Plastic Model Ranges: Increasing Our Options

[Karack Blackstone]

Hello all.

 

So, this was going to be a list of what models I want to be redone into plastics. Well, after typing the first version up, I came to a quick and rather stark realization.

 

I want ALL of GW's models, in time, to be updated to the new plastic lines.

 

So, how might we, as a cohesive whole of a board, consider, if the Mods are willing to allow this discussion, and, we as posters, all keep it civil, attempt to persuade Games Workshop and Forgeworld that both of them will only make more money if they do convert all models to plastic, and, if they do it well, they'll be hard pressed to likely meet demand?

 

Above all, remain civil, please be constructive, and, remember, the idea here is to figure out how all of us, as players, can benefit from hopefully one day gaining access to plastic versions of our beloved models.

 

Sisters first, they need it; after that, what would you advise GW as a customer?

 

Thoughts please.

[Soder]

Top priority to named HQs across all factions IMO

[Jolemai]

Aspect Warriors.

[MARK0SIAN]

I love plastic, especially compared to resin but setting up plastic production is a huge investment for GW. They simply wouldn’t make that investment back on a lot of the models. For example, they simply would not sell enough Asterion Moloch models to justify the tooling costs on a plastic run.

 

Also what you said about not being able to meet demand is a real problem. You’ve only got to look at their web store now to see how many models are out of stock, they already can’t keep up with demand on some pretty basic models so adding some very niche models to the range isn’t going to help unless they increase production capacity.

 

I would say, if you want to increase the number of plastic models they do, I would focus your efforts on new models and particularly ones that will sell in volume like sisters. You will also have better luck if you focus on models that are not done by Forgeworld. Again sisters are a good example.

 

Forgeworld and GW already seem like they barely talk to each other, they certainly don’t coordinate well and at times seem like they’re directly competing with each other. Forgeworld certainly wouldn’t make more money by having their models in plastic because GW does all the plastic and FW aren’t set up for it. They couldn’t do it even if they wanted to so all their sales would go to GW. Don’t try to persuade GW to remake all of Forgeworld’s Models in plastic, you will have more joy getting them to revamp their finecast ones in plastic or, as I said, focus on new plastic ranges.

 

On a side note, apologies if my post sounds very negative, that’s not my intent, I would love all the models to be made in plastic, I’m just trying to say which I think will have more success :)

[Marshal Rohr]

Aspect Warriors. A plethora of proper aspect warrior kits would be one of the most welcome arrivals in a while. Dire Avengers have aged well, but could use some improvement.

[Robbienw]

Legion of The Damned. Tech Marine and servitors. Any 40k characters that are still metal or finecast.

 

Also, although they are plastic already, normal marine terminators, command squad and bikes badly need an update to modern CAD and laser cut mold standard.

[Aqui]

Aspect Warriors. A plethora of proper aspect warrior kits would be one of the most welcome arrivals in a while. Dire Avengers have aged well, but could use some improvement.

That and the Phoenix Warriors. They really haven't aged well! :(

[NovemberIX]

I can only really speak about the Space Marine range, and I was thinking SM specialists would be a good move, but at this point I think the only generic one that doesn't have a plastic model of some sort are Techmarines, their servitors and Thunderfire cannons. 

 

I'd love to see some of FW's vehicle variants get ported over to plastic, I'd buy multiple Storm Eagles and Fire Raptors if I never had to deal with the warped panels ever again, same thing with Deimos predators. I'd say it's also time for a Land Raider update bringing the MKIIb, Helios, Prometheus and Achilles variants to the range (and bring back the Ares officially!) Ironically, I hope that the Xiphon stays resin, it's such an easy build, and so reassuringly solid that I can only imagine a plastic version would take much longer to put together.

 

I do wonder what plastic Deredeo and Leviathan kits would look like, and if there will ever be a proper multi part Contemptor. I'd be ecstatic if Mortis options ever became part of a kit at the least though. It would be nice to see a MKIV Dreadnought variant too.

[m_r_parker]

Firstly, it might be wise to keep FW off of the list, resin is really their thing and what they are geared towards as a design studio. Specialist Games blurs the lines slightly as they work very closely with the main GW design studio, and as such straddle between resin and plastic considerations. 

 

Secondly, I think it's already been discussed a few times that GW are already having issues with meeting demand over the past year or 18 months. It's been rumoured that they're wanting to expand and have access to larger amounts of power to increase their manufacturing throughput, but so far they haven't been given the green-light. Every now and again there are products on the GW webstore that appear to be out of stock for about a week before they are available again, and it wouldn't surprise me that this is simply the back-end casters trying to juggle an increasing catalogue and demand. Whilst every company is always looking for increases in sales (and more importantly, profits) I think even GW would appreciate a little room to breath before it all gets ramped up again. 

