay for the Atlantic Trojan Horse, which was actually part of Atlantic’s HO set, but was quite big enough to use with 1/32 scale figures as well. Needless to say, the bidding quickly escalated out of sight, and I was left mourning my ill-advised decision to sell my own a few years back.
I still lament the cancellation of Barzo’s PARTISAN & SS CALVARY Play Set.
I would have ordered it in a second!
I wish Ron would at least post the photos for posterity.
Trust me, this Coliseium puts Marx’s Ben Hur one to shame, no comparison. It is bigger, wider and taller than Marx with loads of detail work done by Jim Clouse. There is a curved section and I believe two different straight sections so you can make your arena as big or as small as you want. No I’m not a mole either, just a good friend Ed’s who happens to close by and Ron lives within a 40 minute drive of both of us. We were given the official OK to start spreading the word.
Mike k
Mike
Thanks for the update
PLAYMOBIEL also did a pretty good Coliseum and Roman War Ship!
Playmobil!!??Not a bad one, better than Marx actually!!.I bought two and made one big size, add some statues and look much better than Marx.Perffect scale too…
Don,
I will pass on your message.
I wonder if Ed Borris and Mike Kutnick know if the Roman coliseum is going to be part of a complete playset with box, as opposed to just a stand alone structure, like some of Ron’s other building creations have been (like his Southwestern adobe church) of a few years back. I’m hoping for a complete playset with one of Ron Lizorty’s nicely-designed boxes.
All of a sudden it occurs to me, since Ron Barzso is known to like surprises, that he might, conceivably, be planning on releasing a Yorktown Playset, along with a separate, stand-alone Coliseum.
I remember standing in the TSSD room at OTSN 2-3 years back, and offered a suggestion to Nick about future production. Nick tried very hard to be patient and polite, but I remembered seeing his eyes glaze over with a look of, “Here’s another guy full of suggestions on how I can risk my money.” I realized then that neither Ron nor Nick necessarily needed a bunch of pennyante advice from someone who wasn’t simultaneously prepared to make a substantial investment contribution.
I don’t know for sure, but I think the sales will be like the Civil War fort. If he produces figures too I think it will probably be in small bagged sets. That’s what I assume anyway, I got the feeling that the method of distribution is still up in the air to some degree.
I would love to see the Yorktown set. I feel the hobby needs Rev War figures outside of the traditional militia and Grenadiers. Light Infantry, artillery, Dragoons, as well as French and Hessians. Yorktown could also make a good Stony Point scenario w/ the lights.
Hi John
I have corrected your spelling mistake, it happens. The hobby needs more Rev War, the problem is can the hobby support it?
You know I think I heard it on the History channel, but they used to be able to move the floor of the coliseum, they had naval, and jungle battles in it as well. I don’t know if that is true or not, but it was on one of the history channels ( I am almost certain ) I heard it on.
Ed C
What you heard on the History Channel was corrected in regards to the games. The games were an involved process that went over several days. They did naval battles and much more. It was a waste of people and animals.
I used to be huge Barzso collector, but I don’t think that I have bought anything since the Braddocks Defeat playset. I still may pick up his last Rev War set, but it really doesn’t speak to me like his original sets did.
Romans….not for me.
Oh well, there is alway next year!
All for their entertainment, and amusement. And they thought that was civilized, and everyone else were barbarians, and savages. Too bad Spartacus didn’t conquer all of Rome.
I think Ron’s stuff is the best new production stuff made. The poorest selling figures for me that he has made are the Rev War figures. I don’t know why as they are very nice. I think his playset sales were slow as well so that could put the kibosh on any more AWI sets.
It’s maybe bad luck with Barzso. When he decided to do injected molded plastic figures they didn’t sell well. It was great for us but if he chose to do his Pirates and maybe Mexican War Americans, he would have had better luck in plastic sales I think. The Robin Hood/Sheriffs Men just had too many design, historical flaws for lovers of the Medieval age to get enthusiastic about. Arrow quivers slung over the back instead of attached to the belt. Puffy sleeves on the Robin Hood figures a style seen in the late 16th and 17th Centuries. The Sheriffs Men also looked retro/ Marx 50’s style and kind of awkward except for maybe half of the 8 poses.
I just don’t think AWI has a big enough following to generate the large sales needed for a plastic injection figure. Many sets generate overseas sales with England being a large buyer. I don’t think many sets would be sold in England depicting the loss of one of their best colonies.
As far as Robin Hood, how much historical accuracy can you have for a fictional character?
I know it just struck me as funny, he was a fictional character in a certion time period and the figures should have been accurate for that time period.
