(KICKSTARTER) Effigy

[tnjrp]

Oh my, they just keep coming, don't they?
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1470153821/effigy-miniatures-havoc-protocol-sci-fi-miniatures

That said, I like the (pix of the) existing Havoc Protocol stuff so I might even consider pledging for this one even if it does not look hugely lucarative at the mo' ($40 for at most 7 minis).

One comment I saw TMP on this struck me as odd: "the trooper looks too skinny".
http://meowcheese.com/files/lolpics/2009/09/o-rly-.jpg

[Major_Gilbear]

Hmm, well I backed his original KS - the aim of which was to get the moulds made and models cast for his first round of minis, and to get his company off the ground. It funded successfully.

Looking at this second KS, I'm wondering what he's being doing with his time since the previous KS, and why he's not done anything with his new minis company in the meantime. All I see here is another no-risk pay-up-front project, and it's a bit sad to see that business model instead of just releasing new models through Effigy.

I'm also thinking how much they remind me of Antenociti's GOT stuff (especially the drones). Not that that sort of design aesthetic is unique or anything, but still.

So yeah, a bit underwhelmed really. 

[dijit]

I liked a few of the original KS minis (the female recon), but they just seemed too expensive for me to shell out for when postage etc is included and possible import tax from the states.
Duncan

[zemjw]

@dijit - I bought the Effigy Pilot, Recon and Hacker set at the start of the year - great fun to paint 

Not sure what Denmark's import thresholds are, but $19.99 for the set was below even the UK's ridiculously stupid limit. It was only $5.00 for p&p - and they arrived in a week

I ended up with three figures for just under £17.00, so about £5.60 each. Expensive, yeah, but still cheaper than a lot of companies out there 

[Major_Gilbear]

@zemjw:

They can still be stopped for VAT. Even so, it's the handling charge for doing anything at all if it gets stopped that's so expensive.

I thought that the figures were nice, but at close to £6.00 each, not as good value as other figures out there in terms of sculpting and casting quality. Not that they are bad (I really like them!), but I accepted at the time that the price was a little higher in order to help somebody new out.

That's why it's disappointing to see another KS from Effigy, but that in the meantime nothing new has come from the store we helped to fund in the first place.

[zemjw]

@Major_Gilbear

They should pass into the UK without problem. Below £15, excluding p&p, is okay. From HM Customs Import Limits - "Commercial consignments i.e goods you have purchased, of £15 or less are free from customs duty and import VAT." The current customs exchange rate for September is $1.5804, which brings $19.99 in at £12.65.

I do know what you mean about the handling charges  There was a boxed set I wanted to buy from Amazon US and it came to £15.72 when I converted it. I decided not to risk it, as if it had been stopped I was looking at another £10 in VAT, import duty and the "handling charge" 

I also agree with the view that Effigy hasn't done much since the first releases. I had high hopes that some more SF stuff might have been produced by now, but sadly not 

[Torben]

In and around Denmark then the limit for overseas purchases, before VAT and other duties applies, is set to the astounding high rate of £5 (rough currency conversion).

But the fun doesn't stop there, oh no! The handling fees for the postal service is somewhere in the neighbourhood of £20-25 and then you need to add the VAT, which varies wildly as the state has no idea on how to tax miniatures and resin terrain; but roughly you add +50% of the ordervalue; including P&P.

In short - unless you're really desperate, then it's rarely worth the extra money for buying anything from overseas here in DK.

This however means that I'm quite the customer at various online-shops across all of EU which import US-based miniatures

[hubbabubba]

I think Tom Mason is the guy who does most o f the sculpts for MERCS, they've just released two or three new factions, so that's probably what he's been up to.
That aside, yes, I agree, why another kickstarter, are we going to see a kick starter every time they want to release a new set of figs? It seems to be just a cash up front pre order thing.
Plus, after the sedition wars box, I reckon I'll be pretty flush for Sci fi troopers for a while, and there's nothing here so far that really catches my eye.

[Major_Gilbear]

I think Tom Mason is the guy who does most o f the sculpts for MERCS, they've just released two or three new factions, so that's probably what he's been up to

Well, he sculpted the Sefadu faction AFAIK.

The Keizai Waza were sculpted by somebody else, as were the new Ios faction (they're digital sculpts in fact). No idea who's doing the upcoming Texico faction though

But his work on Mercs is why I backed him; he'd proved he had the talent already and now wanted to go solo - I loved his Mercs models, so was happy to support him.

[A_Train]

I got turned off at 32 mm.  Shame, because they are great sculpts, I just am not ready to make that switch.

[tnjrp]

The problem with miniatures you haven't seen in a comparison shot is that you really can't say how tall they are if the actually factual full height of the miniature isn't given -- and it rarely is, for example Effigy only lists "scale" for their current offerings. Their "officially" 32mm miniature might not be significantly bigger than a typical "officially" 28mm figure is these days.

I personally prefer more "concervative 28mm" too (like, say, Heresy stuff) as well and am inclined to think these may be a bit on the big side since Mr. Mason's a MERCS sculptor. Might go well with the upcoming McVey/CMON Alabaster stuff tho...

Maybe we could persuade Major to post a comparison pic of the current Havoc Protocol minis?

[Major_Gilbear]

Sure, I can do that.

I'll do a lineup of the KS1 chicks (who are quite small), some Infinity figs, some GOT figs and a Space Marine ('cos everyone know how big they are, right?). Anything else for the lineup?

[tnjrp]

If you happen to have any Sedition Wars minis at hand then those would be a very nice addition.

[Major_Gilbear]

I do, and I can! 

[Steve F]

Robot roast chicken, anyone?