CTS North Korean Update there as been a lot of concern in regards to CTS North Korean and the future of the line. In various forums there has been a concern on the line not continuing. Some people hear it was being discontinued. Other were hearing it was continuing. To clear this situation up, we contacted Jim McGough directly and receive this reply.
CTS North Korean Update Jim McGough’s Reply
Hi Paul
The Korean war project is definitely going forward but probably at a slower pace than we at first planned. Being that it is a new topic we realized that sales of the first sets would not be great because there wasn’t any( or at least not many) related items to use with our first sets. Add to that the horrendous chain of events which took place hampering the release of our second set , The North Koreans. The delays were many and costly.
The North Koreans hopefully will be here by mid-September, we have sets of South Koreans and U.S. Marines sculpted and ready. Other pieces such as GI’s, heavy weapons with crews and vehicles are also planed and are in various developmental stages. But the release schedule is not decided on and awaits how well they are received by the collecting hobby.
We appreciate your giving us the opportunity of communicating with the hobby.
Regards
Jim McGough, Dave Payne and Tim McGough
Classic Toy Soldiers, Inc.
CTS North Korean Update Final Comments
So as you can see from the above message CTS is committed to continuing this line. The problem is due to the delay on the North Korean the project is going to take longer. As it has been noted in the past our market is shrinking and it is harder for companies to recoup their money. We have seen many companies pull back from making new figures. If new technology will save the new figure market it is hard to say. We will just have to wait and watch.
Happy to see that they are commited to doing the Korean War line. It is a War that I had hoped someone would do for a long time and I believe others have as well. (I can’t tell you how many times I have watched “Pork Chop Hill”, “Retreat Hell”, and other Korean War movies and wished I had figures that looked like those in the movies to play with.) I am doing my best to support CTS in this the best I can. I am excited about the North Koreans and the other sets of figures and acessories in this line as well as hopefully a playset or two. Thanks for the updated info Stad. And to CTS, keep up the great work. Your figures keep getting better and better.
BOBBYGMOORE
CTS has made so many contributions to the hobby that no one can reasonably complain about any delays in their latest release. I can well remember the excitement I felt years ago when CTS announced its very first project — Alamo Mexicans scaled and colored to go perfectly with the Marx versions. Everyone in the hobby was highly pleased with the final product.
Like Bobby Moore, I purchased multiple sets of the CTS Chinese Communists when they came out, and have been looking forward to the North Koreans. I’m sorry to hear about a “horrendous chain of events” which have delayed their release.
I made the comment once to Tony of Armies in Plastic that I didn’t think toy soldier manufacturers should ever release one army set without releasing the opposing army set at the same time. But I realize financial/business considerations don’t always make that approach possible. I’m sure CTS wishes it could release everything in the Korean War line immediately, and that sales would justify such an approach.
In any event, thank you for the update. I continue to be excited about getting the North Koreans to go along with the excellent CTS Chinese Communists.
I love CTS’ stuff. Yeah, I could toss an odd criticism here and there, but by and large it’s really all great toys. They filled a lot of holes in collections with things like artillery crews and a real M-4 tank. Now they are doing this Korean War thing. Something truly NEW! Jim, if you’re reading this – Japanese artillery crews!
These are the same guys who were going to do 7th Cavalry back in the day.
Too bad they didn’t the 7th probably would sell like hot cakes. They did well for TSSD.
I’m Glad they are still running .Same time great they take time ,smart move as we all should do in this market- business. It is slow business and unfortunately had shrinkage instead grow in the collectible side.
About their line in supporting armor x same War line. Korea war
I recently mention few already made by then and others that could well serve the purpose as historical correct and match pretty much scale in many.
I will list some again that could well help add on to the war x now till others come.
Hope these help some in ideas out there..
Please note that scale varied and I just give idea, size of then is of the choice like to match the soldiers you want put with.
From CTS brand ,the following were used as is or very close in that war.
Tank -t34/85 ,…..(NOT the T34.76 please!!)
Tank Sherman US-M4/2-4(early models were in Korea already under the ROK)additional 36 old m4 models were landed in Inchon operation,11 were captured and reused by communist forces during war.
CTS US halftrack
CTS Churchill tank.(used BY British only)several captured and reused by communist.
CTS M105 cannon W shield and Marx reissue with out shield
If not like the CTS scale in tank but also sold by them and other dealers or show/eBay as well.
The following.
