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Miniatures Adventure => Future Wars => Topic started by: bandit86 on 15 December 2008, 08:19:41 AM

Title: Worst figure pose
Post by: bandit86 on 15 December 2008, 08:19:41 AM
I always wondered about how a sculptor chooses a pose for their figure.  I was just looking on the Urban Mammoth site and they have some new figures out, I had liked the concept art work for the land pilots but the figures themselves I am not that keen on.  The “Land Pilot” I might be able to re work into something I like but the leaning forward shooting pose just looks odd. The mechsoldat is just horrible, one of the worst poses I have seen(thank God it’s a female if it were a male figure It would look as though he was playing with himself) the rest are just so so.  Of course this is just my opinion.  What’s yours and do you have a favorite and least favorite pose?
http://urbanmammoth.com/
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: Glitzer on 15 December 2008, 08:33:00 AM
I've got no problem with the loricatuses pose, I just don't like the pistol-tommygun. But I agree on the mechsoldat. On the other hand that pose looks quite natural to me. I would have to clutch those trousers too, else I would loose them  o_o .
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: Dr. The Viking on 15 December 2008, 08:45:12 AM
I generally like poses that don't suggest to much for gaming.

I mean - I looks silly when a running figure is standing and talking to a crouching man. So in that case I would prefer both to be standing straight.


The Urban Mammoth minis are often very well done I think. I have some of their triads, syntha and viridians. Haven't found a use for them yet though.

I suppose I also think that the mech girl looks like she's taking a dump and the land pilot is a bit too gangsta for me.
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: Lowtardog on 15 December 2008, 09:38:12 AM
Figures lying down generally bug me as you are limited as to what you can do with them and I always feel they should be standing up especially when they should be running/moving
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: Argonor on 15 December 2008, 09:41:59 AM
I generally like poses that don't suggest to much for gaming.

I mean - I looks silly when a running figure is standing and talking to a crouching man. So in that case I would prefer both to be standing straight.

I'm with you there - especially for those small scale skirmish/adventure flicks.

Quote
The Urban Mammoth minis are often very well done I think. I have some of their triads, syntha and viridians. Haven't found a use for them yet though.

I also like them a lot - Duregar and I bought some Urban War boxed minis at a discount about a year ago (Viridians for me, Syntha for him) - I think I have prepped the female sergeant. Same with Warmachine, really...  :?

Quote
I suppose I also think that the mech girl looks like she's taking a dump and the land pilot is a bit too gangsta for me.

Nothing wrong with a gal with attitude - if she's 'street' and not military - but crapping those baggies full should take a while  lol

Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: Commander Vyper on 15 December 2008, 09:43:08 AM
Not keen on any of those poses to be honest. All a bit poor.

The Commander
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: Hammers on 15 December 2008, 10:33:52 AM
In general terms, I always get myself worked up with 'Mr-Easy-To-Cast's, that is spread-eagle, legs apart miniatures with a big sword pointing straight up and a staff in the other. You'd think they'd be a part of a distant Ral Patha D&D past but they still apear now and then.

Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: Torradas on 15 December 2008, 10:38:18 AM
I will join the choir of the "I prefer them to be standing".
I will concede on the odd "Shooting position" and "Advacing" (not running full tilt, both feet on the ground).

A miniature line that also does great minis but puts me off with their poses is Infinity.
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: Argonor on 15 December 2008, 10:43:18 AM
A miniature line that also does great minis but puts me off with their poses is Infinity.

I agree. Why do they have to make minis doing kickflips, standing on one leg while firing, and the likes??
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: Ruarigh on 15 December 2008, 11:48:34 AM
The Urban Mammoth minis are often very well done I think. I have some of their triads, syntha and viridians. Haven't found a use for them yet though.
You could always play Urban War!  ;) We play it a lot and it is good fun.

