How do TS firms make the TS you buy? (1 Viewer)

[TomB]

Do you wonder how the items you buy are made...starting from the idea to the final casting ?....Do you think it would be too much for a manufacturer to give his customers a blow by blow description on how it is done ?......apart from being of interest to see how it is done...it would also give an idea why the final produce can be so expensive.....A broad overview would do...no need to give away trade secrets... I suppose I am asking too much.......but it would be very interesting to see how your pride and joys are created...what do you think....TomB

 

[Mirof]

If it can help
Here an idea of made in China items
Packing according to buyer design
http://createmarvelmodel.en.made-in-china.com/product/weLmGuIlhXfB/China-Metal-Soldier-Figure.html
http://createmarvelmodel.en.made-in-china.com/product/XezEtLDPYBfv/China-Metal-Soldier-Figure.html
Best

 

[jazzeum]

Do you wonder how the items you buy are made...starting from the idea to the final casting ?....Do you think it would be too much for a manufacturer to give his customers a blow by blow description on how it is done ?......apart from being of interest to see how it is done...it would also give an idea why the final produce can be so expensive.....A broad overview would do...no need to give away trade secrets... I suppose I am asking too much.......but it would be very interesting to see how your pride and joys are created...what do you think....TomB

I think you answered your own question: "I suppose I am asking too much."

 

[Mitch]

As cheaply as possible is really the answer. Its a misnomer that these things are really expensive searching around can easily find that if you want to buy figures from small to large groups.

The only reason they are as high is the ''huge increase in the wages and material costs that just keep going up month after month''

Interesting thought but, you won't find many wanting to discuss this topic
Mitch

 

[Martin Tabony]

I don't know any British makers that are getting rich!

Martin

 

[emilio]

Do you wonder how the items you buy are made...starting from the idea to the final casting ?....Do you think it would be too much for a manufacturer to give his customers a blow by blow description on how it is done ?......apart from being of interest to see how it is done...it would also give an idea why the final produce can be so expensive.....A broad overview would do...no need to give away trade secrets... I suppose I am asking too much.......but it would be very interesting to see how your pride and joys are created...what do you think....TomB

Well , first of all , the decission about the item . What period would be of more interest for the customers , where are a hole to cover ,or simply , our own interest for aq period or figure. The second step is decide the pose or poses , and create a wire skeleton with the correct proportions. then cover it with puty to complete the anatomy . I have a collection of heads and hands i modelled two or three years ago , so i only mut choose the basic head more accorded to the pose , age or etnic . I also modelled a big collection of weapons, and this step , the equipment of the soldier is near to be ready. The following step is modell the clothes and headgear . When the figure is finished , it must be cut in pieces to make the mould .Some figures could be moulded in a single piece, but usually a figure is conformed by at least five pieces.

The figure is ready to be moulded. We made our moulds ( i think the moulds of all manufacturers are simmilar) with vulcanizable rubber. The casting is made with the help of a centriphugal machine .

Once the figure is casted, we must glue the different pieces , imprimate it and begin the painting process. when the paint and varnish is dry
only rest the packaging.

I know it is a litlle resume , but basically it's my daily work

Regards

Emilio

 

[Martin Tabony]

Well , first of all , the decission about the item . What period would be of more interest for the customers , where are a hole to cover ,or simply , our own interest for aq period or figure. The second step is decide the pose or poses , and create a wire skeleton with the correct proportions. then cover it with puty to complete the anatomy . I have a collection of heads and hands i modelled two or three years ago , so i only mut choose the basic head more accorded to the pose , age or etnic . I also modelled a big collection of weapons, and this step , the equipment of the soldier is near to be ready. The following step is modell the clothes and headgear . When the figure is finished , it must be cut in pieces to make the mould .Some figures could be moulded in a single piece, but usually a figure is conformed by at least five pieces.

The figure is ready to be moulded. We made our moulds ( i think the moulds of all manufacturers are simmilar) with vulcanizable rubber. The casting is made with the help of a centriphugal machine .

Once the figure is casted, we must glue the different pieces , imprimate it and begin the painting process. when the paint and varnish is dry
only rest the packaging.

I know it is a litlle resume , but basically it's my daily work

Regards

Emilio

Pretty much the same here except I make the master figure in separate pieces, so I don't need to cut them up. I'm always trying out new methods though.



Martin

 

[TomB]

Well , first of all , the decission about the item . What period would be of more interest for the customers , where are a hole to cover ,or simply , our own interest for aq period or figure. The second step is decide the pose or poses , and create a wire skeleton with the correct proportions. then cover it with puty to complete the anatomy . I have a collection of heads and hands i modelled two or three years ago , so i only mut choose the basic head more accorded to the pose , age or etnic . I also modelled a big collection of weapons, and this step , the equipment of the soldier is near to be ready. The following step is modell the clothes and headgear . When the figure is finished , it must be cut in pieces to make the mould .Some figures could be moulded in a single piece, but usually a figure is conformed by at least five pieces.

