"What's missing from Miniature Manufacturers?" Topic

Okay, what is missing in the form of needed miniatures that manufacturers should be thinking about making and making available to the gaming community?

Please don't suggest the silly stuff like "Jenkins Ear". What is something that you have wanted to do but have not found figures for in order to accomplish that desire? Also, what scale are you interested in doing the project in, and what besides miniatures would you wish was also available to augment that line of miniatures/

For me it's terrain in 15mm and 6mm. Specifically modern terrain other than houses and office blocks.

Who makes a gas station? Convenience store? Strip mall? How about painted roads? The whole flippin world makes dirt and cobble roads, but where are the modern paved roads? How about tract homes?

more nekkid females.

AWI buildings.
With removable roofs.
I have put up with solid ACW buildings for years.
I made my own buildings for Trenton from foam core and model railroad paper walls. They looked …. OK.

I would like to see buildings as they looked.
Want to see what they looked like?
For Trenton, see Stryker or Fischer.
Lexington Concord? Osprey books.
I would love to see those gables, roof lines, etc.

Since I am rather heavily invested in 28mm AWI skirmish gaming via TSATF, I would love to get something that actually looks like AWI, rather than having to "settle for" ACW or cowboy buildings.

Extra Crispy I think you need to check out Gamecraft

link

Convenience store, gas station, Taco Bell, Home Depot, even an Ikea in 1/285 and most are also available in 15mm.

Not sure if it's "silly", but I'd like to do the Basuto Gun War of 1880-81. Perfect for TSATF. Small scale, fun ambushes (at least for games!), and the Basutos won! Hard to find information, though.
Also the Xhosa wars. North Star started a range(in 40mm!) and cancelled it.

In fact,that may be the bigger need--for makers to complete their ranges. I can understand not continuing a range if it's not selling,but "underselling" may become a self-fulfilling prophecy,if people are waiting to see if the maker is going to carry through. Ex: I'd love to do SYW with Old Glory 10mm, but they only did Prussians and Austrians (old gripe). Of course,that may be down to Russ's ADD (even worse than mine!).
I wonder how many others experience this?

Not a lot of periods and plenty of "nice to have" figures are not financially feasible.

In modern (ww2 onwards) ranges, I am always keen to have a few figures with "backup" weapons like pistols, the odd shotgun, knives, that sort of thing.

Also, more poses for infantry. Crouching, walking, running, aiming, patrolling, reloading etc.
More more more. Let me make a 30 man platoon with no duplicates :)

Missing are the original concepts for some of your lines, like the PIM line for example. The original Pershing in Mexico concept had more figures and wagons than were actually released. So, flesh our some of your lines and breath new life into them, starting with PIM.

28mm Western Theater ACW Federals. There are a few out there, but not many. Manufacturers need to realize the war was fought on both sides of the Appalachians. I'm really tired of zouaves, the Iron Brigade, Berdan's Sharpshooters, and the ubiquitous "Union infantry in kepi and knapsack."

Ah,Condotta,a sore point! I'm still waiting for those 25mm Napoleonic Spanish and Portuguese that were "Coming Soon" about,what,15 years ago? And what was the story with those early Russians? And speaking of Russians,what about those WWI Reds?
I have to wonder how many people still "Call For Availability"?

Once again,I kid,because I care.

Blue Moon 18mm Napoleonic Swedish infantry for the 1813 campaign. Easy add on to the existing/proposed range for the Swedes. Current offerings are for the 1809 campaign and can't be used for 1813 when they fielded their army in continental Europe.

AWI Buildings with lift off roofs. Resin and not the foamy stuff please.

No question about what's missing – 'everything needed to complete that range we started!'

An end to the PITA of having to scrabble about finding compatible manufacturers to fill your ranks – how nice would that be?

And I vote with my wallet on this one.
After the experience of trying to find compatible figures to complete the AB Napoleonic Ottoman range (Mameluke Cav, Janissaries, Balkan Lights, move on and never return to the range again) I won't buy into a range unless it includes everything required to put together a tabletop force.

Too many do the same stuff:
Same veh. In ww2 but miss many others.

Pacific Burma, ( with us army ops in southpac) the most gamey stuff thre: very few figs , and then not the appropriate trucks, except in 20 mm and then not everything matches in sizes, mule batteries? Proper brits for 41-42?/ Indians.
Proper buildings? No not just Se asia…

Napies: Portuguese legion ( several bns, more then fusiliers grenadiers!) Baden, Russians1812+ with old shako ( half the army ?)
Houses, practical for battles, for Poland.
French Revolution many of the funny stuff.

Chouans ( hat down to Alain Touller) again SP or the like, the Lion Rampant babies that no doubt will pop out also fit.

18 th cty: Bavarians, ( including their guns see kronosaft man)

rules like sharp practice which seems so popular make it quite hard to find minis for skirmishing except for napy penninsula ( but then find a few dozen different guerillas in any scale humm?) and North America.
Civilians in 15-18 mm same ( Spaniards, Germans?) no they don't all look the same and buy Levis and nikes etc…

Uncomplete lines like 1877 that comes to mind; what one can do without the artillery nor generals at least? Better not start in that case.

Colonial France Algeria, Tonkin, Vs Samory touré. Suit very well small scale engagements. 19th century rather than 1911/20!!!
Same with Russia in Caucasus.

Ships for 1700-1750

Medievals with same mounted and on foot ( could be for other periods too see sharp practice/ did he say he will sell 10000?) already rare in 28, needs Murdoch type research in other scales to match.

