What soldiers should be made in plastic? (1 Viewer)

[modernreb]

Thanks for all the enthusiasm!! I was thinking TSSD size. I'm not sure wether I have enough £capital£ to go through with it. Personaly I really want ECW but thats not too popular and may end up going with AWI or WW2. Fingers crossed!

 

[Fubar]

Modern Reb, 60mm TSSD size is GOOD!
Still fits with conte, Britians, Most 54-60mm figs. I wouldnt advise going any larger. KC collectors arent going to buy plastic anyway , for the most part. There may be a few guys out there that would, like the Kilted one and I cant blame anyone for wanting it.
But, Look at whats already out there.A new line of plastics from you that will match reasonably well to whats available will draw plastic customers, if they paint or not.Thats probably your market.
Customers that like the big factory produced figs and do not model or paint could give a hoot.Just my opinian.

PS , Vamp, I bought some HUGE 70mm size crusaders and Saracens { BMC} at a gift shop while on vacation. They look like Pantographed KC as well as Italeri!
Rather odd scale but inexpensive and the old man had to buy something for hisself!
FUB

 

[OzDigger]

My father and I are planning on starting a toy soldier business and I wanted to know what soldiers people would like.

I understand Plastic soldiers are very expensive to produce because of the special machines etc required. Which is why the smaller companies use alloys and or resins.

 

[nshighlander]

How about some FIW?That would be great for me .
Cheers
Dave

 

[Fubar]

I understand Plastic soldiers are very expensive to produce because of the special machines etc required. Which is why the smaller companies use alloys and or resins.

Oz , You are right. The actual production isnt expensive and cost near the same anywhere, USA, China, Australia ect. The expensive up front costs is having the dies cut in steel, aluminum. Rates for that here in the USA seem to run x4 times what it costs in China.

I would invest in my own plastic injection molding machine and learn how to use it to mass produce figs right in my own shop.Getting the molds done for less than $10,000 and NOT overseas is the problem.Seems one HAs to get it done in China or you cannot compete.

I'd like to remedy that.
plastic FIW. HMMMM?
FUB

 

[modernreb]

How much would it cost to buy a machine and do it all in my own shop?

 

[Fubar]

Injection molding machines around $10,000 and up.Web sites have scads of differnet ones listed. I havent gotten anywhere as to which machine as I cant find a source for the steel molds to decide which machine to use!
Just a rookie.Guess I'll have to just do metal kits for a while until it gets sorted out, which may never happen.
FUB

 

[kilted vampire]

Modern Reb, 60mm TSSD size is GOOD!


PS , Vamp, I bought some HUGE 70mm size crusaders and Saracens { BMC} at a gift shop while on vacation. They look like Pantographed KC as well as Italeri!
Rather odd scale but inexpensive and the old man had to buy something for hisself!
FUB

Yeah? where did you go? Were they painted or molded in color?

 

[Wraith]

PS , Vamp, I bought some HUGE 70mm size crusaders and Saracens { BMC} at a gift shop while on vacation. They look like Pantographed KC as well as Italeri!
Rather odd scale but inexpensive and the old man had to buy something for hisself!
FUB

Fub,

I take it that these are proper 70mm and that the Saracens would be too big for the Conte Spartans?

Simon

 

[9thHussar]

Hi

another suggestion - if you were to contact Airfix who produce in England maybe they could help - after all they have been in business with various ownership since the late 1940;s and have a massive bank of tools and expertise. They are now British owned again by Hornby - perhaps they could act as sub contractors in some way???????or partners????????

Likewise there is Italeri and Revell in Europe

This might be no use whatsoever and they may not want to get involved, but if one asks then one might just be lucky! (apologies for the posh English - I am an earthy Mancunian from Up North and not at all upper class!)

By the way - why do Americans think that London is the only place in England????????.

Regards
9thHussar

 

[thebritfarmer]

Hi

another suggestion - if you were to contact Airfix who produce in England maybe they could help - after all they have been in business with various ownership since the late 1940;s and have a massive bank of tools and expertise. They are now British owned again by Hornby - perhaps they could act as sub contractors in some way???????or partners????????

Likewise there is Italeri and Revell in Europe

This might be no use whatsoever and they may not want to get involved, but if one asks then one might just be lucky! (apologies for the posh English - I am an earthy Mancunian from Up North and not at all upper class!)

