Why monopose plastics?

Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:

No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.

If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

**Talizvar**

I must admit that the "single pose" models look very nice and take little work for the average modeler that just wants to "get 'er dun". There is a problem of only using them once if not wanting to risk hacking up an expensive model.

For me, I look at it as "challenge accepted".
I still like metal figures but plastic in comparison makes modifications insanely easy.

**warboss**

At $20+ a pop, you shouldn't have to feel obligated to drastically convert it just to get a second one with a bit of variety. At $20 for a single plastic model, you should have options to vary it up significantly right out of the box just like the space marine commander.

**notprop**

Kilkrazy wrote:

This is Great News! because there is plenty of scope to convert it to anything I like, including a Stealth Suit.

It was an answer to the OPs suposition that the plastic monopose a were more difficult to convert, this morning I remembered it had been put to the test. I suggest it isn't anymore difficult than any othe conversion work.

Anyway you shouldn't have any trouble converting anything you like; what with that diamond sharp wit you should be able sculpt whatever you like old chap.

**Kilkrazy**

I have already designed a squad of Invisiods, what do you think of the concept photo?

**warboss**

It is hard to tell. Can you pose it next to some other minis to gauge the size/scale? You made the rookie mistake of assuming everyone knows how it will look alongside their own collections. Also, you didn't tell us what material the final product will be made out of.

**Kilkrazy**

Duh! It's a concept not a finished piece!!

**notprop**

You wag KK, they're quite clearly hidden behind the flower pots at the top of the picture.

**TheAuldGrump**

GW has started doing monopose models because they are deathly afraid that I might ever be tempted to buy anything from them again.

Making a single pose, single sprue, no options, overpriced piece of plastic is the best way that they could figure to prevent me from ever buying from them.

And they were right... except for Finecast - that still beats even the plastic one pose wonders.

The Auld Grump

**MrFlutterPie**

Skinnereal wrote:
Kid_Kyoto wrote:
I've been mostly getting metal the last few years (yeah I know, I know) but I hear the new Ogryns can only be put together one way. The right way. The GW way.

Yeah files and knives and bitz and green stuff can turn anything into anything, but GW does not seem to want to make it easy.

Tempestus Scions are the same.
You've got to cut off the cables to fit special weapons, and each option only fits on a single model. This means that a squad with 3 meltaguns will have 3 identical models, with the same pose.
The 'captain' model is the worst, with the cloak. He's holding a knife! I mean, who throws a knife?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNhYJgDdCu4

Here is your answer

However, I agree it's BS about the lack of poseability and options as well. I have waited since 2ed for plastic Ogryns as well and I was so disappointed with the mono-posed plastic kit we got (that and poor rules).

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

warboss wrote:
I think you have summed up GW's apparent mission statement since 5th edition quite well. The 2009 (?) Space Wolf release was IMO the highlight of GW plastics in terms of quality AND value and it has sadly gone steadily downhill since then.

Yeah. If released today that box'd have 5 models in it and cost the same price.

Actually... the Space Wolf Marine sprue makes 5 models, so I guess we can expect them to get "Dire Avenger'd" come the next release.

**Llamahead**

Because they are trying to close down the finecast production line like they did the metal one to rationalise

their production lines. Just using plastic will make their lies easier

**warboss**

H.B.M.C. wrote:
warboss wrote:
I think you have summed up GW's apparent mission statement since 5th edition quite well. The 2009 (?) Space Wolf release was IMO the highlight of GW plastics in terms of quality AND value and it has sadly gone steadily downhill since then.

Yeah. If released today that box'd have 5 models in it and cost the same price.

Actually... the Space Wolf Marine sprue makes 5 models, so I guess we can expect them to get "Dire Avenger'd" come the next release.

I agree totally that they'd be a 5 man kit instead like Sanguinary Guard and Grey Knights if remade today. I don't think though that they can split without being completely useless due to missing bits. When they're rereleased, I suspect they'll instead just up the price with some new box art but no sprue change like they did with chaos marines recently.

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

warboss wrote:
I don't think though that they can split without being completely useless due to missing bits. When they're rereleased, I suspect they'll instead just up the price with some new box art but no sprue change like they did with chaos marines recently.

They can though. Look at the sprue:

That's the complete sprue. Makes 5 minis. The box just has two of those in it. They can take one of the sprues out, just like they did with Dire Avengers, and keep the price the same.

**warboss**

You are indeed correct. I was forgetting that the 5 guys come on those two and for some reason was thinking that the two plasma weapon sprues were connected instead of one of each. They can indeed screw over players.

**Eldarain**

That is a great kit for spare bits! I hadn't seen it on sprue before. Aside from some of the derpier heads that's a really well designed product. (Until it is cut in half)

**warboss**

Eldarain wrote:
That is a great kit for spare bits! I hadn't seen it on sprue before. Aside from some of the derpier heads that's a really well designed product. (Until it is cut in half)

It is absolutely great. When I was assembling a space wolf army (or parts of it to match what I bought assembled), I had *plenty* of choices on those sprues. There are probably twice as many heads and at least 50% more arm/weapon combos then you need with a great selection for close combat weapons (although the shooty options are limited to bolt and plasma weapons only). I figured the GK line would be the same as it was the next completely redesigned line of marines but it instead mirrored the blood angels more. I expected the death co and sanguinary guard to be 5 man kits but GK somehow I expected to be sold in groups of 10 as power armor troops core choices. I guess we should be happy since a 5 man kit with alot of posability is still better than a 1 model kit with NO poseability.

