Author Topic: Large Scale Models  (Read 32171 times)

saintbrandon

  • Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 180
  • Brandon "Icarus" Taylor
Large Scale Models
« on: 02 April 2011, 15:25:02 »
are IWM planning on producing 1/60 scale mechs like horizons and armorcast used to do?
i have been trying for ages to get one but no dice....
anyways just curious is anyone has heard anything, thanks guys
Don't try to tell me how some power can corrupt a person
You havn't had enough to know what it's like
You're only angry 'cause you wish you were in my position
Now nod your head because you know that I'm right, all right

packhntr

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 1246
Re: Large Scale Models
« Reply #1 on: 03 April 2011, 15:20:31 »
maybe to keep cost down, how about 1/72 scale and instead of resin, styrene like normal models?   
If at first you don't succeed, make it worth the repairman's time!

worktroll

  • Ombudsman
  • Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 25551
  • 504th "Gateway" Division
    • There are Monsters in my Sky!
Re: Large Scale Models
« Reply #2 on: 03 April 2011, 18:44:21 »
Styrene doesn't reduce costs. You need solid steel injection moulds for working with styrene or similar high-impact plastics - which means moulds cost tens to a hundred thousand dollars to make per mini. Resin can be worked in the silicone & rubber moulding materials like those used to cast IWM's metal minis, costing hundreds of dollars per mould.

W.
* No, FASA wasn't big on errata - ColBosch
* The Housebook series is from the 80's and is the foundation of Btech, the 80's heart wrapped in heavy metal that beats to this day - Sigma
* To sum it up: FASAnomics: By Cthulhu, for Cthulhu - Moonsword
* Because Battletech is a conspiracy by Habsburg & Bourbon pretenders - MadCapellan
* The Hellbringer is cool, either way. It's not cool because it's bad, it's cool because it's bad with balls - Nightsky
* It was a glorious time for people who felt that we didn't have enough Marauder variants - HABeas2, re "Empires Aflame"

Garrand

  • Warrant Officer
  • *
  • Posts: 655
  • "Nicht kleckern, klotzen!"
Re: Large Scale Models
« Reply #3 on: 03 April 2011, 20:37:29 »
I have 2 of the Armorcast 1/60 mechs, and they really are great! I picked up the Vulture some time ago, and the Atlas when they announced they were losing the license. In fact, I'm doing a little work on the Atlas tonite. I really wish either Armorcast would get the license back, or IWM starts producing more. Even if I never play a single game with them, they're still great as a display piece or a model...

Damon.
Book Blog: bookslikedust.blogspot.com
Minis Blog: minislikedust.blogspot.com

DaveMac

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 1216
  • Running for home...
Re: Large Scale Models
« Reply #4 on: 04 April 2011, 04:45:04 »
Be nice to see some official large scale (1/60ish) models from IWM but I doubt it would be cost effective

For example, Wave recently released a 1/72 scale (170mm tall) Tomahawk/Warhammer kit that costs around US$60

Not to mention the 1/60 Tomahawk/Warhammer (200mm tall) from Yamoto that costs over US$100
Go to red alert!
Are you sure sir?  It does mean changing the lightbulb.

Cergorach

  • Master Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 395
Re: Large Scale Models
« Reply #5 on: 04 April 2011, 08:28:05 »
Be nice to see some official large scale (1/60ish) models from IWM but I doubt it would be cost effective

For example, Wave recently released a 1/72 scale (170mm tall) Tomahawk/Warhammer kit that costs around US$60

Not to mention the 1/60 Tomahawk/Warhammer (200mm tall) from Yamoto that costs over US$100
I paid around $50-$70 a piece for those Yamoto Warhammer/Rifleman models, those were fully possable action figures.

Keep in mind that those 1/72 Wave models are still very big (multicolored snap together kit with decals), a GW Land Raider costs $62, so prising isn't that bad.

Those Armorcast goodies weren't exactly cheap either:
Vulture $98
Mad Cat $118
Atlas $160

And those were the prices from 8.5 years to 3 years ago (no price increase in that entire period), do you have nay idea how much those things would cost now?

