Possible new FIW figures. Better than Jenkins? (1 Viewer)

ssorc1

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Found these a while back when I was writing an article on sculptors. The guy's name is Tom Meier and he usually works on Fantasy Miniatures - Thunderbolt Mountain is is company. He was a partner at Ral Partha when he was 16. These French and Indian War figures are just for fun (for his kid apparently) and sit at about 35mm. Imagine a line of these? Love to get him interested in developing a series of figures. The detail is incredible, as is all his work. Imagine the possibilities? Notice the Light Infantry figure? Would be worth trying to get him funded. Cheers.
 

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Some additional details on the 'Ranger' figure. I've read on his blog recently that these may make production - not sure what scale though as yet. I was in conversation with him a while ago to see if they were to be a possibility, and at the time they were just in his workshop as a fun sideline. I seriously offered to have him funded but he was busy with toy company projects at the time. Would love to see him as an additional manufacturer for the FIW period. The detail is incredible and the proportions and expressions are as lifelike as you can get. Plus there is room to take over certain regiments, battles etc. the other's don't. Cheers
 

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I would love to see them at 40mm (painted)as that would make them more affordable or at 54mm as they would then fit in with my kit models.Does he have an e mail as I would like to send him encouragement.
Mark
 
He seems to be a very private, introverted guy (can't say as I blame him), but I did make contact to him through his wife Carin at this address. This is the Thunderbolt Mountain address which is his fantasy miniatures company - Email: info@thunderboltmountain.com. I agree a 40mmset would be awesome as well. Especially painted. Save my eyes the strain. If there are any new updates let me know. If not I am seriously considering commissioning him to do it. Cheers.
 
40mm may be the way to go in the future as prices keep rising.
Mark
 
I was on the Thunderbolt Mountain website today and Mr.Meier is a very talented man.I don't see how he would have the time to do many many more projects but does seem to have some interest in doing historical projects if the money was right and he knew he had a base of collectors who were willing to buy his products.I got this feeling from reading his blog.he seemed to think that he would be able to sell his FIW figures a couple of years ago around $5 a figure but had problems with molds and other things.It seems very complicated and expensive to get a figure line going.
Mark
 
I would personally love to see this series happen. I had a very quick conversation around the commissioned work idea and he seems into it as long as time and money are allowable to him. I've frankly always wanted to start a line of figures, especially of the French and Indian War but then Jenkins came along and solved that for me. These Meier figures though are pretty hard to resist. I'd like to give it some thought. At least through this forum I know a collector base exists. Might be worth it to do some initial moulds? Any business is work but at least in this case the end result would be toys. Cheers.
 
Sounds like an interesting project. Are we taking painted or unpainted figures? For my personal interest I would prefer a subject other then ranges and Indians. I’m also thinking that they may be good for war gaming.
 
These figures seem great. I would be interested in a commissioned line - but for me it would have to be painted, as I am uselesswith abrush and paint...
 
Rather than trying to get him to produce the line, even by securing funding, it might be more feasible to show his work to one of the established manufacturers, and see if one might give him a commission instead. The manufacturer would already have the marketing and distribution apparatus in place.

Prost!
Brad
 
Guys,
I am relatively new to big toy soldiers , as I have mostly existed in the 40mm and smaller hobby.In our world Tom is a legend, for two reasons:-

1) He is a genius sculptor

2) He never seems to finish anything!

If you look at his blogs, he's started FIW, a range of caricature Napoleonics, brilliant ww2 stuff for fox miniatures, as well as several fantasy projects.Common denominator, none of them have seen the light of day commercially.

Trust me fellas it'll never happen, he makes too much dough from the toy industry, and I think he has a low boredom threshold,which means he can't commit to big ranges.

Merry Christmas from the UK

Ian
 
I agree. I actually contacted Tom (connected with is wife first) about an article I was doing on sculptors in the hobby. I used to collect and paint 25mm-40mm as well, even the fantasy ones, and his work has always been outstanding. Genius is right. His blog does mention the FIW figures going ahead but like any businessman maybe he needs the investors, the market and maybe the push to get him to commit or at least develop a few more figures and moulds. He makes money from, but doesn't seem very excited by the toy industry. In fact most work for the toy industry never sees the light of day. His league of artistry though is unseen in most larger scale work. What he can do at 30mm some people can't achieve at 120mm or more. Like his website says, a job is a job, if the interest and the money were there who knows what might spark him? We all live on hope and anticipation anyway. Cheers.
 
Great idea. Any possible leads or ideas on manufacturers? I can think of some who could use his help in the sculpting area. Cheers, ssorc1
 
Always worth a shot. According to his blog, we know moulds for these three exist. His response to getting any toy line done is, money. Still say if he had money and interest he might get inspired. Figures with tis level of sculpting quality would prove to be very popular, wheter at 54mm, 60mm or 40mm. They'd look good on my shelf anyway. Cheers.
 
Found these a while back when I was writing an article on sculptors. The guy's name is Tom Meier and he usually works on Fantasy Miniatures - Thunderbolt Mountain is is company. He was a partner at Ral Partha when he was 16. These French and Indian War figures are just for fun (for his kid apparently) and sit at about 35mm. Imagine a line of these? Love to get him interested in developing a series of figures. The detail is incredible, as is all his work. Imagine the possibilities? Notice the Light Infantry figure? Would be worth trying to get him funded. Cheers.

Fantastic figs! - And again I begin to dream of 40mm figs...
 
Hopefully it becomes a 2009 reality. 40mm or 60mm I'm all for more FIW figures. Especially of this calibre. Not to slander any makers, as to each his own, but between Frontline, Tommy Atkins, Britains, Tradition and Jenkins, there is really no one making figures like Jenkins. It is all personal taste but these figures are the only ones I've seen that seem to have the perfect combination of proportion, detail and action - and these are just around 30 -40mm. Jenkins are awesome but as he branches out the FIW field gets a little grim for an FIW collector like myself. Patriot, First Legion etc, would be great too for covering the FIW, but not much chance of that. I will personally make it my goal to do all I can to encourage the manufacture of these figures. Pleading, begging are not off my list. Cheers.
 

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