Figurebitz - cheap MDF terrain - crowdfunding

[Bloodbeard]

Figurebitz: MDF Terrain - crowdfunding
Hello my fellow hobbyists.

Gary Robertson is a very nice bloke that designs and makes MDF terrain. His old cutter is broken and i need around 2000£ for a new one. So he's made a crowdfunding campaign by pre-orders.

Ending in 3 days. Until then if you put some money at him, he'll add 50% to it when you order some stuff.

Gary is a very nice guy, I've been chatting a lot with him. I have some of his early stuff and it is awesome (and very cheap). I've also seen some of the stuff he has planned for modern kits. He's often willing to air brust paint the kits for you, for cheap as well.

 He's an honest guy.

I suggest you get some cheap MDF stuff for your tables (it was even cheap in the first place) and support the business of a nice guy.

Kits:
Modern (more planned - gasstation, barn, police station)
Sci-fi (pretty 40k style buildings)
Underground base (modern, scifi dungeon / space ship)
Dungeon (a cool modular dungeon set - with a lot of components)
Tudor Houses (classis moderheim/warhammer style house - both ruined and standing versions)
Small scale for FoW
28mm train sets and rails
28mm construction vehicles

Link to his facebook galleries: https://www.facebook.com/Figurebitz-1103058219726332/photos/?ref=page_internal

The facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Figurebitz-1103058219726332/

I'll just put his text in here.

Hi everyone,
The time has come to upgrade the old kit I use to make my creations.
A larger and more powerful laser cutter would replace the fund draining little machine I currently use; its constant failing and associated repairs are just burning cash instead of MDF. The new one I am considering is around £2000.
However, to raise the necessery funds, I need your help. I intend to raise the money by offering potential supporters a huge discount on anything I currently make and from the 'coming soon' list. The coming soon list will be posted shortly.
So what is this discount I am offering?
It's a massive 50% extra value on any purchases when I reach the total amount required. For example, you invest £10 and as thanks for your support, I return £15 in goods; £50 gets £75 worth, £100 gets £150 worth etc. The postage and packaging is NOT included in the offer; it will be calculated when your items are ready and I will then invoice you for payment.
What this means in practice is that you:
order items from my current catalogue and from the 'coming soon' list – see separate thread
pay by paypal to ensure you are completely covered for any possible, but unlikely, failings on my side to fulfill the deal
be patient and wait. Having said that, everyone who invests will be kept up-to-date with how we are progressing. There will be a running total on the Facebook page.
When I reach the target of £2000 and purchase the new laser, 2 things will happen:
1. I will start immediately on supporters orders. These will be filled in sequence so an early investment will ensure you get your items as soon as possible
2. The 50% extra offer will close
I also have a very special limited offer, just one spot left for investing £500 or more in MDF goodness and get 75% extra returned in goods. That's £875 worth of fantastic terrain!!!! Be quick, this offer won't last long!!!
Those of you who have already purchased my kits know what excellent quality and value they are. Your support will enable me to continue to make superior kits at a reasonable price.
Thank you all in anticipation of your support!
Gaz

A few examples of stuff:

[Sunjester]

Any link for this that isn't on Facebook?

[Cait Sidhe]

Just not for me and I just don't get the fascination with MDF kits. The only reason I can see why they've taken off is because they are easy to produce and can flood the market. But I don't like them. Each one of those above models is well made, taken effort to produce, and well thought out. And yet they are so bland and soulless. If they were music they'd be Coldplay - music for people who don't like music. Or mild cheddar - cheese for people who don't like cheese.
These are wargames terrain for people who don't like wargames terrain. For people who just see it as a necessary chore.

Seems like a bit of a massive generalisation if I'm honest and I don't really like being told what I like, you know what an "opinion" is right? MDF terrain is just fine, a lot of it can be quite plain and needs extra work to make it shine but it skips out a lot of having to cut foamboard and stuff. If you're willing to pay there are very good MDF terrain kits out there (see Knights of Dice).



As for the advertised stuff it looks pretty decent but all he has is a facebook page, no prices or anything listed so pass... 

[mcfonz]

What Cait Sidh said.

Also, you are wrong about Coldplay. It's pop. Pop is often simplistic. But then there is classical music that is also simplistic. It's not about "not liking music" it's about wanting something at that particular time that is un-fussy and and easy to listen to. Interestingly, as a Piano teacher, my mum often has youngsters ask to learn pieces by Coldplay - which can only ever be a good thing.

In fact, in many ways that is the same for MDF. Some people will use it as is, others will add to it. I know folk who buy the very basic kits so that they can use it as a basis to build upon as it saves them all of the time getting that far and allows them to just do the finishing details. Other folk who are more about getting games in or clubs, that are happy with something simple that is throw down and robust use MDF as well.

It might not be for those people who prefer the highly detailed, often highly expensive resin equivalents - but horses for courses. No need to suggest insult on those who prefer either really.

[jon_1066]

The only problem with MDF terrain is that it looks like MDF terrain.
And to make it so it doesn't look like MDF terrain requires time and effort (in addition to the time and effort required to put the original kit together) that may as well have been spent on making an original piece from scratch anyway.
Or the kits are so involved (like, I suspect, that truck model) that you may as well go to your local toy shop and find one already made.
Yes, I can see how they would be ideal for people who don't have modelling skills, but kits like that truck or half-timbered house are going to be fiddly enough that those same people are probably going to struggle with them as well. And it will still look like an MDF model.

