Messages

1

General Discussions / Re: Life in plastic, it’s fantastic!

« on: October 21, 2018, 05:08:32 am »

Thanks for the responses all. Of course plastic is a personal choice for me but I understand others may  be not so fussed. I do take onboard the mould cost point, just a shame there is no way of getting this cost down..

Could figures be done in resin, that Waffentrager does look quite crisp but could the resin pick out the detail on miniatures, I could live with resin more than pewter.

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General Discussions / Re: German Panzer Crew Typo on Box!

« on: October 21, 2018, 04:59:30 am »

The ones that are shipping don’t have the typo.

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General Discussions / Life in plastic, it’s fantastic!

« on: October 18, 2018, 08:14:34 pm »

Hi Rubicon,

Firstly just want to say loving the stuff you produce and what’s in the pipeline.

My one request would be could you move to 100% plastic. Hands up I am not a manufacturing specialist and I am sure there are good monetary reasons for using Pewter/Resin but I just hate these materials. Yup I know it’s a selfish request and I am also sure there are others who are fine with these materials, I just won’t buy models made in them though.

Hopefully you have a long term plan to move your entire range to plastic.

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Work In Progress / Re: The Panzer IV Digital Library - Eye Candy - 170623

« on: July 13, 2017, 02:48:59 am »

Got to call it how I see it and not a fan of mixed material, much prefer the skirts were in plastic.

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General Discussions / Re: Q2/17 New Releases - Final Two! 170523

« on: May 31, 2017, 05:11:04 am »

Thanks for some of the insight guys and all points are well met and respected.

Would still hope Rubicon would stick with plastic for everything though

Maybe they could use Kickstarter to bring some tanks to plastic life quicker? Sure if they did a Sherman V/Firefly kit or a Churchill kit they would both be successful if promoted correctly. Would maybe take some of the design/production expense away from their cashflow and allow them to bring some tanks to their range quicker, may even work for Infantry sets if they get to that point. How much would the design/production of say a Sherman V/Firefly kit cost. Would be interesting to know as I am not in the know. Would then allow you to work out the amount of backers required and pledge level. Maybe as bonus targets they could have 4 crew (possibly 2 for tank & 2 standing) and then maybe a Allied stowage set 2? Plenty of possibilities if it was well backed. Say for example it cost 50k then you would only need 1700 backers at £30 to make it work, surely the global community would have this amount of backers. Anything over this would be bonus territory i.e maybe 2000 backers you got the crew and 2500 you got the stowage set. The 30 quid spent would then be great value. Anyway just throwing it out there, doesn't have to be the Sherman V or Churchill, may work for other tanks/kits, Tiger 2 may be another good candidate.

I see numerous companies using kickstarter on the DakkaDakka.com forum under news and rumours but Mantic sticks out as a prolific user of Kickstarter to achieve their aims. No reason why Rubicon couldn't, they just need to come with the right offering. This could even be an equipment/terrain offer, doesn't have to be vehicles. Mantic did an interesting one on plastic dungeon terrain recently (see link below) and no reason a WWII couldn't be done?

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1744629938/terraincrate-plastic-affordable-fantasy-terrain?ref=hero_thanks

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Wish Lists / Re: British Tanks? What British Tanks?

« on: May 31, 2017, 04:58:43 am »

I am surprised you did not have the Dingo on your list (I assume you mean the big Armoured Cars from Daimler and Number).

I am surprised at the Matilda 2 being last on your list.

Yeah chuck the Dingo in there as well forgot that one.

The Matilda is just from playing too much World of Tanks LOL. Pea shooter for a gun but so much fun, especially if you have the odd splurge on premium rounds for it. Also remember it from Commando comics when I was a lot younger.

All the rest on that list I would love to see but understand they may not be at the top of Rubicon's priorities at the moment. Speaking of World of Tanks theirs another partnership Italeari have.

Saw your Sherman post, hence why would love to see a Sherman V. The Sexton I think would be a good little model, has anyone else done it in plastic?

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General Discussions / Re: Q2/17 New Releases - Final Two! 170523

« on: May 28, 2017, 09:52:08 pm »

Cannot agree about metal vs plastic being better, my experience has been the opposite and since advancements in plastic moulding the detail and poses are right up there now and easily supercede their metal or resin counterparts. As for breakage, none of my plastic 40k minis have ever broken anything on a drop, which wasn't the case on the metal ones I had prior, the slightest drop or knock on a thin extremity usually resulting on it bending badly or snapping off. I don't think GW would have gone down the plastic route (or any of the main minis producers for that matter) if there wasn't demand or indeed it was the better long term material for gamers or the company concerned. Customisation options are also way higher on plastic. Still I understand some may prefer metal for their own reasons/preference. Personally I think any minis company who produces all their range in plastic is a serious player in the market. The others can ignore it but like any company who ignores or resists change to market requirements, it usually ends in their demise, especially when a serious disruptor enters the same market offering a stronger product suite.

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Wish Lists / Re: Infantry Kits

« on: May 28, 2017, 09:45:48 pm »

I get there is still plenty to do for Rubicon and yes there is gaps to fill. I suppose you could argue they could target the N.Africa infantry?

I actually think if they do produce infantry sets, do what will sell more i.e. Grenadiers, Para's, 101st etc first.

Maybe at this point competing with Warlord is not the primary focus but at some stage it will get to that. When that stage is commercially viable as a strategy I guess only Rubicon will know. Once this happens it will be an interesting dilemma. Warlord will have the game system/IP and Rubicon will have all the product to support the game in plastic. The market will dictate which producers kits/units product are more popular.

I think once people break through the romanticism of metal and see plastics multiple benefits they don't look back.

