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Other Stuff => General Wargames and Hobby Discussion => Topic started by: tomek917 on July 06, 2020, 12:41:54 PM

Title: Monolith Designs still in business?
Post by: tomek917 on July 06, 2020, 12:41:54 PM
This seems to be a question that comes up every few years here according to my searches.

But does anyone know if Monolith Designs is still in business?

http://www.monolithdesigns.co.uk/index.htm

I e-mailed what I believe is the owner Stephen Mussared (SMssrd@***.com) twice without a reply.

Just wanted to know if I should forget it or if is worth trying to contact him in other ways.

Thanks!
/Andreas
Title: Re: Monolith Designs still in business?
Post by: Captain Blood on July 06, 2020, 12:46:32 PM
I don't know if he's still trading, but Steve Mussared is still around - he can be found on Facebook doing various Steampunk re-enactment things. I've come across him a couple of times recently. (I'm assuming it's the same guy. Can't be that many Steve Mussareds who are into these sorts of hobbies... )
Maybe worth trying to make contact via Fb?
It's a shame if he's not in business any more. He had a great range of buildings.
Title: Re: Monolith Designs still in business?
Post by: tomek917 on July 06, 2020, 01:20:11 PM
Ah that’s smart, didn’t think about FB, thanks!

Contacted him there, hopefully Monolith is still running!  :)
Title: Re: Monolith Designs still in business?
Post by: SJWi on July 06, 2020, 01:40:01 PM
I will be delighted if they are still trading, albeit I fear the answer is “no”. I was always surprised that no-one else bought the range. Great range of buildings. Well detailed and used a robust but lightweight resin.
Title: Re: Monolith Designs still in business?
Post by: swiftnick on July 06, 2020, 03:04:22 PM
I have had a few good and easy transactions by messaging him here.
Just noted he hasn't been on for a while.
I hope he is OK as seems a fine chap.
Title: Re: Monolith Designs still in business?
Post by: Tadgie on July 06, 2020, 03:59:44 PM
I had some luck contacting him a while back but the last two times I have tried I didn’t get an answer. It does seem a bit hit and miss but when I did get a reply he was happy to send me minis.
Let us know how you get on.
Title: Re: Monolith Designs still in business?
Post by: v_lazy_dragon on July 06, 2020, 08:10:42 PM
I swopped emails with him a few months ago - he's been running off selling stock since 2007 (family issues), and is now basically out of most things.
The ranges are currently all for sale
Title: Re: Monolith Designs still in business?
Post by: Firescale Whack on July 07, 2020, 03:29:16 AM
I hope someone picks up the license and the moulds to sell Monolith again as it's excellent stuff. Someone was selling some of the Bronze Age Greek buildings on ebay recently but I think they were re-casts as the quality of both the casting and resin was woeful.
Title: Re: Monolith Designs still in business?
Post by: MartinD on July 11, 2020, 08:23:35 AM
I'd love some. I have noticed some members of the Congo FB group posting photos from games and there always seems to be scenery by Monolith featured.
Title: Re: Monolith Designs still in business?
Post by: majorsmith on July 11, 2020, 10:42:52 AM
Steve’s a great guy, I hope he manages to sell his ranges on as both graven and monolith are fantastic
Title: Re: Monolith Designs still in business?
Post by: v_lazy_dragon on July 15, 2020, 11:33:43 AM
I hope someone picks up the license and the moulds to sell Monolith again as it's excellent stuff. Someone was selling some of the Bronze Age Greek buildings on ebay recently but I think they were re-casts as the quality of both the casting and resin was woeful.
Aye - I bought some and promptly returned them as the casting detail was horrifically bad. He also appears to be selling some snapdragon scenery bits that I presume are recast too...
Title: Re: Monolith Designs still in business?
Post by: nozza_uk on July 15, 2020, 12:55:25 PM
Aye - I bought some and promptly returned them as the casting detail was horrifically bad. He also appears to be selling some snapdragon scenery bits that I presume are recast too...

Snapdragon. There's blast from the past. Miss those buildings, especially the sci-fi ones.  :'(
Title: Re: Monolith Designs still in business?
Post by: manic _miner on July 16, 2020, 12:56:37 AM
Aye - I bought some and promptly returned them as the casting detail was horrifically bad. He also appears to be selling some snapdragon scenery bits that I presume are recast too...

