Action Force Collectors Guide

[The Baron]

Restarting this thread as the original has been lost. I'm working on a new book for the RORC4, a Palitoy Action Force Collectors Guide. It will be 300 pages and the exact same format and quality as the 30th anniversary special - A4, softback, gloss paper and full colour. I've just received a printing quote:

050 - £1,098.00 (£21.96 each)
075 - £1,463.00 (£19.51 each)
100 - £1,824.00 (£18.24 each)
150 - £2,552.00 (£17.01 each)
200 - £3,279.00 (£16.40 each)

What do you think, is it viable? I only sold 70 of the 100 magazines so far, so this time around would probably want a percentage of pre-orders. Even so, I think the run of 50 is the one, but how many people would be prepared to pay £22 for a 300-page book?

Here are a couple of WIP pages.

[Chopper]

If its as good as the last, I'll have one.

[jamarmiller]

Yeah me too

I think 50-75 would be the max too

Cant put yourself out of money and you need something for yourself just to make last year/this year balance out

[SteveD]

I actually think this would have more mass appeal than last years Baron. Not just to us, but US collectors, as we all love a nice guide book! Woudl it not work to have a bit of commentary about the figures though? Like, for the Shads a note on different versions (dufus/non-Dufus etc) to make it a definitive type of thing?

[The Baron]

That would be so much more work... it's a massive undertaking as it is. I suppose maybe I should call it a reference guide instead of a collectors guide or something? I toyed with including a price list but it would become dated.

[paul463]

I'm in. Still need to buy on of the 30th books too.

[Double-Tap]

Pricey but I'd be up for it.
Are you going to include the convention figs and the exclusive baron?

[Thundershot]

I'd take one.

I know it's not how thee finished item will look, but I do like that partwork like layout & the idea of having a special ringbinder to store new additons in as & when they are released...you could publish new pages online, just as with comic colouring project, for members to printout themselves to keep in it.

[Quickfire]

Interesting to read about 30th copies, thought the overseas types would easily get you to the 100 mark just out of curiosity alone.

Thus there is a logic in printing 50 or 75. But why not go for the full 100. And charge twenty quid.

Then the last 30 if again unsold you put on ebay at buy it now prices, there must be enough people in the States to stumble on it and buy it now to get 15 or more shifted. Maybe.

Basically I'll pay the 22 quid anyway.

[The Kraken Wakes]

id be up for it, definitely two if it were to be more of an all encompassing / definitive view of the figures and known "common" variations. if the german stuff was to be included for example it would be good to mention what figures the weapons came.

think quickfire has a good point, ebay might be a route for some of these and existing books as there are a lot of collectors here and in the US who dont know about or dont visit the forum but do buy on ebay.