TomSauer
PA Corporal
Perilous to us all are the devices of an art deeper than we possess ourselves
Posts: 10
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Post by TomSauer on Dec 26, 2004 9:17:20 GMT
1) As mentioned above, a troll mould. Maybe even in the 32mm range, a small troll figure, or a primative orc, which I would adapt to use with my 25mm. 2) Another form of artillery for the 25mm fantasy range... something for the good guys, a mortar maybe? 1) buy the "Fantasy Chess" - the "orc" there makes a wonderful troll for the 25mm fantasy figures; even the warg riders and the horesemen (from the good side) fit quite well. 2) No mortar, please. A ballista would be great ot something of that type.
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Post by tinman on Dec 29, 2004 21:55:59 GMT
How about making some more 'titans' like the storm giant in the friends and foes range; bigger, more powerful figures to fit in with the rest of the fantasy armies?
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Post by bwhite on Dec 30, 2004 22:19:30 GMT
Hello, I found this forum just now and as a fan of the PA 25mm Napoleonic moulds I am excited to be here!
Anyway, on topic...
Regarding the 32mm Fantasy moulds, consider some moulds that wargamers could use, ones that help bulk out "units" and require many models, such as;
In no particular order...
1. High Elf w/ spear and shield (maybe one pointing spear forward and one at attention)*
2. Goblins on Wolfs
3. Goblin in cloak with spear and shield
4. Orcs with spear and shield
5. Orcs with two handed weapon (club, mace or axe)
6. Rats (yes, giant rats) with spear and shield
7. Rats w/ sword and shield
8. Rats w/ sling
9. Really this should have been #1, Giant Eagle. Nobody makes one that's affordable in the 25-33mm range anymore.
*High Elf Spear could also be Sylvan Spear too. Either or both would be good. Maybe some females too?
If you base future expansions on previous sales, then making moulds that help wargamers "fill out" units may be useful to you.
Regarding the 25mm Napoleonics, if you're thinking of ever expanding them:
Consider "line" troops for the French and British in the Waterloo range. I have been waiting for them for about 20 years now.
Also, Prussian Landwehr Lancers would be cool too. ;D
Best Regards, Bill White Who loves PA Napoleonic moulds as it makes him feel 14 and back in Ireland...
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Post by jgalvin on Jan 4, 2005 18:26:14 GMT
6. Rats (yes, giant rats) with spear and shield 7. Rats w/ sword and shield 8. Rats w/ sling Great idea... giant rats/skaven would make a great new army.
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Post by bwhite on Jan 4, 2005 20:18:35 GMT
And the rats don't have to be styled like "other" companies have done. Traditionally, I think the "human/giant rat" comes from the east?
Well, PA could be unique, go over to the other side of the world and makeup "Aztec" rats. ;D
Or a Dark Age style would be good. I'd buy either one. Probably more people would buy the latter.
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Post by bustpike on Jan 7, 2005 20:27:30 GMT
Is there any chance you could do 25mm american civil war.
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Post by Prince August on Jan 10, 2005 9:32:07 GMT
Is there any chance you could do 25mm american civil war. That is unlikely as we would need to be sure a large enough market for such a range at that scale existes to support the venture. Do you think it would be of widespread interest? Any supporting info would be useful and I can present a proposal to the boss. Our USA Distributor, Dunken, has a preference for 54mm at the moment.
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Post by bwhite on Jan 10, 2005 19:10:51 GMT
Heh, 54mm Civil War push when there is a move towards 40mm in the US by pre-cast metal companies. Hmm... I am getting older so maybe 54mm will be more appealing in the future? Anyway, some points regarding the viability of 25/28mm ACW, from the viewpoint of a wargamer and collector: 1. "WARHAMMER ACW" was just published in Wargames Illustrated <-If you don't know what that means, shame on you. 2. Most of the UK pre-cast models now cost too much to build a wargames army if you live in the US. This makes moulds MUCH more attractive. This applies to ANY mould in the 28mm (or fudge the 25mm, like I do) range. 3. Wargamers need HUNDREDS of models. You could break into the US wargames market considering the dollar to Euro ratio. It's killing UK metal miniature sales. Consumers over here would be inclined to compare: "I could buy some of the great looking stuff produced in the UK, some not so great looking stuff from Old Glory OR I could use some moulds to create my OWN miniatures, at least for the 'rank and file'." US Historical Wargamers are CHEAP, they'd snap up moulds and do the work themselves if it saves a cent. And currently it would save quite a few cents. Make sure to follow a few simple rules: 1. Keep poses "standard" - Firing, Advancing or marching. <- And "firing" means "firing" not loading, etc. 2. Consider "head variants" so casters could choose to model miniatures with Kepi, slouch hats, hardee hats, etc. 3. Infantry and Cavalry should be able to "rank up" easily. 4. Keep the backpacks OFF the model. Or at least make a backpack mould to add to the models. 5. Produce moulds for 'rank and file'. Stay away from odd troop types, at least until you've sold a bit of the basics first. I'd buy multiple moulds in a 25/28mm ACW range. I don't want to buy anymore Old Glory as they just don't look good for the price and the UK stuff is WAY too expensive now. A smart thing to do would be to sell the moulds at an HMGS-East show (Historicon is best and the biggest in the US with 3,000+ Historical minded attendees) but that requires an active distributor in the US or you all make a trip on over here. Best Regards, Bill White
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Post by bwhite on Jan 10, 2005 19:42:22 GMT
Another thought: I would use ACW moulds to produce my "Rank and File" for some games I'd host at Fall-In! 2005 (November 2005) in GETTYSBURG. I plan on 10 players (5 per side) with at least 3 x 20model units per player. That's approximately 300 models per side. And that's just the infantry, not cavarly or artillery. And yes, I can paint them all (600+) between March and Novemeber. Well, maybe I'd throw some to have painted to some friends but most by me. This is something I'd like to do for 2005, however I could put it off until 2006 IF I knew something was in the works. Otherwise I'm going to be spending an insane amount with either Old Glory or if I get a part-time contract (off hours work at really good rates) I'll buy Dixon miniatures. Either way, that's some money PA won't get if they don't make ACW moulds. I plan on running the game twice, once on Friday and once on Saturday during peak times. Be nice and I would even promote Prince August (ie sponsor) and pass out information on how to buy, how to cast, discounts for partcipating etc. Cheap advertising for your entire range, not just the ACW. ;D Of course, if you or whoever in the US could be there, it would be all the more lucrative, maybe. I always found it odd I couldn't find the moulds for sale at an HMGS-East show.
