plastic WW2 anyone ?

[Aradyon]

The examples of coat tails was only an example of plastic innovation. I did not mean that the same principal would necessarily work, or that it should be adopted. The point, is that there are difficulties, in all plastic kits, but that they can be overcome. There will be a way of sorting your problem. With european armies, it isn't really a problem, as has already been stated, and is far easier to overcome uniform differences. In terms of the US, there will be a solution.

I agree that a badly done plastic would not be worth it. But just because it is hard, doesn't mean it can't be done, and when someone finds a solution, they will make a lot of money and make a lot of people very happy.

I don't know what the solution is, but there is always a way in such matters.

Even, if the way things were done, was that in the US, box, X number of troops had M1 Grand belts, and Y number of troops had other webbing, while the remainder had equipment for other roles, there would be many advantages to plastic.

Of course in this scenario, the ratios between X and Y would be worked out to correlate to the ratios of different armaments in the US army.

Again, I am not saying that this is the definite solution, but it can be done.

[Parus Ater]

My concern is that if you have a specific doll on a frame that is compatable with say the BAR belt componant and daolls only compatable with the dismounted cartridge belt then you really don't have multipart at all, you're just sticking bits on their intended dolls to make up pre-arranged figures. Maybe the odd head or arm change could happen but that's it.

Also, the sheer number of componants per man is huge, to have all the equipment that a man would carry for a specific role cast as a sprue componant in orfer to avoid the 'Perry Lord of the Rings' issue then every man would need similar poses to have similar fit for all the packs bags, etc. either way, where the separte piece could be located would limited to one configuration which completely defeats the purpose.

[vikingwarrior]

Prahaps to save PA's feelings US infantry were not produced in plastic? or just sticking to metal models? i how ever would be realy grate full if some body prodused a basic Platoon box sets of classic British tommys and Whermacht, any specialist bits could still be produced in metal just like with the other WG and GW ranges.

[Parus Ater]

Hey, nobody would welcome quality plastic WWII miniatures more than me, all I'm saying is that the way it would have to be done a frame the size of the Roman/Celt one may only house four models at most and those would have to be fairly samey in order for the parts all to fit. If it could be done then I'm in favour of seeing it done.

[Aradyon]

It can be done, it just means finding a solution.

There is nothing wrong with asking if someone will take up the gauntlet, and with seperate arms, seperate beyonets, and a lot of seperate components exterior to the torso and legs, you won't really have defeated the purpose at all. I really see what you mean by 'defeating the purpose' as you can see from GW plastics, that arms and heads can change a lot, if the right bits are provided. There are indeed difficulties, and you don't need to argue against the fact that if it were done properly, it would be a good thing.

Basically, what is your objection? If someone spends the time to do a good job, then it will be worth it. If your concern is that you don't want it done badly, then fair enough. Otherwise, what is your point. You just said, if ti can be done, it would be great, and there is no doubt it can be done, it would just be a challenge. Perhaps a suitable challenge to the genius model makers at Warlord or at Perry's. All this thread was, was asking if it could be looked at, if it had been thought about and an exclamation of how cool it would be. There is nothing wrong with that.

[vikingwarrior]

so we are all in agreement then.....Plaese WG it can be done!!!!

[southrifle]

I have to agree with Arcadyon all I'm saying is a squad box with a bit of option, like a perry or victrix. some one mentioned belts but like a perry box there is the ensigns and sergeants who have the change of uniform. but still arm etc choices. as for changes of uniform through the war , you could have a flames of war, early mid and late.

like Arcadyon said if done properly, it would turnout well.

[goose]

I am a freely admitted white metal fan, so I will always try and stick to white metal, and as for chipping and bending, that is just a case of getting proper storage cases. If a figure does get chipped it dip it and repaint. Plastic is not quite as easy to do that with.

Also I think one thing you need to keep inmind is this: At 20mm mostpeople are playing forces reprsenting near battalion level operations. They are fielding more than one platoon and thus need lots of figures. So plastic box sets are a great way of building up forces of a hundred or more figures and tanks and artillery.

In ACI and ECW and Naps, you need lots and lots of figures, so 28mm box sets of 40 odd figures, are needed in multiple for many battles and games.

At 28mm scale WW2 for 99% of games is a 6'x4' table where thirty to fourty or so figures per side is more than enough. So, basically if you have 30-40 figures per pack, Warlord would only sell about 1 or 2 packs per player. Would this be enough to justify the mould prices etc?

Then you have to consider there are a lot of people like myself who will stick with white metal over plastic, so not everyone will make the move to plastic. Plastics also don't tend to get bought up in the same way as cheap white metal for re-melting, and so they have a legacy life span meaning once a player sells up, those figures tend to remain on the market. As GW are findings out, they are having to keep re-releasing new models to keep the demand there, and adjusting their rules to generate demand. With WW2 I doudt you could do this as easily as they do with a sci-fi range.

I know there as many avid plastics fans as there are white metal fans as such as my self. So I am sure the debate will go on and on and on.., but I think the over arching factor will be the simple ecanomics of it.

[Suetonius Paullinus]

Well, I do like plastics far more than metals and I would love to have the choice. But alas, I haven't because nobody does WWII plastics in 28mm.

I have already mentioned that I do not agree with the argument that one doesn't need many figures for a WWII game.

I buy as many as I like (my Missus allows me to buy that is). And many people who like plastics would do the same. I love converting, trying out new poses, new painting techniques etc. I want a lot of individuals in my armies, not 50 men advancing in exactly the same pose like many metals do.

Ideally even my character models are converted plastics.

It will be interesting to see which company will be the first to release 28mm WWII plastics, undoubtfully they will be released eventually.

Cheers

S.P.

[Parus Ater]

As goose says, with a typical sized Warlord plastic box and if they get past the mold problems of web - which may well happen, one box per person would pretty much be it. Also, that person would then be locked into what weapon/squad options are in the box which would only need perhaps four or five extra figs of one kind to provide variation and would grudge paying out for a whole second box that they won't use 90% of.

That's basically the thinking behind GW having metal 'specials' in 40K - in a squad of ten men i which has a heavy bolter or some such and they pleyer wanted two thn he's buying another ten men - which from a business point of view puts him off buying any at all and if he did he might do swaps with the rest of the men, thus selling one extra unit instead of two.