Re: Metal minis vs. Plastic

On Tue, Aug 5, 1997 at 11:02:51 PM, "ROBERTSON,Brendan"  wrote:

> Apparently, it also costs a lot more to produce a mould for plastics. 
I 
> know the Evil Empire's (tm) explanation for not making a new
Landraider 
> mould (the old one broke) was that it was going to cost them US$20,000

> for a new one.  

Having talked with a considerable number of knowledgeable people about
this 
(GW employees, model builders with really espteric tastes that buy $75
kits, 
people who cast their own things, etc.), and in the absence of any
comments 
from Mr. Tuffley, here is the picture that I have:

1) Plastic casting material is muuch cheaper than metal.

2) Plastic molds, on the other hand, are much much much much more
expensive 
than metal molds, so much so that I think the above quote of $20k for a
new 
mold may be an order of magnitude too small.

For this reason, you only seen plastic minis in boxed games or in bigger
sets, 
where they expect to sell a bazillion copies.

As far as the plastic detail versus metal detail, take a look at the
plastic 
terminators in the new version of _Space Hulk_ -- pretty damn
impressive.

I have no idea regardingthe costs/limits of resin or other materials.

-- Chris Weuve	 [My opinions, not my employer's.]
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