Author Topic: I'm baaaaaack!  (Read 20094 times)

Sawbones12

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I'm baaaaaack!
« on: 23 February 2011, 20:23:41 »
Hey All,

Very busy lately but should be lurking more now.  Have a meeting at IWM on Friday and will post any allowed relevant scoops from that meeting.  Will be addressing sculpting plans/issues/schedules and maybe some new ideas.

Rob

Vlads Fangs

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Re: I'm baaaaaack!
« Reply #1 on: 23 February 2011, 20:30:17 »
Welcome back,you have been missed! O0

Daishi411

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Re: I'm baaaaaack!
« Reply #2 on: 23 February 2011, 20:33:31 »
Welcome back,you have been missed! O0

seconded, good to see you back  O0
"Warriors, not war machines, are the backbone of the Hell's Horses. While others worship the BattleMech as the ultimate weapon, the men and women of this Clan see even this awesome piece of technology as the tool it is. We have held to this philosophy since the days of our first Khan, who knew that the value of the common soldier far outstripped the brute force of the BattleMech. It is one reason our Clan possesses fewer mechs than most, and has led many to underestimate our fierceness and courage. Our survival against all challengers when others have fallen proves the folly of such arrogance, and testifies to the wisdom of our founders."
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Mattlov

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Re: I'm baaaaaack!
« Reply #3 on: 23 February 2011, 21:25:40 »
I guess we didn't hide the forums well enough since you found them.
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RichQ03

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Re: I'm baaaaaack!
« Reply #4 on: 24 February 2011, 07:35:42 »
Welcome back!

jimdigris

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Re: I'm baaaaaack!
« Reply #5 on: 24 February 2011, 08:34:01 »
Welcome home, Sawbones. O0

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Re: I'm baaaaaack!
« Reply #6 on: 24 February 2011, 09:30:34 »
hey, look Kenny's not dead!
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Stormlion1

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Re: I'm baaaaaack!
« Reply #7 on: 24 February 2011, 12:03:40 »
Welcome back.
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ShockaTime

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Re: I'm baaaaaack!
« Reply #8 on: 24 February 2011, 12:04:52 »
Welcome back Sawbones O0

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Sigma

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Re: I'm baaaaaack!
« Reply #9 on: 24 February 2011, 17:45:34 »
Welcome back!

Sawbones12

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Re: I'm baaaaaack!
« Reply #10 on: 24 February 2011, 19:02:48 »
Thanks all for the kind reception.  Hopefully will have good info to share after the meeting tomorrow.

Rob
NTXWUY

JadeHellbringer

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Re: I'm baaaaaack!
« Reply #11 on: 25 February 2011, 12:35:09 »
Thanks all for the kind reception.  Hopefully will have good info to share after the meeting tomorrow.

Rob
NTXWUY



If you fail... DO NOT return...

 ;)
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But the warrior knows the true meaning of his life."
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Trenchknife

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Re: I'm baaaaaack!
« Reply #12 on: 25 February 2011, 17:20:44 »
Welcome back!

OK Sigma...that's one of the better avatars  I've seen in a while. 

 [cheers]

Sawbones12

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Re: I'm baaaaaack!
« Reply #13 on: 25 February 2011, 18:37:40 »
Okay...

1 ) Koschei done and looks great!  The hand, however, was sculpted as a "mitten" rather than with 3 fingers.  The 5I variant will be available as online-only and should be available pretty soon.  I am going to ask Dave to modify the right hand to the three fingers style ( too late for the released version ) for the variant and the left hand will be the same.  The 5I's right and left arms are identical to the 3I's right arm except for the Heavy PPC on the left arm of the 5I.

2 ) Night Wolf, Koschei and Winston Combat Vehicle sent to distributors this week.  Should be to stores soon after.

3 ) Hell's Horse Fast Recon, HH Heavy Jump Infantry, Davion Firefighter ( ATV not done yet ), Marian Ceremonial Guard, WOB Tau Wraith and WOB Tau Zombie done and look great!  The eight remaining infantry types ( and the buggy ) to be done by March 31st for April release.  The "eight" actually involves at least 11 miniatures as at least three of the eight have multiple poses ( like the Branth in flight and grounded pose ).

4 ) Ignis, Theseus, Angerona, Ironhold ( and variant ) and Kopis to be done in April and released in May.

5 ) Woodsman, Tonbo and Sling will be first quarter 2012.  MAYBE earlier depending on requests from Catalyst for special releases that will take up slots ( like the Bounty Hunter series ).

