Thank you for the feedback guys! I highly encourage critisism as well, it can only make the future product better and dont worry about hurting my feelings. Being able to take and analyze feedback is part of the graphic designer’s job description. So no sensitive artiste here
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I wish to address some of the points made in order to shed some more light.
Size/ProportionsComing from a scale modelling background (plus an artistic one involving drawing/painting), I always hated with passion the squated dwarf like anatomy of the classic tabletop minis. I understand that the style became an industry standard and most professional sculptors cater to this classic look. Personally I like minis that try to stay closer to a more realistic anatomy.
An average man anatomically is about 6,5 heads tall and if we are aiming for a super heroic anatomy we are going into the 8 head high territory. The stubby style minis are in the area of 4 heads high. If you take a look at the pic Jjonas posted you will realize that the heads of the shorter minis would easily fit Talos miniatures and some of them would even probably be on the big side. The same goes for the arms and torsos.
So my aim was to create basically wha was not available for me to buy as a hobbyist/customer. Historically accurate hoplites with more or less ‘‘correct’’ proportions. I wanted minis that if we could only see a silouette or shadow of them, they would look like men, not hobbits
I based the minis height on two metallic Footsore ones for Mortal Gods by Stavros Zouliatis. Stavros actually is a friend of my brother and he was kind enough to share some insight on the armature construction. Prior to these minis I had done some conversions of Perry War of the Roses, a Burgundian in romanesque armour based on a Perry mini understructure and a Byzantine cataphract. So these 5, were practically my first minis sculpted from the ground up. 2 of them, Kallimachos and Aristodemos, are abit taller but imo they fit in due to their proportions as taller men. To be completely honest I was in a state of ‘’Look mom I made a mini’’
so I wasnt going to risk cutting them down and destroying them for 2 extra mm, especially when even victrix is not consistent among its plastics.
The baseThe base adds to the height effect. Also if you notice I raised the minis just abit off the ground level for two reasons.
A) To be able to easily saw off the base if you want. B)If you decide to keep it to accomodate for basing materials without making the foot look as if it sinks in mud.
Initially The minis were intended to come with an intergrated thin 25mm round base with sculpted texture ready for painting. After doing a first run, I realised why 9 out of 10 companies do not do it
. Its a packaging nightmare and its difficult to cast. The base doubles basically as a pouring funnel. So the resin as it sets will sink abit and possible air bubbles will end up going up at the bottom of the base. Imaging having to set miniatures aside as miscasts because of a friggin base..
The DoryI was really puzzled with the dory production wise. One option was to have open hands and not provide a spear. I dont like that as a customer and I guess nobody else does. Plus these open hands usually are crudely made because fingers are a casting nightmare (as I also found out after an experiment). Then there was the option of these standard steel spears. I dont like the way they look, I would have to buy them from a third party overseas adding to waiting time and expenses, AND I DONT LIKE THEM
. There was a thought of providing my version of proper metallic spears out of copper wire but logic prevailed
. Then I thought of casting a spearhead and sauroter out of resin and provide a rod. But all this drilling would be something that most people would like to avoid.
So I went with the soundest solution. A thicker Dory to withstand breaking and bending. Actually its quite strong. In the ones that I assembled I put a small pin for extra extra safety and you can easily lift the mini by the spear without breaking. Even the ones that fell over or other minis fell over them in the box that i keep them, held up. Now IT IS resin and there is only so much strenght to it.
I recognise a mistake I made. I was aiming for accuracy and made the proper length of a dory. Its one of the times that I need someone over my head to scream ‘’ You are not making scale models you idiot!!!’’
. I should keep it at the same length with the Victrix ones. If somebody wants to shorten it down its a quite easy conversion with a small drill and a pin to connect the pieces again. But I should have foreseen it that people would like it not to stand out so much even if its accurate.
Lessons Learned, Things to improve, Things to comeMolding and casting my sculpts by myself, was a pain at many points, as I had to test different brands of material and methods in order to find out what works for me. But it also gave me a small degree of understanding of the technical aspect and control on the product. There is a reason why most manufacturers instruct their sculptors to keep their figures within the limits of one plane and limit protruding details and undercuts. While Im not willing to give up more ‘‘vivid’’ poses even if its way harder to cast, at least now I know where to cut the minis and the optimal way to do it.
On the next figures I wish to improve upon the ease of assembly so even novices can do it as fast and easy as possible given the material and detailed small parts. Also I wish to bring the scale down just a tiny bit, so the rank and file units Im currently making fit better with Victrix plastics. Im not going to distort the proportions just make the guys abit shorter. Victrix basically have no neck and they are clipping away 2-3mm from the thighs, if you add these back they will be as tall as mine.
I also aim for making some extra pair of hands, that will make the next 5 minis, even more able for variations and kitbashes, combined with the head sets. If all goes well, you will be able to assemble a formidable phalanx that will look like a miniature McBride or Connoly illustration. Dont hesitate to post any ideas.
@Jjonas
Cant wait to see Talos minis posted in your site!
@Tonhel
I love the vivid color schemes!!
@Muzfish4
Extra thanks for mentioning the box. There is not a readily available box that could follow the postal service guidelines (if you dont want the shipping to skyrocket) and accomodate in the safest possible way the minis. Due to the lock down I couldnt custom order boxes because the packaging companies are either closed down or do not deliver to the location I am (my country side residence out of Athens). So... yeah I had to make them myself. At least in that way I ensured that they are postal service proof
Thank you all again