Is this figure Resin? Really?

[kathrynloch]

I'm going to post this here because while I'm not new to figures or to the hobby this is such a basic question...I'm almost embarrassed to ask it.

I purchased a Nocturna figure The Usurper 54mm. At the online store where I bought it, they also carried other 54mm by this company (Cedric of Wessex) and The Usurper is $20 MORE and it's the only figure without a mount that expensive.

Hey, I'm a Conan fan (of the books) and loved the artwork on the covers. This sculpt is similar. Unfortunately there was no description about the model, just the box art and the fact it's 54mm. Okay being $20 more, I figured it was white metal. I have several high quality white metal figures from other companies that are beautiful sculpts and they are around the same price.

I got the package today and I was stunned to discover plastic.



It's loaded with flash, sprue and some wicked seam lines. I've received GW plastic minis looking better than this.



But it is a different kind of plastic than GW so I jumped over here and did a quick search on the Reviews. I found the one Guy did on Cedric. It's hard to tell from photos but Cedric is definitely MUCH cleaner and he stated Cedric was resin.

Is this what resin is in the figure world? I'm taken aback because the model horses I purchase from independent "freelance" sculptors are made of plastic resin but they are nothing like this.

I think I'll do an open box since I have more pictures and don't want to do a "review" or anything here. I'm just totally confused about resin now, and throw in the flash and the sprue....*sigh*

 

[Jim Patrick]

WOW! Is it bendable/pliable? Could just be a softer resin....possibly. Not sure really.

Just had a look on Nocturna's website and it's listed as a 54mm figure. If your'e not happy with it, you could always try to return it. Plastic.....wow, hope someone comes on here and explains this.

I too am a Conan fan. All the way back to my childhood reading the Robert E. Howard books with the Frank Frazetta artwork. I was even a fan of the original Dark Horse comics (which stuck semi closely to the books). They sported some great artwork. Then they switch authors and artists so I'm not really a fan anymore.

If your'e interested, Andrea did a nice Conan figure and it's 54mm.

Jim Patrick

 

[kathrynloch]

Hey Jim,

Yes, it's very bendable - I can bend the sword easily. It looks and acts like plastic but the feel of it is different. Like it has a slight texture to it...it's hard to explain.

Years ago I purchased a Greater War Demon figure that's resin. It feels more like plastic than my resin horses do but it's solid and heavy. I accidentally broke the sword off in his hand because I thought it was more flexible than it really was. While I was kinda iffy on that one, the resin qualities are there.

But remember, the only resin I truly know are my horses, so I may not recognize what is the norm within the figure industry.

The resin horses are also a far cry from the cellulose acetate plastic that make up the mass market Breyers horses. And as a former LOTR collector I've got a ton of GW plastic around here.

This reminds me so much of the LOTR plastic except for this "texture" like thing it's got going on.

I honestly have no idea but the store I purchased it from takes returns only on defective products. Still, I might write them and ask. $55 bucks is $55 bucks.

And yup I'm the same about the Howard books and the Frazzetta artwork! lol! I did see that Andrea figure which I want to get. We will see how it goes.

 

[gordy]

Can't say for this kit specifically, but there is a wide array of differing resins in our market.

Resins range from hard and brittle, to soft and pliable and degrees in between it all depends on the brand and the producers ratios, and soemtimes dyes or fillers added.

The sprues and flash (also range from producer to producer) are not new to our genre as each mold is hand made and cut. Some producers take every chance to not cut molds (to avoid seem lines) Verlinden is one such producer, but that comes with the cost of added engineering of parts breakdown to simplify non-cut molds. Other producers will cast an almost complete figure in one piece albeit their quantities of production are lower allowing them more care and attention to demolding.

I know that doesn't help your current dilemma at hand with the broken sword But that's a brief missive on resin, sprue and flash

 

[kathrynloch]

Thanks Gordy! I had a feeling there might be a huge variation in resin but the model horse industry is surprisingly standardized. The Breyer horses are injection molds but the resins by the independent sculptors and sent to companies for casting are rotocast.

I did go back through and to a quick look at two or three of Guy's open box photos - just a random pick. I didn't see any that looked the Usurper with this gray color. But one of the first I looked at was a pink/flesh tone color and the resin looks almost exactly like this Greater War Demon I have.

I have a feeling this is resin just very low quality. I did write to ask to return it so we'll see if they respond tomorrow. I strongly doubt I will buy another Nocturna model.

I cropped and resized some pics and will post an Open Box that way folks can take a look it and it and make their own decisions.

Thanks again for the info, Gordy! Looking at this one, it makes me wonder what the difference is between resin and plastic. But looking at the War Demon and the horses, the differences are plain as day.

 

[gordy]

Was the kit in the original packaging ? If not, there's a chance that the kit was a knock-off, a re-cast, which of course would be most unfortunate, but does happen.

 

[T50]

Was the kit in the original packaging ? If not, there's a chance that the kit was a knock-off, a re-cast, which of course would be most unfortunate, but does happen.

I was wondering the same...

 

[kathrynloch]

I honestly don't know. It came in a box with a nice quality label. But no blister like Guy described for Cedric. It was wrapped in bubble wrap and tightly wrapped in a plastic bag.

I got it from the CMON store and the label says CMON is the US licenser. So if it's a knock-off, I think CMON might have some 'splainin' to do.

Click the thumbnail for larger pics.





I'll post the other pics to the Open Box thread tomorrow. I gotta crash so I can go to work. lol!