One of the worst poses I know if is this Knight of the Fury from the old Void line.
(http://www.scotiagrendel.com/11414_Knight_of_the_fury.jpg)

He looks like he is dancing to Madness or something like that. And as for Commander X, what is she up to?
(http://www.scotiagrendel.com/11404_Commander_X.jpg)

Of course, my real pet peeve is swords that look like cricket bats and female figures with footballs stuck up their jumpers, but that is a whole different thread.
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: Argonor on 15 December 2008, 11:58:12 AM
I THINK Commander X is waiting outside a toilet while keeping some Koralon at bay.... ?
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: Plynkes on 15 December 2008, 12:13:53 PM
I love those silly poses for Fantasy and Sci-Fi. Those guys look like they are putting on Void: The Musical which I think is a hoot.


But I don't think I'd want them for Gallipoli or 1st Ypres.  :)

Hmm, I dunno, I do like "O What a lovely War" so perhaps some singing and dancing Tommies would be fun too.
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: Torradas on 15 December 2008, 12:19:57 PM
I don´t want to come across as an Infinity-hater - I really do think there are some wonderful sculpts in the line. And reviewing them now, I think that most poses are alright. But there are some notable exceptions that would make even VOID miniatures look pretty static...

Case in point:

(http://www.arcaneminiatures.co.uk/images/infinity-miniatures/280122-0128.jpg)
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: JollyBob on 15 December 2008, 12:37:16 PM
Hmm, I dunno, I do like "O What a lovely War" so perhaps some singing and dancing Tommies would be fun too.

The guy on the end of this row of BTD Desert Rats might be a place to start, mate:

(http://www.black-tree-design.com/productimages/ww2361.jpg)

 ;) lol
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: Glitzer on 15 December 2008, 01:33:13 PM

The guy on the end of this row of BTD Desert Rats might be a place to start, mate:

(http://www.black-tree-design.com/productimages/ww2361.jpg)

 ;) lol

Looks like 10 of them would be a good Irish folk dance formation in british service  :D
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: Dr. The Viking on 15 December 2008, 02:21:59 PM
LOL!

A musical diorama of all things miniatures would be sweet! Haha.

Perhaps with the "I feel pretty... oh so pretty..."-thing from Sound of Music (I think.. have yet to see much musical).
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: PeteMurray on 15 December 2008, 03:08:11 PM
Perhaps with the "I feel pretty... oh so pretty..."-thing from Sound of Music (I think.. have yet to see much musical).

It's okay. You can tell the truth. We understand and won't judge you.  lol
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: Plynkes on 15 December 2008, 03:15:15 PM
Thorbjørn's getting his Marias mixed up again.

"I feel pretty" is sung by Maria the Puerto Rican gangbanger in "West Side Story", not Maria the nun/wife of top K.u.k. U-Boat ace,  Georg von Trapp in "The Sound of Music."

That's the kind of thing most chaps would be happy to get wrong. I admit that I like musicals, and don't care who knows it.  :)
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: keeper on 15 December 2008, 03:37:08 PM
Hmm, I dunno, I do like "O What a lovely War" so perhaps some singing and dancing Tommies would be fun too.

The guy on the end of this row of BTD Desert Rats might be a place to start, mate:

(http://www.black-tree-design.com/productimages/ww2361.jpg)

 ;) lol

Look more like something from "It 'aint half hot, Mum." :D

Speaking of which - anyone know where I might get a Battery Sergeant Major with moustache and a short Gunner in pith helmet (http://www.bbc.co.uk/totp2/features/wallpaper/images/1024/don_estelle_and_windsor_davies.jpg)?
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: Dr. The Viking on 15 December 2008, 03:53:37 PM
Perhaps with the "I feel pretty... oh so pretty..."-thing from Sound of Music (I think.. have yet to see much musical).

It's okay. You can tell the truth. We understand and won't judge you.  lol

Arf arf --- I had it coming!  lol

Thorbjørn's getting his Marias mixed up again.

"I feel pretty" is sung by Maria the Puerto Rican gangbanger in "West Side Story", not Maria the nun/wife of top K.u.k. U-Boat ace,  Georg von Trapp in "The Sound of Music."

That's the kind of thing most chaps would be happy to get wrong. I admit that I like musicals, and don't care who knows it.  :)

Dang! I haven't seen that one either. My wife once dragged me into the livingroom to see "Hair" on television - and that wound up rather badly (not baldly)! I must say I found the whole disneycomplex (people suddenly start singing out loud spontanously) rather disturbing. Perhaps I was trying to cram too much realism into the flick.

