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Imperial Artisans ... The Painters, Crafters & Writers Guilds => The Brush and Palette => Topic started by: GamesPoet on April 04, 2018, 12:37:01 PM

Title: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: GamesPoet on April 04, 2018, 12:37:01 PM
Tada!

Your choice for miniatures ...

1. Metal only.
2. Metal and plastic.
3. Metal and resin.
4. Metal, and plastic, and resin.
5. Mostly metal and plastic, occasionally resin.
6. Mostly plastic and resin, occasionally metal.
7. Mostly metal and resin, occasionally plastic.
8. Mostly metal, occasionally plastic, no resin.
9. Mostly metal occasionally resin, no plastic.
10. Mostly plastic, occasionally metal. no resin.
11. Mostly resin, occasionally metal, no plastic.
12. Mostly plastic, occasionally resin, no metal.
13. Mostly resin, occasionally plastic, no metal.
14. Plastic and resin.
15. Plastic only.
16. Resin only.
17. Mostly plastic, occasionally resin, occasionally metal.
18. Mostly metal, occasionally resin, occasionally plastic.
19. Mostly resin, occasionally plastic, occasionally metal.

Let the tally begin!

Oh, and my collection ... #5
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: Fidelis von Sigmaringen on April 04, 2018, 01:51:55 PM
#10
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: Artobans Ghost on April 04, 2018, 02:22:52 PM
#2
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: Oxycutor on April 04, 2018, 02:30:49 PM
Each has their positives and negatives, and if you'd asked me 10 years ago, 5 years ago,  it would have been different answers.

Pewter was the main material when I started, and I've been around through white metal, plastic and resin.

I don't mind working with metal or resin occasionally, FW resin is better than GW resin, though even that has improved since Finecast was (badly) launched, but my preference is definitely plastic these days.  Though it probably took me a while to come round to it.   5 years ago, or more I would have probably said metal, with plastic as my least favourite  (until resin came along). 

So my choice would be

17. Mostly plastic, occasionally resin, occasionally metal.
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: GamesPoet on April 04, 2018, 04:09:33 PM
Yep, I once did mostly plastic and metal, no resin, so changes happen over time.  Thanks for the idea for adding additional options!

The tally so far.

Your choice for miniatures ...

1. Metal only.
2. Metal and plastic. Artobans
3. Metal and resin.
4. Metal, and plastic, and resin.
5. Mostly metal and plastic, occasionally resin. GP
6. Mostly plastic and resin, occasionally metal.
7. Mostly metal and resin, occasionally plastic.
8. Mostly metal, occasionally plastic, no resin.
9. Mostly metal occasionally resin, no plastic.
10. Mostly plastic, occasionally metal. no resin. Fidelis
11. Mostly resin, occasionally metal, no plastic.
12. Mostly plastic, occasionally resin, no metal.
13. Mostly resin, occasionally plastic, no metal.
14. Plastic and resin.
15. Plastic only.
16. Resin only.
17. Mostly plastic, occasionally resin, occasionally metal. Oxycutor
18. Mostly metal, occasionally resin, occasionally plastic.
19. Mostly resin, occasionally plastic, occasionally metal.
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: scrubber on April 04, 2018, 04:37:57 PM
Normal anything I like and can get my little grubby hand on. Only dislike Resin with very thin weapons
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: Zygmund on April 04, 2018, 04:42:41 PM
#4

Almost unreal to talk about this, again, after all those years.

-Z
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: GamesPoet on April 04, 2018, 06:16:23 PM
Putting scrubber into the 4 category as well. :::cheers:::

The Ongoing Tally

Your choice for miniatures ...