**Paradigm**

warboss wrote:
Eldarain wrote:
That is a great kit for spare bits! I hadn't seen it on sprue before. Aside from some of the derpier heads that's a really well designed product. (Until it is cut in half)

It is absolutely great. When I was assembling a space wolf army (or parts of it to match what I bought assembled), I had *plenty* of choices on those sprues. There are probably twice as many heads and at least 50% more arm/weapon combos then you need with a great selection for close combat weapons (although the shooty options are limited to bolt and plasma weapons only). I figured the GK line would be the same as it was the next completely redesigned line of marines but it instead mirrored the blood angels more. I expected the death co and sanguinary guard to be 5 man kits but GK somehow I expected to be sold in groups of 10 as power armor troops core choices. I guess we should be happy since a 5 man kit with alot of posability is still better than a 1 model kit with NO poseability.

I agree that the SW kit is probably the best SM plastic, both in terms of awesomeness and sheer value for money.

The GK kit I was OK with simply as there were so many options in it; if I recall correctly, there were about 20+ CCW in the box as well as an absolute ton of extras, details and special weapons.

**Nevelon**

There are some things that can’t be done in multi-pose. Like the SoB pulling out a grenade pin with her teeth. That said, in the sternguard kit there is an arm resting on a sheathed powersword, a bit I never thought I’d see in a multi pose kit.

The pricing is all over the place though. If I wanted a Space Marine captain, I have a number of options.

There are the new mono-pose plastics at $30
The mono-pose finecast captains at $22.25 (came out with apoc)
The old multi-pose plastic also at $22.25
A selection of named finecast characters in the $20 range.
The old masters of the chapter box with 4 finecast captains for $33

Or if I want something more modern then the old multi pose captain box, either of the sternguard or vanguard veteran boxes will make 5 marines worthy of leading a company for $50 or $40 depending on which one you grab.

For the $30 plastic I would have like to see more options then just a head swap. Some of the other mono-pose kits (for other armies) have a nice number of options, even for a static mini. But for a cost that’s vastly higher then anything similar, for no options, my mind boggles.

**Breotan**

I think they're trying to cut down on bits because they don't like bits sellers on eBay making money off GW's stuff.

**Azreal13**

Breotan wrote:
I think they're trying to cut down on bits because they don't like bits sellers on eBay making money off GW's stuff.

You've got something there I expect.

The sheer facepalmery of trying to shut down a mini-industry that is wholly dependent on the purchase of your product, and then failing to fulfil the demand yourself cannot be understated, but it does seem to be their aim, both in word and deed.

**Kilkrazy**

At the risk of re-igniting the rather tedious price argument, doesn't $30 seem rather a lot of money for a single 28mm figure that doesn't have any options at all?

I mean, inflation and everything but at the start of 40K you could buy 60 multi-pose Space Marines with a bunch of equipment options for $30.

Not wanting to sound whiney but it looks a complete rip-off. Who would be idiot enough to buy one when you can get a Scibor model for half the cost?

**Paradigm**

Kilkrazy wrote:
At the risk of re-igniting the rather tedious price argument, doesn't $30 seem rather a lot of money for a single 28mm figure that doesn't have any options at all?

I mean, inflation and everything but at the start of 40K you could buy 60 multi-pose Space Marines with a bunch of equipment options for $30.

Not wanting to sound whiney but it looks a complete rip-off. Who would be idiot enough to buy one when you can get a Scibor model for half the cost?

**Peregrine**

Breotan wrote:
I think they're trying to cut down on bits because they don't like bits sellers on eBay making money off GW's stuff.

I doubt it. The metal/finecast monopose models these replace didn't have any bits for the ebay sellers. Plus, shutting down bits sellers by removing bits is just suicidal stupidity. If a customer is buying single parts from a third-party seller then they're obviously working on some kind of conversion that needs the part. The only way GW wins is if they can force the customer to buy a whole kit from GW to get that part. So whatever GW does they have to keep manufacturing the same part, or that customer just doesn't buy anything at all. And I don't think GW is so spiteful that they'd reduce the quality of their own products just to make sure that someone else doesn't make any money either.

**Kilkrazy**

Reducing the amount of official bits available just fuels the market for Chapter House and other makers to produce bits.

**Azreal13**

Yeah, it's still a shame though, because CHS and their ilk will make alt weapons, shoulder pads etc, but they'll never make fiddly bit X from sprue B of this or the other kit, which is what I often find myself trawling Bitz sellers for.

**Kilkrazy**

Maybe they will in future.

It is not clear right now if extremely expensive single mono-pose character figures are to become the GW standard.

The market may accept this GW offering, or not, how difficult would it be to make a resin set of option parts to make a Librarian, Captain, Tech Marine and so on?

If customers are looking at $30 each for the official monopose versions, it gives 3rd party companies a lot of scope for selling variation kits to convert standard SM figures.

**Azreal13**

I suspect there are many greens, sketches and CAD files just waiting for the final outcome of the CHS case...

**Azazelx**

H.B.M.C. wrote:
warboss wrote:
I don't think though that they can split without being completely useless due to missing bits. When they're rereleased, I suspect they'll instead just up the price with some new box art but no sprue change like they did with chaos marines recently.

They can though. Look at the sprue:

That's the complete sprue. Makes 5 minis. The box just has two of those in it. They can take one of the sprues out, just like they did with Dire Avengers, and keep the price the same.

Well then - that's exactly what is going to happen sometime in the next 12 months at the current rate. Better grab some while you can, for anyone interested.

**eohall**

Even before this monopose plastic trend, it seemed almost criminal to me that incredible plastic HQ kits like the Empire General don't have 40k analogues. Imagine being able to make a foot or bike SM captain from one box with tons of great bits? It nearly beggars the imagination.

**MWHistorian**

I don't understand a $30 mono pose kit. I understand less the people that would buy it.