Plastic vs Metal

[EricJ]

The only negative I have for metal (and I suppose it is a large one) is that when dropped, even short distances, they will chip their paint job MUCH easier. This isn\'t too much of a problem for display minis, but game minis get banged around all the time. Of course also if your own a distructive cat this feature comes into play more as well.

Although in pretty much every other way I prefer metal, for basically all the same reasons listed above. I don\'t dislike plastics however, it\'s only a slight preference toward metal. Also probably has to do that it seems most of the nicer sculpts are cast in metal, so it\'s what I tend to paint more.

-Eric

 

[minimaker]

Origineel geplaatst door Margodoes GW change the quality of its polystrene over time?

Could be. It\'s common to switch to cheaper suppliers etc. etc. I doubt that paint coverage is affected by it though. With polystyrene you may get problems if you don\'t wash them well enough since that could mean some mould release (grease) remains.

Ming-Hua, thanks for the info on plastics!

You\'re welcome.

As to production methods of resin minis. As donga says, drop casting is a casting method used for them. Especially for larger parts. Still, spincasting is done for miniatures as well (the fortress figures range for instance).
The French use a specialised method which involves a vacuum chamber. That\'s how they manage to get such good casts as you see for Fenryll and Illyad. In a recent discussion it was mentioned that their moulds also allowed deeper undercuts. Probably since a softer rubber is used.

 

[E-Arkham]

For painting, I prefer pewter. The quality of the figures are typically higher than polystyrene(no undercuts) or resin (bubbles). For converting, I tend to prefer plastic simply due to the ease of chopping and carving.

I haven\'t really noticed an appreciable difference in how paint goes on to pewter or polystyrene. When I do, it\'s usually because I didn\'t clean the figure properly beforehand.

Perhaps it\'s only a mental hurdle, but I don\'t like resin. I believe it\'s to do with the warnings that some resins are highly carcinogenic when sanded. So I\'ll forego resin if I can, but prime/clear coat things regularly with aerosols and only an open window and a dust mask. Go figure.

I\'m trying to get over that... there are a lot of very nice bases in resin I want to start using. It\'s really pretty irrational of me, I think.

Kep

 

[Demon Hunter]

I don\'t known which I like better.

Plastic is easier to convert, to prime and it doesn\'t chip as much as metal does. Plastic model are cheaper.

But Plastic has a hell lot of moldlines and not as much detail as metal or resin

I like the weight of the metal when I\'m painting. I like putting metal models together, the pinning ect. Metal models are far more detailed then plastic ones.

But Metal models are more expensive.

I have not worked with resin yet, but I think it\'s like working with plastic but with more detail. Also with Resin models you can bend to model easily in to another position by warming it above a candle.

 

[Galante]

Metal for me, please!

I don\'t know, every time I tell someone about this hobby, I make sure to say that what I paint are METAL miniatures, you know, like the adults do
I guess I\'m afraid of someone saying something like \"hey, there goes the guy who likes to paint little plastic toy soldiers\".

 

[Legacy Account]

I\'m sure GW want everyone to love plastics. Look at their new marine captain. £8 gets you a heck of a lot of possibilities with the sprues you get.

It also costs them F-all to make after the moulds are done! Seems like an extravagant waste in packaging for one mini though.....

 

[finn17]

Metal....every time.

I just don\'t feel like I am getting value with plastics but, as I don\'t game I suppose my needs are different to that of the gamer.

It\'s probably just bias, but I wouldn\'t want to drive a plastic car, or try and give my wife plastic jewellery because she\'d shoot me with a metal bullet, not a plastic one

 

[No Such Agency]

Originally posted by Galante
Metal for me, please!

I don\'t know, every time I tell someone about this hobby, I make sure to say that what I paint are METAL miniatures, you know, like the adults do
I guess I\'m afraid of someone saying something like \"hey, there goes the guy who likes to paint little plastic toy soldiers\".

No, they\'ll say \"there goes the guy who paints little TIN soldiers\". Some mundanes are judgemental, and there\'s nothing we can do about it. You can\'t escape the fact that this is a geeky hobby just by careful choice of materials.

 

[Hieronymus]

Metal minis are obvoiusly heavier and the extra mass in my hand seems to give them a motion and makes them seem more alive. This seeming life gives me a better feel for the personality of the character and I seem to do a better job painting them. Then again, you can\'t melt pewter with a magnifying lense...

