The Range is Hot! Please see page 13 for quick straw poll.

[carlos marighela]

They're not quite Empress or Eureka from the pics, this is true.

Masterful understatement.  I doff my hat to you sir  . 

In all seriousness, to each their own.  If they float your boat, more power to you. They just don't do it for me.  It doesn't help that his painting skills aren't too flash, the African figures all look like his painting references were some kind of Jim Crow era minstrel show. Leaving that aside you get bizarre poses like the Iraqi Army dance troupe, really badly sculpted weapons and some of the worst faces I've seen on a mini in ages. Strangely enough his vehicles look quite good.

If only these were as good as some of the toys available in the 1980s.

[peachy rex]

Well, I was attempting to be polite. I'm actually a bit of a figure snob - all of my ultramoderns are in fact Empress & Eureka. 

(Incidentally, and without naming names, there are other companies whose vehicles are significantly better than their figures.)

[Arlequín]

I'm a lot of a figure snob... unbelievably so... but we're drifting off topic, which is Arget8's request for options. 

[arget8]

Those minis are not the style of minis that I want to produce. My goal is to make them as close to Empress and Eureka as possible as I feel they are the best infantry in the business. Speaking of Empress and Eureka, does anyone know how to contact Tony Boustead or Costa Herko besides Facebook?

Gunnar

[peachy rex]

Kosta has a blog - infrequently updated, alas - at flyinggorilla.blogspot.com.au

One idea might be to "fill the gaps" in existing ranges that probably aren't going to be expanded. For example, the Eureka Germans went into production around '07, so they're missing some of the newest Bundeswehr kit - it's a very nice range as is, but it would be considerably more useful for contemporary conflicts with MG4, AG36 and HK417-armed figs. (And it seems to me that such an approach would benefit the sales of both companies.)

[arget8]

I think I remember hearing that Empress have plans for Germans and French soon. I know they have been hinting at a big moderns project at the end of the year. My guess is Germans. I also don't want to make piecemeal ranges. I want to be able to make something along the lines of how Empress does their lines. You will have everything you need to build a platoon at the minimum.

Gunnar

[AzSteven]

Truly moderns I would definitely second or third the Strike Back cast request.

Less modern but still appropriate - I would love to see 1960s-70s SAC elite guards in berets and class A uniforms, with scarfs, but in fighting poses.  From person experience I know those guys always had a full ammo loadout, and some of them were always loaded and locked.  Probably more of a Kiss Kiss Bang Bang request, but still...

[Redmao]

Truly moderns I would definitely second or third the Strike Back cast request.

Less modern but still appropriate - I would love to see 1960s-70s SAC elite guards in berets and class A uniforms, with scarfs, but in fighting poses.  From person experience I know those guys always had a full ammo loadout, and some of them were always loaded and locked.  Probably more of a Kiss Kiss Bang Bang request, but still...

Hi Steven! Nice to see a fellow trencher around here.

[Arlequín]

I also don't want to make piecemeal ranges. I want to be able to make something along the lines of how Empress does their lines. You will have everything you need to build a platoon at the minimum.

... and that is where I think the bulk of figure ranges go wrong. They knock out a couple of packs of riflemen, which don't sell too good on their own and then don't produce any more 'because they aren't a seller'.

I can't speak for everyone, but when I buy figures, I buy a platoon's worth, along with their integral support. I've been burnt in the past, so if the range is not complete, I don't buy until it is. Needless to say I don't get to buy many.

So for me a 'completist' approach is a big plus. 

[Elk101]

... and that is where I think the bulk of figure ranges go wrong. They knock out a couple of packs of riflemen, which don't sell too good on their own and then don't produce any more 'because they aren't a seller'.

I can't speak for everyone, but when I buy figures, I buy a platoon's worth, along with their integral support. I've been burnt in the past, so if the range is not complete, I don't buy until it is. Needless to say I don't get to buy many.

So for me a 'completist' approach is a big plus. 

I'd agree with this. If it doesn't look like I can build the units I want through the main range or compatible ranges I'm unlikely to buy them.

[Arrigo]

Well,

considering the poor chaps who are putting the money upfront to the sculptors and caster you cannot always expect a full platoon from the start. And if you do not buy the first release I doubt they will pour more money in the second...

And we are asking always from quite specific subjects   (understatement).

Loom this way, someone here has asked for USMC in 2003 gear and MOPP suit but not masks. I know it is a legitimate request, but how many of those sets will be sold?

Yes you say kickstart them... well I am ambivalent on that. Kickstarter is potentially a dangerous route when you start to throw stretch goals at people. I realized I prefer a safe smaller range at start and support it with actual purchases, rather thank lofty stretch goals.