Jal Phoenix

  • Freelance Writer
  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 4288
  • Once, we had gods.
Re: Large Scale Models
« Reply #6 on: 04 April 2011, 09:26:46 »
On the current secondary market, NIB Armorcast 'Mech can go for as much as $400.  Not producing them is foolish when demand is so high.  I would love to see Armorcast resume production, but I doubt it will happen.

Sigma

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2399
  • N-scale Fanatic
Re: Large Scale Models
« Reply #7 on: 04 April 2011, 12:03:37 »
I would greatly enjoy at least having a large scale madcat back in production.

That would definitely sell. And since they already have the CAD file from the resculpted mini, couldn't they upscale it and tweak the model instead of having to do a totally new sculpt?

My $.02 but then I thought the mech-scale Leopard was a good idea too.

Jal Phoenix

  • Freelance Writer
  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 4288
  • Once, we had gods.
Re: Large Scale Models
« Reply #8 on: 04 April 2011, 12:28:44 »
My $.02 but then I thought the mech-scale Leopard was a good idea too.

It would have been, if they'd made one.  We did get a cartoonish balloon that vaguely looked like a Leopard, though.  ^-^

Cergorach

  • Master Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 395
Re: Large Scale Models
« Reply #9 on: 04 April 2011, 14:35:57 »
That would definitely sell. And since they already have the CAD file from the resculpted mini, couldn't they upscale it and tweak the model instead of having to do a totally new sculpt?
Why would you need a resculpt? They already carry the 30mm Armorcast Clan Elemental, so I doubt that acquiring the rights would be problematic.

DaveMac

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 1216
  • Running for home...
Re: Large Scale Models
« Reply #10 on: 05 April 2011, 03:30:35 »
I paid around $50-$70 a piece for those Yamoto Warhammer/Rifleman models, those were fully possable action figures.

Keep in mind that those 1/72 Wave models are still very big (multicolored snap together kit with decals), a GW Land Raider costs $62, so prising isn't that bad.

Those Armorcast goodies weren't exactly cheap either:
Vulture $98
Mad Cat $118
Atlas $160

And those were the prices from 8.5 years to 3 years ago (no price increase in that entire period), do you have nay idea how much those things would cost now?

You got a good deal on the Yamotos!

Any idea on how the the Wave 1/72 models compare to the old 1/48 Dougrams?

The old Armorcast models were not cheap but of damn good quality, just a shame they never produced anything else.  Only Catalyst know why the production rights were not renewed when they expired.   

There have been garage kits made of other mechs but here isn't the place for that discussion

Personally I think an official Marauder kit of of 1/60 scale would sell very well...



Go to red alert!
Are you sure sir?  It does mean changing the lightbulb.

Cergorach

  • Master Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 395
Re: Large Scale Models
« Reply #11 on: 05 April 2011, 07:53:26 »
I did get a good deal for those Yamotos, but I forgot to mention the ~$135 on shipping and the ~$75 on taxes and import fees for those three.

The Wave models are ~17cm tall, the old Dougrams I don't know, I do have two old Revell/Robotech kits (Thoren/Zoltek). But haven't assembled those.

I suspect that the reason the license wasn't renewed is because the licensing costs didn't weigh up to the demand/return. How many people do you know who play Battletech in 30mm (1/60)? There are some folks who want them as paint/display pieces though.

The problem is that the chances of seeing an official 1/60 Marauder is equal to a dedicated BT fan winning a couple of million in the lottery ;-) Unseen vc. Reseen, your best bet is a Officer's Pod Glaug, but a 1/60 version is way to tall (30cm+). If you want it in the same range as the Mad Cat or the Warhammer (Yamoto) @20-21cm your looking at a 1/90 kit (but the guy making the old Armorcast Mechs says 1/72 is perfect to, 1/100 is to small).

DaveMac

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 1216
  • Running for home...
Re: Large Scale Models
« Reply #12 on: 05 April 2011, 10:51:57 »
I did get a good deal for those Yamotos, but I forgot to mention the ~$135 on shipping and the ~$75 on taxes and import fees for those three.

The Wave models are ~17cm tall, the old Dougrams I don't know, I do have two old Revell/Robotech kits (Thoren/Zoltek). But haven't assembled those.

