Hey,
Do any of you cats know where is a good place to have mini's made? Initially for prototyping, but eventually for a mass produced run? I'm thinking Kemet quality models or there abouts.
No idea where to start with the production side of this. I would be going the digital 3D route as opposed to sculpting.
Any advice on this appreciated.
http://www.bgdf.com/forum/game-creation/prototyping/creating-detailed-fi...
I shared the information that I had and he also shared the COST he got from the makers/designers of Arena Rex (which netted $+200k on Kickstarter).
Take a read, maybe some of that information can help you...
The company Hero Forge at https://www.heroforge.com/ lets you design custom miniatures which are then printed through Shapeways. Their Ultra Detail Plastic has sufficient resolution to act as masters for molds for mass production. Shapeways has a wax material as well with even higher resolution for casting, but I'm not sure if Hero Forge offers that.
If you want a sprued version with multiple models for mass production, you can contact one of the designers at https://www.shapeways.com/hire/designer
Just keep in mind that the purchase price does not likely include reproduction rights. It's not really 'your' miniature anymore than the "Fox and the Hound" book I got as a kid with my very own name printed in it. This is more of a vanity service for gamers wanting a PC mini that can be pieced together from their options. For prototyping, you are better off just buying some Reaper Bones.
I saw a Kickstarter recently that used Reaper minis instead of making their own. I thought this was a clever way to get around the arduous costs and production headaches of mini-making.
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Excellent thread mate, thanks for the link. Gives some very good ballpark figures. Prototypes seem cheaper than I thought and the cost for finals runs much higher.