Zargon | 20 Nov 2013 10:55 a.m. PST |
A bit of a misleading comment I agree but bayonets are snapping off on a too regular bases, from just painting and packing up I have units "sans bayonet" this is not from rough handling as other manufacturers products of the same types don't seem to have these problems. I dread the actual playing as I am sure worse is yet to come. Don't get me wrong I like Victixs' stuff and would buy more if there is a fix. I like Victix products but not the fragile parts. Solutions. Here's what I want(and am sure others do as well) Anyone out there willing to do just the weapon and arm holding it in white metal? I'd be up front in the queue for these and perhaps a bolder hanger sword/bayonet bit for the Grenadier/voltiger types even the sword holding arms would be good as well. This is sort of a fix kit for the sets( and I'm willing to pay a fair price for enough parts to sort out per box. How about Brigade US. who has the head sets? what say you Lon? |
79thPA | 20 Nov 2013 11:01 a.m. PST |
I think you have a valid point since that seems to be a regular complaint. |
FreemanL | 20 Nov 2013 11:05 a.m. PST |
I agree the earlier Victrix sets have some seriously fragile bayonets (my IG battalions lost 40 out of 48 total) but the new Middle Guard box set seems to have thicker plastic. None of those have broken on mine. Larry |
Brian Smaller | 20 Nov 2013 2:01 p.m. PST |
Funny you should post this because today I got my Peninsular Anglo-Spanish out for a game and one base of Victrix British I managed to snap two bayonets just putting them on the table – a slight bump was all it was. Talk about depressing after all the work I put into them. I fear that in any sort of game with people tossing dice about, fat fingers moving models etc, they wont stand a chance. |
Ewan Hoosami | 20 Nov 2013 2:37 p.m. PST |
I hear your pain, same happens with my metal Warlord Games US Airborne figures, slightest sideways glance and a whole weapon snaps off at the leading hand. All that work and painting and the figures rooted before I even get to play a game with it. |
deadhead | 20 Nov 2013 2:56 p.m. PST |
Buy metals, guys
.sorry, but for infantry, it is true. Plastics for conversions, creating what no-one else makes, for cavalry or artillery, fine. But infantry are meant to be knocked about. Think what time you spend on creating quality individuals and think what your time is worth! Metals need no assembling, painting is easier, they are robust. If you really need thousands
. OK, but, if you want quality, you cannot deny this, metals. Is this a false economy? This from someone who loves converting the limited plastic ranges we now have, to fill the metals' ranks. |
Zargon | 20 Nov 2013 3:41 p.m. PST |
Well I was looking at 1/2 metals deadhead 8-D. still half the problem is the weight of all that lead ( not pewter BTW which although more expensive is fairly light and durable so agree on that point)your pushing has almost made me go over to metals again- another small push perhaps ;-) still I have invested in the plastic world and the perry stuff seems not so bad ( one bad hamfist could change that though;) perhaps a cross between the old soft plastics and the newer styrene may be the answer. Boffs any ideas? Still a bit hoary about plastics now (like I said half and half like plastic horses and guns wagons etc. and metal figures). I think the next wave of development must come along. Cheers and now to look to gluing homemade bayonets on my poor defenseless troops, sob. |
Sparker | 20 Nov 2013 5:04 p.m. PST |
I agree with the problem, but not the solution. I really hate gluing metal to plastic. I think the solution is just chunkier, possible less realistic bayonets. I dont get the same problem with my Perry and Warlord plastics, and they get just as much handling. Maybe its not even the sculpt thinkness, but the type of plastic they use? |
Fonzie | 20 Nov 2013 5:26 p.m. PST |
It never happens with plastic Perry figures so all Victrix has to do is do what the Perry's do. :-) Fons mmps.asia |
Brian Smaller | 20 Nov 2013 5:36 p.m. PST |
I am switching back to metal for the rest of my Peninsular British. I have a huge stack on Victrix still on the sprue as well. |
BrigadeGames | 20 Nov 2013 9:37 p.m. PST |
Our Napoleonics are all cast in pewter. The issue I have with conversion parts is I can't really guarantee they would be a perfect match to the plastics. Lon link |
Brian Smaller | 20 Nov 2013 11:52 p.m. PST |
Our Napoleonics are all cast in pewter. And they are good as well. |
Fish | 21 Nov 2013 3:10 a.m. PST |
Perhaps some slight change in the composition of the plastic might make it a tad more durable? |
Green Tiger | 21 Nov 2013 3:52 a.m. PST |
|
Zargon | 21 Nov 2013 9:38 a.m. PST |
Thanks for all the call backs on this chaps, noticed Vitrixs absence in the debate(perhaps too busy extruding and boxing their nice products;-) Lon thanks, yes your stuff is beyond good (have a whack of your WW1 stuff and am most happy. If I am right to match size on plastic and metals you have to do them slightly bigger for metal component due to shrinkage. If you decide I'm sure there will be loads of us buying your conversion kits. Cheers all |