 

[Margo]

Originally posted by Hieronymus
Metal minis are obvoiusly heavier and the extra mass in my hand seems to give them a motion and makes them seem more alive. This seeming life gives me a better feel for the personality of the character

Absolutely agree, that\'s what I love about metals. After this tread, I think I\'ve made up my mind: I like them both, plastic and metal

Oh but one more thing: painting Rackham minis feels different from painting GW metals. I know this may sound weird, but the surface seems different to me. Anyone else noticed that?

 

[Ritual]

I think GW and Rackham uses different alloys. Rackham have softer metal, which makes them bend easier (and sometimes snap ).

 

[Galante]

Originally posted by No Such Agency
You can\'t escape the fact that this is a geeky hobby just by careful choice of materials.

Yes, you\'re right. I guess I\'m in denial
Or maybe I just have some issues with this, and are afraid that people won\'t respect me anymore if they think that this is a childish hobby.

Sorry Margo for going off-topic

 

[Margo]

Originally posted by Galante

Sorry Margo for going off-topic

No worries, Galante. Besides, it\'s quite an interesting off-topic

 

[Nymphomaniac]

metal all the way. plastic, is a nice thing, but, being lighter, it sort of feels weird its like holding nothing. metal at least has some weight which has an odd sub concious effect on me, i tend to paint metal minis, better the plastic ones...

@ Galante, many people say mini-painting is for children, and sad people. trust me many at school have tried to pull me away from mini-painting. but, to me, and i\'m sure it is to many of you, mini painting, helps relax, painting a mini just chucks out all the problems in life out the window..just for a few hours, but, thats all one needs. so basically, screw what people think, if someone doesn\'t respect you because you chose to pain minis rather than smoke pot or play guitar, he probably is the dumbass. i\'d never not go do something i like just because its doesn\'t gain respect. what anyone says, today, is forgotten tommorow, if your friends can\'t accept you like to paint, then they aren\'t really friends, just dickheads who got nothing better in life then to tell someone off for something they could never achieve to do in life.

off-topic i know, i just couldn\'t resist. :innocent:

 

[Modderrhu]

An interesting point you raise there, Nymphomanic. I care less about plastic miniatures, so the paintjob suffers as a result. Metal minis just inspire better efforts from me.

 

[Galante]

Thank you for your support, Nymphomaniac.

But to tell you the truth I only have this problem when I meet a girl lol

We go out, start discussing the things we like to do, and then I\'m like:
Me: Well, I like to paint METAL miniatures.
She: Oh, something like historical miniatures, you do some research to paint accurately...?
Me: Not really, I... usually paint dwarves. They have this really long beards, you know... Really funny to paint. I like elves, too, I guess.
(Awkward silence)
She: I forgot to feed my cat! Ups, gotta go!
I: I also like orcs! They\'re big and green! Like the Hulk!

 

[Modderrhu]

I believe the correct word is: Zoink!!!

Try this approach Galante, \"I sculpt and paint metal miniatures\". It\'s the sculpting that catches their attention. Now, it\'s not exactly a lie, is it? You do conversions? Make textures and little pieces out of green stuff and that? Oh yeah... you sculpt in metal too?? Wow, that\'s kinda manly stuff!

All of a sudden, you\'re not some kid who paints toys anymore, but you become an artist.

Edit:
You go out, start discussing the things you like to do;
You: I sculpt and paint metal miniatures
She: Oh, something like historical miniatures, you do some research to paint accurately...?
You: I prefer a fantasy setting, would rather do something I can really use imagination on.
(Let her digest that a little, don\'t provide too much information, unless she asks)
She: Oh cool.
(Ok, so she hasn\'t taken the bait)
You: So what about you? What do you do for fun?

 

[Galante]

Originally posted by Modderrhu
Now, it\'s not exactly a lie, is it? You do conversions? Make textures and little pieces out of green stuff and that?

Oh God, you\'re really depressing me lol
I sometimes fill some gaps with it but that\'s it

 

[minimaker]

Zoink? ???

Galante, if it helps, from experience I can tell you Modderhu\'s approach does actually work. Now, feel free to join 1listsculpting to learn sculpting. No garantees you\'ll meet the right girl but they are less likely to run off when you mention minis.

Hmm, makes we wonder when we\'ll have the first (non-SPAM) dating thread over at 1listsculpting. lol

Margo, this thread is definitely going off-topic. But then again, that\'s tradition here, isn\'t it?

 

[green stuff]

@Modderrhu : why doesn\'t that work for me ???