Anvil Industry- What should I work on first? Ideas and feedback for my release schedule.

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**Anvils Hammer**

Evening all.

This Thread is very much experimental, so if you choose to read and participate, thank you!

I work on my business, Anvil Industry, full time, and over the next year or so plan to release new product as fast as I can, I have a very long list of ideas and concepts for finished miniatures and accessory parts, and a rough idea of what I want to work on when.

The website, for those of you whove not seen it, is here- www.anvilindustry.co.uk

I want to grow my business, which means offering product the wargaming world wants to purchase.

The purpose of this thread is to get feedback from Dakka users about the products I plan to release over the coming months.

The poll lists ideas and concepts.

I would like you to read through them and select the options which you would like Anvil Industry to give priority to. You can select just one option, or several you like the sound of (please dont pick more than three options). Basically, of the options listed, which are you potentially most interested in purchasing?

If you would like more information about the options, post and I will reply asap.

I have a rough idea of my release schedual, but its very flexible and I want to offer products people most want.

I will be checking back regularly and reading all feedback carefully.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Joel Pitt,

Anvil Industry.

**Balance**

I'd like to see some roughly 15mm Sci-Fi-ish terrain, but I'm weird.

**Centurionpainting**

I think you are going to get alot of hits on the "guardsmen" and "vehicle" options. I placed my vote for the vehicles and the guardsmen for a few reasons:
Guard:
1. Cadian and Catachan sets are woefully outdated
2. The aftermarket, plastic Guard available are pretty lackluster
3. Your skills show you could make some great looking models
My vote would be for a whole new model, not just torso's or heads. A new armor style and helmet would be especially in demand (NOT gasmask heads, these have been done to death by 3 different companies).
Vehicles:
1. What player wouldn't like to see more 28mm gunships on the market?
2. Available sci-fi vehicles are good but not great. Most of the sci-fi tanks are extremely expensive.
3. Guard players need a new Leman Russ!

I posted this in the BitsPudlo and Kromlech threads and I will again here, make this and you will have a fortune:

How about it?

**candy.man**

I think rather than move onto “not-guardsman” and “not-terminators” you should focus on releasing more accessories for your existing Steamlord range. More weapons, variant limbs and whatnot would be the best approach for now. When your steamlord range is nearing completion, you can start releasing other miniature lines.

The choices I personally selected were:
• Heavy Weapons
• Jet Bikes
• Medieval set

**alphaomega**

More steam lords would be very kool. Could do with some different weapons options for each type. Such as spears and the like.

**H.B.M.C.**

Always interesting in terrain. Less interested if it's coming in 2x2 blocks though.

**Absolutionis**

If you're asking for wishlists:
(in order of preference)

- 28mm Gaurdsman [sic] robed legs (preferably with a gear motif)
- APC model rather akin to the Aliens movie APC yet in a size comparable to the GW Chimera.
- That Main Battle Tank that centurionpainting posted above.
- 28mm Alien-Bugs Web-Launcher
- Steam Lord robed legs

**Anvils Hammer**

Thanks for all the feedback so far, really helpfull.

@balance- no plans for anything outside 28mm scale Im afraid.

@Centurion- all good points, I love regular human soliders, Im planning a full range, and the number of votes they've got so far suggests they may make an appearance sooner than Id planned!
The 28mm gunship, I must admit, is just somthing I want to make for my own armies.. but it would of course be for sale also.
I will be making modular tank parts in the future, as tanks are somthing I really love, and when I get to it, it will have its own thread!

@candy.man. Yes you are right, this is roughly the plan! All the things you mention are coming up! the steamlord range will take me 6 months to finnish I think, after that I can start on other ranges.

@Alphaomega- Glaives are coming up, which is close enough to a spear, and Im planning quite a few new weapons, including power-feed assault rifles.

@H.B.M.C- all terrain features I make, when I get round to it, will be offered as both 2x2 blocks AND as stand alone peices for use on a regular table.

@Absolutionis- Im better at sculpting than I am at spelling alright! :p The robed legs will be done as a one peice with a robed/hooded torso, to fit steam lord arms/heads/backpacks. robed legs by themselves in 28mm heroic are already available from MAS. I will be going for the more complete "warrior monk" sculpt.

