"Metal prices and minifigs 25mm" Topic

These days there are plenty of better quality sculpts on the market. That said unless the metals are qualitatively different the costs per figure should always be the same. So why shouldn't they be 1.10 The actual production costs would be fair at this price.

No, the price of metals has done some hideous things in the past 4 years. I'd bet that the reason for the cost increase is that someone looked at the materials costs and said, "well, no wonder the company was failing! When was the last time they checked their supply chain costs?!?"

Even if you can still use molds that are 30 years old, you still have to pay the person who runs the spin-caster (a lot more than you did 30 years ago) and pay for metals at 4x what the price was 4 years ago (nevermind what the price was 30 years ago)!

And then when you do have to replace the mold…

Minifigs will always have a place. I still look out for the fantasy ones I am missing. My first Minifigs were ECW Roundhead pikemen although I can't remember how much I paid….I think it will not have hit more than 10p a fig as this was 1976 or thereabouts. They are still sitting in a drawer neatly painted, back in the day when I actually painted miniatures as I got them……..their fantasy ranges were great – especially when they upped the ante in the 'Valley of the Four Winds' ranges – now if Caliver could get the molds to that he would clean up quite a bit methinks. I did hear that Mr Dickinson kept masters in solid silver of everything although how true it was I don't know.

Good news on the Pendragon btw, Rob. I could do with quite a few of those. Problem is identifying them sometimes!

Yup -Valley of Four Winds – especially the skeleton range (that great big bell tower, skeleton horses etc).

Their other fantasy ranges were ok as well, (spelling alert) Aurolo Roccoco.

20th maine in the 1970s

Not really – they were smaller than Hinchliffe, smaller than lamming, smaller than Dixons (by a mile !), smaller than…just about everyone, except Minot perhaps. They did switch to a new 25mm definition – their older S range and such were more like 22mm. But everyone else I bought looked big next to my minifigs (Ral PArtha particularly).

You're not comparing 15mm to 25mm by any chance ? Just a thought. The later 15mm fig's were a lot more like the 25mm figs in sculpt style, the earlier ones were a big step up from peter laing (for example – and well done to him for pioneering a very popular "scale"), but not super detailed.

never have seen that many 15mms. I bought a couple of what must be old glory packs from the states back then. They were & still are what I see ACW soldiers to be like, plus they had all the equipment. Minifig zouaves had oversize trousers or pants as some might call them
My only referance was the Blandford book civil war uniforms still usably.
Sold the lot in the early `80s. Back now enjoying all the great ranges & equipment that you could ever want!!
Regards HH

Garrison now back after winter break. Still haven't got the Pendragon moulds or spincaster from Paul yet though ….. so I've basically put out a load of the ones that were out beforte the break and will reassess everything when I get the things from Paul. Who's probably nipped back to Italy for the next three months…

Well these new prices will help me when I do my Minifigs ebay sales…

And still haven't got the Pendragon moulds…..

Lord Hill, do your research!

Check out Connoisseur and Bicorne pricing.

It is simply what the market will stand and what the manufacturer wants to charge.

I am just amazed that anyone will buy MF because most S/H dealers refuse to buy them!

I might go home and dig out my beautifully painted (for 1976) Minifigs. I bet I can't sell 'em.

Still some great deals to be had on ebay for Minifigs 25mm. I've pretty much finished my collection but I noticed at lot 25mm figures went for just £0.05 GBP per figure!

Speaking personally I had always intended to come back to my large collection of Minifigs and complete the army I had bought in the seventies and eighties. But when I saw the new prices I just thought **** that! Why would I buy Minifigs when I can buy Perry metals for the same price?

So I've been selling all my Minifigs off on ebay and I expect this has a knock on detrimental effect to the company – ebay is teaming with people selling off their Minifigs, presumably for similar reasons, which means anyone who DOES want to buy minifigs can pick up bargains for 5p-50p per figure rather than buy new from the company.

Seems like a suicidal business plan to me but good luck to 'em!

You can still buy new Hinchliffe 25mm for 75p by the way.