6 ) Fan funding will re-open in May.  Except for most mechs and combat vehicles, these will be online releases only.  To make me happy ( which is of paramount importance  ;) ), please fund the Coyotl, Wakizashi, Procyon, Trajan, Brahma, Bruin and Ostwar...

7 ) Celestial Dominus variants for the Malak, Preta, Deva, Archangel, Seraph, and Grigori should be on the website next week.

8 ) I will list more of the release schedule soon.  Dark Crow and Eisenfaust were picked by Catalyst Games personnel as anticipated big sellers -- hope they are right.

9 ) Misregulations ( new term for me ), mold lines, etc.  Discussed this issue -- QC to be further emphasized and closer monitoring of less experienced casters.  One problem discovered was that the rubber mold supplier switched to cheaper rubber to keep from having to raise prices and this degraded the mold ( and thereby casting ) quality.  IWM is investing in the more expensive rubber to improve mold quality.  Also evaluating and planning to utilize new alignment "pegs" to prevent any slippage of the mold halves and the creation of the misregulations/misalignments that frustrate us all.  There is a new person in charge of casting and production ( but she REALLY knows the job -- she is just new to the title ).

10 ) Resin terrain pieces -- plans to do wrecked mechs ( one of each weight class ), vehicles, fighters and slaughtered infantry/BAs.  Also craters, gun emplacements, bunkers and other items that you suggest.  Initially need to do things that can sit on a flat hex base -- not yet ready to do ovoid or spherical objects that need to fit together ( like a plastic Easter egg ). Should make for great terrain and kill-markers ( and something for ground pounders to hide behind ).

11 ) Eisenfaust delayed but it, the Dark Crow and the Marsden tank are next up for sculpting.

12 ) Shadow Hawk 1R is done and looks great!

13 ) The Apollo re-issue is the old sculpt and all Liao lance pack sets will contain the original sculpts -- except the Men-Shen is getting new legs ( I think shorter and beefier but don't quote me ) and some other small changes ( not a new variant ).

14 ) Still some concerns re: the fan-funded Thunderbolt's legitimacy -- some crap re: the agreement between the Japanese and the U.S. B'Tech people -- whether the permission for some of the previously unseen to be reseen extends to the production of their miniatures and not just the images.  Seems kind of a silly distinction but IWM is awaiting ( and awaiting ) word from Randall Bills/others re: the official go ahead.  If denied, then funders' money will be refunded or can be re-tasked to other projects as you prefer.  I like to think that this will go through without a hitch...

Probably more to say but these are initial highlights...  More schedule info to follow.

Rob

ShockaTime

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Re: I'm baaaaaack!
« Reply #14 on: 25 February 2011, 18:53:40 »
thanks for the update Sawbones! this all very good news!

EDIT: was there any mention of the Mad Cat Mk. IV/Savage Wolf?
« Last Edit: 25 February 2011, 18:59:48 by ShockaTime »

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Sawbones12

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Re: I'm baaaaaack!
« Reply #15 on: 25 February 2011, 19:05:45 »
Mad Cat IV?  Savage Wolf?  What the heck are you on about?  Just kidding!  It is on the release schedule and it was discussed -- I will need to double check and post later.  It will be the same size as the resculpt Mad Cat ( 20-603RE ) and will be based off of the beautiful multiple angle CAD renderings provided to us by the Catalyst CBT Art Director.

Rob

ShockaTime

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Re: I'm baaaaaack!
« Reply #16 on: 25 February 2011, 19:07:03 »
Mad Cat IV?  Savage Wolf?  What the heck are you on about?  Just kidding!  It is on the release schedule and it was discussed -- I will need to double check and post later.  It will be the same size as the resculpt Mad Cat ( 20-603RE ) and will be based off of the beautiful multiple angle CAD renderings provided to us by the Catalyst CBT Art Director.

Rob

Nice!!! thanks again for the update!

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Daishi411

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Re: I'm baaaaaack!
« Reply #17 on: 25 February 2011, 19:08:57 »
i have to say i'm very pleased by point #9, thank you very much for making that a discussion point, i know i appreciate that effort.

everything else makes it seem like the rest of this year will be very exciting  :)
"Warriors, not war machines, are the backbone of the Hell's Horses. While others worship the BattleMech as the ultimate weapon, the men and women of this Clan see even this awesome piece of technology as the tool it is. We have held to this philosophy since the days of our first Khan, who knew that the value of the common soldier far outstripped the brute force of the BattleMech. It is one reason our Clan possesses fewer mechs than most, and has led many to underestimate our fierceness and courage. Our survival against all challengers when others have fallen proves the folly of such arrogance, and testifies to the wisdom of our founders."
- saKhan Tanya Delaurel
Star Captain Logan Cobb-666th Assault War Cluster, Star Commander Octavian-The Thunder Heart Cluster
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Charlie 6

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Re: I'm baaaaaack!
« Reply #18 on: 25 February 2011, 19:23:30 »
Rob,

Welcome back; it is good to know such an important part of fan interaction returned.