On the other hand I REALLY like the Burton things.. all three! The one about the barber who spiced up pie's with human meat. And of course Nightmare Before Christmas and the new one.. which I don't remember either story or title of! ???

Disneycomplexes too.. but it didn't annoy me! Maybe because I'm just a Burton nut.  :-*

The christmas landscaping I'm doing right now will actually feature in a "Holiday War" I'm doing inspired by Nightmare Before Christmas. There'll be eastertown, christmastown and halloweentown. (check it out in my ramblings department in the workbench).

I can't express how joyed I am to see that Zombiemaker has finally made some fantasy bunnies with swords and bows! Perfect for this endeavor.

I'm I threadjacking? Slightly... perhaps.. a weeny tiny bit... oh well! Sorry!

Ps. Add spelling to all of this.
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: pixelgeek on 15 December 2008, 04:01:59 PM
Not the best picture but I think the "Jazz Hands" Possessed Chaos Space Marine wins hands down

(http://i37.tinypic.com/58crb.jpg)
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: Malamute on 15 December 2008, 04:21:47 PM



Look more like something from "It 'aint half hot, Mum." :D

Speaking of which - anyone know where I might get a Battery Sergeant Major with moustache and a short Gunner in pith helmet (http://www.bbc.co.uk/totp2/features/wallpaper/images/1024/don_estelle_and_windsor_davies.jpg)?


Artizan Designs Thrilling Tales Sergeant Major Williams:
http://www.artizandesigns.com/catalogue.asp?sub_range=21

and Copplestone Designs High Adventures Dinosaur Hunters Lofty Earnshaw should do the trick:
http://www.copplestonecastings.co.uk/range.php?range=HA
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: keeper on 15 December 2008, 04:37:53 PM
Thanks Malamute (http://prince.planetazalea.co.uk/images/smilies/tip-hat.gif).  I may have to get together rather larger orders from both of those sites!

Back on topic ... what about the fantasy monster named "Cloaker" from BTD.  It doesn't even have a pose.

(http://www.black-tree-design.com/images/m154.jpg)

And still available! http://www.blacktreedesign.com/uk/product.php?productid=24761&cat=0&page=1

Must be an overstock issue :?
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: Will Bailie on 15 December 2008, 04:55:15 PM
Quote
Hmm, I dunno, I do like "O What a lovely War" so perhaps some singing and dancing Tommies would be fun too.

I'd like to see Poly's miniature version of leapfrogging brass:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsMpwa12chc (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsMpwa12chc)

W
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: Modhail on 15 December 2008, 05:25:04 PM
Well, there is ofcourse that classic GW pose (standard issue for every space marine officer, amongst others): Legs wide and slightly bent, as if they just wet their pants, close combat implement raised high, other hand pointing/waving/shooting in random direction, going "AAaahhhhrgh!"...
Easy to cast, sure, but so dreadfully tacky...
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: brigadegames on 15 December 2008, 07:22:06 PM
Figures lying down generally bug me as you are limited as to what you can do with them and I always feel they should be standing up especially when they should be running/moving

From a consumer perspective it seems one is either a fan of prone poses or completely hates them.

From a manufacturer perspective they don't sell well unless they are machine guns.

Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: Plynkes on 15 December 2008, 07:27:37 PM
I like prone figures for snipers and casualties. For other purposes, not so much.

I am a big fan of the kneeling figure, though. I like them to add to the crews of MGs. The rules I use for Great War games call for more crew members for MGs than manufacturers generally give you in a pack. Kneeling figures (like the ones Great War Miniatures make) are good for bulking out the crew and usually fit in better with the look of the MG group than standing ones.

Even when not used for these purposes, I still like them.
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: meninobesta on 15 December 2008, 08:04:50 PM
I also like kneeling figures, at least for soldiers from 18th/19th century and later conflicts!
not a big fan of kneeling civilians!

