<![CDATA[Latest posts for the thread "Starting a new sci fi model and bitz site- resin casting?"]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/7.page JForum - http://www.jforum.net Starting a new sci fi model and bitz site- resin casting?
I have decided, after a long debate, to create a company/small business that will sculpt, cast and produce detailed sci fi miniatures.
However I am just starting out in casting in resin and need to know where to buy a good resin mold kit .
The miniatures will all be sculpted by me in milliput and greenstuff.

The releases I have scheduled are:
-Orc heads
-Shoulder pads compatible with your generic space warrior
-Sci fi heads
-Eventually complete resin models (Space warrior infantry, demons, squishy human infantry, orcs)

The releases will probably be in that order, but we shall see.

Also the site will offer commision painting which is avaliable now. Just drop me a PM to find out more about the commisions or if you know where i can buy a resin casting kit in the UK.

Hope that some of you will be customers soon

Cheers,
The_mini_painter]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3490364.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3490364.page GMT Dragon Forge Miniatures - A new sci fi model and bitz site
Someone beat you to it!

http://dragonforge.com/Painting%20service/for%20sale/gaming_bases.htm

For casting kits, look at Alec Tiranti (I used their stuff when I did some casting years back)

http://www.tiranti.co.uk/]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3490369.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3490369.page GMT Re:Dragon Forge Miniatures - A new sci fi model and bitz site ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3490372.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3490372.page GMT Dragon Forge Miniatures - A new sci fi model and bitz site
LavuranGuard wrote:You may want to think about your company name there...

Someone beat you to it!

http://dragonforge.com/Painting%20service/for%20sale/gaming_bases.htm

For casting kits, look at Alec Tiranti (I used their stuff when I did some casting years back)

http://www.tiranti.co.uk/




Yeah - you'll have to change your name... unless you want to be another dragon forge =X

Its up to you though! hah]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3490384.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3490384.page GMT Dragon Forge Miniatures - A new sci fi model and bitz site
Perhaps you could venture into the realm of Space Elves and Space Bugs.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3490390.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3490390.page GMT Re:Dragon Forge Miniatures - A new sci fi model and bitz site http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3490401.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3490401.page GMT Dragon Forge Miniatures - A new sci fi model and bitz site
Sounds pretty hardcore. Good luck!
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LavuranGuard wrote:You may want to think about your company name there...

Someone beat you to it!

http://dragonforge.com/Painting%20service/for%20sale/gaming_bases.htm


Damn Might have to try 'The dragons anvil' or something along those lines...

Absolutionis wrote:The market does seem rather heavy in Space Warrior Shoulderpads and Orc heads.

Perhaps you could venture into the realm of Space Elves and Space Bugs

Yeh I will branch out eventually but most of the market seems to be in Space warriors and Space orcs :/

Perkustin wrote: Got any proof of your 'credentials'? Mind flashing some of your goods?

Sounds pretty hardcore. Good luck!

Some initial greens will be posted when the first are made and ready to be cast which should be soon. Prepare to be blown away...

Also if you want to look at some of the models I have painted at the lowest standard of my painting then check out my 40k gallery

Cheers,
The_mini_painter

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Best of luck, on the imaginitive adventure...]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3490453.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3490453.page GMT Re:Dragon Forge Miniatures - A new sci fi model and bitz site just my 10p worth ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3490811.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3490811.page GMT Dragon Forge Miniatures - A new sci fi model and bitz site
LavuranGuard wrote:You may want to think about your company name there...

Someone beat you to it!

http://dragonforge.com/Painting%20service/for%20sale/gaming_bases.htm

For casting kits, look at Alec Tiranti (I used their stuff when I did some casting years back)

http://www.tiranti.co.uk/


I gotta say that I like those African American heads on the Dragonforge site. Thanks for linking it!!]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3490920.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3490920.page GMT Dragon Forge Miniatures - A new sci fi model and bitz site
BTW. I am currently doing things smart people tell me can not be done. If I had listened to the experts I would ......well I guess I would have more money and free time... but that is beside the point! Go for it anyhow.


I suggest going to http://www.resinaddict.com/forum/ They seem a helpful lot and I am sure they can answer your questions.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3490939.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3490939.page GMT Dragon Forge Miniatures - A new sci fi model and bitz site ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3491079.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3491079.page GMT Dragon Forge Miniatures - A new sci fi model and bitz site
The_mini_painter wrote:
Absolutionis wrote:The market does seem rather heavy in Space Warrior Shoulderpads and Orc heads.

Perhaps you could venture into the realm of Space Elves and Space Bugs

Yeh I will branch out eventually but most of the market seems to be in Space warriors and Space orcs :/
Perhaps so, but that's also problematic. The market does indeed demand both Space Warriors and Orcs, but right now we're rather saturated in it. If you offer more, you'll be directly competing with what's already out there and established.

If you offer other avenues that make you unique (Space Elves and Bugs), you'll find your niche.

Price is also a heavy dividing point.