I suspect that the reason the license wasn't renewed is because the licensing costs didn't weigh up to the demand/return. How many people do you know who play Battletech in 30mm (1/60)? There are some folks who want them as paint/display pieces though.

The problem is that the chances of seeing an official 1/60 Marauder is equal to a dedicated BT fan winning a couple of million in the lottery ;-) Unseen vc. Reseen, your best bet is a Officer's Pod Glaug, but a 1/60 version is way to tall (30cm+). If you want it in the same range as the Mad Cat or the Warhammer (Yamoto) @20-21cm your looking at a 1/90 kit (but the guy making the old Armorcast Mechs says 1/72 is perfect to, 1/100 is to small).

Ah the dreaded shipping and taxes.  I've seen them over here for around £100 or somewhere around US$160 each. 

I have most of the old Dougram/Robotech Defenders but haven't built them yet.  Armorcast used to carry a page giving the kit equivalents to their mechs, which I'm sure I've got knocking about somewhere. From memory, some of the 1/72 kits worked (Marauder) as did the 1/48s (Shadow Hawk and Thunderbolt).  Others like the Battlemaster and Archer were too small.

The lack of demand could be one reason that the licence wasn't renewed but I suspect there might have been others.

God yes, can you imagine the legal hoops to jump through if you wanted to produce an official 1/60 Marauder?
Go to red alert!
Are you sure sir?  It does mean changing the lightbulb.

saintbrandon

  • Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 180
  • Brandon "Icarus" Taylor
Re: Large Scale Models
« Reply #13 on: 05 April 2011, 14:02:35 »
i myself have never even thought of playing battletech on the 1/60 scale, i have a hard enough time getting people to play regular cbt
i am mostly interested in the painting and collecting display pieces in the 1/60 scale.
i got the yomato tomahawk(warhammer) on ebay, i got it from a seller in hong kong, after shipping the total was $75.00
it was complete, unused and still in box
i appologize that paragraphs and spelling are not my friends :P
Don't try to tell me how some power can corrupt a person
You havn't had enough to know what it's like
You're only angry 'cause you wish you were in my position
Now nod your head because you know that I'm right, all right

DaveMac

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 1216
  • Running for home...
Re: Large Scale Models
« Reply #14 on: 06 April 2011, 01:48:51 »
i myself have never even thought of playing battletech on the 1/60 scale, i have a hard enough time getting people to play regular cbt
i am mostly interested in the painting and collecting display pieces in the 1/60 scale.
i got the yomato tomahawk(warhammer) on ebay, i got it from a seller in hong kong, after shipping the total was $75.00
it was complete, unused and still in box
i appologize that paragraphs and spelling are not my friends :P

Armorcast used to do demonstation games at 1/60 scale and even came up with some rough rules

Not really practical unles you have a large, I mean LARGE, playing surface

1/60 is more a display scale

Good score on the Yamoto by the way, thats about half what it would cost over here!

Go to red alert!
Are you sure sir?  It does mean changing the lightbulb.

packhntr

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 1246
Re: Large Scale Models
« Reply #15 on: 06 April 2011, 16:49:01 »
Scale wise, I am not sure which would be better...1/60th is nice, big and can be expensive....1/72 is nice as it would go nicely with existing mecha (Robotech, Gundam etc) and as such it wouldn't be to difficult to mod those into Battletech varients or such...not to mention you can get aircraft in this scale also, so making Aerospace fighters from existing airplanes would be readily doable.  1/35 scale would be interesting as well as it would work out nicely with military models in production. The cost would be down somewhat as there would be less of it needed.  1/48...well...that'd be HUGE!  1/144 scale......borderline tiny....not much bigger than what we have now in pewter. 

That's my 2cents......  Personally, 1/72 has the most benefits.
If at first you don't succeed, make it worth the repairman's time!