 

Thirdly, I think it's fairly obvious that GW are already looking at this as a direction that they want to move towards. I'm not sure if I can remember the last permanent stock item that GW released that wasn't plastic, and I'm sure someone will point it out, but aside from the occasional small-scale celebration release they've been running a "new = plastic" philosophy. We're not going to be telling them anything that they don't already know.

 

What I think is more interesting is that there are certain armies in the 40k range that are lagging behind in plastics, whereas others are nearing the point already of being solely plastic. For some of the newer forces that were brought out after the decision to move away from metal / resin this isn't a huge surprise (GSC, Deathwatch, Harlequins, Mechanicum, etc), and for a lot of the more popular forces this was a relatively "low hanging fruit" in terms of a business case. Regular marines are virtually all plastic in their current Codex, the only exceptions being named characters and the Techmarine / Thunderfire Cannon off the top of my head. 

When I think about all of this I head towards the Orks - this is a range that hasn't really been feeling the corporate love for a few editions now, and still seem to be on the back burner of Codices to be released this edition (I think it's them and Space Wolves that haven't been announced yet). Kits like the Tankbustas or Kommandos, really strong thematic units that are still great scupts in their own right, but don't get shown in stores as they're Finecast. Plus I don't often see a lot of people in my area collect Orks anymore, they're an army that's gone and replaced by much more popular / mainstream armies, either Imperial or Heretical Marines of certain flavours. Orks could really use a push, and maybe if they re-did some of the older kits and support them with a decent Codex, then they might start to come into favour again and the tills start ringing with sales.

 

I think GW may have already cottoned onto this with the Sisters. They've been milking the Astartes cash cow for a while now, to a point where they've now created a secondary set of Space Marines (Primaris) for existing collectors to buy who may already have extensive collections that GW wouldn't be able to sell to otherwise. Same with the various offshoots with the newer Mono-god Chaos forces, and even the Deathwatch to some degree. It creates a self-fulfilling prophecy that customers will only buy Astartes because they get the newest models / rules, and then when the company decides where to invest it's money the Astartes are seen as a safe bet because people buy them. Sisters became the polar opposite of this, hardly anyone collected them so GW stopped supporting them, so nobody wanted to collect them because there was no support. I think they've finally twigged that they need to do something major, which is why they announced it so prominently at Adepticon. Following suit with Orks would be good start, kick start their product line so that they become more appealing.

 

Other than that, I think the only real candidates I would say are probably the Eldar Aspect Warriors. There are a bunch of older character models that could do with a refresh, the likes of Abaddon or Azrael, but they've already shown that they're willing to do these when the time is right when they redid Khan, Ahirman and Typhus. The Aspect Warriors are either 2nd or 4th Edition in the main, but would at the very least be more attractive to do as players may actually want more than one unit of a particular aspect, and would rarely want more than one of a named character. Bundle in the Phoenix Lords as either clam pack individuals or options within the aspect box and there's an iconic set of 40k units brought right up to date. 

 

 

EDIT - Seems like I took so long to write my post that a lot of others have already chimed in with similar thoughts...

[Olis]

While already plastic, Berzerkers need a new set. It's been said umpteen times by a great many people. Also... Praetorians.

[Urriak Urruk]

Quickly perused over the GW website to see which armies look the most dated.

 

Sisters of Battle are the top, but obviously everyone knew that.

 

Number 2 I think is Chaos Space Marines... but they are kind of already getting replaced, and expanded upon. There used to be some dated Thousand Sons and Death Guard options, and now those are two full armies. I largely expect the same is eventually coming for both Emperor's Children and World Eaters, and maybe even other legions too.

 

Beyond that, maybe Craftworlds, but it really does seem to be a case of everybody's characters being really old. So bring on those Triumvirate character boxes!

[Master Commander Ajax]

Drazhar, Master of Blades. I loved the old model and still do but with what the GW studio can do these days I bet they could make something even better.

 

...yes I'm totally wish-listing. 

[Kinstryfe]

I think everything relevant has probably been said, but I'll add my opinions anyway. Aside from things that are already announced (i.e. sisters), I think we desperately need...

 

Aeldari Aspect Warriors. I'd bet money on the reason we don't have them being on trying to design dual kits that people won't go nuts over because, let's be honest, they're not likely to make a solo kit for each aspect. But, this alone has to be a huge detraction for a lot of people thinking of starting Aeldari.

 

Chaos Space Marines. Beyond showing their age, the design aesthetic has changed so much that a mix of the plastic troops kit, later plastic kits, and dark vengeance models just looks weird. While they're at it, cultists could use a proper kit, or even just some upgrade components to use with Militarum or Necromunda kits.