Ed B
The over sea market is a big part of equation today. AWI is not popular period in Europe, the big ones are Napoleonic, WWII and American Civil War. TSSD Mexican Lancers that are coming out this year, can be used for Napoleonic Wars.
True enough, Europe is important to any sales. Robin Hood figures may not have done well, (maybe they did I don’t know), but I bet the castles did really well. Medieval figures probably sell better in Europe than they do here, we didn’t have a medieval period here in the states. It actually surprises me how much interest they have in our Civil War in Europe.
Yes, Robin Hood is a fictional character but novelists have placed him in the era of King John (early 1200’s). Some placed him in the high mark of Medieval outlaws in years of the Black Plague 1300’s. During both era’s Archers wore their quivers around their waist belts (Airfix and Britains got this right in the 60’s with their figures) and puffy sleeves was a fashion in the late Renaissance. On Ed’s statement that we didn’t have a Medieval era here in the USA therefore interest may be lacking – we’ll if your a Caucasian your ancestress were all a part of the Medieval experience! Unless you can trace your ancestry to some unknown European settlers who got here before Columbus?
Sorry I will like to clear one detail please with all respect;Caucasian were not the only ones with European medieval time and I hope it included the rest of Europeans such as Italian , Spaniards ,Celts, Slavic too; of whom there plenty in the US too. In fact Florida , California ,Texas and many other region in today US land was conquered, explored and colonized by European Spaniards with plenty of medieval background way before any English, Dutch or French. All Chinese and Asians as well mid east people had medieval background too with long history and similar, not same as European armor/style,else
American civil war is not as popular in Europe anymore. Most collector use then for the Indian /war conflicts and other. Germans before ww2 and after love the Indian western conflict period and use the civil war for that reason most.UK is the main collector of true civil war soldiers because the historian buff love to recreate major battles. In France I have notice that some use civil war infantry figures because the hat/kepi resemble the French kepi used from 1854-1914 for the mid late XIX century conflict. For which none European company has produce figures in quantities. I agree with rest as in order of interest; in first place knights/medieval time, follow by ancient/roman, Napoleonic and ww1/ww2 period.Ressently I been informed that the Russian army used same (US civil war kepi) and similar uniform in the 1850/60’ Poland uprising wars and Balkans/turkey campaign conflict too. Polish collector like to use recast of union 60 mm scale Marx soldiers for that period being painted as match same scale of few polish figures done in Poland in late 60/70’.AIP union figures are a top seller in Europe because of that according to AIP owner as well.
ACW is still very popular in Europe. With the U.K. Spain Germany & Italy being the main supporters.
yes for the main reason above, they use then as those country armies used similar uniform/armies with same or similar hat/kepi. Or in fact US copied the French style uniform/kepi in many ways and used during civil war with variation during it.
I had seen many us civil war soldiers made by Italian,UK factories painted on very European colorful uniform by Italian, Spain and German collectors. In UK many collectors used the solid timpo ,charben and others to paint as French for Mexico France war,Italian unification war,Austro French war, French army during Crimea war and Franco Prussian war. Then AIP come with more sets that also are bought for that reason. Painting plastic is a plus in Europe, a simple paint job could convert the union standard uniform figure in to many European soldiers. Polish collectors buy then too,for representation of Russian infantry and light cavalry from the 1860’s last uprising against the Russian occupation. What European like most for us is the western and Indian as is something complete new for then and unique from one country only, plus thousand of movies done about versus so few done about ACW.IMany European figures were done as US cavalry more than civil war, then given grey and blue color to match and compete with US .But they were generic one type uniform done originally-sample jean hoefler,Atlantic,cane.reamsa,oliver,comansi,timpo swap(one figures uniform representing most typical US cavalry POSES against Indians)then later recast in two colors for civil war.
Others such as timpo solid confederate ,starlux few rebels were done different for the rebel side only, in Europe those did not sale that well any ways. Today ACW kepi uniform figures sale most/more compare to hat /sombrero confederate type in Europe
I know Robin Hood was about an era it just struck me funny, obviously you weren’t amused.
I meant to the extent we do not have medieval castles and the feudal lord system here in North America, the land mass that we pass daily on our way to work or go visit routinely like they can do in Europe. We have Medieval Times, but that doesn’t count.
No offense, I didn’t get the joke. Thought you were serious. You have a point about the surroundings and the Medieval presence in everyday life. I am frustrated that none of the current plastic makers take interest in the Medieval era with the exception of the Russian PVBLIVS and Replicants which are hard to get. Because Plastic figures of the Medieval era seemed to focus on the armored knight, it is hard to have an army for this period due to lack of quality Archers, Men-At-Arms and Peasant infantry. As far as 100 yrs War period Accurate/Revell put out a nice set but in 1/35 scale. Nothing since. You would think with the Game of Thrones that someone would take advantage of the popularity.
