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Hi Dark Art guy,

You quoted me, and I did ask for Sci-Fi stuff, so I feel I owe you a response.

As I'm sure you're aware, a lot of miniature collectors have material preferences, and sometimes these preferences seem so ironclad that it almost feels like people are discussing religious differences.

This can tie into age differences. Some of us began this hobby when everything was in metal, and we have nostalgia for it. Some of us got into it when polystyrene plastic was the norm, and don't like having to do the extra work involved in prepping anything else.

Some people hate metal. Some people can't stand PVC. I'm one of the odd ones who doesn't like resin. It captures detail better than anything else, but it's the least durable of materials, and the most apt to break at vulnerable points. Frankly, resin just ends up making me nervous that it'll fall off the table, so I generally avoid it. Frankly, that puts me on the "losing" side, given that the cost of metal is driving more companies to resin and 3-D printing. Given the fact that there are still millions of older metal casts out there and my budget is finite anyway, though, it doesn't really affect me. From the "pile of shame" perspective - which, of course, no one follows, including me - I should never buy another miniature as it is.

From a producer's point of view, this isn't a game you can win. Whatever medium you choose to cast a model in, some people will be thrilled, and other people won't even consider it. You and all other miniature producers, especially smaller companies, have my sympathies there. But collectors, however odd their tastes and quirks may be, have to follow them, because there's no other reason to be in this hobby.

Long story short, I'm sorry that I won't be joining this particular kickstarter, as sci-fi is my bag, but resin isn't. If you ever decide to release these miniatures in metal versions, I'll pay attention, but I'm not asking you to do that. Because frankly, I have no understanding of what sells in this market beyond what I buy myself. My best bud on these forums, for example, is a really nice heretic who won't buy anything cast in metal.

Thanks for taking the time to reply, in the future we will be releasing some sci-fi stuff in metal, but for the larger pieces these will have to be done in resin as it costs to much to use and send metal in the post. I prefer casting metal models but I prefer to paint resin casts. -Byron