Metal Figures
As most of you know I got started in mini gaming with AT-43 and Confrontation from Rackham. They are both pre painted plastic miniatures. When I discovered the game Warmachine, it was so fantastic that I decided I’d give the hobby aspect of the game a try. It was a rewarding experience for me to build and paint the metal figures of the Cygnar army. It was almost therapeutic after a day of work to come home and focus on building an army (after the kids went to bed that is), customizing it how I like.
More recently I’ve been building a Space Marine force for 40K. I have also very much enjoyed building the plastic figures. I recently received and started building a few metal figures in the Space Marine line. It’s not been as enjoyable. In fact, I’m not prone to swearing, but my wife had to come into the kitchen where I was to ask if I was really enjoying myself.
I think the difference is the care of which Privateer Press has taken to make and package their metal figure line. I was spoiled by their quality when I branched out to another metal mini line. I honestly didn’t think it would be that much of a different experience. I suppose my biggest problem was the razor sharp barbs poking out of almost every bump on the figures. I’m not sure of the metal figure manufacturing process, but I do know I’ve never repeatedly cut myself building and filing Privateer Press figures.
This post may be useless information. I feel like I needed to vent a bit from my frustrated evening poking and scratching my hands!
February 5th, 2010 at 9:49 pm
You should try your hand at some of Rackhams metals. Their very nice for the painting.
February 6th, 2010 at 4:36 pm
lol.. the quality of metal models is always something that some companies seem to get right, and others.. well.. band-aids and sandpaper should come in the box… a now mosty defunct company, i-Kore, who made Void and Celtos figures had the most impressively clean metal models I’ve ever had the pleasure to assemble… PP and Warmachine/Hordes are very good, although I have had a few issues with them but their customer service people took awesome care of me (I had miscast model and a missing piece from another kit)… I have not had the pleasure of working on their plastics yet but I’m glad you like them. I don’t remember GW stuff being that bad, but I haven’t bought any in close to 8 years now so maybe things have gotten worse? It is important with any plastic or metal model to have some clippers and sandpaper nearby and always look to sand down any rough edges before you start gluing or painting or it will come back to haunt you!! Best of luck! – jahatch28
February 12th, 2010 at 10:02 pm
Sorry to hear about your luck with the SM metals. I recently picked up some Tau metal miniatures myself, namely Aun’va and Commander Shadowsun. Although these did not come as clean and smooth as I had come to expect from the plastics, I have not encountered any sharp protrusions and all the flash was soft and easily clipped.
March 2nd, 2010 at 5:25 pm
I’ve got a couple of GW metal minis (librarian, SM Captain, Ternion, etc) and haven’t had any problems with them, though they’ve been mostly single part miniatures that haven’t required hardly any assembly.