RE: Metal minis vs. Plastic

> There are a number of factors here; firstly, yes, Ral Partha is
supposed to
> have bought all the rights, presumably so they can use it and no-one
else.
> Any further info on this from anyone would be helpful!
> Secondly, the actual cost of the metal is still only a (smallish) part
of
> the production cost of a miniature - the mouldmaking, casting labour
etc,
> all amount to a major part, which would be the same if using the
spin-cast
> plastics. The other problem I can forsee is that if you get a miscast
in
> the plastic (as you inevitably do with metal, especially with fairly
> complex and intricate figure poses as many of ours are - the sculptors
> don't try to make it easy for the caster) then you have wasted that
> plastic. Metal miscasts go straight back in the melting pot!
> I strongly suspect that when everything is analysed, these new
spincast
> plastics won't REALLY be much (if any) cheaper than metal figures for
the
> reasons above. Their only real advantage will be for sale in areas
where
> metal figs are undesirable for whatever reasons (legal, age of
customers
> etc.).
> [This is all IMHO, of course, and further information would always be
> interesting...]

I didn't think about the element of wastage.  Its a long time since I 
did any casting with good old Prince August moulds.   Fixed costs 
play the most important element in the final cost of a figure then.  

 > >
> >Buy a whip..That'd do the trick.  No more uppity casters.
> 
> Dave, our caster, will see you about this (normally he has to pay good
> money for that sort of thing.....)
> 
> :)

Anything to be helpful..Cheap rates too!

_______________________________
Niall Gilsenan,
Dublin Institute of Technology,
Cathal Brugha.St,
Dublin 1,
Ireland.