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Model Forum / General / Railroads / October 2007People
I think I know the answer to this one, but anyway. Does anyone yet make cheap-ish 4mm scale modern-ish image people? There are very nicely modelled and painted 3.5 mm scale continental figures covering a mind-boggling array of subjects, but while scale isn't that much of a problem they are too expensive to use in bulk on city streets and packed stations. There are the Airfix/Dapol passenger and workmen figures which more-or-less every 4mm scale layout ever built has, but they are old fashioned and even with adaptation are just too familiar. There are whitemetal figures, but generally of historic subjects and expensive in bulk. For a long while there was a gap in the market for modern cars, which has now been filled, but how about people? Military modellers can choose from half-a-dozen different brands of 1:72 scale models of the 94th Waffen SS dishwashing brigade, with separate options for modelling Tuesdays or Wednesdays, and there are whole websites pointing out which ones are moulded with the wrong type of shoelaces, but railway figures still seem to be limited to ye olde Dapol.  SignatureArthur Figgis Surrey, UK >I think I know the answer to this one, but anyway. Does anyone yet make >cheap-ish 4mm scale modern-ish image people? [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > pointing out which ones are moulded with the wrong type of shoelaces, but > railway figures still seem to be limited to ye olde Dapol. Its the size of the Market, warhgames makers sell shedloads of each pose, railway folk generally want one fig of each pose kinda thing. Have a look around for 20mm figures and see what is available but most civilians seem to be in the big 28mm 1/60th approx scale. Arthur Figgis <afiggis@example.com.invalid> wrote in news:13hsqq8jvlpfqb2 @corp.supernews.com: > Military modellers can choose from half-a-dozen different brands of 1:72 > scale models of the 94th Waffen SS dishwashing brigade, with separate > options for modelling Tuesdays or Wednesdays, and there are whole > websites pointing out which ones are moulded with the wrong type of > shoelaces, ... As a former manufacturer albeit on a small scale of military figures you brought tears to my eyes you brought tears to my eyes. I was once at an exhibition and had some 4mm Napoleonic wargame figures (in wargame terms that's 4mm high not 4mm -> foot). A bespecticaled gent took exception to the fact that some apparently had primrose yellow facings instead of canary yellow! SignatureAll the best, Chris Wilson email to cwilson at britwar dor co dot uk, reply address is spamtrapped. http://www.the-dormouse.org The Dormouse Line model railway >I think I know the answer to this one, but anyway. Does anyone yet make >cheap-ish 4mm scale modern-ish image people? [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > pointing out which ones are moulded with the wrong type of shoelaces, but > railway figures still seem to be limited to ye olde Dapol. But no street is complete without half a dozen Bachmann 'monsiegnuers'. Get a sharp knife and some glue to demob an airfix 8th army pack. Finally do a wartime period layout. Cheers, Simon >>I think I know the answer to this one, but anyway. Does anyone yet make >>cheap-ish 4mm scale modern-ish image people? [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > Cheers, > Simon Actually the Brits are not that well served in military figures either, there are a few sets of WW2, there was briefly a set with the SLR (Marines, Falklands era) but that is no more and an American firm currently do a set of 'modern' British troops (although the equipment has now changed somewhat following experience in the Middle East and Afganistan). Military stuff has never favoured the modern era, I know as I set out to build representative forces of the various countries in Nato and the Warsaw Pact (spent ten years on that, never managed to finish it, gave up in 1986 having been bought a train set in 1982). Hole in the market on both counts methinks - Maybe someone with a rapid prototyping printer might produce a set at reasonable cost (there were a couple of early BR diesels produced in that way for OO) - If anyone has an old Centricast machine they might make a few bob supplying a set of (say) ten figures. Mike > Actually the Brits are not that well served in military figures > either, there are a few sets of WW2, there was briefly a set with the [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > that, never managed to finish it, gave up in 1986 having been bought > a train set in 1982). Some firm or other does generic sets of Nato and Warsaw Pact troops. Just add white flags to represent the Dutch contingent :o) (kim) >> Actually the Brits are not that well served in military figures >> either, there are a few sets of WW2, there was briefly a set with the [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > (kim) Think its disgraceful