Cergorach

  • Master Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 395
Re: Large Scale Models
« Reply #16 on: 07 April 2011, 03:24:34 »
Scale wise, I am not sure which would be better...1/60th is nice, big and can be expensive....1/72 is nice as it would go nicely with existing mecha (Robotech, Gundam etc) and as such it wouldn't be to difficult to mod those into Battletech varients or such...not to mention you can get aircraft in this scale also, so making Aerospace fighters from existing airplanes would be readily doable.  1/35 scale would be interesting as well as it would work out nicely with military models in production. The cost would be down somewhat as there would be less of it needed.  1/48...well...that'd be HUGE!  1/144 scale......borderline tiny....not much bigger than what we have now in pewter. 

That's my 2cents......  Personally, 1/72 has the most benefits.

The advantages of 1/72 is that you can get relatively cheap 1/72 Baindai Destroid kits ($20 a piece for the Archer and the Rifleman), the Wave Destroid kits are a bit more expensive ($65 a piece for the Rifleman and the Warhammer). And best of all, the 1/100 Bandai Officer Pod Glaug (Marauder) will probably work with them. The 1/72 Valkery kits might be a little big for Phoenix Hawks/Wasp/etc. (maybe 1/100 will work), the real problem comes from the Dougram mechs, a lot of the 1/48 kits work with 1/60 BT, and not with 1/72 (they become taller then a Warhammer). 1/72 is better for the older 25mm Battletroops Kurita/Steiner platoons (individually still produced by IWM) and the 25mm Clan Elemental (RPE). Getting other 25mm miniatures is not easy, probably best to look at GZG. No ebay Mad Cat, Vulture and Atlas (or the selection of 1/60 fan made resin models).

1/60 Has the advantage of the older Mad Cat, Vulture  and Atlas (or the selection of 1/60 fan made) resin models. The IWM 30mm Clan Elemental and the legions of 28-32mm ish miniatures and Vehicles available. The 1/60 Yamoto Destroids, the 1/72 Glaug kit (ebay => Expensive), the 1/48 Dougrams, etc. And if there are any future large scale developments I suspect that they will also be in the 1/60 and 30mm range (and not 1/72). So if you want to go really big scale this is your best bet.

1/144 fall in the 'N-scale' range that is really popular with a small (but very vocal) subsection of BT fans, this scale actually ranges from 1/120 to 1/160 and build around the Mechwarrior plastic Range. Keep in mind that 1/144 is actually twice as tall as most of the BT tin Mechs. There's also a large selection of resin fan build Mechs in this 'scale'. There are also a lot of Macross/Dougram toys that work very well in this scale so most of your Unseen needs are met (although some of these kits are somewhat difficult to come by and can now relatively expensive). There's actually one 1/144 sci-fi miniature maker that I know of and that is dp9 with their Heavy Gear, Reaper made some 'N-scale' vehicles and infantry, but it seems that they are phasing those out.

I'm also taking a look at 1/100 - 15mm scale, there's a huge range of 15mm (more like 18mm to the top of the head) of sci-fi miniature manufacturers making infantry, vehicles and terrain. My large collection of 1/87 Rafm Heavy Gear Models are actually closer to 1/100 and with some of the awesome 15mm infantry/vehicles made by the likes of GZG/Micropanzer/CMG/Rebel Minis/Khurasan/etc I saw some great opportunities. I recently came across some cheap 1/100 Destroid kits, so I'm curious how that'll look (Warhammer ~12.5cm tall).

For general BT gaming 6mm gaming has the largest range of models, after that it's the n-scale range. If you want large mechs 1/60 has the largest range, but can be a lot more expensive. If your only interest lies in the Unseen Macross Mechs, 1/72 is very acceptable, if not, 1/60 is your best bet.

BlazingSky

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 1429
  • Ah yes, the rabble and their "Medium Mechs"
Re: Large Scale Models
« Reply #17 on: 07 April 2011, 10:02:12 »
God yes, can you imagine the legal hoops to jump through if you wanted to produce an official 1/60 Marauder?

Topps, Catalyst and IWM. Seems simple. And hey, we get a big Reseen mech! :P
I don't post to play nice with everyone. I post to posit my ideas. If this offends you, there's an ignore function.
I knew this day would come! The day of the stapler men has arrived!