1. Metal only.
2. Metal and plastic. Artobans
3. Metal and resin.
4. Metal, and plastic, and resin. Zygmund, scrubber
5. Mostly metal and plastic, occasionally resin. GP
6. Mostly plastic and resin, occasionally metal.
7. Mostly metal and resin, occasionally plastic.
8. Mostly metal, occasionally plastic, no resin.
9. Mostly metal occasionally resin, no plastic.
10. Mostly plastic, occasionally metal. no resin. Fidelis
11. Mostly resin, occasionally metal, no plastic.
12. Mostly plastic, occasionally resin, no metal.
13. Mostly resin, occasionally plastic, no metal.
14. Plastic and resin.
15. Plastic only.
16. Resin only.
17. Mostly plastic, occasionally resin, occasionally metal. Oxycutor
18. Mostly metal, occasionally resin, occasionally plastic.
19. Mostly resin, occasionally plastic, occasionally metal.
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: Bartolo Miachevelia on April 04, 2018, 07:30:47 PM
Mostly metal and plastic, occasionally resin
Collecting oop miniatures, conversions with plastic, few resin minis (FW).
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: Gankom on April 04, 2018, 09:07:20 PM
I'm #17 like Oxycutor. just like him my answer would have been so very different every few years. I use to love metal and complain bitterly about it all getting switched out to plastic, but these day's I grumble more when I have to work with metal. The old models are great, but man plastic is just so much nicer to work with. Better models, better to paint, better to build, etc.
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: GamesPoet on April 04, 2018, 09:13:00 PM
Updating!

The Ongoing Tally

Your choice for miniatures ...

1. Metal only.
2. Metal and plastic. Artobans
3. Metal and resin.
4. Metal, and plastic, and resin. Zygmund, scrubber
5. Mostly metal and plastic, occasionally resin. GP, Bartolo
6. Mostly plastic and resin, occasionally metal.
7. Mostly metal and resin, occasionally plastic.
8. Mostly metal, occasionally plastic, no resin.
9. Mostly metal occasionally resin, no plastic.
10. Mostly plastic, occasionally metal. no resin. Fidelis
11. Mostly resin, occasionally metal, no plastic.
12. Mostly plastic, occasionally resin, no metal.
13. Mostly resin, occasionally plastic, no metal.
14. Plastic and resin.
15. Plastic only.
16. Resin only.
17. Mostly plastic, occasionally resin, occasionally metal. Oxycutor, Gankom
18. Mostly metal, occasionally resin, occasionally plastic.
19. Mostly resin, occasionally plastic, occasionally metal.
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: ZeroTwentythree on April 05, 2018, 01:33:58 AM
#5

Still warming up to resin for small models. Totally OK for large models. I generally like plastic, but not overly complex models or fragile models for rank & file.
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: Rowsdower on April 05, 2018, 03:42:08 AM
2
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: GamesPoet on April 05, 2018, 10:49:40 AM
Updating!

The Ongoing Tally

Your choice for miniatures ...

1. Metal only.
2. Metal and plastic. Artobans, Rowsdower
3. Metal and resin.
4. Metal, and plastic, and resin. Zygmund, scrubber
5. Mostly metal and plastic, occasionally resin. GP, Bartolo, 023
6. Mostly plastic and resin, occasionally metal.
7. Mostly metal and resin, occasionally plastic.
8. Mostly metal, occasionally plastic, no resin.
9. Mostly metal occasionally resin, no plastic.
10. Mostly plastic, occasionally metal. no resin. Fidelis
11. Mostly resin, occasionally metal, no plastic.
12. Mostly plastic, occasionally resin, no metal.
13. Mostly resin, occasionally plastic, no metal.
14. Plastic and resin.
15. Plastic only.
16. Resin only.
17. Mostly plastic, occasionally resin, occasionally metal. Oxycutor, Gankom
18. Mostly metal, occasionally resin, occasionally plastic.
19. Mostly resin, occasionally plastic, occasionally metal.
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: Warlord on April 05, 2018, 02:11:00 PM
I am 5.