you should single out the Dutch in that way. What about the italians with their vehicles facing homeward. Cheers, Simon >>> Actually the Brits are not that well served in military figures >>> either, there are a few sets of WW2, there was briefly a set with [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > Think its disgraceful you should single out the Dutch in that way. > What about the italians with their vehicles facing homeward. I never poke fun fun at other nationalities, unless they're eastern, western or southern region enthusiasts :o) (kim) >>> (kim) >>> >Think its disgraceful you should single out the Dutch in that way. What >> >>about the italians with their vehicles facing homeward. Kim used to work there > >>> (kim) > >>> > >Think its disgraceful you should single out the Dutch in that way. What >> > >>about the italians with their vehicles facing homeward. > > Kim used to work there I rememeber a couple of years back that Land Rover supplied 800 Defenders to the Italian army, despite, as one wag observed, only having two reverse gears - one of which is very slow ;-) Cheers Richard Signaturewww.beamends-lrspares.co.uk sales@beamends-lrspares.co.uk I have become... comfortably numb >> >>> (kim) >> >>> [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > Cheers > Richard That would explain the train load full which I saw coming FROM Italy at Frethun one day a few years ago. Must have failed acceptance trials.. Brian > >> >>> (kim) > >> >>> [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > Frethun one day a few years ago. Must have failed acceptance trials.. > Brian Probably the ones lent to Americans after they discovered Hummers won't fit down roads in Bosnia etc... ;-) Richard Signaturewww.beamends-lrspares.co.uk sales@beamends-lrspares.co.uk I have become... comfortably numb > >> >>> (kim) > >> >>> [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > Frethun one day a few years ago. Must have failed acceptance trials.. > Brian British road vehicles - of course they failed acceptance trials! >>>> (kim) >>>> [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Kim used to work there I'm actually Dutch myself but fell in love with English railways when I first arrived here. (kim) >Finally do a wartime period layout. That's another interesting point. I don't think I've ever seen a layout set in that period. There seems to be a distinct set of eras that do get modelled (for example, pre-grouping, the inter-war Big 4, BR transition, BR Blue, post-privatisation, etc), but I don't recall seeing any layouts set in the 1940s - either in the war itself or the immediate aftermath. It's interesting to speculate on why that might be the case. Mark Signaturehttp://www.MotorwayServices.info - read and share comments and opinons "I don't care if it hurts, I want to have control" Mark Goodge said the following on 24/10/2007 08:06: > That's another interesting point. I don't think I've ever seen a > layout set in that period. North Devon MRC - Kingdom's Crossing is set in Summer 1940. A very well-known layout :-) SignaturePaul Boyd http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/ >Mark Goodge said the following on 24/10/2007 08:06: > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >North Devon MRC - Kingdom's Crossing is set in Summer 1940. A very >well-known layout :-) Well, I didn't say that there weren't any, just that I don't recall ever seeing one :-) Mark Signaturehttp://www.MotorwayServices.info - read and share comments and opinons "Life is bigger, it's bigger than you" >> Finally do a wartime period layout. That's the point - model figures stop in the 1950s or so! > That's another interesting point. I don't think I've ever seen a > layout set in that period. There seems to be a distinct set of eras [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > immediate aftermath. It's interesting to speculate on why that might > be the case. There are some out there - "Overlord" being one: http://www.copnor.enta.net/shmrc/Overlord_3.JPG and I've seen an army base in Dorset based one a few times. There is also an N gauge one based on immediately post-war Germany, with everything in ruins. SignatureArthur Figgis Surrey, UK > >> Finally do a wartime period layout. > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > There is also an N gauge one based on immediately post-war Germany, with > everything in ruins. Two or three years ago (or it may have been a little earlier than that) there was an article in the "Railway Modeller" about a layout set during World War II. If memory serves correct, one of the photographs showed a freight train (8F lettered "NE", I think) and on one of the flat wagons was a wing assembly for a Spitfire. In the background there was a crashed ME 109, and there was bomb and fire damage to some of the buildings. Certainly different and I seem to recall it was pretty well done. Hope this helps, David Costigan >>>> Finally do a wartime period