 

Astra Militarum. The range is almost perfect, but the book is focused on so many different regiments that the infantry line is sorely lacking. My fix? Upgrade sprues like the Genestealer Cults got. Instead of new kits, make a few generic upgrade sprues that can be used for AM regiments, chaos or xenos cultists, Necromunda gangs, anything else. Other companies are making a ton off of this. GW may as well get official product out there.

 

Orks. The rumors are strong with this. Update the ancient Gorkamorka stuff, release either kits or upgrade sprues for the stuff that's still hybrid.

 

Space Marines. A techmarine clam pack would be nice. In my dream world, mk5 and mk6 kits, but we don't need those. I just want them.

 

Overall. Just fill in the occasional gaps in finecast models. Generic characters, stuff like that that will sell enough to be worth it.

[Daimyo-Phaeron Lenoch]

Necron Flayed Ones and the C'Tan. 'nuff said.

[Calyptra]

Grotesques. All they have is a single, monopose sculpt, which means that every model in the unit is the same, in an identical pose. Aspect Warriors and other units still in resin at least have more than one model for the unit.

 

The various Court of the Archon options have the same issue - only one Sslyth, only one Lhamaean, etc. Mandrakes and Incubi are still in resin too, but at least there's more than one model.

 

If your unit has more than one model available for it, it does not need an update as badly as Grotesques.

[Claws and Effect]

Shrike needs a new sculpt.

 

Space Marines do not frolic.

[Tyriks]

I really wish they would make a plastic HQ kit for every faction like the SM commander. Give them options for wargear and some aesthetic options all on one sprue. For Necrons, they could have Lords, Overlords and Crypteks all on one sprue, with plenty of loadouts. Other armies could do the same. It would be less investment than making each individual character, and if I have the choice between a monopose finecast with no wargear options and a plastic kit, I'll buy the plastic every time. I hate all the monopose characters, and I hate working with finecast, and I especially hate chopping up finecast to try to change the wargear since it seems like they give every Necron the exact same loadout...

[Corswain]

This really seems like an issue that is already being worked on, the most positive example being the Sisters announcement. I have to imagine that GW wants everything to move to plastic eventually, it’s just going to be slow.

 

As for how we help it along - vote with your wallet and buy plastic. Then follow up with emails about when “X” will be re-done in plastic. Relentless badgering got us plastic Sisters so we know it works. :)

 

I have to say that I doubt FW is likely to move to plastic. Not anytime soon anyway. They’ve proven to be commercially succussful with their resin-based business model, the only thing they need to improve is production capacity. And I, and I believe many other customers, still find FW resin models to be superior to the plastic produced by GW (FW Guilliman is much better in my opinion than GW Guilliman, for example). Yes, people have issues with particular sculpts, but that’s true of GWs plastics too.

[Plasmablasts]

Astra Militarum is the big and problematic one in my opinion. Only two of the seven regiments are available in plastic and the basic Catachan sprue is due an update. The problem is how to give each Regiment all their options while preserving their visual identity yet not having 20+ boxes (replicating the Cadian and Catachan ranges as they currently are would be three boxes - Infantry, command and heavy - per Regiment). We’d also need officers for each Regiment, advisers, Psykers, Ratlings and preferably some variant Commissars.

 

And Rough Riders...!

[Cap'm Heckus]

Yes. Rough Riders. Also another guard regiment like the Praetorians or valhallans. Retire the catachans, move the Cadians to where the catachans were and bring in something new as the current standard.

[SickSix]

Considering the future is all primaris all the time, I know certain things I have dreamed of for a long time will now never happen.

 

But a plastic SM hero kit like choas has had for ages would have been great. Updated indominus terminators, command squad, legion of the damned...

 

Oh well.

[Wargamer]

MkVI Corvus squads. GW already have the sculpts spread across multiple ranges, so all they have to do is combine them in a ten man box.

[Raven1]

Top priority to named HQs across all factions IMO

Couldn't agree more, all HQs moved to plastic, i feel like those would be more likely to be purchased by players who have a metal or resin model. Rather than replacing troops, elites, FA, or heavy support in mass. Plus the older stuff can be a pain to put together.

[Panzer]

Top priority to giving each factions up to date troop models and after that HQs (not just named ones) imo. ^^

[Claws and Effect]

On a more serious note than my last post in this thread:

 

Prioritize updated kits for the units that haven't seen an update in ages.

 

SM Scouts, with all viable options combined into one kit.

 

Tyranid Gaunts, preferably with Termagants and Hormagaunts combined.

 

Khorne Berzerkers.

 

Generic Chaos Marines.

 

Basically anything that hasn't had an update in the last 10-15 years that could be combined into a single kit to save on shelf space.