I like plastics for converting, and metals are good for quality models. I like my characters, command and war machine crews as metal. Resin I find confusing. Its not as flexible as plastic despite being light, but the models aren’t as good as the metals.
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: Konrad von Richtmark on April 05, 2018, 02:17:46 PM
Put me in on 10. I prefer it that way too. Plastic is so nicely versatile and convertible. Multipart plastic boxes are love, life and waifu  :icon_mrgreen:
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: Konrad von Richtmark on April 05, 2018, 02:22:56 PM
Also, the poll format could do with some better data visualization, hard to see the relative prominence of each material at a glance. I'd suggest giving answers as percentages, then calculate running averages.

I'd say I'm 80% plastic, 20% metal.
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: Warlord on April 05, 2018, 02:34:14 PM
Yeah, i have way more plastic.
I like metal because it resells better!
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: Zygmund on April 06, 2018, 06:41:14 AM
Also, the poll format could do with some better data visualization, hard to see the relative prominence of each material at a glance. I'd suggest giving answers as percentages, then calculate running averages.

I'd say I'm 80% plastic, 20% metal.

I took the original question as preferences, not what everybody actually has. Like we tend to have armies, and resin for army figurines is a relatively new thing. So resin naturally would fall to the third place or be non-existent in many collections.

If you want to know the material division of my existing and painted Empire (+Halfling + DoW + Kislev) collection, it's:
38 % metal
61 % plastic
1 % resin

My unpained Empire etc. minis would have proportionally more metal and resin, but plastic would likely still be the biggest, and resin would still hold the bottom place. Still, I don't have a specific preference to buy plastic miniatures and not to buy resin miniatures. I'll get any mini I like, in a medium it's been cast, if I see the price/quality ratio fitting.

Also, there's a big difference between hard plastic and Mantic restic & Reaper bones. Should the poll differentiate these? Miniatureholics certainly have strong opinions about these, and many stay away from restic & bones - some even without ever testing them. Restic and bones is different. Should the poll differentiate these? There are some companies which use a different kind of PVC to the common hard plastic. So different that it's again a quality of its own, and always impacts my eagerness to get or not to get those minis. Should it be differentiated? What about the Airfix type soft plastic, which is not quite the same used in bones? A different category again?

Should the poll differentiate the 70's and 80's metal (pewter) from whitemetal? Because there's a difference. If I wasn't a reckless collector too, I'd be very picky with the older metal. Because it's often soft, bendy, and nearly always worn and sometimes deformed after all those years. Drop such a model once, and one protruding detail more gets flattened.

-Z
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: GamesPoet on April 06, 2018, 10:22:44 AM
Wasn't interested in minutia, yet feel free to post it if ya'd like. :icon_cool:

Updating ...

The Ongoing Tally

Your choice for miniatures ...

1. Metal only.
2. Metal and plastic. Artobans, Rowsdower
3. Metal and resin.
4. Metal, and plastic, and resin. Zygmund, scrubber
5. Mostly metal and plastic, occasionally resin. GP, Bartolo, 023, Warlord, Xathro
6. Mostly plastic and resin, occasionally metal.
7. Mostly metal and resin, occasionally plastic.
8. Mostly metal, occasionally plastic, no resin.
9. Mostly metal occasionally resin, no plastic.
10. Mostly plastic, occasionally metal. no resin. Fidelis, Konrad
11. Mostly resin, occasionally metal, no plastic.
12. Mostly plastic, occasionally resin, no metal.
13. Mostly resin, occasionally plastic, no metal.
14. Plastic and resin.
15. Plastic only.
16. Resin only.
17. Mostly plastic, occasionally resin, occasionally metal. Oxycutor, Gankom
18. Mostly metal, occasionally resin, occasionally plastic.
19. Mostly resin, occasionally plastic, occasionally metal.
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: Xathrodox86 on April 06, 2018, 11:32:20 AM
Number 5. for me. Definitely.

