Jamie Stokes
A Fixture
OK, first of all, let me set down my qualifications for doing a figure review.
None. Smallish grey army, and have painted 8 figures to date. So my experience is limited.
So this will be a semi - objective opinion piece, and I have tried to assign some values to the process, so the evaluation process can be sorted out, rather then ...."hmm, I really like this subject, so I'll rave about it".
Here is the process I am going to follow.
Subject - no marks, just the title. Potted history, or back ground description.
Ordering and Delivery
Ordering - how easy was it to order on-line (or over the phone, out of a catalogue, via fax, carrier pigeon, etcetera) and then get what was ordered within a decent time at a decent price.
Ordering - 2 marks. 1 mark for ease of ordering., 1 mark for timely (within 72 hours) replies
Payment - 3 marks. 1 mark for ease of paying, 1 mark being for able to pay securely, 1 mark for acknowledgement of payment
Delivery - 2 marks, did the item ordered show up? and did it show up within a reasonable time frame? (3 - 3& 1/2 weeks for a surface economy order)
Packaging
Was the figure (or paint, putty, reference book, brushes, tools, gadget, gizmo, do-dad or essential 'bit of kit') securely packed, padded or boxed to guard against the casually incurred damage sometimes viewed when items go through the mail or courier system?
Packaging - Figure protected from transit damage and 'bruising'. 2 marks (box and padding)
Security - reasonable steps taken to ensure small parts are not lost, and resist damage (ie, zip lock bags, backed onto cardboard) 2 marks
Instructions
Simply, How do I put this together, and then paint it? And in what colours? was it red cuffs for the cavalry, or the blue cuffs for the grenadiers, those kind of things. Is there a image (or two) that helps with the instructions
Instructions - text, line art work, combination included. 1 mark if present.
Image for reference - photo of at least front and back view. 2 marks if present. Additional marks for images (painted or otherwise) on how to put the figure together, or additional views. maximum additional 4 marks.
Casting
What material is this made from; resin, metal, combination of materials for different parts, quality of casting also
Casting - No air bubbles present? 3 marks. (or!) Air bubbles present, in easy fixed places? 2 marks. Good textures, 2 marks. Good fit, 2 marks
Loose marks for the following
- mould slippage - 2 marks
- air bubbles, more then 11 over the figure.* 2 marks
- rough casting or short pours. Where a casting is in complete. 2 marks
*I had to think over this number, and I have started with this figure of 11. Some air bubbles are almost inevitable in most figures. I chose to build on some lee-way, yet balance that against a number that still allows a figure to approach sale worthiness.
Fit - How closely do the parts fit? I'd allow a 2-3 mm gap for figures above 70mm, 1-2 mm below that. 5 points maximum, loose a mark per poor fit, per part.
*For the 30mm size minis (and lower) I dont usually see these in multiple parts, so I'd automatically award the points.
So a quick tally.
Payment & Delivery - 7 marks
Packaging - 4 marks
Instructions - 3 marks
Casting - 7 marks
Fit - 5 marks
Total - 26 marks.
And of course, there will be the human element added back in, to compensate for rigidly applied markings
Onto the review.
More...
None. Smallish grey army, and have painted 8 figures to date. So my experience is limited.
So this will be a semi - objective opinion piece, and I have tried to assign some values to the process, so the evaluation process can be sorted out, rather then ...."hmm, I really like this subject, so I'll rave about it".
Here is the process I am going to follow.
Subject - no marks, just the title. Potted history, or back ground description.
Ordering and Delivery
Ordering - how easy was it to order on-line (or over the phone, out of a catalogue, via fax, carrier pigeon, etcetera) and then get what was ordered within a decent time at a decent price.
Ordering - 2 marks. 1 mark for ease of ordering., 1 mark for timely (within 72 hours) replies
Payment - 3 marks. 1 mark for ease of paying, 1 mark being for able to pay securely, 1 mark for acknowledgement of payment
Delivery - 2 marks, did the item ordered show up? and did it show up within a reasonable time frame? (3 - 3& 1/2 weeks for a surface economy order)
Packaging
Was the figure (or paint, putty, reference book, brushes, tools, gadget, gizmo, do-dad or essential 'bit of kit') securely packed, padded or boxed to guard against the casually incurred damage sometimes viewed when items go through the mail or courier system?
Packaging - Figure protected from transit damage and 'bruising'. 2 marks (box and padding)
Security - reasonable steps taken to ensure small parts are not lost, and resist damage (ie, zip lock bags, backed onto cardboard) 2 marks
Instructions
Simply, How do I put this together, and then paint it? And in what colours? was it red cuffs for the cavalry, or the blue cuffs for the grenadiers, those kind of things. Is there a image (or two) that helps with the instructions
Instructions - text, line art work, combination included. 1 mark if present.
Image for reference - photo of at least front and back view. 2 marks if present. Additional marks for images (painted or otherwise) on how to put the figure together, or additional views. maximum additional 4 marks.
Casting
What material is this made from; resin, metal, combination of materials for different parts, quality of casting also
Casting - No air bubbles present? 3 marks. (or!) Air bubbles present, in easy fixed places? 2 marks. Good textures, 2 marks. Good fit, 2 marks
Loose marks for the following
- mould slippage - 2 marks
- air bubbles, more then 11 over the figure.* 2 marks
- rough casting or short pours. Where a casting is in complete. 2 marks
*I had to think over this number, and I have started with this figure of 11. Some air bubbles are almost inevitable in most figures. I chose to build on some lee-way, yet balance that against a number that still allows a figure to approach sale worthiness.
Fit - How closely do the parts fit? I'd allow a 2-3 mm gap for figures above 70mm, 1-2 mm below that. 5 points maximum, loose a mark per poor fit, per part.
*For the 30mm size minis (and lower) I dont usually see these in multiple parts, so I'd automatically award the points.
So a quick tally.
Payment & Delivery - 7 marks
Packaging - 4 marks
Instructions - 3 marks
Casting - 7 marks
Fit - 5 marks
Total - 26 marks.
And of course, there will be the human element added back in, to compensate for rigidly applied markings
Onto the review.
More...