By the way - why do Americans think that London is the only place in England????????.

Regards
9thHussar

I thinks it's because it is the Capital. Although (here in Canada) people have heard of Manchester and Sheffield.

 

[Wraith]

I thinks it's because it is the Capital. Although (here in Canada) people have heard of Manchester and Sheffield.

Manchester....Manchester....hmmmm, think I've heard of it. Little village just north of London?

 

[The Lt.]

Manchester....Manchester....hmmmm, think I've heard of it. Little village just north of London?

Gee and I thought Ya'll were talking about Manchester, New Hampshire

 

[9thHussar]

do they have Mancunian accents in Manchester, New Hampshire..???... I will have to visit one day and see!

 

[Fubar]

Yeah? where did you go? Were they painted or molded in color?

Coastal trip, Up to WA also to Great Wolf Lodge.Found the figs at a souvinier shop at Seaside .They are painted, fine for little kids.BIG.
Wraith , The Saracens are smaller and seem to fit well with Reamsa and Jecsan Moors and Saracens.Mounted guys are BIGGER, dont know why ,and their mounts are CAMELS!!! Bendy PVC but the hot/cold shock treatment works well.
The Reamsa Mounted morrs fit great on the camels.
Overall the BMC should be fine conversion fodder for your 300 epic.

Good idea about Airfix. Can always send them a message.That would be something now wouldnt it? Loved airfix 1/72 as a little boy of 6.

BMC can act as liason between yourself and China factories.
FUB

 

[Wraith]

Wraith , The Saracens are smaller and seem to fit well with Reamsa and Jecsan Moors and Saracens.Mounted guys are BIGGER, dont know why ,and their mounts are CAMELS!!! Bendy PVC but the hot/cold shock treatment works well.
The Reamsa Mounted morrs fit great on the camels.
Overall the BMC should be fine conversion fodder for your 300 epic.

FUB

Cheers Fub, I'll keep an eye out for them.

 

[Ragnar]

I had a bag of the BMC Vikings did not think that much of them (just to BIG).
gave them away (even gave one to my cat to chew on keeps her happy in between killing lizards.
I thought Manchester was were you buy Material,bedding,sheets ect. at Target,Kmart ect...............Just kidding.

 

[larso]

Hi, I spent a couple of years pursuing this dream. I wanted to be the first to produce a set of plastic WW1 Anzacs, along with Turks, to recognise the battle of Galipolli in 1915. I went to various Australian mold makers but the cost was way too much or they had no idea. The only feasible thing was doing it through China. I had quotes for 8 figure molds for $5,000 - but these were from the company that make BMC - great for kids but not up to standard for my purposes. In the end I brought out a range of Metal figures but despite some success, it was a niche market in a niche market and I wound it up a year or so ago.

My advice is to seek out a proven manufacturer, like TSSD and do a deal with them. These days the sculpting needs to be excellent, so get on to someone who knows what they're doing. (I had a fantastic sculptor but he was very hard to direct, he made my plans do-able but his lack of reliabity also ultimately extinguished them). Cost per figure may well be $1,000 though. I also think it best to go with a popular range but with something new. For instance WW2 Germans - but a recon set, which hasn't been done in plastic yet. There could be a couple of motorcycles with side cars, with riders (tricky poses though) and scouts etc.

I had a list of figures that I was going to do but it's all done with now. I'm particularly sad I didn't get the range of dwarves/elves/orcy (werebeasty at least) things up. I'd have cleaned up when Lord of the Rings came out. No one has ever done these properly in plastic (at least in a toy soldier sense). I pictured them selling in book stores too next to the books by Eddings, Feist, Gemmell, Jordan and so on.

Oh well, such is life......

 

[eborris]

Manchester home of Ricky Hatton, I met a bunch of people from Manchester when I was in Vegas this year. Okay, it as only 5 of them.

 

[larso]

Airfix may be interested in doing business, CTS gave me a quote. I remember Italieri were not interested when I contacted them. Bill McMaster (BMC) was very helpful and I was going to give his manufacturer a go but the sculptors work (poses unsuitable for injection molding) forced me down the metal path.

I really like what TSSD has achieved. If I had my time again - and more money - I'd be trying to use his sculptor and striking a deal to have his 'people' produce them too.