Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Old West => Topic started by: Malamute on March 27, 2008, 10:25:46 AM
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I am about to embark on a project to produce a new range of 28mm figures for the Texas War of Independence.
The original idea was to produce the figures to fill in gaps in my collection. (for example dismounted Mexican cavalry,Tejanos, my idea if David Crockett etc.)
Now the project has snowballed and it looks like I will turn it into a commercial venture.
One idea is to produce the figures with separate heads to produce as much variety as possible and try and be as authentic in the look of the figures as possible, particularly the Texians.
So far I have listed out what is to be sculpted. I have the obvious troops covered, basic soldados, Cazadores, mounted and dismounted cavalry inc Presidials, artillerymen, sappers and for the Texians volunteers/militia, New Orleans Greys, Tejanos, cavalry and artillerymen and the obvious personalities.
So gentlemen(and Ladies) what are your thoughts?
Will you support me and buy the figures(assuming they look nice). I know its an obscure period and not to everubodies tastes, but i just trying to guage opinions.
Have I missed anything and is there anything you would add? For instance do you like the separate head idea?
Or is the whole Idea crazy?!
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Well, good luck with this. I know Artizan do a few packs for this era, but I always thought the range stopped rather abruptly, so I can imagine that there will be a gap in the market with people who want to build the rest of the forces involved.
It's not a period I'm particularly interested in, but, if the figs are good enough, especially characters, I could see myself buying a few just to take a break from other projects. That's how it starts, isn't it? :mrgreen:
Will you be supplying through another company, or are you setting your own up?
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Sorry, really not my thing. A fascinating period, but not something I can squeeze into my schedule. I'm booked up for years to come. So many wars, so little time! (Or should that be 'one big war with so many theatres, so little time?')
I wish you the best with it though, Nick.
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Would be much surprised if you are not able to sell a lot overseas (the Alamo is something of a 'National Treasure' to US citizens, if I'm not mistaken). If the minis are sufficiently high quality, of course.
I'm not personally involved in the period (at least not yet, and I should know better than to state it by now :D ), but I have been pondering about using some mexican troops for some Zorro-gaming with the Gloire rules....
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Well, good luck with this. I know Artizan do a few packs for this era, but I always thought the range stopped rather abruptly, so I can imagine that there will be a gap in the market with people who want to build the rest of the forces involved.
It's not a period I'm particularly interested in, but, if the figs are good enough, especially characters, I could see myself buying a few just to take a break from other projects. That's how it starts, isn't it? :mrgreen:
Will you be supplying through another company, or are you setting your own up?
If all goes well on my own :o
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I would be sorely tempted. The Texas War of Independence is one of those periods that is so damned compelling, despite being a backwater war and of a bafflingly amateurish level of execution. Plus I'm itchy for Old West stuff now, and old Mexico is pretty compelling.
You will run into a few problems, the first being that it's terribly niche. I suspect the frozen Artizan range bears some testament to this. You might try to test the waters with a few packs and then see if it can bear expansion.
I'd skip the basic Soldados and Cazadores in favor of the more unique Presidials and Dragoons. If I remember properly, the soldiers wore straight-up surplus Napoleonic uniforms, so you could always improvise with them. Texian volunteers can always do double duty as militias; nobody does great Tejanos (which is a shame) and character packs are always welcome.
I don't think I'd do separate heads. I think I'd do five poses and variations on uniforms, equipment, and headgear in order to give me ten each of the Soldados and Cazadores, then maybe a "command pack" with some NCOs and officers. Same with the Texians and Tejanos, with the character pack for them. Just a thought.
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I would be sorely tempted. The Texas War of Independence is one of those periods that is so damned compelling, despite being a backwater war and of a bafflingly amateurish level of execution. Plus I'm itchy for Old West stuff now, and old Mexico is pretty compelling.
You will run into a few problems, the first being that it's terribly niche. I suspect the frozen Artizan range bears some testament to this. You might try to test the waters with a few packs and then see if it can bear expansion.
I'd skip the basic Soldados and Cazadores in favor of the more unique Presidials and Dragoons. If I remember properly, the soldiers wore straight-up surplus Napoleonic uniforms, so you could always improvise with them. Texian volunteers can always do double duty as militias; nobody does great Tejanos (which is a shame) and character packs are always welcome.
I don't think I'd do separate heads. I think I'd do five poses and variations on uniforms, equipment, and headgear in order to give me ten each of the Soldados and Cazadores, then maybe a "command pack" with some NCOs and officers. Same with the Texians and Tejanos, with the character pack for them. Just a thought.
Pete, - thanks for your input. My plan is to start with dismounted Cavalry inc the Presidials as there is an immediate need for them(My need is great!) and then the Tejanos and some basic Texian militia. we will see from there how much demand there is.
Realistically I know its a niche market. I want to do the figures mainly for my own collection. If selliing them covers the costs of production then its a bonus, but its not the end of the world if it doesnt. I am a realist!! :)
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Personally I love seperate heads. It is suprising how a simple turn of the head here and there can make a unit of identical poses look more interesting.
