Plastic or Metal?

[janner]

There's something about the weight of metal figures in the hand that trumps plastic, in my mind. However, it's horses for courses 

I paint the rider and mount together. Indeed, I base them and paint the bases before going onto the figures. What the paint cannot reach, the eye cannot see

[flags_of_war]

For me it's metal. I have tried plastic so many times and i really don't enjoy painting them. Every project i have started with plastic has been binned. It's shame as they are well worth their money and some folk do amazing jobs with them. I just can't seem to get what i need.

[duc de limbourg]

I love metal figures more but have seen great painted plastic ones. So it's your own choice

[delbruck]

I wonder about the long-term durability of plastics, especially the cavalry. Most horses come in two halves and only one half is secured to the base. In addition, I don't think spears and muskets will last very long. I have a Perry plastic WOR's army. I don't think I have used it in a game, but I can't say I am very happy with it's condition. I also have a German bolt action army in plastic. I think these work better in plastic. They are individually based, and have no cavalry or long weapons.

[Lord Zippy]

Thank you for all your comments.

Well my kids and wife, came together today and we just ordered my Christmas or some of it anyway!

When I retire I'll buy metals as I do prefer them but when it comes to my kids and wives pockets for the amount of cavalry, I went onto warlord games this morning and bought, 5 Boxes of line lancers, 3 Boxes of Hussars, and 3 Boxes of Chasseurs a Cheval, and a cheeky box of AWI British line, just for a change. I shall post some units up later of my infantry when my daughter gets home!

Thanks

Lord Zippy

[aphillathehun]

Thank you for all your comments.

Well my kids and wife, came together today and we just ordered my Christmas or some of it anyway!

When I retire I'll buy metals as I do prefer them but when it comes to my kids and wives pockets for the amount of cavalry, I went onto warlord games this morning and bought, 5 Boxes of line lancers, 3 Boxes of Hussars, and 3 Boxes of Chasseurs a Cheval, and a cheeky box of AWI British line, just for a change. I shall post some units up later of my infantry when my daughter gets home!

Thanks

Lord Zippy

Whoa!  Lord Zippy is on Santa's "good" list I see!  Look forward to seeing them all.

[Captain Blood]

Plastic is more fun  

It is, as so many have already said, really down to personal taste. There's no right answer.
I do both metal and plastic, all the time. Probably about 50:50. I don't really care about the medium to be honest - it's whether I like the figures or not.

I think if you just love metal figures and don't get on with plastics, or somehow regard them as 'not proper' that's down to personal preference, so fair enough.
I do think there are a few slightly odd prejudices and misconceptions sometimes offered up to justify this plastic-aversion however...

1. 'Plastics are more fragile'.
Not in my experience. Clearly plastic is not as hard as metal - that's undeniable. But I can honestly say I have a LOT of plastic figures and I haven't broken a single lance, sword, spear or bow yet. (I did break a bayonet on one a while ago). On the other hand I've plenty of metal figures with broken spears or lances. When you drop a plastic figure on the floor it's lighter and tends to bounce. I have a large WOTR army that's 90% plastic. I've used it in many games. It hasn't suffered in any way, any more than the metals. If a figure is properly painted, based and varnished, it will survive reasonable handling whatever material it's made from.
But then, to be fair, I am super-fastidious with my figures. I don't let people bash them around - or play with greasy, post-pizza fingers!  

2. 'Plastics are a pain in the arse to put together'.
Well, only if you regard putting them together as a pain in the arse. Personally I find assembling plastic figures a joy, just the same as building an AFV kit. It's an enjoyable, creative process - especially if you get into making original creations from plastic parts.
What I do find a soul-destroying, time-consuming, unrewarding pain in the arse, is receiving an order of metal figures, which all too often require hours of cleaning up, scraping, filing and Dremelling to get rid of excess flash, mould lines and other common casting aberrations. And sometimes are not actually recoverable, unless you're prepared to put up with a misshapen face or mitt. Desperate to get your figures on the table fast? Properly cleaning metals is far more time-consuming than assembling plastic figures, and a lot less enjoyable... For me, anyway.

3. 'Plastics have no 'heft' and feel insubstantial'
Well I mount all my figures on metal washers with a shitload of basing texture on top of that. Once weighted in this way, it's honestly quite difficult to tell the difference. And any risk of plastic figures blowing over in a sudden gust of wind, or failing to stand up on model slopes is removed.
I stress, I don't do this to compensate for the relative lightness of plastics - I treat all my figures in the same way...

For me, the real issue with plastics is that the standards are so very, disappointingly variable. Some are simply brilliant. Others are pretty poor. But then that's the case with metals too...

[Phil Robinson]

A reasonable appraisal well put, said Richard. I prefer metal, but the Perry's medieval stuff is so good, how can you not

[Timmo]

What I do find a soul-destroying, time-consuming, unrewarding pain in the arse, is receiving an order of metal figures, which all too often require hours of cleaning up, scraping, filing and Dremelling to get rid of excess flash, mould lines and other common casting aberrations. And sometimes are not actually recoverable, unless you're prepared to put up with a misshapen face or mitt. Desperate to get your figures on the table fast? Properly cleaning metals is far more time-consuming than assembling plastic figures, and a lot less enjoyable... For me, anyway.

It very much depends on which metals you are buying. I've found AB and Fife & Drum need next to no clean up at all in many cases. Recent Foundry figures have been very good as well. Perry less so but they are one, if not the cheapest, producer of metals so I guess the price of that is less good casting quality. Some plastics still have mould lines to clean up.

[noigrim]

Plastic, both cheaper and lighter

maybe lead for those charactherful civilians and genrals

[petercooman123]

Thank you for all your comments.

Well my kids and wife, came together today and we just ordered my Christmas or some of it anyway!

When I retire I'll buy metals as I do prefer them but when it comes to my kids and wives pockets for the amount of cavalry, I went onto warlord games this morning and bought, 5 Boxes of line lancers, 3 Boxes of Hussars, and 3 Boxes of Chasseurs a Cheval, and a cheeky box of AWI British line, just for a change. I shall post some units up later of my infantry when my daughter gets home!

Thanks

Lord Zippy

Good stuff, i just got mine from the courier today!

[Lord Zippy]

I can see myself having sleepless nights painting horses and horses.

Another wee question!

Artillery plastic or metal?

[Leapsnbounds]

Metal for me.  Its the heft and weight that make the figures game pieces and not "just a toy" to quote Woody.

[petercooman123]

I can see myself having sleepless nights painting horses and horses.

Another wee question!

Artillery plastic or metal?

I think i'll go with victrx cannond for my batteries...

[FierceKitty]

Yup doing an ACW army myself and with mainly plastics and can say it is the only way to go for big forces unless you have deep pockets. I would mix in the odd metal leader etc for a bit of variety and such. Perry are masters for this.

On horses (which I hate painting) I glue the rider to the horse as saves a lot of hassle and if you can`t see if when the rider is on it, you don`t have to paint it and saves a little time and trouble 

I'm not a rich man, but I've just finished a couple of armies for the War of Northern Aggression, some fourteen units a side, and every man jack of them in metal. 10mm is the solution to many problems.