DaveMac

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 1216
  • Running for home...
Re: Large Scale Models
« Reply #18 on: 07 April 2011, 14:14:01 »
Topps, Catalyst and IWM. Seems simple. And hey, we get a big Reseen mech! :P

From your mouth to their ears matey!
Go to red alert!
Are you sure sir?  It does mean changing the lightbulb.

bkjohns96

  • Private
  • *
  • Posts: 28
Re: Large Scale Models
« Reply #19 on: 08 April 2011, 17:51:47 »
If IWM did some mechs in 1/100 or 15mm scale, I would be all over it. There is so much out there for 15mm in the way of scenery. Buying a squad of BA, and infantry companies would be affordable. I could probably afford a few mechs in that scale.

steders

  • Recruit
  • *
  • Posts: 6
Re: Large Scale Models
« Reply #20 on: 19 April 2011, 17:16:50 »
Trying to push my 28mm stuff on. I need to weather and detail the Inner sphere stuff and think of a paint scheme for the Clan mechs, need to build my last vulture as well


DaveMac

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 1216
  • Running for home...
Re: Large Scale Models
« Reply #21 on: 20 April 2011, 05:31:04 »
Very nice matey, forgot just how large the Wolverine was compared to the Shadow Hawk (or is that the 1/72 scale one?)
Go to red alert!
Are you sure sir?  It does mean changing the lightbulb.

steders

  • Recruit
  • *
  • Posts: 6
Re: Large Scale Models
« Reply #22 on: 20 April 2011, 09:34:15 »
The Wolverine is going to be used as a Battlemaster, it is far too big unfortunately. The thunderbolt, Griffon and Shadowhawk are all 1/48. The warhammer is a 1/60 Macross toy.

Cergorach

  • Master Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 395
Re: Large Scale Models
« Reply #23 on: 20 April 2011, 13:05:25 »
Most impressive!

DaveMac

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 1216
  • Running for home...
Re: Large Scale Models
« Reply #24 on: 21 April 2011, 02:40:43 »
The Wolverine is going to be used as a Battlemaster, it is far too big unfortunately. The thunderbolt, Griffon and Shadowhawk are all 1/48. The warhammer is a 1/60 Macross toy.

You going to convert the Wolverine or just leave as is?
Go to red alert!
Are you sure sir?  It does mean changing the lightbulb.

aka_mythos

  • Corporal
  • *
  • Posts: 60
Re: Large Scale Models
« Reply #25 on: 27 April 2011, 09:31:26 »
I once brought some 5" tall mecha godzillas and used them as Delphyne protomechs... ahh the fun of 1/60.

DaveMac

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 1216
  • Running for home...
Re: Large Scale Models
« Reply #26 on: 05 May 2011, 02:41:47 »
Just a thought, came across some 1/80 scale (!) Dougram (Soltic H8 aka Griffin) kits on an auction website

Wondering if anyone had compared them sizewise to the Armorcast kits?
Go to red alert!
Are you sure sir?  It does mean changing the lightbulb.

btp2k2

  • Master Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 259
Re: Large Scale Models
« Reply #27 on: 05 May 2011, 18:25:07 »
1:60th? Pfffffttttttt.

Don't be a wuss...go 1:35th and play in your backyard!

Horizon's vinyl Mad Cat is actually 1:35th.

If you insist on going smaller.....may I suggest some of the Revoltech line?









They stand about 6 or 7 inches. I think that's pretty close to the Wave 1:72 Warhammer

Sigma

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2399
  • N-scale Fanatic
Re: Large Scale Models
« Reply #28 on: 05 May 2011, 18:46:57 »
1/144 or app. N-scale is quite fantastic too and has variety only second to the official Z-scale miniatures. And since DA was that scale you have a ready supply of cheap miniatures to repurpose not to mention all sorts of kits and toys.

Just posted this in miniatures. Yes, I was asking about how to fix those seams on the missile doors. ;)


TS_Hawk

  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 6370
Re: Large Scale Models
« Reply #29 on: 09 May 2011, 23:15:53 »
Trying to push my 28mm stuff on. I need to weather and detail the Inner sphere stuff and think of a paint scheme for the Clan mechs, need to build my last vulture as well



sweet mother of mercy where did you get those?  I know I have those as actual models from Revel under the Robotech name but those look really cool.

Thank you Hikage
Agent 694 N. Idaho