Blood Moon Miniatures: HQ-style figures

[Daedalus]

The problem is motivating a donator of the rare (read expensive) figures. Why risk damaging the figures, or getting them lost in the mail? I wonder if drathe could be bribed into lending his figures on a set-by-set basis. He has a Paypal donate button right on the Homepage, you know. There's also the Cancer Society sponsor link he's posted. If enough of us pledged to donate to one or the other, maybe he would set his price. After it was satisfied, Big Bene could take over. What do ya think, drathe?

Come to think of it, I have the Warhammer Quest figures drathe mentioned that he wanted. Big Bene, do you think you could cast up the giant rats, giant spiders, and giant bats that came with that game? A recast-figure exchange, perhaps?

[Big Bene]

I think I could do this. I recently had a copy of Warhammer Quest printed and bound. Don't think I'll ever play it, but it's a nice source of ideas...
Yes, would defnitely like to have the minis, too (I wouldn't copy any minis I'm not interested in myself, unless I'm paid for. It's really not that difficult, but it's still time consuming).

Here in Germany, you can buy a sort of insurance when sending a parcel, so the post has to pay when it gets lost. For some strange reason, these parcels never get lost (unlike normal ones...). Surely other postal services have somthing alike...

[el_flesh]

Make sure you send any minis well bubble wrapped and sealed in a STRONG envelope - wherever they go!
If Bene can make a good guide on copying minis, I would be willing to drive several hours eastward to drathe and DO the moulds right on his premises! - Only it would be figures which are out of production! Not ones that have a copyright!

[drathe]

Had I duplicate copies of MM and FH, you might get me to crack. But as I only have one set of each, I would never chance them.

Eventually I will have another set. We may discuss the terms then.

[Big Bene]

Make sure you send any minis well bubble wrapped and sealed in a STRONG envelope - wherever they go!
If Bene can make a good guide on copying minis, I would be willing to drive several hours eastward to drathe and DO the moulds right on his premises! - Only it would be figures which are out of production! Not ones that have a copyright!

I posted something of a "guide" here. Don't know how to explain it better, but feel free to ask any questions.

A few remark on some details:
- I really recommend the Lego method for the box to cast the silicone mould.
- leave some room for the valve at the side that will be the top of the mould, where you will fill in the fluid metal/resin. A bigger valve will make casting easier, take up surplus material, and adds pressure to the fluid in the mould.
- If you cast soft metal, don't forget to pre-heat the mould. You can use a hot air pistol or just make some "pre-casts" with the hot metal.
- Resin will give a better look (closer to the original plastics), but metal is easier to cast, gives sturdier results and is much cheaper. Moreover, resin will "eat" the silicone over time.

As for copyright - items out of production are still not pubilc domain. HeroQuest is copyrighted, the figures as well as the printed material. Hasbro could stop drathe publishing all the printables here at the forum. Point is, they don't want to enforce their rights on material they don't have financial interest in any more, which is pretty nice (on the other hand, Greed Workshop is very protective about their old copyrights. That's why you can't download AHQ material here).

Had I duplicate copies of MM and FF, you might get me to crack.

What's FF? The frozen Fearie?

[drathe]

What's FF? The frozen Fearie?

A typo.

[Daedalus]

Had I duplicate copies of MM and FH, you might get me to crack. But as I only have one set of each, I would never chance them.

Eventually I will have another set. We may discuss the terms then.

That would be great, drathe! I understand how you don't want to risk your collection.

Would anybody else be interested in pooling together to make some figs? Enough of us could provide some motivation for a purchase.

[Patroclus]

What price do you consider reasonable for a full set of HQ metal miniatures (from pewter)? 35 miniatures, about 700gr.

[Big Bene]

The pewter is really inexpensive. Say, rather less than 10€ for this amount. The silicone ruber for the moulds is much more expensive, you would need around 3000gr, wich would be around 80 € if you find an unopened can at ebay, much more at the store. Of course, you can use the moulds several times. It depends on how many people would share the moulds. I initially planned to make and keep the moulds on my own expenses, but I had not yet given a thought about how much I would take for a figure in this case. I think taking a small fee for the work and expenses would be OK, but how much? No idea...

[el_flesh]

It could wind up paying for itself pretty soon I think. If you asked for the same amount a regular available figure goes for today at a store, say 2 or 3 E; plus shipping, it would be doable. I know I would want several figs. You ought to be able to get a few of them together in one mould, minimizing your Si expense.

One other thing - there are kits in sex shops that let you make a copy of your junk for your lover. If it's the same quality mould making, it might be more economical!