 

[Fernando Ruiz]

I honestly don't know. It came in a box with a nice quality label. But no blister like Guy described for Cedric. It was wrapped in bubble wrap and tightly wrapped in a plastic bag.

I got it from the CMON store and the label says CMON is the US licenser. So if it's a knock-off, I think CMON might have some 'splainin' to do.

Click the thumbnail for larger pics.





I'll post the other pics to the Open Box thread tomorrow. I gotta crash so I can go to work. lol!

Hi, I didn't saw this thread until now.

I cannot judge the quality of this copy of the Usurper because I don't have it in my hands right now but I can tell you that the other copies I saw of this one are made of top quality resin. The same goes for all the other Jesus' products. I have had the pleasure of painting a few ones for the boxart and never found any major issue.

The package is definitively different from the typical acetate blister they use to come in. Maybe the US distributor has something to do in that.

About the price, Keep in mind that this miniature is not a simple 54mm, it comes with a large throne in which he seats, so the cost is obviously a bit higher. In Spain, it costs 36€, that is more or less the 55 bucks you paid.

I know that Jesús is concerned about all customer feedback so I will phone him and surely he will give you any explanation needed.

Regards
FeR

 

[dArtagnan]

I have some Nocturna figures in my gray army like this Arnold, and they all come in little plastic boxes, and in my opinion they are one of the best casted resin figures I have ever seen in my life. There are some sprue to be removed, but my "arnold" had no clean up needed like lines or bad casting.
I would dare to say, not original. I hope you get a good respons.
All the best, Eddy

 

[megroot]

I have done a Nocturna figure and it is indeed a soft grey resin.
But they are cast very clean, small mouldblocks and very crispy casting.
Nothing like what i seen here.

Marc

 

[HistoricArt miniatures]

Dear sirs.
My name is Jesus Martin, I´m the owner of Nocturna models and Historic Art miniatures.
Recently, CMON started their own production of the figures in US. They sent me a copy to chek the quality of the figures, and I must say that this is NOT what I produce and not what they show me. This figure is made in US by CMON, and very bad quality. Original pieces are made in Europe by professional casters.
This problem means that CMON is not doing right their work, and they must be responsible of what they´re doing. They have mislead me and you. Return them the figure.
Please, for every figure in bad quality, mail me to: [email protected] and I will send free urgently a replacemente figure.
This is not going to happen again, CMON is the only responsible of this intolerable problem.
For questions, complaints or whatever, please, fell free to mail me in person to [email protected]
Thank you very much
HA miniatures

 

[housecarl]

Now that is what customer service should be like.
Well done Jesus,
Carl.

 

[Chern Ann]

Hi,
Chern Ann from CoolMiniOrNot here. As Jesus says, these figures are manufactured under license from Nocturna, from resin approved by Jesus and which we use on our own products (Dark Age, our large Owl/Eagle/Griffon) etc.
The process used is vacuum assisted resin casting, which creates an even, bubble-free cast. The resin is intentionally gray, and not white. A little flexibility is also intentional to ensure sharp points etc do not break. We are capable of casting in polystone which may be more what you are familiar with (an almost plaster like effect) but have found that this is not suitable for this type of product due to its inherent brittleness.

Kathryn,
From the pictures that are posted, I do not see unusual amounts of flash and/or miscasts, or bad mold seaming. Since we discard molds after about 30 casts (sometimes less), we usually do not encounter quality issues but as always with quality control, sometimes one might slip by. If you received a negative response from our customer support, I'd be happy to investigate the problem with the cast and issue a refund. Just drop me an email at [email protected] with your order number and I can follow it up from there.

edit: I did a quick check and we received a support ticket from you yesterday at 10pm, so this would probably be our first response to your complaint.

 

[gordy]

Thank you Jesús and Chern Ann for your responses. Outstanding work gentlemen on helping sort this out and best wishes and successes going forward.

 

[megroot]

Great customer support.

Marc

 

[Meehan34]

CMON is a licensed distributor and has the license to make them in the U.S, so it isn't the Nocturna factory making them but the CMON factory making them. This would explain the different packaging. I have this same kit but I bought it from Nocturna and Like Fer says it isn't just a simple 54mm figure so the extra cost is correct. Your pictures look like the normal amount of sprue for this kit. I personally would pay more for a resin kit than a white metal kit. Resin is easier to put together and clean up. Resin figures have crisper details like eyes and ears while white metal usually doesn't.

 

[housecarl]

I've certainly become a resin snob. As Mike says, easier to clean up, cheaper to post, better details, and it holds paint better. Although I do appreciate that some have allergy issues with resin. Not wanting to hijack the thread, so apologies,
Carl.

 

[kathrynloch]

Wow! First off, please allow me to apologize. I never thought posting my question would cause such a furor and it was not my desire to hit such a hot button topic.

I appreciate both Jesus and Chern for their responses and working to make a customer happy. My only intent with my original post was to learn and gain information.

I wanted to understand if this was the norm with resin figures since it is not at all what is the norm with the resin model horses.

Again Jesus and Chern have both been wonderful. It is very good for me to learn that this is the standard for resin in this industry, since the one I'm familiar with is very different.

 

[gothicgeek]

Karrie ...

The resin used for your Conan figure is probably a Polystyrene resin ( plastic ) without any additives ( coal, metal, chalk etc ) ...

Trying to clean-up really hard resin pieces is a nightmare ...


The cut lines down the legs will need some careful clean-up but as the medium is quite soft a sharp x-acto style knife and a file are about all you need.

Are the horse models supplied cleaned-up? and is the resin very hard?

I much prefer Resin over white metal these days too.



HTH

Mark