Miniature Mentor

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Arma

New member
Hi folks! Long time no post.

I had a bit of search around the forums and probably my search-fu is OFF, but:

Does anyone know whats going on with Miniature Mentors tutorial series? The last video I got from them was way back at the end of July / start of August and nothing since then. I pay them monthly since I was an early adopter and the money is STILL going to them with no updates etc.

Cheers
 
MAXXxxx

MAXXxxx

Well-known member
nope, sorry, no idea.
I'm also waiting for a new video from them.

But to be honest the monthly-fee was never really worth it. Even at the beginning they could release a video every 3 months or so, so you could pay $24 subscription for that 3 months or $25 for the released video about a week later.
So I cancelled the sub long ago (but still bought/buy every video they release)

One thing that could've hit them was GW. When I look through their page I see a few videos missing, that had GW minis there for the painting. The filming probably cost a lot, and they can't sell it.
Worst for this is the Ben Komet's Plaguenaught as the video is SUPER, but not available anymore because of a C&D letter from GW.
 
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Arma

New member
I never even bothered to check how much the videos cost without the sub, I just assumed it was cheaper to sub! I may go ahead and cancel then just buy them separately since some of the sculpting ones aren't that interesting for me either.

Thanks for the heads up and bummer about the GW C&Ds! I hope they can keep making their videos since they're some of the best tutorials around... All I ever really want to see is a top painter painting and that's what they provide!
 
RuneBrush

RuneBrush

New member
MAXXxxx said:
nope, sorry, no idea.
I'm also waiting for a new video from them.

But to be honest the monthly-fee was never really worth it. Even at the beginning they could release a video every 3 months or so, so you could pay $24 subscription for that 3 months or $25 for the released video about a week later.
So I cancelled the sub long ago (but still bought/buy every video they release)

One thing that could've hit them was GW. When I look through their page I see a few videos missing, that had GW minis there for the painting. The filming probably cost a lot, and they can't sell it.
Worst for this is the Ben Komet's Plaguenaught as the video is SUPER, but not available anymore because of a C&D letter from GW.
Click to expand...

Didn't realise that they'd been hit with C&D from GW :( Good job I downloaded most of the tutorials!

A bit more communication would be good though - I've still got my monthly sub but might have to reconsider if things don't improve then.
 
MAXXxxx

MAXXxxx

Well-known member
Atacam: I never had a problem with the support of MM, the few times I had problems with my downloads they were corrected and reactivated pretty fast (in hours)
that said, I too love the PaintingBuddha DVDs, waiting for season 2.

Runebrush: at first I didn't know about it either. First I read about it on masterminis blog or frontlinegamer blog. Last I checked the following went missing:
- ... Plaguelord Festus
- Mikh's Dreadnought Conversion
- Dreadnought painting (Airbrush + oils)
- Bogusz's Stupnicki's Nurgle Dreadnought video
- Ben Komet's Plaguenaught

(- image for Ben Komet's bases is changed, so no GW mini is shown, only siluhettes)
and luckily Thomas David's speedpainting was advertised with helldorado minis, so it survived.

reconsidering subs were easy for me: since I changed banks I don't have a creditcard anymore, and the system they use didn't allow other types (paypal, debit cards) to be used there.
 
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A

Arma

New member
I mailed them and got a reply:

Hi Gareth, we appologize for the delay in the last tutorial - we're doing our best to get it out.

We got slammed working on our anatomy tutorial. In order to make the best course we could, we decided to create a supplimental book with the world's best artists working at Disney, Pixar, Dreamworks, Marvel and D.C. Unfortunately, juggling both is time consuming. www.mastersofanatomy.com

As a token of our appreciation for your patience and understanding we will be offering the book to you at cost + shipping (the book normally retails for $45). We'll be setting up a special page later in December to purchase from.

As for the tutorials - they are just waiting to be edited. We got tons of incredible learning ahead for you.

Also, we have a Kickstarter coming soon specifically for miniature painters and sculptors - it's been over 2 years in the making and it's unlike anything you've ever seen before!

Once again, please accept our apologies - we'll do our best to make it up in subsequent videos.

Best,

Support.
Click to expand...
 
Bailey03

Bailey03

Well-known member
Thanks for sharing their response. I'd been wondering about them as well. Lots of great tutorials and I was looking forward to a number of their upcoming ones.

As for the subscription vs individual sale... if you're new to miniature mentor the subscription can make a lot of sense since it gives you access to all of the videos. But, as others have said, at the rate they've been coming out with new tutorials (even before the recent slow down) it's questionable whether the monthly cost is worth it. I had the subscription for a while but have since cancelled it. I'll probably buy more tutorials from them but it'll be one at a time.
 
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40Kilo

New member
I tried to email them because my session codes aren't working (i'm a subscriber) but I got an error response that the email didn't exist... this is disappointing. I like the videos.
 
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munchies2x

New member
As a subscriber, the lack of update from miniature mentor is really disappointing, in addition to their really poor communication to its subscriber. The last email, about 4 months ago, mentioned they will release a tutorial within 2 weeks, 4 months went and not a single explanation. I sent an email to them and got no response at all. 4 months is a long time without a single update. In fact in 2013 alone they only released 2-3 tutorials.