The figure is ready to be moulded. We made our moulds ( i think the moulds of all manufacturers are simmilar) with vulcanizable rubber. The casting is made with the help of a centriphugal machine .

Once the figure is casted, we must glue the different pieces , imprimate it and begin the painting process. when the paint and varnish is dry
only rest the packaging.

I know it is a litlle resume , but basically it's my daily work

Regards

Emilio

Thank you very much for sparing the time to give an insight into the from go tho woe....this is something I am interested in and have often wondered about....thanks again....regards TomB

 

[Martin Tabony]

The thing to bare in mind Tom, is that different figures sell different quantities. Although they take the same amount of time and money to make. That's why it's a risk to go out on a limb, when we know there are already ranges that sell well.

Martin

 

[trooper]

Emilio has pretty well nailed it. In my case the main exception being that I make the masters in metal rather than putty. This is purely because putty hadn't been invented when I started and I tend to get more putty on me than on the figure if I try it now. The main thing is to make things that cast easily and don't take too much time to assemble, after all time is money and the faster things can be produced the better. Therefore it is better to make figures in as few parts as possible.
The main difference between the "China" companies and the "cottage" industry is in production. The former have to pre-order and pay for a significant quantity of items, transport and pay for them to be shipped a long distance and only then sell them and try to get some return on their outlay. The companies who work in house make their own moulds and can then produce the number of items required, and so have greater control over amount of stock, cost of raw materials and never have to "retire" items. If a customer wants one of the very first figures produced some years previous all that needs to be done is pull out the mould and run off a casting. Also if a mistake has been made on the figure for any reason it can be corrected quickly, if mistakes are made on the "China"figures that is it, they can't be shipped back, the cost would be prohibitive, so they must either be scrapped or sold as they are. Trooper

 

[TomB]

The thing to bare in mind Tom, is that different figures sell different quantities. Although they take the same amount of time and money to make. That's why it's a risk to go out on a limb, when we know there are already ranges that sell well.

Martin

Good point........I know nothing about the system....casting is a no no as I cannot obtain materials related to casting unless I go internet and I am too impatient to wait for things to arrive......besides that...I much rather the 1 of 1....my impossible dream is for someone like K$C or anyone to produce a picture series of the start of a figure...how the pro sculptures work etc.....the prep for casting...casting and painting.... In my naive mind I believe it would only take someone with a camera a few clicks here and there ......the whole TS process is in action every day...would cost virtually nothing and would be a huge PR boost for the company.....to me it seems so simple....ignorance is bliss they say......live on bliss.....thanks for the input Martin ...regards TomB

 

[TomB]

Emilio has pretty well nailed it. In my case the main exception being that I make the masters in metal rather than putty. This is purely because putty hadn't been invented when I started and I tend to get more putty on me than on the figure if I try it now. The main thing is to make things that cast easily and don't take too much time to assemble, after all time is money and the faster things can be produced the better. Therefore it is better to make figures in as few parts as possible.
The main difference between the "China" companies and the "cottage" industry is in production. The former have to pre-order and pay for a significant quantity of items, transport and pay for them to be shipped a long distance and only then sell them and try to get some return on their outlay. The companies who work in house make their own moulds and can then produce the number of items required, and so have greater control over amount of stock, cost of raw materials and never have to "retire" items. If a customer wants one of the very first figures produced some years previous all that needs to be done is pull out the mould and run off a casting. Also if a mistake has been made on the figure for any reason it can be corrected quickly, if mistakes are made on the "China"figures that is it, they can't be shipped back, the cost would be prohibitive, so they must either be scrapped or sold as they are. Trooper

Thank you for that.....I am sure other forum member will appreciate it as well...TomB

 

[TomB]

There's some great behind-the-scenes views here: http://beau-geste.com/photoalbums.htm . Have a look at the two Workshop sections. http://cart.themouldmaker.com/index.php?p=page&page_id=Articles gives an SBS of moulding for the spin (centrifugal) casting process. Bill Hocker gives a clear verbal description of his whole process in the interviews here: http://wmhocker.com/index.php?s=profile The Workshop sections at perry-miniatures.com show how many different figures can be made from a few basic pieces.

Thank you for the post...very informative....with all those happy ..smiling face...it make one want to buy some of their products....cheers TomB

 

[PanzerAce1944]

I find the King&Country production process to be quite interesting as Andy himself sketches out the idea for the figures himself before they go to the sculptor.

 

[TomB]

I find the King&Country production process to be quite interesting as Andy himself sketches out the idea for the figures himself before they go to the sculptor.

I have seen one of Andy's sketchs...very good...he could probably suculpt that good as well.....I wonder if someone whom is on speaking terms with Andy could ask him nicely if he could give the forum members a run down on the K&C operation...inculding a bit of the sculpturing in action.?...would be of tremendous interest ....regards TomB