I'm also not a big fan of prone ones... even for snipers! because they occupy much more space than the other miniatures

and I also like to see a little bit of movement on horses and general figures, if they are standing still, with straight legs, it looks that they are on a parade!
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: Will Bailie on 15 December 2008, 08:11:04 PM
Prone figures are problematic, aren't they?  On a real battlefield, most soldiers will probably spend most of their time prone, clinging to whatever cover they can find, but most of our wargames figures are boldly advancing straight toward the enemy (unless of course they are mine, and are boldly retiring toward their own lines).  That being said, I prefer not to have any prone models in my own forces - mostly because they rarely fit on a 25mm base!

For goofy poses, I'll nominate Old Glory.  I don't have any photos handy, but they seem to be able to fit in 2 or 3 inexplicable poses into each bag of 30 (sometimes more, sometimes less).  Usually it's the guy who is firing or swinging his weapon but is looking completely in the wrong direction.
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: Calimero on 15 December 2008, 09:23:28 PM

I don’t have any images of particular figures but a lot of figures from Black Tree Design German WWII range hold their rifles in odd ways… That being said, a lot of their prone figures are really good.
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: Captain Blood on 15 December 2008, 09:45:32 PM

Oh, these two, surely...  ;)

(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/pantomaniac/AIR01744b.jpg)

Plenty more 'they-left-me-scarred-me-for-life' utterly useless, pointless, or just plain odd poses in the good old Airfix range...

Remind yourself of some of the more extreme oddities here...
http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Airfix.html

 ;D
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: Argonor on 15 December 2008, 09:51:27 PM
Look at the running man.....  lol

(http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/SetScans/AIR01706b.JPG)
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: Westfalia Chris on 15 December 2008, 10:10:06 PM
Look at the running man.....  lol

Man, you really hope that a "Stalker" finds him quickly and puts him out of his misery...  lol ;)
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: meninobesta on 15 December 2008, 10:29:15 PM
those airfix minis are too classy to be flawed! just like the Ramones!  :D
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: Rhoderic on 15 December 2008, 11:51:48 PM
You want jazz hands? I'll give you jazz hands.

(http://www.blacktreedesign.com/uk/images/P/fa0304.jpg)

(http://www.blacktreedesign.com/uk/images/P/fa0302.jpg)

We should do a separate thread only for miniatures that look like they belong in a musical.
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: Torradas on 16 December 2008, 09:20:58 AM
I remember the old GW pink horrors being quite jazzy themselves. Well, at least one of the poses was.
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: Dr. The Viking on 16 December 2008, 09:42:05 AM
I remember the old GW pink horrors being quite jazzy themselves. Well, at least one of the poses was.

Ah but those were great though! Tremendous fun. Unlike their contemporary counterparts.
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: Torradas on 16 December 2008, 09:53:22 AM
I remember the old GW pink horrors being quite jazzy themselves. Well, at least one of the poses was.

Ah but those were great though! Tremendous fun. Unlike their contemporary counterparts.

Yes - I particularly enjoyed the more "risqué" ones :)
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: Cosmotiger on 16 December 2008, 08:07:52 PM

I don’t have any images of particular figures but a lot of figures from Black Tree Design German WWII range hold their rifles in odd ways… That being said, a lot of their prone figures are really good.

Yes, they have that weird pose where the guy has his right hand pushing down on top of the rifle butt, yet it remains balancing the air somehow.  It shows up in the other BTD WWII lines, like the US and Soviets also.  It would be a very unnatural way to hold a rifle.
Title: Re: Worst figure pose
Post by: Helen on 16 December 2008, 09:41:59 PM
My issues are the number of "hands on hips" or "hands behind Back" legs spread apart and the facial expression "I'm bored" that are currently available. You are paying top dollar for one of these figures in a pack of whatever! There are so many more interesting poses for say "Staff Officers" etc. I don't know whose fault that is, but it's just not good enough.

I don't mind the hands folded in front at chest height as you can cut them off at the waist and use them as crew in a vehicle or gun crew.

I'm with Poly on more kneeling figures. I like prone figures for a number of different things.

Just my Aussie dollars worth.  8)

Helen