layout. >> [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > photographs showed a freight train (8F lettered "NE", I think) and on > one of the flat wagons was a wing assembly for a Spitfire. Don't get Enzo started. He'd probably point out it was the wrong kind of wing for that particular type of Spitfire :o) (kim) >>Finally do a wartime period layout. > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >seeing any layouts set in the 1940s - either in the war itself or the >immediate aftermath. All my layouts whatever their era seemed to spend a longtime resembling a Bombsite anyway . I thought it was the natural state. G.Harman > I think I know the answer to this one, but anyway. Does anyone yet > make cheap-ish 4mm scale modern-ish image people? [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > isn't that much of a problem they are too expensive to use in bulk on > city streets and packed stations. Preiser HO figures used to be available in bulk unpainted. The 4D model shop in London carries them (and other scales), £20 or 120 figures. http://www.modelshop.co.uk/ - Nigel SignatureNigel Cliffe, Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/ > > I think I know the answer to this one, but anyway. Does anyone yet > > make cheap-ish 4mm scale modern-ish image people? [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Preiser HO figures used to be available in bulk unpainted. The 4D model > shop in London carries them (and other scales), £20 or 120 figures. Preiser still does unpainted figures in most scales (except 00) The range has been extended over the last couple of decades. Preiser does 1:72 military figures. Arthur Figgis said the following on 23/10/2007 22:44: > I think I know the answer to this one, but anyway. Does anyone yet make > cheap-ish 4mm scale modern-ish image people? You may like to have a look at http://www.aidan-campbell.co.uk/ I have no idea of the prices, so I'm just offering this for you to look into further. SignaturePaul Boyd http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/ > Arthur Figgis said the following on 23/10/2007 22:44: > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > -- > Paul Boydhttp://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/ In addition, if you are not in a hurry, I found a seller on ebay with the reassuring name 'wehonest_cn' who is selling 'scaled' model parts mainly for architectual work, but also some O, OO, HO, and N scale stuff too. I've risked a couple of pounds on some working lights, and some people (unpainted). In N the lights are 30 for ?10, and at that price they are worth the cost as parts if they are too rough to use 'as is'. The people are 300 for ?6, painted versions are an extra ?1 but the colours used did not inspre me. Try this link... http://stores.ebay.co.uk/WEHONEST BTW other than as an ebay customer I have no other link with them. > Arthur Figgis said the following on 23/10/2007 22:44: >> I think I know the answer to this one, but anyway. Does anyone yet [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > no idea of the prices, so I'm just offering this for you to look into > further. About GBP1.50 for 3ish at shows, IIRC. I've used some on diorama-style models. SignatureArthur Figgis Surrey, UK Arthur Figgis <afiggis@example.com.invalid> wrote in news:13hv4s3eohqvqe3 @corp.supernews.com: >> Arthur Figgis said the following on 23/10/2007 22:44: >>> I think I know the answer to this one, but anyway. Does anyone yet [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > About GBP1.50 for 3ish at shows, IIRC. I've used some on diorama-style > models. Unpainted I take it, in which case that's pretty good value for money for meal figures. <thinks>Can I get my old casting machine home from my dad's in the back of my car?</thinks> SignatureAll the best, Chris Wilson email to cwilson at britwar dor co dot uk, reply address is spamtrapped. http://www.the-dormouse.org The Dormouse Line model railway > Arthur Figgis <afiggis@example.com.invalid> wrote in news:13hv4s3eohqvqe3 > @corp.supernews.com: [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > Unpainted I take it, in which case that's pretty good value for money for > meal figures. I really wouldn't recommend eating them! They are impressionistic rather than rivet counter friendly, as the website explains. Good, though, and the sort of thing I had in mind. > <thinks>Can I get my old casting machine home from my dad's in the back of > my car?