What I want in a range to consider it complete? Well a command pack, sufficient packs to do a full squad without wastage, support weapons that made sense. In 28mm I do not see the reason to have a TOW mount early on... or even mortars (I was calling for them by map coordinates, they are already cramped in 15mm... go figure in 28mm, it is interesting to see the note on IASBM where Rich suggest to keep the 81mm off table), thus usually short range ATGW or support weapons like LMGs and SMAWs, maybe a pack of special figures (these are usually nice to have). This is the  thing I expect from an initial release. Everything else is a plus.

If I have to patronize and lecture someone who is not one of my students... (and right now they are being told: you cannot go to Bovington until you finish the first draft of your dissertation...) I would say let's do the ROKA range.

ROKA: 1 pack of platoon command (CO, SGT, RTO, Medic), 2 Pack of 4 riflemen (plus SAW and one Pzf-3), 1 pack with sniper, LMG team, FO.  ATGM are TOW and Metlis-3 but well, in 28mm they off table... no need for mortars (off table assets, I prefer to have the FO).

As special stuff... maybe an M67 RCL (used by the reserve), squad leaders.

It is not a couple of riflemen packs, is not covering everything, you can start to play.

Arrigo



  

[carlos marighela]

Well put. Having enough types to make a platoon is essential.

The only thing I'd add is that either the range should complement an existing range of potential opponents or there should be a realistic prospect that the OPFOR will eventuate. All very well producing Tanzanians for the invasion of Uganda but unless the Ugandans, or suitable proxies already exist few enough people will take the punt before they see some opponents in the pipeline. That's one of the reasons I think a generic OPFOR range is a winner.

I'm not especially fond of Mike Broadbent's 28mm sculpts but the Krigespiel Musorians have allowed me to field Guineans/generic African regulars, Indonesians, Vietnamese, Egyptians and some Soviet era Afghan proxies.

[AlexM]

The no-mask thing was brought up for invasion of Iraq 2003 - they didn't wear the masks, an USMC and Army basically looked the same at that point in MOPP, just how you paint it, that's all - 3 colour desert vs woodland, coyote vests on the marines etc. There's plenty of Fedayeen types out there anyways. That's just my 2 cents

You're absolutely right, on both points above. There's partial ranges out there because having looked into it myself, getting 30 figures done, plus squash molds isn't cheap. That's before they're even cast, packaging, potential losses on shipping etc. If the initial figures don't sell that well, they don't even pay for themselves (which can take time anyways), and then you're out money, without any coming in. Larger companies that can do the molding and casting themselves don't have as much of a startup cash dump if they're already established.

I generally agree with everything that's been said...

[Elk101]

In order to get units on to the table they don't have to all be from the same range, as long as they look okay together I'm fine with mixing ranges. I've mixed Parkfield and Force of Arms quite happily for my Vietnam War collection. I know just how much it costs to get figures sculpted and cast!  I'm fine to wait for ranges to be developed if the mainstays are available from that range or a similarly sized range that visually works with that range. I think Empress does a very good job of covering the basics early on then adding to them.

[Arlequín]

considering the poor chaps who are putting the money upfront to the sculptors and caster you cannot always expect a full platoon from the start. And if you do not buy the first release I doubt they will pour more money in the second...

Do you buy a car a bit at a time? Or accept just the pastry and no filling, with the proviso that if the pastry sells well, the filling will follow? I'm sorry but as I said, I have had too many useless figures that never got the 'promised' support or command figures. I've done my share of funding half-completed ranges, feel free to pick up the torch.

I'm fine to wait for ranges to be developed if the mainstays are available from that range or a similarly sized range that visually works with that range. I think Empress does a very good job of covering the basics early on then adding to them.

Well a command pack, sufficient packs to do a full squad without wastage, support weapons that made sense. In 28mm I do not see the reason to have a TOW mount early on... or even mortars *snip* ... usually short range ATGW or support weapons like LMGs and SMAWs, maybe a pack of special figures (these are usually nice to have). This is the  thing I expect from an initial release. Everything else is a plus.

I don't ask for more than that myself, as Arrigo says... one section/squad's worth of figures including integral weapons, one command group and any integral platoon weapons, that works for me. Attached weapons and the other frills can come later. It is surprising how many ranges haven't managed to do that in the past.

Others bewilder me... a pack of four guys with LMGs, when few platoons have more than three, stuff like that which leaves you buying fifty figures when you only actually need forty.

Add in Carlos and Alex M's comments and you see a picture of what is the problem. Producing a range is not cheap, if you can't afford it don't do it. If you do, think about what is needed, rather than some half-assed and seemingly random mix of figures that require you to produce a ton of 'one-off' figures nobody wants more than one of, because they are in the same mould as some of the bread and butter types. 'Character' figures and command figures are always nice... but you will likely sell only one pack of them per customer... they should be in the same mould.  If you don't produce opponents for them, or nobody else does, how well will they sell?

This is one of the few occasions when a prospective manufacturer is sounding out his customers thoughts and opinions before he makes the range... make use of it and everybody wins (probably).