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Mario wrote:
If I remember correctly 15 years ago they were already near $1000 (for freelance sculptors) for a 28/30 mm miniature (including production rights).

~$10-$15 per mm is pretty much the standard rate we've been paying sculptors for the last 6 years.

 Swastakowey wrote:
If you must ask I am making my own Fantasy Naval Miniature Game but it's 28mm scale.

28mm Ships are going to be ridiculously expensive, and likely unprofitable.

 Cyporiean wrote:

 Swastakowey wrote:
If you must ask I am making my own Fantasy Naval Miniature Game but it's 28mm scale.

28mm Ships are going to be ridiculously expensive, and likely unprofitable.

I have a plan. It's going through some tests right now. Im not insane enough to get huge ships like that sculpted.

 Swastakowey wrote:
Say I wanting a model not on the market. How do I do it?

I go to a designer to put my ideas on to paper.
Then to a sculptor to turn the image into a model.
Go to a caster and get a quote.
Done?

Obviously quantities matter I assume. What companies even create molds for this sort of thing?

That all depends, We try to do most things ourselves, and getting a product to sale for us usually is between $20-$50. That is creation of the moulds and everything.

As for having people do the work in regards to designing we have worked with people where it will cost $500+ dollars for the design and to be 3d printed. We have others where all the designer and sculptor wants for payment is 5 or so of the items when we have finished casting them.

How easy is it to set up self casting?

 Swastakowey wrote:
How easy is it to set up self casting?

That would depend on the material. Resin would be easy, metal a bit more expensive.

I run Ramshackle Games. I charge £100 per figure. I have done a fair amount of commission work. I am usually available to do some sculpts.

 Swastakowey wrote:

 Cyporiean wrote:

 Swastakowey wrote:
If you must ask I am making my own Fantasy Naval Miniature Game but it's 28mm scale.

28mm Ships are going to be ridiculously expensive, and likely unprofitable.

I have a plan. It's going through some tests right now. Im not insane enough to get huge ships like that sculpted.

An idea of 28mm ships and their costs in case you weren't aware;

http://ainstycastings.co.uk/index.php/cPath/63/osCsid/d118d1d07a44289a42f665682e87d439
Accessories/terrain.
http://ainstycastings.co.uk/index.php/cPath/48/osCsid/d118d1d07a44289a42f665682e87d439

28mm ships sounds bananas to me, personally. But who knows?

If you do them in metal, they will be far too heavy and far too expensive. There's also plenty of cheap options that look really good, but you have probably already thought about that.

Spin casting is actually pretty easy, but you have to have the grit to make something with your hands.

Resin casting is really easy to get into, but is more fiddley. I ing hate resin casting. I don't like mixing things, I don't like harsh chemicals, I don't like drippy, spilly messes. Big fething hassle.

But you can do it with some OOMOO 30 and a mold box built out of scraps. Plus, there's lots of resources for learning how to do gravity cast resin.

There's far, far fewer resources for learning how to do spin casting.

One problem you will have with making resin ships, depending on the size, is mould life and the high retail cost.

Britannia Miniatures did a range of 28mm Napoleonic ships, and due to the size, the mould would only cast very few pieces before being utterly ruined and a new mould required.

So not only do you have the cost of resin, but you also have the cost of rubber for replacing moulds which will have a short lifespan if casting something huge.

I think their ships retailed for between £85 to £120 depending on size.

Yea with MDF sheets mold, weight and longevity will never be an issue. Plus there are plenty of local options for that here. I have seen some very cool home made laser cut MDF ships out there.

It does sound crazy... but it will most definitely work. It won't cost an arm or a leg for a Fantasy Galley at 30-40cm in MDF for this.

I do appreciate the links and info though guys.