5. Mostly metal and plastic, occasionally resin.
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: GamesPoet on April 06, 2018, 11:34:27 AM
Added above!
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: mr chumley warner on April 06, 2018, 01:11:31 PM
Only Metal !!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VUX8T4DB7o

Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: Artobans Ghost on April 06, 2018, 01:41:28 PM
Very funny👆
As my son grew up, I introduced him to every kind of music - progressive, classical, medieval, world music of every type, everything except metal. I hated it. But that’s what he went for so that shook the house for most of his teenage years. He actually introduced me to a lot of bands that I now listen to and like - Amon Amarth, Tyr, insomnium, heidevolk, falkenback, system of a down, and a bunch of other stuff. Still can’t stand the satanic stuff but the Viking metal folk stuff I love.
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: lt dougheim on April 06, 2018, 01:51:04 PM
#2
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: JAK on April 06, 2018, 04:48:41 PM
Difficult

I like the versatility of Plastic, particularly multi-part figures, which gives everyone the opportunity to build something unique for their collection, and specifically for me they are easier to convert (however I find GW stuff is getting so fine that parts are vulnerable to handling and the mould lines are now more pronounced and harder to remove).

Metal figures are normally one piece so there is less opportunity for conversion which takes a bit more effort as does the general clean up due to the hardness of the material.

I have never had a commercial resin figure but I have in the past made resin parts cast from OOP figures etc. which have been built into my conversions. The resin I used was as easy to work with as plastic but was intended for making slot car bodies so don’t know how it would compare with that used for figures.

A few years ago I would have said plastics were a definite favourite but the trend now to CAD design everything is giving figures a perfect clean-cut finish which looks wrong somehow when compared to a metal one cast from a GS master. (sort of in the same way that I find top class figure painting has gone from a traditional wargaming finish, through a near realistic and now has the horrible look of the exaggerated effects  found in computer games).

Even so at present I buy mostly plastic with occasional metal although I have a spares box with more metal figures than I’ll ever use.

#10
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: Zak on April 06, 2018, 04:56:15 PM
#2
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: Ursa Doom on April 06, 2018, 05:14:46 PM
#17 I guess? Although, I will always take metal minis over resin ones if I have the option.
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: Padre on April 06, 2018, 11:45:54 PM
2, metal and plastic. Own no resin that I know of.  I think. Except some resin scenery.

What's important to me, is that whatever the material, the figures have to be painted.
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: S.O.F on April 07, 2018, 02:58:41 AM
Whilst I like the thread this poll misses the mark. I mean if we are talking what you like to own I go metal but honestly I'm a 5 on the scale.

If we remove that metals are my favorite, first for the resale value as noted and two as that if it used to be committed to metal it had a reason to do so. I love plastics for the conversions and as a side also some resins but as a side note the old Empire Halberdiers were some of the nicest mini ever made.
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: GamesPoet on April 07, 2018, 08:34:24 AM
Well, well, well ... Chumley made it over to this thread ...

And welcome to dougheim.

Updating!

The Ongoing Tally

Your choice for miniatures ...

1. Metal only.  Chumley
2. Metal and plastic. Artobans, Rowsdower, dougheim, zak
3. Metal and resin.
4. Metal, and plastic, and resin. Zygmund, scrubber
5. Mostly metal and plastic, occasionally resin. GP, Bartolo, 023, Warlord, Xathro, S.O.F
6. Mostly plastic and resin, occasionally metal.
7. Mostly metal and resin, occasionally plastic.
8. Mostly metal, occasionally plastic, no resin.
9. Mostly metal occasionally resin, no plastic.
10. Mostly plastic, occasionally metal. no resin. Fidelis, Konrad, JAK, Padre
11. Mostly resin, occasionally metal, no plastic.
12. Mostly plastic, occasionally resin, no metal.
13. Mostly resin, occasionally plastic, no metal.
14. Plastic and resin.
15. Plastic only.
16. Resin only.
17. Mostly plastic, occasionally resin, occasionally metal. Oxycutor, Gankom, Ursa
18. Mostly metal, occasionally resin, occasionally plastic.
19. Mostly resin, occasionally plastic, occasionally metal.
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: Midaski on April 07, 2018, 11:38:51 AM
I have to be a No:5

The thing is I evaluate on the quality of the sculpt.