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Post by MacDuff on Jan 10, 2005 20:17:49 GMT
[date=1105384251]Heh, 54mm Civil War push when there is a move towards 40mm in the US by pre-cast metal companies. Hmm... I am getting older so maybe 54mm will be more appealing in the future? Sure, come join us. Actually a few PA ACW types have appeared on the table at an HMGS East Con (Cold Wars 04) but after conversion. But 40mm! Now there is a growing area. The ideal compromise between 54mm toy soldiers and 25mm wargame figures. I'd certainly shell out for 40mm ACW molds esp if fairlychunky (ie compatable with Sash & Sabre & Irregular. -Ross
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Post by Gungnir on Jun 13, 2005 12:59:15 GMT
Actually, I like the idea of rats, but also mytholical figures, like minotaurs, for instance, because they could fit in with both the current sizes, 25 as well as 32mm - I mean, they will just be a few points stronger in the smaller scale.
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Post by Bismuth Dirigible on Jun 23, 2005 15:30:31 GMT
I'd love to see some 54mm Roman molds.
I believe Dutkins still makes some 25mm roman molds, but I haven't tried them myself.
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Post by Steve on Jun 29, 2005 21:53:48 GMT
They also make 54mm. Can't remember how they look. All I know is that the 25mm have a legionare SLASHING with a gladius. Probably would be to much work to fix in 25mm.
Steve
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Post by smilesdaball on Aug 26, 2005 17:09:46 GMT
Adding horses in active poses would help with both Napoleonic and the Civil War line of molds. Also adding wounded figure molds to both lines would GREATLY assist those of us who create dioramas of military engagements and save time where we are having to literally recreate existing figures to meet our needs.
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Post by Wargamer on Aug 26, 2005 21:11:09 GMT
Economize on the number of poses required to field an army for wargaming. In the 40 mm range, stick with the typical march-attack pose seen in so many Knoetel paintings. This pose may be easier to cast than others, it looks perfectly in-period, and it should be easier to paint than other poses where the equipment hides so much of the figure's front. Here is a picture of the march-attack pose. www.grosser-generalstab.de/sturm/img/stm1_201.jpgCompared to the standard march-attack pose, your Austrian Musketeer (Nr. 59) of the Rossbach series is a really silly figure. Imagine how ridiculous a regiment of these figures would look on the wargame table. To a lesser degree the same is true of the Diesbach infantryman (Nr. 58). If you field a regiment of these figures, they will be perfectly in step like a bunch of ballet dancers. Running soldiers are never in step, and you need a lot of different poses to make a running regiment look convincing. Again, the Diesbach figure is an excellent single figure pose, but rather worthless as the rank and file of an infantry formation. There are no running officer, standard bearers, NCOs or drummers to accompany the Diesbach soldier (Nr. 58). I've cast 5 of these figures perhaps 25 years ago, and I painted three of them, but they've never been used on the wargame table. The trouble with your entire Rossbach series seems to be that the Prussian infantry figures are defending (some seem to be falling, the way they are bent at the knees), and the French/Reichsarmee figures are in attacking and charging poses. If I remember Rossbach correctly, it should be the other way around. You need Prussian artillery supporting the attack. You need Reichsarmee and Swiss infantry defending against the onslaught of the Prussian cavalry and infantry. And you need Prussian infantry advancing confidently, which is what they normally did and especially at Rossbach. Heavy cavalry was predominant at Rossbach, but you published six hussar poses in the Rossbach range. The Natzmer Ulan figure does not belong into the Rossbach range at all. This regiment converted to the 4. Husarenregiment in 1742, just 15 years before Rossbach. If you want to be taken seriously by wargamers and figure collectors, consider getting professional assistance from historians.
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