BMC and Airfix Sherman tanks(NOTE-Airfix British style Sherman is the less accurate used in this war)
Airfix Daimler armored British car(Used by the RAR=Australians)
BMC Higgin boats
Ideal PT boat
IDEAL m46 Tank Patton( a bit under scale)
NEW RAY WW2 US armor, minus The U Grant tank.
Same goes for forces of valor and 21 century armor x Sherman,M26,M41 , Chafee TANKS,usM3 HT and jeeps
BUM artillery and machine gun sets.
From vintage but not hard to find
Tim Mee early light armored car(T17E1) used by the ROK supplied by US before the war started. Also used by Australian units.
Ideal Ford amphibious jeep
Any jeep from any brand.
Note (DEUCE TiM MEE truck is not accurate as much post this war made)-great x Viet Nam.
More hard TO GET VINTAGE.
MARX 51 tank
Marx 41 tank
MARX half track m3
Long tom 155 cannon by Marx ,Reliable and Ideal(there three varied version in same scale of it)
M26 Made by same above and that I sold under AMEX recast brand fro Mexico This match any 60/70 mm figure.
M56 self propelled howitzer of same description above(match 54 to 65 mm )Sold by me under AMEX brand recast from Mexico.
About soldiers.
The south Korean army were exact same complete gear ,uniform, helmet and weapons as US army ,even in colors and most range uniform symbols. If want to be a bit realistic just add smaller scale GI’S next to taller so ones serve as American and others as ROK soldiers.
Most other allied forces used either US or British same uniforms/weapons, minus the French that start using a bit different but still very alike US type .
For British WW2 British with net in helmet could be use ,but if want to be exact the Herald poses copied by many included HK easy cheap production are well suitable.
As well Cherilea ,Crescent modern British and Britain red beret. This range give you variety of scale/brands to choose according to your preference and scales.
For the Australian(RAR) and New Zealand any figure with typical aussi hat such Airfix and the also the Gurkas from same brand are great. Lone star Australian too.
For Chinese and PLA there all WW2 Russian specially winter uniforms and fur hats(MPC,MARX,TIM MEE,ESCI,ITALERI,SUNJADE brands poses) that could well be used. Russian Helmet was used by early PLA units only .Not by Chinese.
Avoid standard summer soviet/Russian uniform, never used by Communist.
There plenty more but x now is what just come to my head tonight.
Hope this help improvise your battles …
best regards..
Correction is the M53 155mm Self-Propelled Medium Gun and or howitzer too ,not the M56 as I wrote before.
Sorry…
The BMC Iwo Jima Marines, the Conte Omaha Beach U.S. Infantry, the Austin Miniature U.S. Marines, and the TSSD WWII U.S. Infantry and Marines all go very well with the CTS Chinese Communists.
Remember, the Korean War started just 5 years after the end of WWII, so uniforms, arms, and equipment of most WWII U.S. figures are quite compatible of the U.S. Infantry and Marines of the Korean War.
Don you are correct and adding those too complete.
I will prefer not use marines(mine like personal only), but Infantry instead from WW2 because uniform is cover with more gears..
If want to be exact accurate the WW2 uniform varied a bit specially amount pockets added by 1947/49 before war started.
And the hats used specially(summer and winter)
Winter uniforms did varied more, long coat from WW2 were not well used still supplied.
But most ROK(early forces) and allied had the WW2 era US uniform ,so they could will be used as those.
By 1951 most ROK have the later new US Uniform.
Again this if want to be except picky and detail.
For those painting the advantage of paint will add the detail on uniforms easy.
The issue come x winter action.
Many battles were in winter and late fall over extreme high altitude that cause use of winter uniform from late September till late spring during 3p plus years.
the winter fur hats of US army is base in Canadian model ,not the Russian or Korean Chinese.
the soft campaign hat is base in the Air force supply hat.
Here is where we will have to wait for new figures unfortunately .
Only Aurbur Gis but in 65 mm scale are exact depicted in correct 1947 Uniform and many with the above summer hat.
The Marx Gi’s 54 mm ,not marines have the uniform as well but some weapons are post Korea as we know.
You can use US WW2 paratroopers uniforms and convert by taking few detail off too.
Many US vintage toy soldiers were done coping the 50’s era army photos not the WW2.So they are quite Korea war era.
The cons..
The new CTS communist are in winter/type uniforms.
Making then not very well suitable x action such Inchon early victory camping of Korean offensive and battles in low and summer areas /time.