One thing Rubicon could do quite easily in the near future is offer head replacement sprues. I am not keen on the Italeari/Warlord ones although I quite like the rest of the model.

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Wish Lists / Re: Infantry Kits

« on: May 27, 2017, 08:42:40 pm »

Understood regarding Warlord/Italeari.

I have looked at the thread with the crews in but that seemed more crew/tank extras orientated so thought why not start this one just on the infantry sets topic.

I feel once Rubicon have produced the Marder & Kubewagen for the Germans and re-release the Panzer IV kit, the Germans are pretty much fleshed out. Rubicon should then be looking at the Brits more seriously as well as filling out the USA line.

I think once the Brits have 5-6 tanks/vehicles and the USA has 2-3 more they should then be looking at the infantry sets as their next serious proposition, still it doesn't hurt for Rubicon to start getting some ideas down on what these sets could look like. At best I assume this time frame is at least a year out.

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Wish Lists / Re: British Tanks? What British Tanks?

« on: May 27, 2017, 08:30:47 pm »

Well I would like all of the below and probably in this order.

01. Sherman V/Firefly kit.
02. Sexton.
03. Universal Carrier.
04. Humber/Daimler.
05. Churchill.
06. Cromwell.
07. Another truck variant to CMP.
08. Archer.
09. Valentine.
10. Matilda.

Sexton would be great as would be good proxy tank for Priest in Bolt Action. The Valentine could also double as a Soviet tank.

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Wish Lists / Infantry Kits

« on: May 27, 2017, 06:38:11 am »

I totally accept these may not be a priority right now with so much armour etc to be done but I thought it would be an interesting topic and something definitely on my wish list, even though they may be a while out yet.

So why the post? I thought it may be useful for Rubicon to have some thoughts on the topic and maybe what format people would like these kits to come in. My thoughts are in the points below.

1. Definitely go down the plastic route, would be a mistake to look at any other material in my opinion.
2. Present them like Italeari's as multi part kits just maybe different in composition, size of box.
3. Have more body poses. Italeari seem to be going down the six torso route but I think 8 would be better. Should include one torso for the following - prone/laying down, kneeling/shooting, guard stance/upright & one for the classic standing aimed shot. The other 4 could be more dynamic, hip firing, running etc. I think having the 8 torsos would allow for more variation and a more compelling offering/variety mix.
4. Include as many extra's as viable like LMG's, sub's, Bino's, pouches, radios (something missing from Italeari's) etc and make arms and legs as interchangeable as possible.
5. While it's nice to have some arms attached to weapons for a simpler build (aimed rifles etc) on some models it's nice to have separate arms for variation/dynamic poses etc.
6. As there would maybe be more torsos just have less overall figures in the box from a cost perspective, maybe 16 but put loads of extras in, maybe even an over sized box at a higher price point with 24 would work?
7. I think it's better to have the helmets/caps mainly moulded directly to the head with maybe a few helmet/capless heads with some headgear options but certainly not all.
8. On the heads subject I would suggest at least 12 options (8 helmets/caps moulded as one and 4 not).
9. Put a painting colour guide in and maybe even some basic build instructions/suggestions for those who don't want to think to hard.
10. Definitely produce them in a lighter colour plastic to your tanks similar to Warlords/Italeari (think this for your tanks as well).

So which units/forces should you look at first? Personally I would love for British Para's and German Grenadiers to come first. Why? I just love a Bridge to Far Then followed up by US Airborne and British Infantry and general German Heer. I totally accept this won't be everyone's preference, just mine in my post but respect others may have different opinion/requirements.

With all the crew figures you have on route I am guessing at some stage you will be getting on to full blown infantry sets so it would be interesting to hear Rubicon's thoughts/plans on this as well as other members. Naturally I would love HQ and support sets to follow and actually maybe these are the ones you should target first. Why? Because plastic sets of these don't already exist, haha now I am scuppering my infantry sets wish but there you go.

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Wish Lists / Re: Daimler Armoured Car

« on: May 27, 2017, 05:05:42 am »

Yes to British armoured cars please inc  Daimlers, Humber & with variants if possible.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Humber_Mk_4_Armoured_Car.jpg

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General Discussions / Re: Q2/17 New Releases - Final Two! 170523

« on: May 24, 2017, 01:09:47 am »

Thanks for the heads up UVSmurf, was hoping there may be some concept sprue pictures, Russian aren't my thing but will be interesting to see what comes for the Brit's and Germans. Good to see they have the Firefly in hand.

Is everyone assuming the infantry will be plastic? :p

I was LOL, think it would be a mistake if not.

My issue with Rubicon figures so far is the plastic, which makes the detail look soft (the dark colour is also harder to work with).  It's also harder to convert than the soft plastic that Warlord uses.  I'd really like Rubicon to use a lighter coloured, softer plastic for their figures.

I was hoping they would be the same material as the Warlord ones, not just for the reasons you mention but also because I find it easier to see lighter material. Hopefully it's not that brittle plastic why have they chosen this material? moulds, cost or some other limitation/design reason. Cost definitely shouldn't be a reason.

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General Discussions / Re: Q2/17 New Releases - Two more! 170521

« on: May 23, 2017, 06:02:57 am »

Very nice indeed, especially liking the Brit Jeep, it will go nicely with the plastic British Airborne infantry recently released by another company. SdKfz 250/251 also catches my eye, just so iconic.

On the subject of infantry. On Dakka Dakka someone mentioned you had plastic infantry in the pipeline. Is this true and if so? Do you have any concept artwork/design you can share and which nations armies are you looking at first, hopefully all of them all at once LOL.

Would also really love to see a Brit Sherman V / Firefly kit as well as a Universal Carrier.

Keep up the great work!