Desolation of Smaug - minature release speculation

Bilbo · **Posted:** Sat May 18, 2013 11:24 pm

Sounds pretty much bang on!

Oldman Willow · **Posted:** Sun May 19, 2013 12:19 am

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I'm also almost certain that the spiders will be plastic, if you took at the type of troops released for the first film in Finecast they're just single characters. All the troops/monsters are in plastic. I suppose there might be a Finecast 'Big spider' type monster if PJ has inserted a spider queen type monster in the film.

They might very well be plastic. Then Reaper Bones will just be 1/4 of the price. If any of the current metal models will be reproduced they will be in fine cast.
I am hoping for a spider escape plastic box set too. Some prison cells would be nice too!

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Why do you think that GW are going to do away with fine cast, their release patterns show no sign of this, what evidence do you actually have for this

?
I would be interested in knowing a bit more about this rumor as well.

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evidence? release patterns?

I have not observed any evidence in the release pattern pro or con :roll:

RangerofTheNorth · **Joined:** Tue Feb 15, 2011 6:54 pm **Posts:** 483

There was an article on here a month or so back, GW has been investing/buying more injection molding machines en mass, and it was as recent as 2013. Plastic is sustainable for them, just look at the releases from a broader perspective, all three systems, more and more new stuff is plastic. Lotr/Hobbit has always had a larger blister range so it may take a long time or never before our system sees a 100% shift. But it is do-able the 40k and Warhammer single releases are the proof, and EfGT really, the models being pumped put in plastic now are such great quality there's no real need for fine cast anymore

Oldman Willow · **Posted:** Sun May 19, 2013 1:02 pm

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Me
I have not observed any evidence in the release pattern pro or con :roll:

I stand corrected I have not been paying attention to the plastic releases for 40K or even WHFB. The goal seems to be all plastic.

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a broader perspective

More evidence form Cool Min or not Expo yesterday, the industry seems to be shifting to plastic game figures and hard resin display models. I missed Reaper's industry show because of my health but they have moved their manufacturing back to Texas. GW has ended manufacturing in the US.

Get Back you Plastic demons :shock:

RangerofTheNorth · **Joined:** Tue Feb 15, 2011 6:54 pm **Posts:** 483

Next movie releases will include at least eight new poses of Legolas, only one of Tauriel, and Thranduil, and no he won't be on an elk, he'll be sitting on a throne. Enjoy!

Oldman Willow · **Posted:** Sun May 19, 2013 2:15 pm

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and no he won't be on an elk

"I've already got one" :lol:

Sacrilege83 · **Posted:** Sun May 19, 2013 2:22 pm

@ Ranger, Lol, I sense a bit of sarcasm, but with some truth to it. Or are you dead serious? Legolas is a very popular guy, he's a money draw.

And if plastic really can replace Finecast in detail, then I'm impressed, though I find that hard to believe, but their plastic have really caught on so I suppose it is possible. I would still prefer it if Smaug was cast in 2 lbs of metal, would cost a fortune though, but I would bite... maybe.

Pindergorn · **Posted:** Sun May 19, 2013 5:07 pm

Smaug should be in plastic.

Sacrilege83 · **Posted:** Sun May 19, 2013 5:51 pm

Most probably is going to be in multi-part plastic for the size of the thing. I remember when the Mumakil came out I was so disapointed it wasn't in metal :lol:

But yeah it would be more reasonable that large models are done in plastic, I just like my monsters to weigh heavy instead of flimsy + the value.

Pindergorn · **Posted:** Sun May 19, 2013 10:21 pm

Sacrilege83 wrote:

I remember when the Mumakil came out I was so disapointed it wasn't in metal :lol:

You're insane... :shock:

Bilbo · **Posted:** Sun May 19, 2013 10:27 pm

Personally I feel that a metal Mumak would have been a nightmare. Ultra top heavy with an uneven weight distribution. Does anyone remember the disaster that was the all metal Balrog?

Oldman Willow · **Posted:** Mon May 20, 2013 1:41 am

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Does anyone remember the disaster that was the all metal Balrog?

I do. I dislike the plastic balrog so much I never built it. Large metal models are always a problem. The rubber molds stretch. There is always a gap or deformation problem. Once you have worked on a few you end up with the experience to handle something as simple as the GW metal balrog. The Mumak would be near a nightmare in metal.

This metal figure is from Black Tree I think it is OOP. It is about 1/3 the size of the GW plastic figure. It is lead. I filled the gaps with Bondo. I hope I don't drop it on my good foot. Compared to it the metal GW figures are pieces of cake. Plastic or resin is far better for very large models. There were very few gaps to fill on the metal barog. I don't think it needed to be pinned. I probably did.

Sticky Fingersss · **Joined:** Sat Oct 09, 2010 11:20 am **Posts:** 1776

Metal was the absolute worst when it came to large models haha.

Sacrilege83 · **Posted:** Mon May 20, 2013 8:53 am

Well I was lucky enough to have found my metal Balrog for a nice price secondhand all primed and assembled when I thought I was going to have to settle for the plastic version for my collection. I have to say Oldman, I don't like the look of that elephant, it's like a poor attempt of the wooly mammoth.

Bilbo · **Posted:** Mon May 20, 2013 10:09 am

The Snuffleupagus joins the armies of Mordor!

ElfLover · **Posted:** Mon May 20, 2013 10:11 am

King Ondoher wrote:

Smaug should be in plastic.

The way GW handle thing it will probably be finecast :sad:

Oldman Willow · **Posted:** Mon May 20, 2013 12:12 pm

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I don't like the look of that elephant, it's like a poor attempt of the wooly mammoth.

That is why I used it as an example. I wish I had a photo of the parts :shock:

Some metal figures are better than others.

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The Snuffleupagus joins the armies of Mordor!

GothmogtheWerewolf · **Posted:** Mon May 20, 2013 1:27 pm

Since when were elephants or mammoths in the Hobbit?

Oldman Willow · **Posted:** Mon May 20, 2013 2:29 pm

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Since when were elephants or mammoths in the Hobbit?

We were discussing a metal Smaug

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I would still prefer it if Smaug was cast in 2 lbs of metal, would cost a fortune though, but I would bite... maybe.

& how difficult it might be to put together.
Sacrilege83 wrote:

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I remember when the Mumakil came out I was so disapointed it wasn't in metal :lol:

You're insane... :shock:

Now you are caught up

Pindergorn · **Posted:** Mon May 20, 2013 3:29 pm

RangerofTheNorth wrote:

There was an article on here a month or so back, GW has been investing/buying more injection molding machines en mass, and it was as recent as 2013. Plastic is sustainable for them...the models being pumped put in plastic now are such great quality there's no real need for fine cast anymore

Lovely, so GW can now charge us Finecast prices for Plastic models.

Desolation of Smaug - minature release speculation

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