I always liked metal, for it's weight, value, and collectability, but that doesn't mean all metal. There are some manufacturers who I just don't like the style or proportions.
Big fan of plastic sets for their versatility and the ability to have a unit with individual figures.

Hated GW resin, and resin in general, but then I got a couple of samples of Westfalia's halflings and they were a revelation of crisp neat figures, and just had the same experience with the Black Scorpion 'Tomstone' KS figures - stunning!!! 

So I am open minded about the medium depending on the actual sculpt.
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: Zak on April 07, 2018, 03:26:44 PM
I have to be a No:5

The thing is I evaluate on the quality of the sculpt.

I always liked metal, for it's weight, value, and collectability, but that doesn't mean all metal. There are some manufacturers who I just don't like the style or proportions.
Big fan of plastic sets for their versatility and the ability to have a unit with individual figures.

Hated GW resin, and resin in general, but then I got a couple of samples of Westfalia's halflings and they were a revelation of crisp neat figures, and just had the same experience with the Black Scorpion 'Tomstone' KS figures - stunning!!! 

So I am open minded about the medium depending on the actual sculpt.

I have never had good experiences with resin
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: GamesPoet on April 07, 2018, 06:47:37 PM
Try Westfalia, they are wonderful, best resin figures I've had any experience with so far.
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: GamesPoet on April 07, 2018, 06:48:40 PM
Updating!

The Ongoing Tally

Your choice for miniatures ...

1. Metal only.  Chumley
2. Metal and plastic. Artobans, Rowsdower, dougheim, zak
3. Metal and resin.
4. Metal, and plastic, and resin. Zygmund, scrubber
5. Mostly metal and plastic, occasionally resin. GP, Bartolo, 023, Warlord, Xathro, SOF, Midaski
6. Mostly plastic and resin, occasionally metal.
7. Mostly metal and resin, occasionally plastic.
8. Mostly metal, occasionally plastic, no resin.
9. Mostly metal occasionally resin, no plastic.
10. Mostly plastic, occasionally metal. no resin. Fidelis, Konrad, JAK, Padre
11. Mostly resin, occasionally metal, no plastic.
12. Mostly plastic, occasionally resin, no metal.
13. Mostly resin, occasionally plastic, no metal.
14. Plastic and resin.
15. Plastic only.
16. Resin only.
17. Mostly plastic, occasionally resin, occasionally metal. Oxycutor, Gankom, Ursa
18. Mostly metal, occasionally resin, occasionally plastic. Brother Sutek
19. Mostly resin, occasionally plastic, occasionally metal.
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: Brother Sutek on April 07, 2018, 10:45:45 PM
I will use any but prefer metal for the most part. Plastic or resin are better for converting as they are obviously easier to cut, pin etc. I agree with the earlier point that many of the new GW CAD sculpts look off next to older metal models.
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: GamesPoet on April 08, 2018, 12:34:18 PM
Updated above for Brother Sutek, and welcome! :::cheers:::
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: orcyboy on April 09, 2018, 07:16:45 PM
I suppose number 8. Mostly metal, occasionally plastic, no resin.

But I only use plastics under duress and I have to play some Bolt Thrower to keep the cooties away.  Unless of course the plastic is white, blue or tan then its all good.
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: RE.Lee on April 09, 2018, 07:27:51 PM
#5 for me as well.

I've got 3 finecast miniatures and prepping them for painting was a chore, but they don't ship paint that much, at least.
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: Qrab on April 10, 2018, 10:32:03 PM
Should’ve done the poll in the F, Marry, Kill style. My answer is:

Mostly metal, occasionally plastic, never resin.
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: Gankom on April 11, 2018, 12:30:48 AM
Has anyone else done much with Reaper's Bone's style plastic? I've had a lot of good work with it. The details are pretty good (Although not amazing), paint sticks to it good and you can convert it fantastically easily.
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: Alex-bbr on April 14, 2018, 05:03:53 PM
#5
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: Zygmund on April 15, 2018, 12:55:18 AM
Has anyone else done much with Reaper's Bone's style plastic? I've had a lot of good work with it. The details are pretty good (Although not amazing), paint sticks to it good and you can convert it fantastically easily.