Thanks again guys

Anvils Hammer

**schadenfreude**

Start with bits that can be used as the following

Resin Missile Launchers (For long fangs and dev squads)

Resin melta guns (For Space marines, henchmen, or IG)

Resin psycannnons

Resin cyclone missile launchers

Resin TLAC for rifleman/psyfleman dreads

Resin TL Lascannons for Vendettas

**Centurionpainting**

schadenfreude wrote:Start with bits that can be used as the following

Resin Missile Launchers (For long fangs and dev squads)

Resin melta guns (For Space marines, henchmen, or IG)

Resin psycannnons

Resin cyclone missile launchers

Resin TLAC for rifleman/psyfleman dreads

Resin TL Lascannons for Vendettas

I think the market is flooded with aftermarket weapon options. This is not to trivialize schadenfreude's post but I think we would all like to see more guard models/vehicles.

Bits already on the market, completed by other companies:

Plastic Missile Launcher: http://hoardobits.com/cgi/hob/shop.pl?cat1=Bits&cat2=Wargames Factory&cat3=&cat4=&page=&view=WGF-SHOCK-HWT-7
Melta: Called a 'thermic gun' by most third-party companies, many available (too lazy to look up the link right now).
Cyclone Missile: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kromlech-Zephyr-Missile-Launcher-/160655461814?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2567cfcdb6
TLAC: almost every aftermarket bits company does a form of cheap autocannon that can be glued together.

**jacqualine47**

I know this is probably a long-shot to get someone to do, but how about a female variant of your steam lords... like a 'not-sister-of-battle.'

**megatron1701**

I registered just so I could post here!

I'd love to see some Guard specific bionics, namely legs and possibly face bionics (think Shoggy from Gaunt's Ghosts).

Cloaks that combine with Cadian torsos would also be appreciated, if it can be done.

**BrassScorpion**

schedual? Schedule.

**Anvils Hammer**

BrassScorpion wrote:schedual? Schedule.

*hangs head in shame* Im university educated you know.. shows how reliant I am on Word Spell check!

@Megatron, welcome!

The bionic parts, cloaks, etc will all be coming along with my guardsman range, which is due at some point.. I honestly have no idea when.

@schadenfreude

as Centurion said, there are pleanty of options for those items already. I want Anvil Industry to be about providing unique/interesting conversion parts, rather than just making cheaper copies of other companies stuff. That said, I do appreciate the enormous demand for certain types of part and will be trying to fit in usefull stuff where I can.

@Jacqualine. Its somthing Ive thought about, but realistically Im very unlikly to get round to it given the large number of kits which are more in demand. A female Steam Lord as a one off "character" sculpt, is a possibility.

Thanks for the continued feedback guys, look forward to more suggestions.

Anvils Hammer

**candy.man**

I was re-reading this thread and I though of some more ideas for what you can add to your range.

Upon browsing your range of decorative accessories (capes, tabards, crests) it would be cool if there were more decorative bits available (like purity seals, scrolls, books, chains, grenades, scabbards, pistol holsters etc). Stuff like this can really sucker a buyer to add additional stuff to their order as well as being fairly generic enough to be compatible with other mini ranges. Your range of capes and crests are probably enough to sucker most people into adding additional stuff to their order and it would be a good business tactic to encourage customers to bolster their orders with further supplementary purchases.

**johnstewartjohn**

studded pads.

**lord marcus**

johnstewartjohn wrote:studded pads.

for a miniature warriors groin? that would hurt.

**johnstewartjohn**

lord marcus wrote:
johnstewartjohn wrote:studded pads.

for a miniature warriors groin? that would hurt.

True, how about shoulder pads then. (Edit they used to sell some on the ebay store).

**Anvils Hammer**

Hey guys,

Thanks again for all the feedback so far, but if you've not voted already, please do so! the more votes I get the better Im able to cater to what people want.

Candyman, My only concern is that all the stuff you listed is already available in a lot of kits. However I will have a think and figure out an "accessorie sprue" at some point to see how it sells.

Johnstuwartjohn, I dont plan to offer the original studded pads as I was on reflection, unhappy with the quality. I will likely offer a studded pad of some description at some point, possibly with my medieval kit when that comes out.

More generally, the current plan is to release the following items- if you have any suggestions for parts I should consider, please chip in!

gaming base range (I know it didnt get any votes, but I need some option bases for my own minis!)

Four styles of base- plains, Wastelands, Parched desert, Urban in 4 sizes- 25, 40, 60mm and "bike", I will also offer a large oval base at some point.

Then-

Missile launcher
Autocannon
Twin LMG
Tripod (for all three weapons)

Then the "tech" steam lord kit which will consist of legs, armoured arms, and a new torso, head, and powerpack

Then some new Steam Lord weapons- a power/belt fed assault rifle, an axe, a new shield, possibly some other stuff, suggestions?

Additional conversion sets for Crusaderl and Samurai style steam lords,

In a few months I will post another, more specific "requests" thread.

