"Plastic production costs? Privateer Press' new plastic?" Topic

Just wondering about the costs for producing plastics. Last costs I saw were around $10,000 to $25,000 just for all the tooling and the die. Not sure about the cost of the plastic or if my original estimates are correct.

I notice companies like Wargames Factory producing a lot of new plastics ranges which makes me think some recent technological developments might have lowered the cost a bit, but I'm still expecting this to be expensive.

Specifically, I've been interested in this new plastic that Privateer Press is using, it's slightly elastic which allows for a bit more play in the metal molds.

there has been enormous strides in metal working technology in recent years.
the older ways of doing things by hand was labour intensive and much more expensive, so now with computer controlled milling machines ect the cost has come down tremendously.
henc all of the recent new plastic kits, diecasts ect, some of which you would only dream of years ago.
the moulds are now realy cheap, but the plastic moulding material is and always has been quite cheap.
its allways the moulds that cost the money.

Thanks, that's some good news at least.

I'm weighing the pros and cons of metal over plastic. In either case I'd be outsourcing and keeping control over the moulds.

Financially, it's making sense to go metal with low count character models, and plastic for what will be pretty high count, customizable "grunt" type squads of miniatures.

Considering WGF liberty league requires around 1000 signatures at roughtly $4-$5 a sprue, it's looking like the mould cost is around $5,000 USD for them or lower.

However, there's a certain style and quality that I want that might only be done with metal's rubber moulds, which is why I was looking into the privateer press style plastic.

Don't forget that 1000 figure mould will concievably last 100 years. Just look at the c**p Airfix/Hornby are still pumping out.

Considering WGF liberty league requires around 1000 signatures at roughtly $4-$5 a sprue, it's looking like the mould cost is around $5,000.00 USD for them or lower.

Actually, according to the announcements I have seen, the initial investment for WF is more than $5,000 USD per mould – their scheme is based on the assumption that anything that makes the mark is also hopefully going to sell well in the longer run, too.

Yes – a LOT more. ;-)

Molds used to cost $100,000. Perhaps they dropped to tens of thousands of dollars.

There are now quite a few companies selling 28mm plastics; Wargames Factory, Warlord Games, Perry, Victrix, and HAT (not sure about their plastic as it may be softer).

In the past you could have hoped to be the first company producing popular sets and use that money to build your company. Even these first entrants into 28mm plastics had competition right off the bat.

The technology is (it seems) very tricky. Technical problems cost some companies months of delay. That is going to eat into your capital.

Now I think you would need quite a large investment to get into this game now and stick around long enough to make money.

Why not just ask them?

renedra.co.uk/contact.html

The plastic PP uses is PVC, but the exact formula of the PVC is owned by the manufacturer and is proprietary.

The manufacturing of the plastic itself is outsourced to a company in China, the same one that does the Alkemy models but I cannot remember the name of the company right now.

So just how rubbery is this new PP plastic?
The stuff Rackham is using is too waxy for me… a bit bendy but breaks easily… vs. the hard GW stuff which I like.

Yeah, I remembered that Alkemy's plastics looked very similar to PPs new plastic.

Considering they use this proprietary formula, how can Alkemy and PP use such similar plastic? Would it be possible for me to use something similar without stepping on anyone's toes?

This is all far, far in the advance. I just like to do my research. I'm also looking for reputable companies that make molds and do injection, I hear way too many horror stories of people losing molds or worse.

There are bunches of companies in China these days that will take your 3D model and convert it into a CNC produced injection mold for what is a very reasonable amount. Reasonable, in this context, however, is still out of the league of the average hobbyist looking to establish a cottage industry style business. Most hobbyists don't have that level of capital weith which to speculate – I know I don't.

Doug

As Shifter says, talk to Renedra. They do the plastics for the Perrys, and for Warlord.
Although as I understand it, the moulds for a set like Warlord's Romans costs about £30,000.00 GBP – so a serious investment, and a long term one.

The other thing to look at is sculpting methods. Wargames Factory use digitally sculpted figures, whereas the Perrys use hand-sculpted 3-up figures.`

Renedra is your best bet to talk to first – they know both plastics, and the wargames industry.

how can Alkemy and PP use such similar plastic?

The plastic formula is owned by the Chinese manufacturing plant they outsource their casting to.

Both the PP and the Alkemy models use the same Chinese company, although I cannot remember the name of the company.

That's why they are similar, they are made in the same factory with the same materials.