Just not for me and I just don't get the fascination with MDF kits. The only reason I can see why they've taken off is because they are easy to produce and can flood the market. But I don't like them. Each one of those above models is well made, taken effort to produce, and well thought out. And yet they are so bland and soulless. If they were music they'd be Coldplay - music for people who don't like music. Or mild cheddar - cheese for people who don't like cheese.
These are wargames terrain for people who don't like wargames terrain. For people who just see it as a necessary chore.

MDF i think can work quite well for certain things.  I definitely see it as a successor to the old GW cardboard buildings - especially the pre-painted stuff.  Really painting terrain is too much of a chore for me.  It also works well for things that are bland and soulless.  eg those apartment buildings, a shipping container, in fact many modern structures.  It is a good compromise between cost, usability and looks.  Many scratch built buildings look great but are less useful for gaming as accessing the insides is much harder as foam core often needs internal bracing and designing a building with removable floors and roof is much harder to do.  If we were all made of money clearly we would populate our tables with Tabletop World resin models but that isn't a realistic option for most of us.

[Bloodbeard]

@Humakt: I've been thinking all morning of how to respond. I see others has done so. I read your post as very generalising, if you don't linke MDF that's fine.

I like a hard block of cheddar full of taste - but also the mild almost tastelesss stuff for my pizza. And I like MDF terrain, because it saves me a lot of time and looks good. My pile of unfinished stuff is big, mdf terrain saves me time and looks well.

These are wargames terrain for people who don't like wargames terrain. That's wrong. I love my old homemade, scartch build ruined, highly detailed, fantasy city. But my super cheap modern 28mm building in mdf are better than my homemade polystyrene concret buildings.

Any link for this that isn't on Facebook?

He hasn't set up a webstore or website yet. But the FB pictures should be public for you to see. I can PM Gary's email as well if you want to get a hold of him.

[nic-e]

As someone whp has to build and paint stuff for a store, MDF is great. IT's cheap enough to buy tables worth of scenery and we can paint it quickly.When it breaks (all store terrain does) we can either fix of throw without much worry.

But there is a bloody lot of it! Seems every company with a lasercutter has figured out that making a few ruins and boxes is a good way to russle up a little extra income.Fair play, I can't say I wouldn't do the same if i had the resources and time, But so much of it all looks the same!

The above obelisk bar and CAT heavy truck are two great kits, The rest of it I couldn't pick out from a line up of TTcombat/customeeple ect ect

[Hupp n at em]

MDF is also lightweight and saves those of us who are horrible at cutting straight lines but like scratchbuilding stuff some of our least favorite steps of the process. 

Coldplay has also written some fairly interesting sounding stuff, generally early in their career but still.  It's not going to dazzle you with number of instruments or a quick barrage of notes but texturally there's some nice stuff on X&Y for example.  I also find people who bash musical strawmen like this generally aren't listening to free jazz or experimental classical themselves, 9/10 times it's basic rock music we've all heard a million times that's on about the same level musically... it's just a different style. 

[Neotacha]

But for all those of you who tried to defend Coldplay - sort your bloody selves out! You are wrong. That's NOT an opinion. That's provable fact. And I'm happy to go to war on that.

Coldplay is the hill you've chosen to die on? 

I'm liking the MDF for Western buildings.  It's quick, it's easy, and clapboard is clapboard, y'know?  For wattle and daub it doesn't do as well, but the nice thing about gaming today is we have choices.  You choose not to use MDF and I'll choose what cheese or ice cream or music I enjoy.

Looked at the gallery; there are some very nice looking pieces out there, and the price I did see quoted looked reasonable enough.  Unfortunately I don't need any of the things he has to offer, but good luck to him getting the money for a new laser cutter.

[Bloodbeard]

More stuff
Showing some of the stuff Gary has shown me. He's still working on the designs. Payment is through Paypal, so money if covered by Paypals buyers protection. If anyone is a bit on the fence about this kind of crowdfunding.

This Prison Tower is 10£, I'm getting one for The Walking Dead


Police station, first floor and roof are removeable. He plans on making a lot of building from the basis. Shops, homes etc.


Front of a barn. Will come with a fully detailed, removeable inside, loft etc.


Base for a combined gas station / diner kit. Will come with sign variables and removeable gas station part - so it can be a pure diner.

[Mason]

Well, I could use that Police Station....

[Malebolgia]

Interested in joining...but the lack of a price list or some clear information is holding me back (info like the size of the dungeon layout and such).

[Sunjester]

Interested in joining...but the lack of a price list or some clear information is holding me back (info like the size of the dungeon layout and such).

This is what is putting me off, as well as the reliance on FB. With no indication of prices etc, I've no idea if i'm even interested.

[Bloodbeard]

I think there's prices as coments to many of the pictures on Facebook. Otherwise drop Gary a message on this email or pm him on Facebook. He's quick to respond.

biggazrobertson (@} ymail (dot} com

Ymail, not gmail.

The funding could have been much better organized. Agreed. As for assurance, you don't have anything but my word (I'm in no way involved in the business). And PayPals guarantee as you pay there for goods and services.

Dungeon
The dungeon set above (they grey) is covering a 2'x2' table and is only using half the components in the 50£ dungeon set. That's pretty great value (but heavy in shipping).

[Sterling Moose]

I can also recommend Gary's stuff.  I bought some of his excellent command consoles and reel to reel computers, which incidentally are available directly from him and also through Karl at Crooked Dice.  Great kits, great prices and great service.  I would certainly buy from him again.