Then again, this may simply be my bias speaking. I'm always on the lookout for good Guardsman robed legs.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3491101.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3491101.page GMT Dragon Forge Miniatures - A new sci fi model and bitz site http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3491106.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3491106.page GMT Re:Dragon Forge Miniatures - A new sci fi model and bitz site http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3510246.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3510246.page GMT Dragon Forge Miniatures - A new sci fi model and bitz site
Besides that, how have you determined that this is the area with the most demand? Have you done any sort of market study? It sounds to me that you just looked at what the market was already offering and assumed that was what people wanted to buy, which isn't necessarily the case.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3510295.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3510295.page GMT Dragon Forge Miniatures - A new sci fi model and bitz site
I have no idea why every company and their dog have made space wolf thunderwolf models, there are literally 20 different versions floating around out there.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3510346.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3510346.page GMT Dragon Forge Miniatures - A new sci fi model and bitz site http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3510362.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3510362.page GMT Dragon Forge Miniatures - A new sci fi model and bitz site
harsh but its a busy market allready and if your going to invest cash into it then you are going to have to ether have amazeing sculpting or new ideas .]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3510487.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3510487.page GMT Dragon Forge Miniatures - A new sci fi model and bitz site http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3510740.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3510740.page GMT Starting a new sci fi model and bitz site- resin casting? http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3511674.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3511674.page GMT Starting a new sci fi model and bitz site- resin casting? I’m also going to say that the head and shoulder pads market is over saturated at the moment, particularly, Space Orc heads and Space Marine shoulderpads.

You need to offer something different if you want to stand out or succeed. Take Maxmini, Micro Arts Studio, Kromlech and Chapterhouse. They all do more than just heads and shoulderpads (like weapons, original sculpts, vehicles etc) and thus they stand out more in the consumer’s eye.

Also a lot of the heads/shoulder pads I’ve seen on offer don’t really stand out from the existing GW heads/shoulderpads that can be bought cheaply from a bits store (apart from maybe the crazy Orc heads that Maxmini does). I think this is partly because a head or a shoulderpad doesn’t leave you with much room for creativity.

Therefore I reckon you should move straight away towards original sculpts rather than building hype towards it. A lot of the companies that I’ve seen do well have all offered some sort of niche product (e.g. pre heresy stuff, thunder wolves, guardsman, daemons, weapons etc). Perhaps try and focus on fulfilling one or two niches and go from there. Considering Pre Heresy and costumed Orcs (Pirates, Germans etc) seems to be two popular niches, perhaps these two can be your starting points.
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Cheers,
the_mini_painter]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3513975.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3513975.page GMT Starting a new sci fi model and bitz site- resin casting?
The_mini_painter wrote:Thanks for all the comments and suggestions. I will take these into account and will probably go with 2-3 niches. Probably pre heresy space marines, themed orcs and guard.

Cheers,
the_mini_painter

So you want to do what every long time professional conversion bitz company is doing, just without any experience.

Sounds like this:
"Hi, I want to become a Formula 1 champion. Does anyone know how to get a driving licence?"

Better contact someone like Chapterhouse Studio or Troll Forged to accept some of your sculpts for their range.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3517219.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3517219.page GMT Starting a new sci fi model and bitz site- resin casting?
Kroothawk wrote:
The_mini_painter wrote:Thanks for all the comments and suggestions. I will take these into account and will probably go with 2-3 niches. Probably pre heresy space marines, themed orcs and guard.

Cheers,
the_mini_painter

So you want to do what every long time professional conversion bitz company is doing, just without any experience.



All those long time professional companys started out from nothing.. it is possible, it just takes A LOT of hard work, and a steep learning curve, somthing OP needs to think about!

I've been running Anvil Industry for over 6 months now, it started from nothing, Ive been working 60 hour weeks for months and will continue to do so for years probably in order to properly establish the business!


Best of luck to you Mini_painter! Its hard work, but very rewarding!

Also, only Games Workshop can make pre heresy space marines, what you want to make is Ancient Galactic Knights.. or similar..

Cheers,

AH

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Anvils hammer wrote:All those long time professional companys started out from nothing.

Yes, and all those started with alternative Space Marine and Ork heads and Nazi Guard with gas masks, no need for another company to do exactly these ... or thunderwolves, before you ask ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3519534.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/406335/3519534.page GMT Starting a new sci fi model and bitz site- resin casting?
Tackling a niche means tackling a small under used part of the market. If he really wanted to tackle the over done market, he’d be doing rhino Doors, SM shoulderpads, “not melta guns”, “not lasguns” and “not Cadians”.

I think the niches he has picked out are good starting points and whilst they are loosely in the same category as some of the other stuff other companies have done, it doesn’t necessarily mean it will be exactly the same. Pre Heresy, themed orcs and guard are fairly “huge” categories and don’t necessarily mean he’d start selling stuff already sold by Chapterhouse/Maxmini.

Also the important factor is that the above niches are popular, which is important to make sales. The problem with tackling an ultra obscure niche (e.g. Marinus Calgar moustache bits) is that whilst you might like it, in the bigger picture he’s not going to make very many sales. The market for pre heresy, themed orcs and guard-anything are pretty hot at the moment and are good starting points for a new company.
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