About that box art ...

[Russ]

I know that some box illustrations are pictures of (un)finished subjects, but how often are they an artist's rendering, i.e. a painting or drawing?

In the plastic model world, it's a general maxim that a good picture for the boxart can be a big influence on sales. Some of the figure & bust box art I see - especially, it seems, on more mainstream providers - looks to me more like a painting than a photograph of a finished piece.

Do mine eyes deceive me? TIA for any thoughts or information.

 

[Bundook]

Some are digital paintings of the 3D renders done on the computer (as if just showing us digital renderings wasn't already misleading enough )

 

[Ferris]

It’s called marketing.
Of course fancy packaging helps sales, just as ugly boxart will hurt them. This goes for any product.

There are so many ways we can get informed about the actual quality these days: internet reviews are particularly informative. As long as it is not actively deceiving customers, I don’t see any issue with it.

And Tamiya’s boxart particularly are works of art in themselves! Actually, who needs the kit to be in the box at all? It’s not like it will ever be built anyway....

Adrian

 

[Russ]

@Ferris: I'm not saying there's anything wrong with it, just - as a relative newbie to figures and busts - trying to figure out if it's as much a norm as with plane, tank, and car models. Sometimes it's hard to tell what realistic results might look like.

Which brings me to another point: As a plastic modeller, I'm used to seeing color call-outs in the instructions. Not always correct, not always clear, but they are at least starting points for research, discussion, and refinement. I've seen color call-outs in maybe 4-5 figure/bust kits, and two of those in Italian only (which, of course, I don't speak). That makes many figure kits a guessing game, especially when the box art is "artistic" and not easy to eyeball.

First-world problems, all, of course.

 

[Nap]

Hi

As Ferris says ...marketing....we all like a picture ...it can have both positive and negative effects on a Modeller i.e: impressed by the painting and a reference it gives or the purchaser thinking he will never reach the box art level

As for colour call outs .....often very minimal if included...but for me it's all about the research

Happy benchtime

Nap

 

[valiant]

Hi

As Ferris says ...marketing....we all like a picture ...it can have both positive and negative effects on a Modeller i.e: impressed by the painting and a reference it gives or the purchaser thinking he will never reach the box art level

As for colour call outs .....often very minimal if included...but for me it's all about the research

Happy benchtime

Nap

I have to agree. I dont think Ive ever completed a kit (of any genre) by following the box art. I like to conduct my own research and "tweak" things a bit, to make it interesting!

 

[Warren SMITH]

Great box art sells, hands down.. I bought a lot of Dragon figure kits just for the box art.. Yes it is frustrating when the model does not match the box art.. But then again, neither do my modelling skills or painting skills either..

 

[Forté]

If you mean busts like those Young Miniatures sell... their box artists, the likes of Kirill Kaenev, are actually that good that their work looks like a painting. You see photos and videos of their work at shows and you know how high quality their work is.

Kirill is a prime example of someone who knows how to paint busts and figures with taking photographs in mind. His NMM work reportedly in the hand looks messy but put a camera in front of it and it looks like reflective metal.

Alexandros is an example of another company who's box arts are works of art.

On the other hand, there is nothing wrong with putting a completely unpainted photo, a 3D render image, 2d concept art or painting on a box. That way there's no influence on how a customer will be painting.

 

[Hawk_Uk]

Where ever possible I always get one of our kits painted and then photographed (Not a cheap option) for use on the box (hence the name box art) as well as using them in the kit instructions. Those painted models are then displayed at show for people to look at to get inspiration.

The pictures for me are more for the novice or hobby modeller to give them a good place to start working on the kit. For experienced modellers I expect the kits to be adjusted or converted and then painted all from research, especially any ground work.