S/F

Matt

Snake Eyes

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Re: I'm baaaaaack!
« Reply #19 on: 25 February 2011, 20:27:39 »
Quote
14 ) Still some concerns re: the fan-funded Thunderbolt's legitimacy -- some crap re: the agreement between the Japanese and the U.S. B'Tech people -- whether the permission for some of the previously unseen to be reseen extends to the production of their miniatures and not just the images.  Seems kind of a silly distinction but IWM is awaiting ( and awaiting ) word from Randall Bills/others re: the official go ahead.  If denied, then funders' money will be refunded or can be re-tasked to other projects as you prefer.  I like to think that this will go through without a hitch...
??? Ok, Sawbones am i to understand that we will be possibly seeing a new style Thunderbolt?
will this be based on the japanese unseen, or the regular unseen?

CitizenErased

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Re: I'm baaaaaack!
« Reply #20 on: 25 February 2011, 20:35:38 »
Before the old boards went down, the Unseen Thunderbolt got fan-funded (for two variants, IIRC).
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GreyWolfActual

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Re: I'm baaaaaack!
« Reply #21 on: 25 February 2011, 20:59:41 »
I am kind of saddened to hear that it is just a reissuing of the Apollo and not an altogether new sculpt.  It is so ugly.  But alas, at least it means more 3085 stuff sooner.
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Snake Eyes

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Re: I'm baaaaaack!
« Reply #22 on: 25 February 2011, 21:20:43 »
Before the old boards went down, the Unseen Thunderbolt got fan-funded (for two variants, IIRC).
:o Ok, when it hits the store, i'm buying me a full lance ;D

BigAl

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Re: I'm baaaaaack!
« Reply #23 on: 25 February 2011, 21:27:47 »
What Happen to Quasit Mech?  Glad to see you back too.  Also great work in getting us the information.

JPArbiter

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Re: I'm baaaaaack!
« Reply #24 on: 25 February 2011, 21:29:56 »
sucks to hear about the problems with the Koschei but it sounds like nothing a good strong pair of wire cutters won't solve.
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Mattlov

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Re: I'm baaaaaack!
« Reply #25 on: 25 February 2011, 22:20:03 »
I'm happy to hear about posting the molds for less slippage.  I won't buy an IWM fig unless I see it in person because it had become such a problem.

Time to start setting some cash back for some minis, then.

And EISENFAUST!  Can't come out soon enough.
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3rdCrucisLancers

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Re: I'm baaaaaack!
« Reply #26 on: 25 February 2011, 22:34:56 »
14 ) Still some concerns re: the fan-funded Thunderbolt's legitimacy -- some crap re: the agreement between the Japanese and the U.S. B'Tech people -- whether the permission for some of the previously unseen to be reseen extends to the production of their miniatures and not just the images.  Seems kind of a silly distinction but IWM is awaiting ( and awaiting ) word from Randall Bills/others re: the official go ahead.  If denied, then funders' money will be refunded or can be re-tasked to other projects as you prefer.  I like to think that this will go through without a hitch...

Eep! Hopefully it will all go off well.
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97jedi

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Re: I'm baaaaaack!
« Reply #27 on: 25 February 2011, 22:57:03 »
Glad to see you back in these parts, Rob. Thanks for the updates, too. :)

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Re: I'm baaaaaack!
« Reply #28 on: 25 February 2011, 23:04:53 »
Regarding the infantry that are done and coming out soon: Are they going to be online-only, or in stores?
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Sawbones12

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Re: I'm baaaaaack!
« Reply #29 on: 26 February 2011, 00:07:44 »
Again, thanks for the welcomes back.  Never planned to be gone for long ( or at all, actually ) but a confluence of events/scheduling delayed my re-upping.

Infantry releases are online only.

Quasit releasing this week as well.  Note -- if you do not like the feet, then do not blame the sculptor.  We requested and received artist feedback and the sculpt faithfully portrays them.

Winston looking good now.

Please await commentary from those who have these minis before bad-mouthing them too badly.  Mike's photo-fu is weak -- especially for the Night Wolf.  I truly think you will like it ( and the rest ) unless it/they are just not your cup of tea.  The art for the Koschei is kind of goofy looking but I think the mini turned out well.

Rob

 

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