What new resin civilian figures would you like to see?

[tigerdio]

Hi there to all.
This poll is for research purposes, it is very serious in nature and I would appreciate it if you give your imput on figures that you would actually want to buy.
Since I have lost my regular day job due to a corporate downsizing I am now doing the business full time and I am looking to expand the figure range by creating and offering different civilians in resin.
I am looking at doing civilians in 1/35, 54mm, and 1/48 scales. Most of these releases will be simple individual figures or small sets. Most of the figures will be one piece castings all the way to 3 piece castings (arms separate). I want to be able to sell these resin figures at around $10.00USD per figure if not lower. I want to make them very affordable and cost effective to produce and market. I am not looking to get rich at this just want to be able to pay the bills.
I will compile a list of the most popular themes and give my sculptor the go ahead to start the mastering process.
Any research help, photos, etc that you can also provide would be most welcomed. You can send any photos, or research help such as drawings, paintings, etc to [email protected]
I sincerely thank you all for your honest and informative participation with this poll. In the end it will benefit us all. You will get some nice resin civilians at a cheap and affordable price and I get to produce more of them as well.
Cheers,
Jose.T.Rodriguez
Tiger Productions

 

[DEL]

Jose
first of all good luck on the expanded venture....as to the figures.
I think that there is a definite market gap for decent civilian figures but from a commercial perspective I believe anything you produce needs to attract the broadest modeller base.
Can I then suggest you look at civilian figures engaged in activities that allow for some scenic interpretation. Examples could be Lumberjacks, Deep sea fishers, Truckers etc all of either gender before I get into trouble.
My personal favourite would be a waitress and grill cook from one of the iconic American Diners.
Best Wishes
Derek

 

[redhorse]

I'm thinking with that price range and civilian figures, you might want to test 1/24th scale. You could get the model car market and you'd be very close to G Scale model railroads. I think that's 70mm scale, which seems to be gaining popularity in the model figure community as well. As far as subjects, I really don't know. You could pretty much do anything and you could fit it into a diorama or a garden train layout.

 

[Jamie Stokes]

Jose,
sorry to hear about the enforced career change.

as for figures and paying the bills, well, they have to sell.

Yes, there is a gap for figures in the civilian world, but they do have to sell.

Within the smaller scales, WW2 civilians from Europe and America should appeal.

Consider expanding the base to the car market, and the train world.

Perhaps also figures of firefighters police and ambulance could also be a area as well. semi generic with a rang of adaptability over eras.

HTH

Cheers

 

[Michael D]

Hi,

I'm very interested in modern civilian figure's in 1/32 scale to populate my
Slot Car circuit. I'm sure there's a big market out there for reasonably
priced figurine's that are different to the norm.

Scenic slot-car circuit's are getting more and more popular, with some
painted figure's being bid on up to £100.00 with many getting to around
£40.00.

There's a hugh choice of subject matter; Spectator's, Driver's, Mechanic's,
Pit-girl's, Marshal's, Press, Emergency service's, vendor's, etc. etc.

Nearly as much choice of era; pre-war, post-war, each decade, modern.

Michael.

 

[Ong]

Modern ones. Period.

Ever notice that most of the 1/35 civilians are dated WW2? Even the architecture figures are confined to the same five male and female types offered by Plastruct.

There has been a cry and demand for modern African militia soldiers and pirates for a very long time. (The OOP Warriors T-55 crew was very much in demand).

How about 1/35 VIP civilians (female and males) in business suits for PMC protection or made to look like FBI or Secret Service with sunglasses? Even modern regular office workers, teenagers, or students might prove useful to 1/35 architecture buildings and displays. Modern figures don't have to be complex...just a shirt, sweater, slacks or jeans, and shoes.

The 1/35 civilian figure market is really confined to WW2 so any civilians out of that era should be a major help.

 

[Michael D]

Hi Ong.

Question's. to you and anyone else requiring 1960's to present day civilian figure's.

What do you want them for? Diorama's, scenic, crowd's or more detailed individual's?
Is the face important?

I've noticed most of the painter's on here (who show their face above the parapet!) are extremely good painter's and quite frankly, I can't see them wanting what would be "sub-standard" in quality of detail.

PM me answer's if you like. I am very interested.

Michael.

 

[Ong]

Hi Michael,

>>"What do you want them for? Diorama's, scenic, crowd's or more detailed individual's?
Is the face important?"

My first intention was to use them to stand next to 1/24 model cars and trucks, but as I started buying more and more kits, I realized that I lacked the display shelf space for 1/24 vehicles so I sold all of those kits years back. Now I would just use the figures as detailed individuals with perhaps a base or vignette.

Yes, the face and details are important but so is the body. I don't want "soft detailed" figures that resemble model railroad figures. I know Scale Productions makes some 1/24 civilian figures, and they're pretty cool (I haven't bought any though), but I am looking for something a bit more detailed. Hobby Design makes some as well and I have their 1/24 Stig.

I am usually looking for unique figures. I sometimes find 1/35 too small and prefer 1/24 or even 1/20 figures, which a web search shows that there's a total lack of subjects in 1/24 and 1/20.

Hope this helps.

 

[Michael D]

Thank's Ong.

This is of course someone else's thread. I don't know if he's watching and taking note.

Hopefully we'll hear from him sometime.

Michael.

 

[Ong]

Oops, sorry, Michael, I thought I sent you a PM, but I guess it was a reply. I don't post a lot of PF so I'm still getting used to the interface.