"15mm Space Marines" Topic

I know the one company did some figures that looked like space marines for a while but they've stopped. I'm wondering if anyone out there does anything space marine like?

Otherwise, anyone know a solid sculptor interested in doing some commission work for a private army in 15mm?

The old Firefight Crusader designs were always Space Marine-inspired. 15mm versions here:

15mm.co.uk/Crusaders.htm

Grabula,

I have extra of the marines that thesceneuk.com was selling. I bought a second batch expecting to do some for a friend and he decided upon a different force, so I have extra. Not sure how many you need, but if interested, send me a PM. I don't remember how many I have, but I can check that this evening. They are unpainted in their original bags.

Jeff

Hi,
Kremlin Miniatures too has some sci-fi troopers that can pass as Space Marines: link

Ciao
Luciano

I'm using Rebel Minis for SMs.

link

I'm sure I do not fully understand the cease and desist details. but someone explained to me years ago their rationalization for recasting OOP models, that one could get in trouble for manufacturing and selling castings such as this. then they went on to explain that if they privately cast them,not for sale. then painted them up, then went on to sell and market them it was ok. because in their rationalization, they were selling the paintjob. Is there any safe ,firm basis for this explanation, or is it also trouble.
?
it sounds like an attempted loophole that is not worth the legal hassle
(I am not implying that trading in already produced minis prior to c/d is wrong…but how would anyone know when they were cast if sold through private networks, and purported to be cast prior to the cease/desist)

Is there any safe, firm basis for this explanation, or is it also trouble

It is also trouble. Both casting and selling those casts (the paint part is pretty irrelevant) would be infringing acts.

how would anyone know

While it may be harder to prove, that doesn't make it any more legal.

ThorLongus,

If your comments are aimed at my offer of some Marines, I can assure you that they were purchased before the C&D and I have the sales reciepts from PayPal to prove that. I can undestand if I had a bunch of Ebay auctions, but this was a friendly offer on TMP for a small number of them (I may have 50 but have to count them). Heck, I wish I had production capabilities, I would use them to produce my own stuff like casting my own terrain projects, but alas, I am pretty sure the wife would kill me if I bought all the necessary equipment.

Jeff

no Jeff, not at all. the thread just stirred my ADD mind into recalling a friend who recast GW giant models in resin about 15 years ago. he then painted them up and said he was safe because he was only selling the paintjobs.
steve, who was in no way implying/inferring anything of any importance

Thieves always have an excuse that justifies their thievery.

Well in the case of the resin GWS Giants it would be very easy to tell they were recasts. That is an obvious giveaway, but even the wrong metal alloy will have a different weight per figure…there will also always be discrepancies in size and casting detail in recast figures. Most recasts are made by woefully unskilled individuals and are easy to detect with a scale or a set of calipers.

Thanks ThorLongus. I understand. I spend far to much with the 15mm companies around here to be recasting!

I do find the excusses interesting. I work with sales people and used to do auditing of sales transactions and contracts and we found many interesting things. It is amazing what people can justify in their own minds . . . . . .

Jeff

The marines may be spoken for, but I will update later tonight.

Jeff

The orginial Space Marines can be found at:

link

These are what I use for FWC and Beam Strike. The Imperial Commander Rules were written by Byran Ansell and Richard Halltwelle. Now you cannot get any closer to 40K than that and still use the term Space Marine. Now where did I lay down my copy of FAD4.

For those interested in creating "almost Space Marines" or "almost Eldar", or "almost Tau", all I (and most) need are analogs, not homologs.

Marines:
Three different weights of "Marine" armor (Scout, Tac, CA), a two person recon flyer, bikes, trikes, a legged battle robot, and two sizes of multi-purpose tread-layer, the smaller of which needs a turret ring. The primary looks consideration is that there be at least one place on the infantry armor for obvious tactical markings. Vehicles look chunky/functional.

Eldar:
Over-specialization of foot troops in two visible armor weights (and no armor at all), two sizes of battle robot, a "bike" flyer, a "trike" flyer, a "light tank" flyer, and an "APC" flyer. Vehicles should look "fast".

Tau:
Armored single-purpose troops, heavier sniper troops, priests, alien conscripts with native-form animals-of-war, a battle robot, a two-person recon flyer (or two), and a one-chassis-fits-all flyer AFV. Vehicles should look "smooth".

Boil it down and it gets easier, in theory…

Farstar has nailed it. If you aren't interested in the specific 40k "look," there are viable options in the 15mm market already. The previously-mentioned Crusaders are spot on (and don't they actually pre-date 40k? I know the Laserburn rule set does…). Another great option for Space Marines are the ARC Fleet from Critical Mass Games. The "Augments" are acceptable Terminators, the line infantry and drop troops for Marines and Assault Marines, and the light recon for Scouts.

The Tau should be pretty doable too. Eldar might require a little more creativity.

EDIT: Don't push "tab" before the spacebar, or you'll end up submitting the same message three times…

Jracel, sorry, I sent a PM if you still have them I'm interested. They're the most SM like minis out there and I'm disappoitned I missed the boat on that.

As for other options out there. I can take ANY 15mm troop and call it space marine but nothing has the look. I haven't seen the Crusaders in person, but they don't really look anything like Space Marines to me. I can see where they may have inspired the look of the SM but not really what I'm looking for unless I abslutely have too.

"Both casting and selling those casts"

You can cast anything you want as many times as you want for personal use, you just can't sell those casts.

Ayway, the point is, I spent some serious time building styrene Landraiders and Rhinos for a 15mm SM army and planned to purchase some of the sceneUK's models this winter but GW beat me to the punch and I didn't have the cash in hand when we got notice.

I'd stil be interested in locating a sculptor interested in the commission work. I'd need to find one to do terminators anyway.

"The marines may be spoken for, but I will update later tonight."

What?! Tell me you didn't take another offer before giving me time to respond?

You can cast anything you want as many times as you want for personal use, you just can't sell those casts.

Here we go again…

Heh heh heh. The illegal part is the copying/casting. The selling just contributes to the quantum of damages.