They really need to set up an Official forum that allow its members to at least communicate with one another. And they better be releasing few tutorials before Christmas break, otherwise I will cancel my membership and issue a charge back through my cc company.
 
RuneBrush

RuneBrush

New member
munchies2x said:
As a subscriber, the lack of update from miniature mentor is really disappointing, in addition to their really poor communication to its subscriber. The last email, about 4 months ago, mentioned they will release a tutorial within 2 weeks, 4 months went and not a single explanation. I sent an email to them and got no response at all. 4 months is a long time without a single update. In fact in 2013 alone they only released 2-3 tutorials.

They really need to set up an Official forum that allow its members to at least communicate with one another. And they better be releasing few tutorials before Christmas break, otherwise I will cancel my membership and issue a charge back through my cc company.
Click to expand...

Funnily enough I was looking at that e-mail a couple of days back as well - not particularly impressed with the lack of communication though I've not sent an e-mail to them yet.

Thankfully I'd already downloaded all of the videos that had been pulled, although at this rate it's going to be cheaper to buy them as they get produced...
 
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loydb

Member
I was considering joining until I read this thread. I just bought speed painting instead, and will consider other titles as-needed.
 
MAXXxxx

MAXXxxx

Well-known member
loydb said:
I was considering joining until I read this thread. I just bought speed painting instead, and will consider other titles as-needed.
Click to expand...
if you are buying one by one then the ones I'd recommend:
- the first one (Wolfen) (shows many different materials and surfaces)
- the Monochrome with Jen Haley (I found her presentation, explanations very good + I like the monochrome style in some minis)
- the bases from Ben Komets (all around useful)
- the Violinist from Arsies (mix of airbrush and brush)

the others are good if you like the art of a certain painter(like the demon from Romain, video is super, but his style is not for me), you are after a special effect(like the weathering of the tractor) or if you are into sculpting
 
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Bloodhowl

Bloodhowl

Active member
MAXXxxx said:
if you are buying one by one then the ones I'd recommend:
- the first one (Wolfen) (shows many different materials and surfaces)
- the Monochrome with Jen Haley (I found her presentation, explanations very good + I like the monochrome style in some minis)
- the bases from Ben Komets (all around useful)
- the Violinist from Arsies (mix of airbrush and brush)

the others are good if you like the art of a certain painter(like the demon from Romain, video is super, but his style is not for me), you are after a special effect(like the weathering of the tractor) or if you are into sculpting
Click to expand...

If you go for the sculpting videos, the two I would recommend are: Anime Girl for using green stuff, and the Barbarian for using FIMO. Seeing how the artist manipulates the different mediums and what tools he uses was a huge step forward in my learning.
 
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munchies2x

New member
Well finally!

"BasingVolume 2 with Matteo Murelli is available now for subscribers only. Stay tuned for our full newsletter this week.

You will need the latest version of VLC Player to play back the 1440/60p video. Download the latest version here."

I hope they will release another one to make up with all the delays before Christmas!
 
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munchies2x

New member
munchies2x said:
Well finally!

"BasingVolume 2 with Matteo Murelli is available now for subscribers only. Stay tuned for our full newsletter this week.

You will need the latest version of VLC Player to play back the 1440/60p video. Download the latest version here."

I hope they will release another one to make up with all the delays before Christmas!
Click to expand...

Well guess what, only one release so far in 2014! Miniature Mentor is testing my patience. To anyone considering subscribing I urge to you to reconsider. Or by a sub and then cancel. I have been a member for a year+ so far they only updated like 3 times!
 
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Matt Cexwish

Member
I am also waiting for the next DVD to be released as it is mine...... And I have not heard back from Miniature Mentor for a long time too by now, so I cannot give you any update on it, sadly... Very unhappy about the lack of communication...
 
MAXXxxx

MAXXxxx

Well-known member
requote from myself:

MAXXxxx said:
But to be honest the monthly-fee was never really worth it. Even at the beginning they could release a video every 3 months or so, so you could pay $24 subscription for that 3 months or $25 for the released video about a week later.
So I cancelled the sub long ago (but still bought/buy every video they release)
Click to expand...

so I don't think it's worth hanging on the subscription. Even without it you can support them by buying the video for full price (which is about 99c more than the subscribed price normally).

add to that, that the last 3 videos were not that useful for me:
- The Tractor is not my style, so it's 100% my problem, that it wasn't for me (knew it when I bought it, but I collect tutorials :D )
- basing + Sven was nice, but for both I found Ben Komet's videos much much better.
 
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munchies2x

New member
True that Matt and Maxx.

It is just I like and want to support the miniature community, especially small company or kickstarters.

But the impression I got from Miniature Mentor kinda left a bad taste. One day telling its customer we will have a video tutorial out soon and then no update/communication for 3 months! I don't think 3 months qualified for the word "soon" in any languages/cultures. At least say something or apologize if you can't meet a deadline or have some internal issue. Just really poor way to treat their customers.
 
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