I have.

Agree mostly, but the details vary somewhat. For example, some models have a mould line running over the figure's face. Try to cut that out smoothly. Then again, most of the bones minis don't have such problems, and they're fine.

-Z
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: Novogord on April 15, 2018, 06:42:44 AM
#5
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: patsy02 on April 15, 2018, 10:49:46 AM
#5

Resin sucks to work with.
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: Zak on April 15, 2018, 04:32:58 PM
#5

Resin sucks to work with.

yes its does  :icon_evil:
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: Midaski on April 15, 2018, 04:42:07 PM
#5

Resin sucks to work with.

Well try using a knife or saw - it's a lot quicker than sucking a bit off.   :engel:
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: Rogers Kul on April 15, 2018, 06:58:07 PM
#5
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: patsy02 on April 15, 2018, 06:58:30 PM
You underestimate my sucking power.
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: StealthKnightSteg on April 19, 2018, 06:55:20 AM
#20 Mostly Plastic, fair amount of Metal, occasionally Resin
is what I own / want to be my collection.
Yes, I'm stubborn to add a new category.

But if I had the choice for one model that is available in all 3, I would for sure go with Plastic
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: GamesPoet on April 19, 2018, 11:57:33 AM
Updating!

The Ongoing Tally

Your choice for miniatures ...

1. Metal only.  Chumley
2. Metal and plastic. Artobans, Rowsdower, dougheim, zak
3. Metal and resin.
4. Metal, and plastic, and resin. Zygmund, scrubber
5. Mostly metal and plastic, occasionally resin. GP, Bartolo, 023, Warlord, Xathro, SOF, Midaski, Ale-bbr, Novogord. patsy02, Rogers Kul
6. Mostly plastic and resin, occasionally metal.
7. Mostly metal and resin, occasionally plastic.
8. Mostly metal, occasionally plastic, no resin.
9. Mostly metal occasionally resin, no plastic.
10. Mostly plastic, occasionally metal. no resin. Fidelis, Konrad, JAK, Padre
11. Mostly resin, occasionally metal, no plastic.
12. Mostly plastic, occasionally resin, no metal.
13. Mostly resin, occasionally plastic, no metal.
14. Plastic and resin.
15. Plastic only.
16. Resin only.
17. Mostly plastic, occasionally metal, occasionally resin. Oxycutor, Gankom, Ursa, SKS
18. Mostly metal, occasionally resin, occasionally plastic. Brother Sutek
19. Mostly resin, occasionally plastic, occasionally metal.
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: Shadespyre on April 19, 2018, 12:27:55 PM
For any of us who were gaming in the 80s, I think metal is for miniatures, plastic is for toys, and resin is a strange new idea which has many of the faults of both.

BUT we should all be grateful for the way plastic has revolutionised the hobby - slotta bases, plastic shields, the amazing conversion resources provided by (c. 6th ed) Warhammer kits - are all boons even to those of us who want all our miniatures to be metal.

Also, metal vehicle kits do tend to be be hard work at best - plastic WH40k vehicles are brilliant, and anyone who has painted a large metal dragon must grudgingly agree that it's physically painful at times. Plastic definitely has a place.

Set up costs for metal miniatures mean that resin is the only choice for large, limited run fantasy models. I don't like it but it's where we're at.

As Midaski said above - "I am open minded about the medium depending on the actual sculpt". I'd go further than that. The problem is not so much the medium as with quality control and the entire design of the model.

QC - a badly cast model is a bad model, whether it's misaligned moulds, air bubbles or breakages, in any medium. QC is often slacker on resin compared to metal, because a bad metal mini can go back in the melting pot, a bad resin model is waste. Nowadays you wouldn't accept a metal model in the state which many resin ones are delivered in, with tons of flash and huge chunks of vent material (though back in the 80s we were less fussy about metal, I think).

