I used to really like the plastic minis that WoTC introduced, but then I realized that painting your own metal can be lots of fun. What I like about painting your own is that you can choose a mini and then whatever color pallet that suits you. If you don't like the weapon in hand, lost of times you can change it. You can really customize the mini to represent your character. With plastic, you're just kinda stuck.
Well, you can still repaint plastic. I've done so many times. Especially when the original paint job had...flaws. Like lips being on the cheek kind of flaws. So that solves the color scheme thing. But yeah, it's hard to switch out weapons on the plastic minis.
I think my biggest issue with the WoTC plastic was that they sometimes just wouldn't stand up straight. Like they came with a pre-bend or something, y'know?
I have repainted a few of my plastic ones, but the paint doesn't seem to want to stick. What's the secret to that?
Ugh, the ones that get bent in packaging. So annoying. It can be fixed over time but it does take a lot of bending it the other way until it sits reasonably flat.
As far as the paint sticking, I've never had any trouble with that. At least as long as the figure was clean first. It it's got any dust or grease or anything on it then yeah, lots of issues. But a good scrub first usually fixes that. If that still doesn't work, I'd say spray it with primer first. Especially if the original paint job is horrific I would often just start there anyways.
Metal miniatures for the most part. However, I use plastics for cannon fodder like goblins, orcs, bugbears, etc...
We do that as well, when the encounter calls for it anyway. As mcuh as well all like to paint minis, we don't use 'em at every session. In fact, lots of times, the mini is really just there to help you visualize your PC.
When I first started painting metals I noticed that even a metal miniature with a bad paint job looks better than most plastic miniatures.
Absolutely! I look at some of the ones that I first painted and they're just this side of awful. But they still look better than plastic.
For an even easier fix for WotC's "bent plastic figures," just do the following.
1. Ready two microwave-safe containers with water, large enough to submerge your mini in. Coffee cups work fine for most "medium sized" minis.
2. Fill one container with hot water, and the other with ice water, as cold as possible.
3. drop your mini in the hot water, microwave for about 1-2 minutes.
4. Remove the microwaved mini(use tongs or a fork or something, WATER WILL BE HOT!!!!) and submerge it in the ice water.
The plastic those minis are made of have a kind of "memory" to them, so heating them up in hot water softens them up so they return to their shape, then shocking them in ice water makes them rigid again. I've done this with dozens of Star Wars plastic minis (bent lightsabers, awkward positioning, etc) and lots of D&D ones as well. Works ever time.
Jerry, thanks for the tip. I never would have thought of that. :)
I like both metal and plastic about equally honestly. If there's a figure that I like I don't care what it's made of. :)
Here's a guy I just painted last night. He's a Reaper mini, not sure what model (picked him up at my LGS). I think was a Hellknight or some such. The point of all that is that he's kinda Paly-like now. The "Shredder"-type helm is a little troublesome though, that doesn't seem very Paly-like at all.
Despite how time-consuming it is, painting the metal has it's merits. :)
@Josh - The hot water works better than the lamp. Thanks for the idea!
No prob! It's easy and only take a few moments. I got it from WotC's site back around '06, having trouble finding the link though.
Not all plastics are created equal.
I hated plastic until I got into 40K. After assembling my first 20 space wolves, I realized that non-pre-painted plastic offers a lot more versatility than metal. They are much easier to customize. They don't break as easily when mishandled and if they do it is easier to repair. Also, I find them much easier to use when playing the game.
I find the hard plastics that Games Workshop uses holds the detail better than metal. You can also drill into it fairly easily.
As far as pre-painted plastics go, this resent batch from Paizo are the first ones I have really been impressed by.
For an even easier fix for WotC's "bent plastic figures," just do the following.
1. Ready two microwave-safe containers with water, large enough to submerge your mini in. Coffee cups work fine for most "medium sized" minis.
2. Fill one container with hot water, and the other with ice water, as cold as possible.
3. drop your mini in the hot water, microwave for about 1-2 minutes.
4. Remove the microwaved mini(use tongs or a fork or something, WATER WILL BE HOT!!!!) and submerge it in the ice water.
The plastic those minis are made of have a kind of "memory" to them, so heating them up in hot water softens them up so they return to their shape, then shocking them in ice water makes them rigid again. I've done this with dozens of Star Wars plastic minis (bent lightsabers, awkward positioning, etc) and lots of D&D ones as well. Works ever time.
I use a slightly different version of this technique:
1. Fill a Pyrex measuring cup about 2/3 full of water, then heat to boiling in the microwave.
2. Remove the cup from the microwave. Then, using a pair of tongs, dip the bent mini into the hot water for about 30 seconds.