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I would be interested if the figures would suit skirmish gaming, IE including mounted/dismounted versions. I won´t be diving into large armies anymore, but I´ve always wanted to do Zorro gaming and some well-sculpted Mexican troops would be great for that.
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I'm not personally involved in the period (at least not yet, and I should know better than to state it by now :D ), but I have been pondering about using some mexican troops for some Zorro-gaming with the Gloire rules....
My first thought was Zorro too.
If they're nice, I'd some Mexican infantry and characters for swashbuckling/old west adventures. :)
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I would be interested if the figures would suit skirmish gaming, IE including mounted/dismounted versions. I won´t be diving into large armies anymore, but I´ve always wanted to do Zorro gaming and some well-sculpted Mexican troops would be great for that.
Yes I am planning to do both mounted and dismounted versions of some of the figures, particularly the Mexican cavalry and some of the Texians, especially for skirmish reasons. :)
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The Mexican cavalry are one of those types that aren't well catered for by mini companies. Only Old Glory produce minis for these to the best of my knowledge. It would be great to get a whole bunch of distinctive models for Activa/Permanente cavalry, mounted Tejanos and Presidiales. Likewise, Old glory do a good range of foot troopers, but the variety of poses for their Zapadores and Cazadores are limited.
Definitely an opportunity to flesh out the market.
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My thought is that you might do a line with broader appeal, with Texas War of Independence being only part of it. You could call the line "Adventures in Old Mexico" or "Adventures in the Old Southwest" or something like that. Most Western figures aim at the period after the American Civil War. You could aim for the period before that, from Mexican Independence and the War of 1812 up to the ACW. Filibusters, Texas War of Independence, civil wars in Mexico itself, Zorro, California, the Mexican American War, the California Gold Rush, pre-ACW Apache Wars, and other topics could all fit into a story line for Southwest fighting before the advent of repeating firearms. Spice it up with figures suitable for hot romance and devious intrigues and you might strike a responsive chord among miniatures buyers, even if you don't strike the mother lode.
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As some of the other lads have said, its not a period I would normally choose to play though interesting and the LOTOW rules look good
I would suggest however to start off fairly slow and choose which models to get cast first as you see form other posts, figures which can be used for other things (possibly even a zorro figure) would sell no matter what, where as rank and file could be a gamble?
I am no expert though
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I've got the H&A model of the Alamo (bought it very well painted from a friend), but no troops to go with it. The Alamo films (and the legend) have seen to it that this war is also known over here (Belgium). For me it would be another "colonial" project. I look forward to your sculpts.
Rudi
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We've got a H&A Alamo too, and no figures at all.
Currently using it for Indian Mutiny, Back of Beyond, Boxer Rebellion, and anywhere else that looks dusty or arid, but would love to use it as a Zorro setting, so might consider a few figures..... Could Zorro (and some fat villains) be amongst your personality sets ?
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Well, by popular demand I will do Presidial cavalry first, both dismounted and mounted variants, a fat sargento and a certain masked avenger dressed in black mounted and dismounted.
I am speaking to my sculptor tonight, so we begin at last :)
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So it begins...
Malamute Model Enterprises inc.
Watch out Bryan Ansell! :wink:
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So it begins...
Malamute Model Enterprises inc.
Watch out Bryan Ansell! :wink:
I wouldn't go that far! :o I expect this will be a labour of love for me as I know its a really niche period and will not appeal to everybody. As long as I get to produce some nice figures for my own collection and if I sell a few along the way it will be a bonus :)
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As long as I get to produce some nice figures for my own collection and if I sell a few along the way it will be a bonus :)
Ah that's how they all start out... :wink:
Before you know it you'll be opening a global chain of high street shops! :lol:
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As long as I get to produce some nice figures for my own collection and if I sell a few along the way it will be a bonus :)
Ah that's how they all start out... :wink:
Before you know it you'll be opening a global chain of high street shops! :lol:
Yes, then I will alienate all my friends with my horrendous pricing strategy of £20 per personality figure... Anyway got to go, I am off to spend my first millions on a yacht, a holiday home in the Bahamas and a date with Salma Hayek :D
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I'd love to do that period one day. The whole story is so good for gaming.
Good luck I really hope you do better than covering your costs. 8)
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I personnaly would like to see some chinese tong miniatures istead of having to make do with foundry chinese pirates.
Ever thought about doing these?
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I personnaly would like to see some chinese tong miniatures istead of having to make do with foundry chinese pirates.
Ever thought about doing these?
Should be able to find some useable figures among these Pulp Figures packs:
http://www.pulpfigures.com/cat.php?range=Yangzee%20Gangs&catalog=PYG&custID=64622221207596587
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I personnaly would like to see some chinese tong miniatures istead of having to make do with foundry chinese pirates.
Ever thought about doing these?
HI Lee, I am not sure they quite fit in with my Alamo ideas. But when I make my first million and have set up my global empire. I will design some especially for you :)
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The Alamo has just been used as a Gondor desert outpost under assault by Harad in LoTR game, so I think it's time to get a Zorro figure and put it to proper use.
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Good luck with the project.