Best figures from the smallest company?

[Ramshackle_Curtis]

I agree with Wolfgangbrooks about what Angry Angel said. How can you tell what is a popular? I mean, we cant just start chruning out space marines can we?

Zombies, Germans with gas masks, D+D characters, they are popular, but there are also so many sculpts available that its pointless to try to do "me too" versions.

SO really, why the fuck is anybody even wasting thier time making figures for games? If it was all down to market forces and producing whats going to sell, scuplts of lady Dianna (before she died that is!) done in slip cast porcelain would sell by the bucket load. The only way  anyone is going to get enthusiastic about what they are doing is by being energetic and free in what they do. THat will be reflected in the final sculpts and in the end effect sales. 

Angry Angel is right about having a good marketting strategy, but its freaking hard work! Especially on a shoestring budget....

[wolfgangbrooks]

Commander Viper:"The zombie market hasn't been flooded, there are a lot of zombie figures out there, but the ratio of good sculpts to...well shite is about 4:1."

Yeah, but the problem is the crappy sculpts are often sold for less. And to many gamers (I would even go so far as to say most) price and quantity is more important to them than quality, especially with horde figures like zombies. Look at Black Orc's Mini Sculpt line; Hideous figures, but they wouldn't still be making them if they didn't turn a profit. And at a dollar a figure they have to be selling a couple hundred of each.

Gonk:"I think that will change once the Big Diver is available..."

Thanks for the vote of confidence. We've seen alot more interest since that's been up in our previews section. And the fighters seems to be shifting some stuff. We just had a two hundred dollar order of the fighter and a bunch of Ramshackle vehicles.

Now if we could only get three orders like that a day...well, there'd be alot of sculptors getting my money for sure.

Scurv: "Maybe those figures need to be balanced out with a bunch of core 'troops' that people will grab a minimum of a 'squads' worth of"

Trouble is finding the critical mass of squadie figures without breaking your sculpting budget.

[Orctrader]

Mmm.  If we are just talking Sci-Fi I'd have to agree with Hasslefree (love their Grymn) and EM4. 

[Commander Vyper]

Commander VYper:"The zombie market hasn't been flooded, there are a lot of zombie figures out there, but the ratio of good sculpts to...well shite is about 4:1."

Yeah, but the problem is the crappy sculpts are often sold for less. And to many gamers (I would even go so far as to say most) price and quantity is more important to them than quality, especially with horde figures like zombies. Look at Black Orc's Mini Sculpt line; Hideous figures, but they wouldn't still be making them if they didn't turn a profit. And at a dollar a figure they have to be selling a couple hundred of each.

Gonk:"I think that will change once the Big Diver is available..."

Thanks for the vote of confidence. We've seen alot more interest since that's been up in our previews section. And the fighters seems to be shifting some stuff. We just had a two hundred dollar order of the fighter and a bunch of Ramshackle vehicles.

Now if we could only get three orders like that a day...well, there'd be alot of sculptors getting my money for sure.

Scurv: "Maybe those figures need to be balanced out with a bunch of core 'troops' that people will grab a minimum of a 'squads' worth of"

Trouble is finding the critical mass of squadie figures without breaking your sculpting budget.

With A 'Y' you dolt!! 

(Take your point...ish. However I like my zeds with good levels of gooey detail so maybe I'm in the minority???)

The Commander

[wolfgangbrooks]

Commander Vyper:"With A 'Y' you dolt!! "

So noted.

Scurv:"8 figs to a squad is a good number in my book with one or 2 heavy weapons an NCO and a sniper rifle in the mix."

Sounds reasonable. Though I hope people don't get confused if I don't make NCO's as guys pointing off to the side, or with sword and pistol in a heroic pose.

[Unforgiven]

Pig Iron.

They arent THAT small. But compared to GW they are ..small.

I really like the heads they produce, their miniatures are also nice
Really love their vehicles!

[number9]

I'll toss GZG in the ring since it hasn't been mentioned yet. Other starship lines are cropping up, but I still think the price and quality of the newer Full Thrust stuff is top notch for the scale and genre. Also their 15mm lines for Stargrunt are very good, and keep growing.