3. Remove the mini from the water -- it's now pliable, and easy to straighten, or otherwise reposition as you want.
4. Holding it in the position you want it in, run it under cold tap water for 10 seconds or so to "lock" the new position.
For my own PCs, I nearly always use a metal miniature. I may start out using a plastic mini for a new character, but I'll usually try to switch to a metal one if. I used to paint them myself, but I now have a professional painter who does my minis for me (at least, for PCs which I intend to keep playing).
When I'm DMing, unless I have a particular metal mini which is perfect for a monster or NPC, I default to using plastic minis. I have a ton of them, so I usually can find something which is close to what I need for a particular critter, and they're easier to shlep around (I often DM at cons or otherwise away from home).
I have repainted a few of my plastic ones, but the paint doesn't seem to want to stick. What's the secret to that?
Wash them with dish liquid and water, rinse and dry well, then prime.
If you just want to do a touch up job, just wash it.
I now have a modest collection of plastic figures, but my love of metal won't go away until Reaper starts making plastics.
You do realize Reaper DOES make plastics, right?
As to the OP...
For holding detail, sturdiness, and weight, I prefer metal, certainly. Wargames quality plastic and resin can also be nice, though I like the heavier metal. The metal is more forgiving -- resin or good grade plastic will bend without returning to its original shape or snap. Metal can be bent but it's much easier to put back into place.
I love painting my own models too, of course. And I feel good metal minis are better sculpted than the PPMs.
But ain't nothing wrong with PPMs--nice to have lots of minis, relatively cheap. And while it's nice to custom paint your hero, sometimes it feels less necessary for every skeleton or goblin ever. I do also hate the bendy problem those plastics have, but I'm not going to poo-poo anyone who wants to use what gets the job done. For that matter, tokens and pawns and Skittles are all fine with me too.
I used to prefer metal far more than plastic...
But plastic can be transported in large numbers far more easily, can be packaged with less worry of damage, and if knocked off the table doesn't take critical damage.
...while it's nice to custom paint your hero, sometimes it feels less necessary for every skeleton or goblin ever.
I think this is a very practical approach and it is the one I take myself. Heroes and BBEG's tend to get the metal and the attempt at a decent paint job, while the villainous horde is filled out by assorted plastic.
|
Unpainted metal usually wins out over pre-painted minis. Just more aesthetically pleasing, of course that's informed by years of WotC plastic minis whose coloring was less accurate than comics from the 80's.
...though honestly it seems tokens have really been winning out lately. Gotta say, it's a LOT easier to get an accurate representation of your character that way.
Jerry Wright 307 wrote: I now have a modest collection of plastic figures, but my love of metal won't go away until Reaper starts making plastics.
You do realize Reaper DOES make plastics, right?
I'm not certain those are actually made by Reaper, or contracted out.
But it doesn't matter. I should have said "until Reaper starts making plastics with the same quality of detail as their metals".
Most, if not all, of the Legendary Encounters line use the exact same sculpts originally produced in the metal DHL or Warlords line.
For example, compare this to this.
Or... anyway.
Yes, they have a sister company/subsidiary that runs the production line, because Reaper is not capable of doing it in-house, but the source of the artwork is the same.
First, yes, I think you are letting the macrophotography and priming fool you a bit.
And the plastics ARE going to look plastic. White metal is going to hold detail better than the cheap plastic PPMs are made of. To get better detail in plastic you need resin, and then the price goes back up. For PPMs, you're not going to get any better than this.
Look, you said you wanted Reaper plastics. Reaper plastics exist, in as good as quality as they are going to get. I was just trying to help.
|
Mantic games has relatively cheap plastic non prepainted if that's your thing. http://www.manticgames.com/
Understood, Jerry, and happy hunting.
When I shopped more at my FLGS (which is sadly not supporting games as much anymore), I would peruse the online catalog and then write down what I want, then have my FLGS order it for me, since the physical collection they keep is very small.
I got lazy/broke and resorted to using random D&D plastic minis for everything in our games. After reading this thread, I went back and looked over some of my painted metal figures, and I just miss the detail and personal touch that painting my own figures gave me.
Plastic figures by the bundle are perfect for mooks and minions, but I really want tog et back into taking the time to hand-select a metal mini to paint for important npc's and my own pc's.
Thing is, we have a running curse at our main table, where as soon as you bring a painted mini to the game representing your character, you doomed that character to die or the campaign flops. Soooo many painted minis without games, loitering on my shelves.