"What is your Prefered Material for 28mm miniatures?" Topic

I attempted this poll suggestion earlier this week, but due to an error in the subject line (and my subsequent neglect in asking the subject be changed) it has not received much response.

However, I'm curious given the many varieties of materials 28mm figures are made from, how do you prefer your figures? Platic or metal? Multi-part of single-piece?

I don't have enough experience to say with certainty which plastics and resins are different enough to qualify as different materials (i.e. is the plastic used by Victrix different enough from the plastic used by Warlord to list them separately? Is Hasslefree's resin different enough from Black Scorpion's to list them separately?). I would definitely appreciate suggestions on the the differences between various manufacturers materials.

So which material(s) do you prefer to have your figures made from?
a) multi-piece metal (e.g. every one from Essex to Old Glory to Foundry )
b) single-piece metal (e.g. some Redoubt)
c) single-piece soft plastic (e.g. the type usually used to manufacture 1/72 figures)
d) multi-piece soft plastic (i.e. the same as c. I have not seen any that fit this description, but they might be out there. Irrespective of availability, someone might want them)
e) multi-piece hard plastic (e.g. some Perry figures)
f) single-piece hard plastic (e.g. other Perry figures)
g) multi-piece resins (e.g. some Hasslefree)
h) single-piece resins (e.g. many Black Scorpion)
i) vinyl-based materials (e.g. Reaper Bones)
j) GW Finecast
k) other resins or plastics(?) (please specify)

You should also have soft plastic ( elastomeric) like Reaper Bones.

This is very different to soft polyethylene for toy soldiers and also different to hard polystyrene such as Perry.

You should also have soft plastic ( elastomeric) like Reaper Bones.

Good idea & I the original post has now been edited to include it.

b

A and B… the skipper don't do plastic.

A

a/b

b

b) single-piece metal

A & B

A & B

b

A & B

Oh, and metal and resin multi-part 15mm tanks, if they count as miniatures.

A and B

E and F. Hard plastic all the way!

Apart from the delicious Front Rank Reinforcement range and Calpe Miniatures sculpts. I would still use these two metal ranges even if the were made of dog****!

E

Totally depends, though mostly metal or hard plastic, A. B or E.

If there's an A or B that fits the subject then that's fine. I still think there's something wonderfully totemic about metal, especially for characters and low-model-count games.

On the other hand, if I want to make some ranks of troops, then E is awfully nice for variety and easy of use, but I wouldn't turn my nose up at A or B if it's affordable.

I have little interest in anything soft plastic. Vinyl (bones) or plasti-resin are materials that I only use when they represent a major bargain. Resin I'll work with but rarely buy because of the increased cost.

B

IIRC, GW has abandoned "Finecast" due to production quality issues and costs, so I suspect that option is a moot one:

link

I won't buy the Black Scorpion, and/or other resin figs, since they melt in the car, in the Summer, and/or are too fragile for my needs.

Resin for vehicles is fine, but not for small, thin limbs and weapons on figures. Even gun barrels and wings on vehicles tend to droop, or bend, over time, if not supported with internal metal rods.

B

Definitely do not like assembling my figures.

GW has abandoned "Finecast" due to production quality issues and costs, so I suspect that option is a moot one

Good point, but I included it in case someone, somewhere, really does prefer it.

a, b, e and i

a)b) I like single part metals but will accept two or three parts to get a better pose – e.g. Empress and Perry metals. I do not like metal chariots or dragons with many parts that all want to self destruct at the slightest touch.

e) I have huge medieval Swiss and Burgundian armies made with Perry WOTR plastics and love that no two are alike.

i) I like Reaper Bones for large fantasy creatures such as trolls and dragons. They are light and robust.

l) good sculpt = medium irrelevant