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Dragon Figure releases in 1/35.

Discussion in 'General Figure Talk' started by Uruk-Hai, Jan 31, 2020.

  1. Uruk-Hai PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    Sweden
    Hello Figureteers!

    Seems like Dragon has stopped releasing figure kits in 1/35 scale which at least used to be a big part of their profile and line.

    Anyone that knows more about this?

    Cheers
    Janne Nilsson
  2. Babelfish A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    This is the first I've heard about it. Maybe they've decided that they can no longer compete with the likes of Alpine, Evolution etc. on the figures market as modellers' tastes have become increasingly sophisticated and injection-moulded figures can no longer cut it?

    Also they were the "kings" of the 1/35 armour scene during the '00s, but more recently they've been up against increasing competition from newer companies like Meng, Takom, Rye Field and others, all of whom have raised the bar with better kits while Dragon have either stood still or - in some cases - regressed (a lot of their "Black Label" kits in particular have taken a real hammering on the armour forums).

    Pure speculation on my part, but maybe this move is a streamlining exercise in the face of the above?

    - Steve
    Uruk-Hai likes this.
  3. Uruk-Hai PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    Sweden
    I think Dragons figure would be a great addition to the figure range, definetely for the average modeller and easily pimped for the more sophisticated modeller?

    As I do build tanks as well, with a fair share of Tamiya, Dragon, Meng, Takom, Rye-field etc, I actually dont think the latter to be superior, perhaps more parts, interiors etc but fit and detail or the lack thereof is pretty much the same.

    Cheers
    Janne Nilsson
    Babelfish likes this.
  4. Chazman Active Member

    Country:
    United-States
    If true, very disappointing.
    Uruk-Hai likes this.
  5. chippy Well-Known Member

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    I think Masterbox and ICM figures are so much superior to dragoon figures they may have lost their hold on theat part of the market .
    chippy
    Uruk-Hai and Babelfish like this.
  6. Uruk-Hai PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    Sweden
    Although I do agree ICM and in some cases Miniart is more creative and natural as well as diverse I do think the Dragon figures has a pie in the market shares and a demand from modellers.

    But I was merely wondering if anyone had heard something?

    Cheers
    Janne Nilsson
  7. Ong Active Member

    >>Anyone that knows more about this?

    Yes, I do, and a lot of this has to do with internal Dragon company politics and structuring which I am not at liberty to totally discuss, not being affiliated with them.

    Let me just say that a lot of the Dragon figures' work (and other figure companies as well---the box art, sculpting, design, ideas, etc.) are not made in-house but contracted out to the world's artists, usually the same ones. These artists, sculptors, and designers are getting to or at retirement age now since Dragon figures date back to the mid-1990s. Therefore, I would assume that Dragon didn't search for and hire new artist contractors to work for them. It's as simple as that because as artists age, their eyesight, mood, mentality, and fees increase or decrease. Other companies have their own artists (contracted out to the world or in-house) to work for their figures.

    That is why and how many of the "Old school" figure companies that we've known back in the 1990s and 2000s no longer continue as these owners, sculptors, and artists have "Hung up their hat" and decided to retire than to restart their business despite postings that they are returning.

    Of course the "Official explanation" is that plastic figures aren't selling well, or that they cost too much to produce for the return value and thus one should seek out resin figures. That's the reasoning from a business standpoint.
  8. Uruk-Hai PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    Sweden
    Thanks for adding more perspectives regarding this.

    Cheers
    Janne Nilsson

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