Model Figures vs. Figurines. Why one and not the other?

[Ong]

Why do figure modelers prefer buying, building, and painting model figures to paint compared to some resin, bronze, porcelain, or metal figurines one could buy online or at a shop, premade but unpainted?

I don't think it's mainly because we like gluing model figures together. Some model figures, like figurines, are cast as one piece too. And yet of all the model figure forums I've visited, there hasn't been (m)any figurines painted or on display as "in progress." Why is that?

I'm asking because the figurine world seems to have a lot of subjects not even made as model figures...angels and archangels for instance. It's not that the figurines are cheaper, no, some figurines cost more than a resin figure. And some figurines are highly detailed and proportional. Yet still, even I prefer the model kit over the figurine for some odd reason.

Do figurines have something that doesn't allow model paint to stick? Are figurines too rounded or smooth and not crisp enough? Or is it even more obvious...such as (no offense anyone) a gender role where men build models, not paint figurines!

I'd be interested to hear your views. I for one can't seem to find a resin figure kit of an archangel and yet there are many figurines of them.

Thanks.

 

[Knikki]

For me I did not know anything about figurines until reading this.

I suppose when you go looking in model shops or online at the manufactures you don't see figurines offered for sale, could be wrong on this.

Or maybe they subject matter does not appeal?

 

[Jamie Stokes]

For me, a multi part answer is best......

- subject: Military figures are usually discovered after a foray into kits. We started with pilots or tank commanders or infantry or race car driver or fire fighter or whatever as adding some life to the vehicle.

- conversion possibilities: Most of us on here would have started with the Tamiya type figures, stuck the arms, legs and heads on, painted, done. Then we got adventurous, and started repositioning arms, legs, turning heads.... then we went onto swapping legs, scraping off details, adding our own.... I cant imagine doing that with a porcelain or cold cast figure. It's like asking a carpenter to go from 50 odd types of wood, to shifting to steel fabrication.

For the manufacturer, it's easy enough to use the materials in house on the same production line to cross/ up-sell figures alongside vehicles. Plus my glues, paints etc will work.

- end display results. to grab your example of the Angel type figures, the porcelion types are usually able to be held, and seem (to me, at least) to be picked up, admired, turned this way and that, and given a dusting once a week while displayed on the mantle piece.
Our figures, once painted, are usually displayed behind glass, as they are usually a lot more fragile, and none us want to clean finger marks off our Hussar/ GI/ superhero/ Dinosaur bust. We expect them to be picked up by the base, if ever, and admired visually, rather then a combination of tactile also....
(we all have the story of hearing an admirer of hours of our work asking "gee, does this turn/ work /go up and down?" followed by the soft yet distinct noise of plastic giving way under a load never designed for.....)

- target market: I think you may have semi answered your own question. For what ever reason, mostly fellows enter the field of making vehicles, kits, etc, and some ladies do enter (and do equally stunning work!) I think if this question was asked in the ceramic figures/ cold cast porcelain figure community (there is one, trust me) you find a similar ratio, just flipped the other way. Just what ever works for the mindset of the buyers.....


My 2 bobs worth,

*not just based on idle fact, I backed it all up with cold, hard, speculation!

 

[Mariner]

I can comment as a female
I used to collect the 'Country Artist' wildlife figurines and it was the detail and fabulous painting on them that appealed to me...as a longtime fine artist, I've just started the model figure hobby and I'm certainly hooked.
I'm not looking for angels or faeries and I'm not really into 20th century military models, for me the appeal is in history; musketeers, pirates, cowboys and Indians etc.
I'm also happy to collect something I painted myself rather than simply buying figurines that I put on a shelf and dust
Mary

 

[Ong]

Thanks for the answers. I agree model figures have the added benefit of converting.

For those subjects not available as model kit figures, would it be easy to buy an unpainted figurine, prime it, and paint it? Some of those bronzed-finished figurines seem mighty smooth to the touch. Yet I don't know of many who use this approach. It's as if it is not made as a model kit figure, chances are one's out of luck.

 

[FigureLover]

There are a lot of people who paint up figurines, I think its more of a subject matter than anything else. Most figurines are of either wildlife or fantasy, or thats what I have seen anyway. Most people on this site tend to lean towards military subjects and those are mainly produced in kit form.
There have been quite a few people here who have painted figurines such as a pirate series recently and quite a few 1/6 scale Naked Army Australian Defence force figurines that are produced as faux bronze statues. Some people even repaint staues or the "Battle Barbies" ie Dragon 1/6 scale military series, so I guess it all depends on the subject matter.
Ben

 

[Einion]

For those subjects not available as model kit figures, would it be easy to buy an unpainted figurine, prime it, and paint it? Some of those bronzed-finished figurines seem mighty smooth to the touch.

Often yes. Smoothness isn't inherently an issue BTW - good primer will stick even to shiny metal.

I've painted a couple of figurines (as well as busts in a similar vein), the main reason I haven't done more is simply that they tend not to be up to my preferred standards of sculpting finesse. The ones that would be though (usually wildlife pieces) tend to be expensive enough that I wouldn't want to buy them for this purpose.

Einion