28mm chunky or slim proportions?

[Connectamabob]

I have a few figures that are of the ultra-realistic willowy sort, and I'd agree they're mostly display oriented and not well suited to gaming. Also they can be very fussy to clean, as the same depth of seam offset can "bite" a lot deeper into the shapes/details, relatively speaking, so you have to be a lot more meticulous and thoughtful to avoid ruining the sculpting.

On the other hand, I avoid stocky figures almost like they were diseased. It almost always goes hand in hand with sloppily rendered detail and bizarrely bad proportions, and is ultimately completely unnecessary for it's alleged purpose (see below), so I just regard it as "bad sculpting" rather than an actual style.

Hasslefree's been mentioned, and I'd agree that that style hits the "best of both worlds" pretty nicely. It's just toned down enough in all the right ways/places to feel realistic (even if it technically isn't), but without making the figure fragile. As important is the way detail is handled: really fine, dense detail looks nice, but doesn't survive casting as reliably, and can require more complex painting to achieve the same level of quality or (paradoxically) realism in the result. I like how Kev White triages detail, giving you good, natural-looking broad strokes to build on, but without getting either too dense or too oversimplified/blocky.

[former user]

I have to agree with the first part - nothing ruins a sculpt more than bad anatomy in proportions and dynamics, no matter of the actual stocky/willowy variation. it is really bad sculpting

that kind of miniatures should really disappear from the market, they are sucking up resources

[FramFramson]

They're fading away given the huge surge in quality of sculpting, but they're still there, hanging around the edges.

Usually they fill a narrow niche that no one else is sculpting for though.

[former user]

yes, but do they really sell? is it worth it for the producer that they bind funds for the moulds? or are they just old and the moulds as well because they were used so rarely?
there will probably be a time when they are so worn that the range will gradually fade out and never be renewed again?

[Mick_in_Switzerland]

From my observations and (significant) purchases over the past few years, the current trend is for good anatomic proportions and realistic sized hands and weapons.

Good examples

Perry War of the Roses and European Armies (I have painted about 300 Perry medievals in the past three years)
Steel Fist Miniatures have excellent medievals and samurai.
Empress Moderns (I have a lot of these - probably about 120).
Spectre have followed Empress for styling in Moderns (I am waiting for 57 to arrive) 
Hasslefree are also quite slim anatomic proportions but they do often have fantasy sized weapons.
Mutton Chop WW1 German and British.

Mick

[The Gray Ghost]

I have a fondness for the cartoony style for non series games.
Overall, anymore I prefer the chunky style.

[former user]

I am not certain what the "trend" actually is.
it is remarkable that the overproportioned style sees a constant demand. the small companies that make those are not ceasing to exist.

I would not necessarily regard the flooding of the market with historical sets in plastic (those with the proportions closer to nature) as a trend of the customer side, more as an attempt to control market shares...

[westwaller]

Character but not gurning, I like different styles of miniatures as long as they look like the adults they represent and don't have giant heads but I like the 'feel' of the historical period to be right.

So I like both the Perry and the Bicorne/Renegade Ecw for example even if they can't be used together. I do also have an aversion to really oversized hands, but small willowy ones (Warlord Ecw I'm looking at you) are also a pain to paint!

[Alan maguire]

Easy to paint 

This usually implies chunky as the details are less refined but some of the slimmer figures out there can be a joy to paint.

cheers

James

Yeah good point james, although some of the plastics i find are rather frustrating to paint so finding that balance is very welcome .

[Alan maguire]

It dpends on level of handling.

If it's primarily for display then go for true proportion.

If it's for use as a gaming piece then the more solid figure will absorb handling better

For example, I have a whole bunch of brand new Blazeaway Tuareg camels that will have to be pinned because their legs are too spindly (accurate) for repeated handling.

Also, the caster can sometimes put too much pressure on the mold and it can flatten and become even more fragile. This is more critical in the "true proportion" figure.

I've never had a problem with Bob Murch's stuff.

I have never seen any of Bob Murch's stuff but will check them out. thanks for the input

[Alan maguire]

You know that doesn't so much bother me as height. I'm far too insane about scale when it comes to mixing & matching...but that said I think chunky are a little more fun to paint.

They are much more fun to paint and alot more easy to paint aswell which is cool, and as for height theres Different heights out there that are sold as 28mm scale, some are 29mm to the eye, 28mm to the eye, 30mm to top of head from sole of foot so what is a true 28mm scale figure? 1/56?
thanks for the input!

[Alan maguire]

Neither one nor the other.

I say "cartoony". Which is something in between. Think Hasslefree. That's my prefered style.

I agree hasslefree have a lot of great sculpts with great proportions.

Thanks for your input!

[Alan maguire]

Probably on the slimmer side for me - kind of Perry's or Paul Hicks is my own perfect proportion. Dark Sword are probably a bit too slim for my preference and Warlord's plastics too cartoony.

Perrys are very well sculpted but painting them can be so frustrating, atleast for me. Paul hicks are a happy medium i think.

Thanks for your input!

[Alan maguire]

I'm a Front Rank,Artizan,Copplestone type guy myself.

I like Hicks of the slimmer sculpters the best.I think he is the best compromise of them actually.Easy to paint and fit with either.

Heresy to some but really dislike painting(and prepping) Perry.
Ditto some of the new Warlord WW2.



 

Not ever had any of these apart from front rank which were ok to paint but totaly agree with you on painting perrys! glad its not just me!
Thanks for your input!

[Alan maguire]

why is this important?

I have my own sculpting style that im happy with and

im just intrested in what your opions are with regards to proportions.

Thanks for your input!