"Metal vs Non-Metal" Topic

I am not sure I have seen this discussion anywhere. For some strange reason, I want a lot of weight when I pick up a miniature…. Does anyone else feel that way?

It seems that plastic and printed miniatures are getting better, and certainly less expensive than, but I'd still much rather have honest to goodness lead.

Thoughts from the hive?

It's a commonly made assertion.

My plastic figures have magnetic tape and flock on the base so usually are suitably bottom weighted, and stable. But you are right it feels nicer picking up a metal figure.

Really depends on the project. For historicals generally one piece metal miniatures are preferred, if I can afford them, a quick clean up and your ready to paint.

For fantasy and sci-fi I like to convert and let my imagination go a bit wild and hard plastic miniatures are great for that, and much easier to do then metal miniatures, there is a lot of fun to be had in kitbashing.

So far they few 3D printing miniatures I've bought have been a let down some printed plastic ones were really poor quality. I tried some resin ones but I didn't like the material it was hard and brittle and broke easily.

I'm pretty much material neutral. Heft is nice, but you can always weight the base. And sometimes, lugging a few hundred 28's around, you can see the point of the lighter miniature. A few times lately, I've been dealing in thousands of metal 25s and 30s, and it's not going to get better.

As Prince Rupert notes, hard plastics are easier conversions, and are consistently cheaper. Mostly the 3D prints and siocasts have been to fill specific niches, or small forces not available any other way. I'd worry a little about the siocasts in particular going brittle in 20 years, if I thought I had 20 years. And I really don't know.

It does seem odd when picking up plastic figures verses metal. But my storage boxes are a lot easier to move with plastic figures in them. Also conversions are a lot easier with plastic. Trying to duplicate the confused state of Prussian uniforms in 1813-14 is easier in plastic. Also the minor German duchies

I have 1 plastic figure in well over 5,000 15 – 18mm, but at Fall in where I get to play with the big boys took note this time some were plastic. Couldn't tell just looking but only when they got picked up.

All metal all the time. My only exception is my 20mm tanks, trucks, and some artillery that I've had since the last century. Around 15 years ago the last of my Airfix (and company) plastic 19th century was sold off and the ACW was totally replaced with metal.

I stick with metal for my current 28mm figs. I went with Warlords Epic TYW plastics because I like them and the figs don't have to stand individually. If I started any more 28's they would most likely be metal. I, too, like the weight and the fact they will stand up places plastics will not.

I just had my first resin miniatures (Black Scorpion). Nice figures, well detailed and dynamic poses. But I didn't enjoy painting them at all. Compared to a cleanly cast metal figure, I found them awkward to paint and although the detail was there, it was hard to tell what was what in parts. And they weren't any cheaper than metals. So, I'm sticking to metals.

DBDD

I prefer plastic figures. Not a big fan or resin miniatures even though I do have some unique types. Since I've been gaming since the '70s I have many (too many) metal figures.

I am only a metal guy. Plastic ect are evil.

Whilst I would not go as far as Grattan54, I do think plastic figures are a PITA. I have a couple of regiments of Warlord's ECW plastics and spend ages regluing bits if I use them in a game. Their metal colleagues come back unscathed and ready to go again.

Ditto Grattan54 and Steamingdave2.

If I want to work out, I go to the gym. So the lighter weight of plastics are not a problem for me.

Sadly, plastics tend to look more realistic, have finer weapons & cost a lot less. Et cetera. Why would anyone use them?

Both metal & plastic are acceptable to me, resin, not a fan…

I prefer metal, but you can't beat hard plastic for conversions and modifications. I've purchased a few resin 28mm figs and find them to be so weightless it's like they're nonexistent, ridiculously fragile and with a weird texture and smell. I don't see the appeal of resin figs at all, other than a one off you can't get anywhere else

I have avoided plastic/resin figures. I fear the issue of broken spears/long guns.

Like others have said,
I like the feel of the weight of lead;
Plastics are better for kit bashing, but broken spears, etc are a PITA

"It doesn't matter whether a cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice."

I apply Deng Xioaping's famous aphorism on economic policy to miniatures, and use whatever works.

I prefer metal 28mm, and go for the best sculpts, but plastics fill gaps and can generate lots of troops relatively cheaply. Fortunately, Perry does both! Plastic are easier to covert too. Resin/3d print to fill gaps -- for example german wwii bicycle troops.

My primary scale is 15mm, so still largely metal.

I have painted and played with plastic and resin figures as well. Resin can be brittle is my only issue. I base most figures on pennies, so the weight isn't an issue.

I'll play with whatever. In the dark all cats are grey.

I guess my choice is obvious….

Korvessa, broken metal spears and swords are harder to fix than hard plastic. I like plastic, and find them easier to paint (I'm no expert painter) and much easier to transport. If individual, based on pennies for balance and heft.

In the 90's, I preferred metal. I've been using so many plastic mini's, now, for so very long (20+ years), I've learned to prefer the plastic's lighter weight.

My last fantasy game featured 1,000+ figures on two tables, being pushed by 10 players. It was awesome, but I had to bring out multiple trays of figures for each side to deploy. If they had all been metal figures, each tray would have been fairly heavy, increasing the chance of someone dropping a tray!

Having played with both metal figures, and plastic, I prefer plastic, for the weight. The details available in modern injection molded plastic figures, is surprisingly good, even on 1/72 scale figures, of which I own 500+. Plastic, for me. Cheers!

Certainly Metal for me.

martin

Heavy metal. It's old school and that's what I like.

Cheers!

Gallo

I only turn to plastic if I can't find the figure in metal.