By design, I don't really mean the sculpt, I mean how the model is posed, broken into parts for casting and so on. I think if people take into account what the final medium will be, the results are generally better, easier to assemble, more robust - just more practical models. Finecast was a mess partly because GW were trying to make models intended to be metal work in resin, I think. Reaper's "Bonesium" illustrates this well - some models translate brilliantly from metal to the soft plastic, some don't work well at all. It's good for large, bulky shapes, and holds reasonable detail, but it isn't good at straight lines and sharp edges like plastic is.

So from my personal experience - I love the weight and feel of a metal model, and have the skills to work with them for conversion etc, but I understand and enjoy the appeal of plastics. Resin can be terrible - I hated working with some Raging Heroes models, Forgeworld has been okay, I haven't really handled Finecast at all - but it can also be great, I've had some lovely models in resin from Heresy Miniatures, and from Scibor, and from Warploque.

Oh, I guess I'm another #5. I'd love to be a #1, but the technology has moved on and there are too many excellent plastic and resin models to ignore. And we all love our bits, right?
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: Zak on April 19, 2018, 10:21:50 PM
I agree metal figures but plastic larger models
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: ZeroTwentythree on April 19, 2018, 10:49:07 PM
Oh, I guess I'm another #5. I'd love to be a #1, but the technology has moved on and there are too many excellent plastic and resin models to ignore. And we all love our bits, right?

That's where I'm at.

I've grown tired of assembling rank & file plastic kits. I'd rather have good one-piece metal minis. (Separate weapons are OK.) But there are many plastic kits that are good, inexpensive, or both -- and can't be ignored. Some of the GW undead are great! But honestly, I'm tempted to trade in the remainder of my old 4th ed. Empire plastics that are still on sprues/in boxes for Artizan, Foundry, or other metal landsknechts. They're more likely to get painted. I wan't more halberdiers. But I hate assembling them.

I've still got mixed feelings on resin. I love the Westfalia halflings, and the detail is good, etc. But I'm starting to wish they were metal. I think the largest reason they're not all painted already is dealing with the bendy weapons. I think I'm OK with resin for large, bulky minis (*cough*cough*giants*)  :wink: terrain and maybe an occasional unique model, but not for most human/humanoid figures.

I think it depends on the resin, too. Not sure what the difference is, but when I painted some Warmachine stuff a few years ago, their resin was way different. Much harder, easier to scrape & sand, not as bendy. Then there's the other new materials... Bones, PVC, etc... I appreciate that manufacturers are experimenting. And like Resin, I think Bones is decent for really large, bulky models -- and even cheaper than resin. But there are definite limitations.

As much as I like metal, it's good to see experimentation & adaptation to create better models or cheaper models where possible. Not that it always works out for the best.  :wink:
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: Zygmund on April 20, 2018, 06:32:53 AM
Resins and alternative plastics (bones, restic) vary a lot. In practice, you have to see and feel in your hands what the material from each manufacturer is.

Photos help a lot, but the medium might still surprise.

I'm regularly changing soft resin and bones swords etc. into hard plastic ones. More controlled & reliable than bending in hot water.

With metals - and especially older and not in vogue metals - I've found a different problem: the example photos often show badly painted miniatures. Thus you cannot judge from the photos if the sculpt is decent or not. Recently, I took my chance with some 15/18mm fantasy models, and was very positively surprised.

-Z
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: Drakenhof on April 20, 2018, 02:45:50 PM
My choice:

#2

Pointing that I have used resin and I might buy something again of this material if I like the mini, but my past experiences have been generally bad, regardless of finecast, forgeworld or other caster. In my case would be more probable to buy bits from this material than entire miniatures (thinking about stuff coming from Kromlech, Victoria, Miniatures, and so).
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: GamesPoet on April 22, 2018, 12:07:12 PM
Updating ...

