RE Metal vs Plastic

Plastic injection molding is VERY expensive (prices quoted are correct)
each cavity side will be multipled up in a tool set to produce 2,4 or 8
sets. So each ship is going to have to be pantographed up that many
times
into Tool Steel (long process if its an artistic shape)
The plastic set for the game 'risk' cost $45,000 to produce (in hong
kong
with cheap labour!!)
cf this with metal
from a master many silicone moulds can be cast , fill these with hot
lead
and when cool remove and re-use (no 100+tonne press required!)
The lead path is so simple many people can have a go and end up a co. 
'Prince august has a lot to answer for!!   ;-)

Jon
read the sigi. we are hopfully going to enable cheap plastic injection
tooling viable option!!(will elusidate to those who with it)
Sprayforming Developments Ltd.	      [production tools]
					   made in
				      [prototype  times]
  'The future is now'