Fans of Mikes Models 15mms

[martin goddard]

Those Minfigs strips.
marvellous.
The moulds were destroyed i think but Neville still has all the masters as they were made in metal.


martin

[Leman (Andy)]

When you say the moulds were destroyed is there a particular reason that companies do that, as it seems a great loss otherwise?

[sukhe_bator (Neil)]

From my experience with centrifugal casting the moulds are only good for about 1000 castings before they start to deteriorate and have to be recut. The silicon degrades in reaction with the hot metal over time and starts to harden, go brittle and crumble and the process continues on the shelf I understand... I'm not sure if the old Minifig strips were drop cast or not but the casting is brutal on the moulds nevertheless...

[Leman (Andy)]

Thanks, that explains why some ranges disappear. Also enforces the old adage, don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today.

[Colonel Kilgore]

And why everyone should rush to buy Martin's latest sculpts before the moulds start to get tired

Simon

[martin goddard]

Moulds take up a lot of space.
The current PP moulds would fill 4 transit vans.
That is a lot of idle storage space if the moulds are not working and space costs money.

I was offered the Pete Laing company, but the storage would have made me lose more money due to storage than any potential sales.
I remember seeing the moulds of battle honours when they went into the abyss. There were about 12 stacks each 5foot high that I saw.


martin

[martin goddard]

The other aspect of mould life are the  sculpt designs.
Mike's models had such deep undercuts that it tore moulds to bits. Maybe that is why the Essex figures are very "no-undercut".

Now and then this issue arises with Peter Pig.
Remember the PP ECW cuirassiers that folk were upset about because they had infill instead of undercuts with the rider's arm?

I have had Minifigs and Hinchliffe 25mm with big "bags of coal" under their arms.

Mike in the workshop re makes an old mould about twice a month.

martin

[Leslie BT]

My Mikes Models for Patrols in the Sudan.

Some Highlanders.



Machine gunners.


Regular infantry.


Naval brigade.

[sukhe_bator (Neil)]

Blimey Martin, that's a helluva lot of moulds! I've seen a shed full when I did summer work for a figure maker producing 54mm - and the moulds are not light either. I have fond memories of lugging them around and clamping them in the casting machine and watching the molten metal magic happen!

[Colonel Kilgore]

Those are very nice, Les. How I wish I'd jumped over to 15mm properly and sooner when these were still available...

Simon

[martin goddard]

Mike and Nigel do a lot of carrying moulds around. It does look quite physical. Best leave them to it. Don't want to interrupt the work flow.....


When I make master moulds they are usually 6" diameter which i can cope fine with.
Production moulds are mostly 9" diameter which makes them a  lot heavier.
A 9"mould weighs 1.5 kg.

martin

[Flaminpig0]

Those Minfigs strips.
marvellous.
The moulds were destroyed i think but Neville still has all the masters as they were made in metal.


martin

The Minifigs strips and Mikes Models are some of my favourite figures. I would have to say the later Minifigs and Essex just didn't have the same character

[Leman (Andy)]

I had some real favourites in the old Renaissance range, but my top favourite was the mounted arquebusier, looking very Italian in slashed and ruffed sleeves, tight hose, boots and a peaked helmet. I painted them up in a black and grey uniform inspired by clothing in the 70s BBC production of The Borgias. (And yes, it was in colour).