The Ongoing Tally

Your choice for miniatures ...

1. Metal only.  Chumley
2. Metal and plastic. Artobans, Rowsdower, dougheim, zak, Drakenhof
3. Metal and resin.
4. Metal, and plastic, and resin. Zygmund, scrubber
5. Mostly metal and plastic, occasionally resin. GP, Bartolo, 023, Warlord, Xathro, SOF, Midaski, Ale-bbr, Novogord. patsy02, Rogers Kul, Shadespyre
6. Mostly plastic and resin, occasionally metal.
7. Mostly metal and resin, occasionally plastic.
8. Mostly metal, occasionally plastic, no resin.
9. Mostly metal occasionally resin, no plastic.
10. Mostly plastic, occasionally metal. no resin. Fidelis, Konrad, JAK, Padre
11. Mostly resin, occasionally metal, no plastic.
12. Mostly plastic, occasionally resin, no metal.
13. Mostly resin, occasionally plastic, no metal.
14. Plastic and resin.
15. Plastic only.
16. Resin only.
17. Mostly plastic, occasionally metal, occasionally resin. Oxycutor, Gankom, Ursa, SKS
18. Mostly metal, occasionally resin, occasionally plastic. Brother Sutek
19. Mostly resin, occasionally plastic, occasionally metal.
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: hamster on April 22, 2018, 02:47:03 PM
guess i'd belong to #8
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: GamesPoet on April 22, 2018, 06:11:22 PM
Updating ...

The Ongoing Tally

Your choice for miniatures ...

1. Metal only.  Chumley
2. Metal and plastic. Artobans, Rowsdower, dougheim, zak, Drakenhof
3. Metal and resin.
4. Metal, and plastic, and resin. Zygmund, scrubber
5. Mostly metal and plastic, occasionally resin. GP, Bartolo, 023, Warlord, Xathro, SOF, Midaski, Ale-bbr, Novogord. patsy02, Rogers Kul, Shadespyre
6. Mostly plastic and resin, occasionally metal.
7. Mostly metal and resin, occasionally plastic.
8. Mostly metal, occasionally plastic, no resin. hamster
9. Mostly metal occasionally resin, no plastic.
10. Mostly plastic, occasionally metal. no resin. Fidelis, Konrad, JAK, Padre
11. Mostly resin, occasionally metal, no plastic.
12. Mostly plastic, occasionally resin, no metal.
13. Mostly resin, occasionally plastic, no metal.
14. Plastic and resin.
15. Plastic only.
16. Resin only.
17. Mostly plastic, occasionally metal, occasionally resin. Oxycutor, Gankom, Ursa, SKS
18. Mostly metal, occasionally resin, occasionally plastic. Brother Sutek
19. Mostly resin, occasionally plastic, occasionally metal.
[/quote]
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: phillyt on April 24, 2018, 12:49:04 PM
I like my character models in metal and my larger models in plastic.  I hated trying to keep old pewter models together.
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: wissenlander on April 24, 2018, 01:37:57 PM
I guess I'm at 2.  I've not been collecting since resin set in so I haven't even had the chance.  I like metal and plastic models though, depending on what the model is.
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: FaantBoy501 on April 24, 2018, 02:43:41 PM
1# Metal all the way  :biggriin: Got two classic full metal armies.
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: Gankom on April 24, 2018, 04:14:49 PM
I love metal characters, but I absolutely hate any of the large metal stuff. I've never (successfully) done pinning, so it was always a massive problem trying to glue the monsters or machines together. Even with good glue it would take forever and frequently break. I also much prefer plastic for the troops. Maybe not the special choices, I far prefer the metal ironbreakers or greatswords to the plastic.
Title: Re: A poll ... metal, plastic, resin ...
Post by: Warlord on May 03, 2018, 08:54:16 PM
1# Metal all the way  :biggriin: Got two classic full metal armies.

What are they? Love to see them!