Sparker | 21 Nov 2013 5:30 p.m. PST |
Wow those Brigade games figures look good – does anyone know if they are compatible with Perry/Victrix – esp the French Dragoon dismounts? |
marshallken | 22 Nov 2013 5:40 a.m. PST |
I swapped from 1/72 plastics to metal a few years ago because of paint flaking. Also the newer softer plastic (gluable) involved a lot of muskets breaking. |
ferg981 | 22 Nov 2013 1:49 p.m. PST |
Yes agreed I spent two whole days painting some Imperial guard then dropped the tray on the floor. All bayonets and flags gone! F |
pbishop12 | 22 Nov 2013 4:27 p.m. PST |
I bought a box each of Perry's and Victrix a few years ago. Before I even got them off the sprues, I lost bayonets in each pack. I ebay'd them both at a loss, and never looked back at plastics. My old metal Minifigs used to take a beating as I recall, losing bayonets there frequently also. I now own metals from several manufacturers.. no issues. If something breaks, I typically deserved it. I'll pay the extra for metal. Paul/Houston |
Baconfat | 22 Nov 2013 7:45 p.m. PST |
Maybe you just need thicker paint. :) I only lost one bayonet in all my plastic units (Warlord, Perry, and Victrix). Of course they get to fight very often. |
KTravlos | 29 Jan 2014 2:56 p.m. PST |
make sure to both put a hardcoat seal on them. It helps keep them from breaking |
Archeopteryx | 29 Jan 2014 3:41 p.m. PST |
Bayonets can snap off metals too, by the way! Occupational hazard. |
BelgianRay | 24 Mar 2014 12:50 p.m. PST |
I had no real problems with the bayonets in plastic vs the lead ones, but if they snap, they are a lot easier to reglue than the pewter ones. Have a try. |
ThePeninsularWarin15mm | 25 Mar 2014 1:45 p.m. PST |
I acquired a box of British centre company a few years back and saw the same weakness in the bayonets. Just had to stick with 15's. Plastics really aren't really the direction I see myself going in. Maybe Victrix in the future will sell some sort of replacement sprue with reinforced bayonets. |
Garde de Paris | 26 Mar 2014 11:30 a.m. PST |
It seems to me that one could make plaster of Paris molds of these muskets with arms, and then scrape more plaster way to thicken the juncture of the bayonet to the musket. There is no undercut to worry about. Use "pewter" to make the part. I have also added liquid steel epoxy to thicken the juncture, and that helps. GdeP |
KaweWeissiZadeh | 01 Apr 2014 8:25 p.m. PST |
Just out off interest: Would it be legal for a company to produce let's say a set of arms that is meant to complement the miniatures of another manufacturer? Even if it's allowed – it feels like bad style somehow doesn't it? |
Greystreak | 02 Apr 2014 2:33 a.m. PST |
Kawe, given the size of 'after-market' parts for vehicles, aircraft, & ship models, I don't think you should have any reservations about making 'complementary' products. |
deadhead | 02 Apr 2014 1:48 p.m. PST |
Can I just add to that? Transfers (decals to the rebel colonists), brass work, resin tank turrets, upgrades fill the market. My attic is filled with model battleships/cruisers/destroyers/carriers etc of WWII (and other conflicts) all accompanied by White Ensign or US brass work designed to complement them. I have three different scales of Arizona, all with the brass etchings, all sitting in the attic, Trumpeter, Revell, etc all waiting for me to start. These are marketed as designed to fit a particular model. I have brass work advertised as for upgrading 1;400 models of Hood, Illustrious, Admiral Scheer etc etc
..all for Heller The original companies sell more product then and surely would not be upset. Look at the upgrades for a 1:35 Tiger tank exhaust, the tracks for any M4 Sherman
.. But, you know what
.I think model figures are different. There are some strange folk on this forum. For a peaceful life, I would send a message to they who must be obeyed (I refuse to use the T word in our house, we have two lads born within one minute of each other) or anyone else making 28mm figs to say what is planned. Just say we love your Grenadiers of the Ruritanian Imperial Guard and would like to produce an upgrade to their muskets
..bayonets that stay on. Mind you, you'd be better producing Gendarmes d'Elite in full dress. One day someone will and I'll model every one of them that rode up that ridge (or at least every one that came down again, as it might be cheaper) |
1815Guy | 02 Apr 2014 2:26 p.m. PST |
But the arms are moulded onto the muskets! Better by far to just improve the plastics formula or buy metal figures in the first place. |
Lord Hill | 02 Apr 2014 3:03 p.m. PST |
Kawe, I've often wondered the same thing. I'd love it if, for example, someone would make a box of plastic generic standing horses which could be used with Perry cavalry. I love their range but I prefer my cavalry standing, not charging. |
Widowson | 10 Apr 2014 12:12 p.m. PST |
marshallken, I use a 50-50 mix of white glue and water to coat the finished 1/72 plastics. Absolutely FLAT results, and since it bends with the figure, no flaking! |