 I had some from what i imagine to be the same seller.Pictures looked like Snapdragon pieces.When they arrived the casting was terrible and not the same resin.Was wondering if anyone knows the owner of Snapdragon to let him know about a re-caster.
Title: Re: Monolith Designs still in business?
Post by: Captain Blood on July 16, 2020, 08:38:54 AM
I think Snapdragon (also, for a while, Moondragon?) stopped trading several years ago. I don’t want to start a terrible rumour, but a little voice at the back of my head is telling me that I recall hearing that the original owner and creator of the pieces (whose name now escapes me, Chris something?) died. But I could be completely wrong. He certainly sold the business at one point, then IIRC, took it back again - or started over with a very similar set of models.
Sorry, for some reason this has got all very muddled in the old memory cells!
Anyway, it may be that the recaster concerned has acquired the moulds legitimately, or he / she may just be a thieving pirate. In which case, Wapping Dock awaits.
Title: Re: Monolith Designs still in business?
Post by: Pench on July 16, 2020, 09:43:47 AM
What Steve is still around? This guy bloody owes me tons of money from my last Monolith order, years ago :-[
Been a customer for years, spending again and again and, suddenly, he became mute and deaf. I read he had some sort of family issue back then, still I've been chasing him for years, like many others, to simply have a word. That guy is a crook to me, as far as I know of.
Title: Re: Monolith Designs still in business?
Post by: Captain Blood on July 16, 2020, 10:53:52 AM
Well I'd be pretty suprised if this isn't him: https://www.facebook.com/steve.mussared

Although to be fair, it's been a year since he was last active on Facebook, so who knows what's become of him now...
Title: Re: Monolith Designs still in business?
Post by: Sterling Moose on July 16, 2020, 09:59:47 PM
Quote
I recall hearing that the original owner and creator of the pieces (whose name now escapes me, Chris something?) died

I thought Steve Barber was originally the man behind Snapdragon
Title: Re: Monolith Designs still in business?
Post by: Bravo Six on July 17, 2020, 02:51:41 AM
Captain, I think Steve Mussared did all the peices for Monolith while Jim Bowen did all his figures. I'm pretty sure Snapdragon and Monolith are separate entities.

Title: Re: Monolith Designs still in business?
Post by: manic _miner on July 17, 2020, 08:44:29 AM
 Snapdragon and Monolith are seperate entities.

 The person who ran Snapdragon stopped doing so due to medical reasons.I am sure he had problems with his arms or some such.Not really sure if he sold the range though.I am sure he would be interested to see these pieces being cast up and on sale.I think if the person who is doing it had bought the moulds he would be selling all of the range and not just a few pieces of it.
Title: Re: Monolith Designs still in business?
Post by: Captain Blood on July 17, 2020, 08:48:41 AM
Captain, I think Steve Mussared did all the peices for Monolith while Jim Bowen did all his figures. I'm pretty sure Snapdragon and Monolith are separate entities.

Indeed they were nothing to do with each other. Very different styles.
Someone brought Snapdragon into the conversation because the same recaster is apparently selling copies of both Monolith and Snapdragon pieces, that’s all  :)


I thought Steve Barber was originally the man behind Snapdragon

Don’t think so Pete. I remember the Snapdragon guy from wargames shows donkeys’ years ago. He was a tall chap, long hair, creative type, a bit rock and roll...
Title: Re: Monolith Designs still in business?
Post by: Malamute on July 17, 2020, 06:15:39 PM


Don’t think so Pete. I remember the Snapdragon guy from wargames shows donkeys’ years ago. He was a tall chap, long hair, creative type, a bit rock and roll...

Yep, his name is Kerry (forget his surname) definitely not Steve Barber, who is also very active on facebook.
Title: Re: Monolith Designs still in business?
Post by: Bravo Six on July 17, 2020, 06:24:46 PM
Quote
Someone brought Snapdragon into the conversation because the same recaster is apparently selling copies of both Monolith and Snapdragon pieces, that’s all

Oh, sorry Cap. Didn't know someone was doing THAT. How uncool.