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Hi,

i have been a sculptor for a few years and a avid wargammer for over 15 years and was wondering what the market was like for decent resin cast bases and terrain features, i have extra time and was considering opening up a small side buisness. is there a market these days? is it too flooded? what do you guys think?

I know there are several companies out there making nice ones, but have just seen them in passing; haven't bought a bunch myself.

The resin base market is flooded. I can think of at least a dozen companies making bases. Its just so easy to make resin bases - and there is really only so much that can go on a 25mm base.

Terrain is also well represented, but the field has many more possibilities for types of kits and price points. I think someone with good sculpting/casting skills could still make money making terrain.

With resin bases, I never actively search for them online. Hell, I've never bought resin bases online. I love them, I really do, but I always just buy whatever's being sold in my LGS at the time.

I think field for terrain pieces of the xeno variety, stuff that would look good accompanying Tau, Eldar, Dark Eldar, Necron, Orks and other stuff under-represented by GW could sell well, but they'd take a lot of work.

Generally speaking, the market is saturated. I was looking for resin bases the other day, and I could link to well over a dozen different sites.

Having said that, there could still be a market for niche ones, if the price is right. Ones that are themed to certain armies, like the new Dark Eldar, for example.

orklord91303 wrote:Hi,

i have been a sculptor for a few years and a avid wargammer for over 15 years and was wondering what the market was like for decent resin cast bases and terrain features, i have extra time and was considering opening up a small side buisness. is there a market these days? is it too flooded? what do you guys think?

depending on the quality, the market is hit or miss.

Great Quality, and more of a selection the skulls, brick roads, or potholed streets, and you might have a winner. Best ones I've seen were the ones designed specificly for the miniatures, so in an add on, a great resin miniature would go over better then a bunch of generaized resin bases.

Terrain features are another story. Great scenery sells itself, and even some classy looking 40K style boxes, bodybags, or even small odds and ends that people can use for objective markers wwould be the cats meow.

Price and competition is always a good thing for me when I want to go into a shop and spend me some hard earned coin. I, for one, am on the lookout for some great superhero terrain, such as park benches, dumpsters, desks, etc. in general, just scenery stuff that in comic book superhero terms can be used to throw at the bad guys or be used as objectives, scenery, or destroyed in games. ( I/E Pulp City)

As people above mention, resin bases are easily accessible via internet.

What I think you could find a nitich in, is if you are good buddies with a FLGS owner. Patron's tend to buy what's easily available, and in their budget. I don't mind spurlging for some nice bases. Depending what price you could offer, you may luck out that a few guys are willing to buy enough to cover a army.

In longevity though, you may run into problems as there are so many good how to make scenic bases and magnetize them.

Thanks for the feedback guys. i do apreciate it. as i have said before that this would be a side hobby out of my house with just the help of a few freinds that have been doing this a while for themselves as well. i was thinking over the next few weeks getting some prototypes together and posting pictures for you guys and asking your critiques on them as maybe developing the lines this way, would you guys mind taking a look at them as there developed and giving me your input on them?


ohh and as for flames of war, is there a lot of companies doing terrain for that game?