The Barzso Robin Hood figures were slow sellers at first but then caught fire. I sold out and can’t get any more. In 1/32 the top sellers for me are WWII and the American Wild west era figures. After that civilian figures come in 3rd. Then ACW, then Napoleonic/Alamo/1812 Figures, then Medievals and ancients. In 1/72 Colonial Wars are #1, followed by WWII, then Napoleonic/Alamo.1812 then WWI, then medievals and ancients, then ACW.
I am curious about why Barzso AWI figures do not sell.
As I recall, the first new figure release in years were Accurate and they chose AWI as their first release. And they were made in the UK. They sold like hotcakes.
ACTA, IMEX, AIP and BMC all followd with various sets of AWI figures. Several of them were multiple sets, including artillery, Lights, Marylanders, assorted cavalries and Hessians.
Perhaps it’s due to the figures themselves.
Maybe the poses are unrealistic and not well sculpted.
Compared to Accurate, Call to Arms or Imex how do they match up.?
Perhaps consumers are no longer just buying anything that comes their way and are being more selective in their choices.
All of the above
None of the above.
I bought some of Barzo’s stuff, however I did not like the size of the figures, and the under scaled weapons at all. Davy wouldn’t have killed a bear with that knife, unless it was a cub, or hibernating. I bought a pretty good amount of his woodland Indians as well, it was the same problem.
I love Robin Hood. and in actuality, I have an ancient map of England that shows, King Richard’s castle, Nottingham, and Sherwood forest, it is very neat, and it is a copy of a real map. I really like the medieval time period, and early america might not have been exactly like the feudal system, but it was awfully close. Indentured servants, slaves, share cropping, etc.
Some of the best knight miniatures ever done in my opinion were by Tom Meir, Not sure on exact spelling on his last name, but check out his knights of camelot, he sculpted the Thunder Bolt figures. I sent him an email a long time ago to resize, and articulate those knights, he never responded. I asked for a quote, even if it was only single figures.
I like the American west as well, especially the Indians. Civil war is ok. I mainly used those figures, as western cavalry soldiers as well. WWII is ok. I don’t really care for modern stuff that much. I don’t really care for space stuff either. Not that it isn’t neat, I just had to make choices, on certain areas to collect, I couldn’t collect every period.
Not to mention some of these figures, aren’t inexpensive. Therefore I am very selective on what I buy. Some people probably scratch their heads, lol. I don’t buy big playsets, because of expense, and space. Thats not to say I won’t ever, or have not ever bought one, just typically, no. I don’t like the foam stuff either, its way to easy to damage, and I have had problems with it. I think its way overpriced personally.
The tech is out there now, that you can get laser cut wood buildings, for the kind of prices people are asking for foam. I can’t believe no one has done a decent castle. I am not talking out of foam either. The guy that was doing the B & T building did beautiful work, but he doesn’t do it anymore, so getting someone to build something nice nowadays is crazy.
Is he ever going to make any more civil war?
Such as maybe an infantry set
Robin Hood was a real person but he was from huddersfield yorkshire not nottingham .but he did end up in nottingham
There are various claims on where the real Robin Hood was from. It is a character that has captured the hearts and minds of people each generation getting a different version.
Show on Travel Channel about Robin Hood. I have seen it and found it to be quite informative & interesting.
http://www.travelchannel.com/shows/expedition-unknown/episodes/the-real-robin-hood
I remember watching a documentary or news clip many years ago – it may have been about the time Kevin Costner released his Robin Hood (to paraphrase, “Unlike MOST Robin Hoods, I choose NOT to speak with a British accent…”) – anyway they showed the grave of Little John in Sherwood Forest. The inscription (if I remember correctly) stated, “Here lies the body of John Lytle, known as Little John – the beloved friend of Robyn Hood.” May not be exact but close enough.
In my ipinion and base in true historical accepted facts.
There not such thing as RH.
That a person w similar common name appear in some records is pure coincidence and a vage claim to do a match of characters
What is next ?.lady Marian,friar Truck too!!
Using somes name to create a popular leyend base on is nothing new.
I have two Barzso Robin Hoods on my fireplace mantle, you mean he isn’t real? Oh yeah a guy named Howard once told us that he can’t be Robin Hood because he wasn’t done in Lincoln Green. He also claims Robin Hood was a real dude because he saw his grave.
Ed ,I bet you can convert then in to some real RH too…
by the way have you done medieval conversion??
No, almost all of my conversions have been Alamo, except for a handful of Civil War. I think next I will go into Custer/Indians next. Medieval should be pretty easy to do I think , trouble is I have no medieval figures to convert. I need lots of figures to do part swaps.