Korea is very hot in the inner valleys between mountain regions in June, July and august. So I Doubt any will use any winter uniform in that time.
The tip x summer ..
The OWN brand Chinese nationalist carry a well used N KOREA -PAL uniform used-(Ironical not Chinese Korean war summer uniformed used.) .
To make them look as PAL .The helmet and some weapons has to be removed(bolt action rifle are fine to kept), because they come in partially unassembled parts ,you can do it very easy with out need most converting skills.
I had done some and will do pictures soon to see how well they look .
off a bit this toy talking
the following Korea made 2004 movie is highly recommended by me among others done.
it is in sale x US market and had won international ..
the film at beginning looks lik Provate Ryan copy but is not at all. till you see it.
it is full graphic action movie with very well done historical accuracy and realism,it has a very strong drama end too.
Not about US (still they are represented) but about both side the Korean army.
remember this war x Korean was more a civil war than actual war.
I forgot..
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0386064/
you can partially see it in you tube,not complete x free.
name is Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War -2004
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taegukgi_(film)
http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/korean-war-battle-of-kapyong-among-canadas-greatest-victories
Thanks to all for all the suggestions and well wishes! We will move ahead.
A note on our 7th cavalry figures years ago. We did sculpt full sets of troopers and horses with every intention of producing them. At that time because we had complained to our China Co. about previous loss of some detail in a set of figures, they advised us to make larger sculpts then pantograph them down to the size we wanted, so that is what we did. Well it didn’t work the detail loss was even greater .Shortly after Nick came out with his superb plains cavalry so we didn’t go back into the project.
Between the sculpting and other expenses we were out about $8.000.00- I have a beautiful set of 3 1/2-4″ cavalry and horses for sale if anyone is interested!
This is a perfect example of the kind of money involved in making high pressure injection mold figures. As all of us that do this would agree it is a labor ( and investment) of love not profit.
Jim Mc Gough
Jim
If you want to send picture of the 7th Cavalry poses do it to my email address.
Anyone interested in these figure I will send your email to Jim.
Yes gonna need a picture eh!
Jim ,I agree with you in all you said.
Some think we can make figures/toys here like sandwiches.
Most of us doing it do as you said out love above profit as this hobby is shrinking (in collectors=buyers) more and none of these sets give fast recovery least selling way under cost price.
Dealing with China today is harder than years ago, the port fees and else add to it too.
I had explain it before many time the cost approx. involved too.
So far you and the now dormant AIP are only US makers with way more products in last 20 years in the world. ,Beating even Airfix in the 1.32 scale solid line in amount sets/items produced and even releasing AIRFIX not done products.
So keep the work and good will as slow and in your time as wish.
For now many of your already products and those from others could feel the ranks easy for KOREA war.
Is your money is yours to spend along as you wish.
The other US cavalry not go ahead base in others producing same is correct. This market is not strong x two or making same line at same time at all.
Unfortunately we can not make happy 100 versus 1000.Some have to wait.
I notice even US cavalry and Indians war are good sale ; still are back in line compere to other wars too in the market as fast selling .
Korea is new and a risk, so is Viet Nam…So let see how time give those making the fast recovery and I wish you best.
I for one could be interested depending on price and appearance of course.
A side note TSSD’s Custer set was his fasting selling play set to date.
Interesting note Ed.!!thanks..
…confuse ,
What (set of 3 1/2-4″ cavalry ) means!?
I think he means 3 1/2 to 4 inches tall. At least that is what I got out of that statement.
Thanks Ed, made sense,I was running my head around .
Wonder if they had any of the down scaled figures w less detail..
I like their mounted Indians better than first foot Indians…
They are first true Sioux full set ever done mounted as most older companies always did a mix of Indians tribes mounted and actually not many mounted and most on foot. Atlantic and PH did full sets too.
More poses would be great, may be one day ..who knows.
Italeri in 2011 announce one mounted set Sioux, never done.
CTS had change sculpting many times. Last sets of WW2 US and German with Italian are the best to me.
The ancients were nice but too flat, still I kept two seat each.
The one off my like are early WW2 that looks very different designed with separated parts and not equal scales in body heads plus odd poses. Germans and Japanese are only I do not like at all, but is my like of course.
Alamo defenders are fine too, so last Chinese Korean war too are nice.
same goes x the Hessian, frontiersmen ,mounted Mexican, civil war …
Again more impressive designed sets are US 2 set WW2,German medical set,WW2 Italians and 2nd German set, in the “”new taller 1.32″” scale