Cheers,

Anvils Hammer

**MadCowCrazy**

Female minis or female heads and torsos. There are almost no good ones out there, in fact I'd say all female heads on sale today are pretty bad.

**Stormfather**

I'd love to see a belt-fed assault-rifle/LMG with an undersling mount. The face of the underslung mount could be left empty, or could mount a few different resin accessories: a second machine gun barrel (more dakka!), a chain-bayonet, a rifle-grenade-like missile launcher, a grenade launcher, a flamerthrower, a not-melta, a not-plasma, etc.

Heavy weapons!

Samurai!

Warrior Monks!

I'd also like to see a few more variations of arms for the Steamlords. Maybe one additional set of unarmored arms, and two sets of armored arms, with a very simple armor scheme that could be used, regardless of spartan, roman, knight, samurai, etc. trappings.

**candy.man**

@Anvils hammer
Thanks for your reply. Other bit companies make bits that can fulfil this role but the idea is to have stuff more specific for the Steamlords (but still compatible with other products). At the moment, a lot of the stuff on market isn’t really compatible with the Steamlords in the sense that they’d look fairly out of place or tacky if glued on (partly because the design of the Steamlords is fairly unique). Ideally you’d want stuff in the same sculpting style, build around compatibility with the Steamlord miniatures (like your capes, crests and shoulder pads).

I personally reckon you should design the accessory sprue around officers. If you need help brainstorming ideas, send me a PM.

**Celticwelsh**

One thing I know a lot of people around are asking for is female guardsmen. Though this is a slippery slope. Don't build some big breasted bimbo with little to no clothing. A fully clothed and appropriately armoured female model(s) would be an awesome option in my opinion.

**CT GAMER**

Balance wrote:I'd like to see some roughly 15mm Sci-Fi-ish terrain, but I'm weird.

I'd like to see some 15mm infantry for various alien races that don't look like gak...

**VikingScott**

Voted for Samurai, Guardsmen and jetbike. No particular order to me.

Looking for some decent sci-fi soldiers and it's a bit tough.
I've never seen so far a not-space marine samurai upgrade kit and a jetbike with customisable rider would save me trying to make my own

Good luck and good hunting!

P.S If you ever do anything that is not-Adeptus Mechanicus or even vaguely related to them you might see quite a few orders from me if I ever get any money.

**Anvils Hammer**

Thanks guys!

@Candy.man, Im very much in favour of the idea. Im thinking a sprue containing an "ornate" version of each of my various weapons, an ornate pistol, a holstered pistol, some "bling" shoulder pads and heads, a bling backpack, and anything else people suggest.

I would make and sell it as a single sprue, rather than all the parts individually, as this makes it alot more feasible.

@Madcow and celtic,

Im planning a full range of interchangable 28mm heroic scale guardsman models, and I will include at least one female set. Might be a while, but I will get to it.

@Stormfather,

yep, coming up as fast as I can sculpy them! a selection of new arms in a "generic" style. Also, thanks for your purchase!

@CT gamer, no plans for anything in other scales im afraid. I have so much 28mm stuff to do, and have no experience with 15mm models.

@VikingScott, the lack of good quality affordable "techno" guardsman is an issue I will be looking to address asap!

the samurai bits are also a definate goer now as they have pleanty of votes, and my mate who helps with casting/website is constantly going on at me to make them!!

Cheers everyone for the continued feedback.

Anvils Hammer

**StringBassKnight**

Very nice stuff on your website. I agree with candy.man, you should definitely expand the steamlords range

**Mad4Minis**

candy.man wrote:I think rather than move onto “not-guardsman” and “not-terminators” you should focus on releasing more accessories for your existing Steamlord range. More weapons, variant limbs and whatnot would be the best approach for now. When your steamlord range is nearing completion, you can start releasing other miniature lines.

I completely agree. Id focus on fleshing out that range, and more advertising. Those guys are great and more people should know about them. Also, try not to make the weapons look too much like GW stuff, be a bit unique.

**MagickalMemories**

I chose "other." I'd like to see some terrain.
Specifically, non-gothic futuristic, "haunted" trees and futuristic xeno buildings.

Eric

**Celticwelsh**

I noticed you mentioned pistols. I'm excited about that. My guardsmen army is being built with only "autoguns". I'm trying my hardest not to use las weapons on them and I really haven't found a good set of solid shot pistols for my sergeants. I'll be looking forward to that. Also another weapon I've been having trouble finding an acceptable version of is shotguns. I would be interested in seeing some good pump action shotguns.