The price point is right, the scale makes painting a lot of it a bit quicker, and from my experience the customer service from mail order direct has always been outstanding.

Hasslefree is great of course.
I also really like some of Comfy Chair's stuff too, but they've been a bit quiet lately in regards to their main SpineSpur line. Their orphans, thugs, clown, and chainsaw maniac are all quite nice, and somewhat unique while remaining somewhat generic.

[supervike]

I'll put my two cents in for Alpha Forge Games.  Great line of figures.

Wyrd is fantastic too, although the steampunk theme is not my cup of tea.

[wolfgangbrooks]

Since I've selfishly talked about myself so much I should probably nominate a couple.

Brigade Models, if just for their Aeronef line. Raven Star Studios, despite the fact that their kits need alot of work they are probably my favorite in terms of detail and execution. I wish he would do more of his 'own' stuff though if you catch my drift. Rebel Minis and Splintered Light, because they are really nice guys and produce neat stuff too.

And all the companies we carry; Hydra and Ramshackle in particular have been very eager and helpful. However, they've been great to work with.

[Commander Vyper]

Pig Iron.

They arent THAT small. But compared to GW they are ..small.

I really like the heads they produce, their miniatures are also nice
Really love their vehicles!

In fairness the guys and girls at pigiron as a very small operation with two miniature lines, with options and one vehicle with options.

They've succeeded by:

a) not spreading themselves too thinly
b) hitting a number of genres and gaming systems.
c) being reall useful in the bitz box department, (not blowing my own trumpet here but I suggested the separate head thing and pimped away on WIP (GW conversion site) for a long time).
d)  providing consistent complete forces.

Yup small but beautifully formed.

[Heldrak]

I second the emotion for Hasselfree and Hydra Miniatures 

Also, I think that Bob Murch's Pulp Figures is well-deserving of a mention in this context. In addition to providing excellent figures and quality customer service, Bob keeps the wheels turning with interesting new stuff at a fairly regular pace (you gotta love those recent Radon Zombies of the Ionosphere...!).

[itchy]

As a long  time wargamer  I try to spend my hard earned pounds on stuff i want and try to spread it around to a different company each month,there are a lot of lovely figures out there that i admire but do not have a use for .I personally think look at the figures and if you like them, can use them and afford them go for it. But for the record Hasslefree are great and Kev may well always be able to get a job anywhere but i know its great to have your own business and make it succeed,so thats not an excuse not to buy hasslefree lets try and suport all the manufacturers.

[stroblight]

I agree that there are a lot of great "small" companies out there to support.  I agree with the cheers for Hasslefree, Heresy, Wyrd, Zombiesmith, Recreational Conflict, and others that have already been mentioned.  Recently, I've been really impressed with orders I've received from Bronze Age Minis (beautiful space adventurers in great poses), Black Cat Bases (love the "Lost" figs...and they were extremely quick and generous in correcting a packing oversight), East Riding Minis (great Corporate line...just wish you could buy individuals from their Golgo Island line), and Khurasan Minis (great sculpts, full of character).

I also agree with the sentiment to buy what you like at the price you're willing to pay, but it is nice to help out the little guy while doing it!

[brigadegames]

Well I for one would love to have your support.

I am currently burning off a weeks vacation in Mississippi (1300 miles one way) picking up my molds and buying my ex-casters equipment since he decided to wig out on me in late December and quit the business with one week notice. The trip alone is costing me several thousand dollars let alone the cost to set up a casting operation and purchasing the equipment. I guess this is what those credit card checks are for 

http://www.brigadegames.com

So yes, any purchase would help us recover from this financial burden quicker.

Thanks in advance

Lon

[Orctrader]

Well I for one would love to have your support...
So yes, any purchase would help us recover from this financial burden quicker.
Thanks in advance
Lon

Hope it all works out.

Here's a reminder of how nicely your figures paint up.  (Sorry I don't have any Future Wars stuff.)



And Steve Dean has a whole gallery...

LINK