</thinks> SignatureArthur Figgis Surrey, UK >> >> Unpainted I take it, in which case that's pretty good value for money >> for meal figures. > > I really wouldn't recommend eating them! LOL > They are impressionistic > rather than rivet counter friendly, as the website explains. Good, > though, and the sort of thing I had in mind. Not being rude to Mr Campbell I could master more than a fair few figures a day to that standard, the secret is to make up a whole load of blanks to work from. Once mastered it's just a case of mould making and then casting away. SignatureAll the best, Chris Wilson email to cwilson at britwar dor co dot uk, reply address is spamtrapped. http://www.the-dormouse.org The Dormouse Line model railway >>> >>> Unpainted I take it, in which case that's pretty good value for money [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > work from. Once mastered it's just a case of mould making and then casting > away. I'd guess the /real/ secret is selling them, and in particular making enough money from it to make it worth the bother. Anyone know how many packs of plastic soldiers get sold? While no doubt zillions of WWII huns get sold for years until the moulds wear out, some of the more obscure sets lurking on Plastic Solider Review can't sell in huge numbers, can they? I guess what I need is a military modelling firm to do a set of "refugees" or "collateral damage" or something. SignatureArthur Figgis Surrey, UK >>>> Unpainted I take it, in which case that's pretty good value for >>>> money for meal figures. [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > military modelling firm to do a set of "refugees" or "collateral > damage" or something. Whoo, somebody has issues? :o) The trick is in selecting a subject that is both popular now and likely to be popular in future years. I once spent an entire ten weeks doing exactly that due to an enforced period of ideleness caused by an abdominal problem. Nothing ever came of it despite my relatives owning a plastic injection moulding plant. (kim) Arthur Figgis <afiggis@example.com.invalid> wrote in news:13hvijvf3th7i26 @corp.supernews.com: > I'd guess the /real/ secret is selling them, and in particular making > enough money from it to make it worth the bother. I used to do all right at college, bought a casting machine because I was to tight to pay commercial rates for figures and from there went on to selling to friends, out of the back of magazines and at shows (no internet back then!). Certainly paid for my outlay and made it very much worth my while at the time. The trick was to look for gaps in the market. For instance back then there were no 15mm Renaissance artillery pieces available commercially. Made big bucks. But then you leave college, move on, live out of the back of a suitcase for a few years and everything goes on hiatus. When I come to populating my layout I may well go back to casting my own, who knows a few years from now you might see my add in the back of RM :-) SignatureAll the best, Chris Wilson email to cwilson at britwar dor co dot uk, reply address is spamtrapped. http://www.the-dormouse.org The Dormouse Line model railway > Arthur Figgis <afiggis@example.com.invalid> wrote in news:13hvijvf3th7i26 > @corp.supernews.com: [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > layout I may well go back to casting my own, who knows a few years from now > you might see my add in the back of RM :-) I think the market for Renaissance artillery pieces at my college was pretty close to zero. They probably had some of their own in the cellars anyway :-) SignatureArthur Figgis Surrey, UK >I think I know the answer to this one, but anyway. Does anyone yet make >cheap-ish 4mm scale modern-ish image people? I don't think so. It's the problem of continuing changes in fashion and the like that makes large runs of figures impractical as they would go out of style very quickly. However, if someone could come up with a way of taking the 3D computer scans that can now be done of people (or anything for that matter), and converting that into a mould in a simple and not too expensive way, then maybe it would be possible to do pretty much any person in 4mm - imagine, having yourself scanned and then turned into a 4mm scale model of yourself for your layout :-D SignatureIan J. 'Who knows what the tide could bring?' Useful link: http://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/other/events.php >> I think I know the answer to this one, but anyway. Does anyone yet make >> cheap-ish 4mm scale modern-ish image people? > > I don't think so. It's the problem of continuing changes in fashion and the > like that makes large runs of figures impractical as they would go out of > style very quickly. Not having everyone wearing a hat would be a good start :-) > However, if someone could come up with a way of taking the 3D computer scans > that can now be done of people (or anything for that matter), and converting > that into a mould in a simple and not too expensive way, then maybe it would > be possible to do pretty much any person in 4mm - imagine, having yourself > scanned and then turned into a 4mm scale model of yourself for your layout > :-D I once built a model of car park ticket seller's hut for my layout, complete with a model of the attendant who always wore a long green coat and black beret (added to the figure using filler). When I showed them the model, his wife recognised it instantly, but he didn't realise what it was. SignatureArthur Figgis Surrey, UK |
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