Ok then, not my cup of tea, but I see much interest in the war we did not do ( thankfully!) ww3 in 15 mm then buildings? At least sell tv antennas and car garages, to pretend your 17 th century farm in the countryside belongs to the proper time.

Appropriate Russians, South steppe and Golden horde for 14-15 th century. No they don't look like 13 th century. Preferably 18 mm as needs space. Not every time do they fight in a major river loop.

AndPlease, manufacturers, try to keep sizes compatible, don't think you are the best, that we will dump our existing minis to buy yours, we will add, if we can.

1/600 turtle ships and contemporaries

Profits?

Not new but in the 28 mm range I think you should add more artillery for your F&I range. One gun is not enough. How about mortars and fortress pieces so as to be able to game sieges.
In your ACW range how about early war units in uniforms of state and militia units.
I agrees with Winston on buildings specifically for the AWI and ACW with removable roofs.

25/28mm Colonial Abyssinians and Italians, particularly Askari.

Dogs of all breeds in 25/28mm scale.

Limbers and limber horses for Victorian period artillery.

All in 28s:

Napoleonics at the skirmish level – more ncos, character figures for Austria, Prussia, Russia, Britain.

French Voltigeur Cornetist in Great Coat

Old Guard in Great Coats – firing/loading

Winston Smith:
Limbers and limber horses for Victorian period artillery.

I'll second this.

I'd also add that I really like the Blue Moon wagons (28mm), but haven't purchased any because the horses (actually horse, as there's only one pose) aren't up to the same quality. I think that line could get a real shot in the arm if you had a new team sculpted (at least 2 poses, 4 would be better). Your ACW limber team would be a good start. Better yet, sell the wagons without the team at a discount.

Tommy: buy front rank team horses for example.

15mm modern cars. Some muscle cars in the scale would be nice too.

15mm genestealers.

Tommy, call and talk to Connie about ordering the wagons without horses, as the horses are in a separate mold.

Any word when the Blue Moon SYW ranges (like Austrians) will see the new releases take place? My new Austrians need guns and Pandors.

When one has such a variety, it is really hard to remember that many folks remain waiting for the rest of the lines. Basics (like basic troop types in infanrty, cav and arty- including guns) allows customers to complete their armies and remain loyal to the brand. Of course, I can get what is missing from other manufacturers, but why should I HAVE to?

Customer loyalty is a two way street. I remember working for another manufacturer before GFI that sold 6mm SYW. They only had Prussians out. When I asked when I might see opponents, I was told that the Prussians sales were disappointing. Well of course they were! Who will they fight? Themselves? So they invested in releasing the Austrians and about a year later, I asked how sales for the SYW 6mm were going. "They have taken off!" was my reply before he realized I had suggested releasing some opponents!

You offer so many ranges in 3 scales. I suggest looking at each range as individuals; if there are more major opponents/allies not yet offered, start there. (For a point of reference, look at sales for 15mm Naps when the Bavarians were released. Was there a spike in that range or just for the Bavarians?)

In the SYW: Where are the French? Russians? Are they complete enough for someone to order all the basics from you as a one-stop shop? Folks like their figures to "match" in size, heft and designer.

25mm Redone ACW: Are there more than two sets of Infantry done? Cav? Arty? If so , i appologize as I must have missed them.

I think your idea of asking thecustomers what they would like to see next is good. Despite good intentions, it's going to remqain the return on the investment that must drive the train or else the operation goes the wrong way. Had I a chance to get Minifigs back into production, I would bring back the 2nd edition Naps as far too many people desired them over the 3rd edition,(which I found to be far superior to MY own tastes)….but it's the customers desires that should receive the most attention.

I am happy to see the fit of horse and rider in the Blue Moon range is far superior to the old 15mm ranges! Two thumbs up!

Hope that helps a bit! (Yes, got my order in the mail today! Thanks!)

v/r
Tom

Need combatant figures (women, children, old men) for both indians and settlers during the Indian Wars. Also need Sailors used as ground troops during the Seminole Wars and artillery limbers. All in 28mm.

I posted 1/4800 WW2 naval on your duplicate post with the same name. I thought you were asking a general question about what all manufacturers need to produce across the industry.

After reading the other replies here, many seem to be saying what Blue Moon and Old Glory need to produce.

So, for Blue Moon I would like to see the Napoleonic range finished, especially codes that have been listed as "Coming Soon" for quite a while now.

For example, I am holding off getting any Early French from Blue Moon until 15NFT-120 Mounted Officers are available.

EDIT:

P.S. I hope 15NFT-120 will include Colonels and Chef de Battalions with appropriate shoulder epaulettes and plumed bicorns. Also, I didn't mention Legere skirmishers in early shako.

Profits?

@ OldGrenadier at work: You, sir, owe me carpet cleaning fees for the merlot spit take I just had! Bravo!

Pre-painted figures. Pre-painted whole armies for those of us who enjoy gaming but don't have the time, talent, or inclination for the painting and modeling side of the hobby.

Wayne's Legion in 15/18mm…there are three basic Blue Moon packs, but there is a need for proper light and rifle infantry (riflemen with tomahawks), artillery crews and guns (crews with the option of legion hats or cocked hats…King's Howitzers and 6pdrs for guns), mounted militia (the War of 1812 ones are not quite proper…needs less fringe and top hats), high command (could use Rev War for this).