Whitemetal...why?

[JonG]

OK, so I don't have that many figures in whitemetal, but I do have lots in resin and plastic.
And I wondered why manufacturers use metal over resin?
Seems metal is expensive at the moment too, plus I cant see how it adds any real level of detail that can't be achieved with resins.
So why do they still use it?

 

[Einion]

There's no one reason that white metal is still used; sometimes it may just be tradition and related to this many older modellers prefer metal because it's what they cut their teeth on. In money terms the material does have some production advantages over resin because of recycling of waste, but balancing that is the higher cost of the moulds.

There's definitely no detail advantage to metal! Quite apart from common moulding issues that arise over time resin is capable of reproducing microscopic surface textures, no beating that. But the quality of the surface isn't the only consideration, robustness of small parts can be an important factor particularly at higher production volumes.

There are a few prior threads asking about preferences for metal or resin if you want to hunt back for them.

Einion

 

[Tecumsea]

I agree totally with Einion. I was shown two castings recently of the same bust, one in resin the other in metal-the detail on the resin was much superior. Having said that the weight of a white metal figure gives it a feeling of substance which I prefer. Unfortunately as soon as I start cleaning resin kits I end up with a serious attack akin to hay fever, so much so that I can only clean and prepare resin kits in the summer, in the garden and away from any breeze. I problem that I don't have with WM as long as I am careful.
Apart from this resin has many advantages,
Good detail
Easier to pack and post completed figures
Cheaper to Post
Easier to assemble, probably don't need pinning
...etc, etc

 

[Gra30]

Over the last 6 months I have been producing both metal and resin figures direct from masters. Comparing the quality side by side resin comes way ahead in respect of the detail captured, that said there are some parts that although clean and crisp in resin some prefer in metal, I am mainly looking at rifles, bayonets, pikes, sword blades etc
Other considerations are also the cost to post a metal figure but this is sometimes prefered due to the lack of mould blocks required on metal figures and parts.
Some of the metal figures available are still superb ie Metal Modeles among other
As mentioned by Einion, some modellers do prefer to have some weight to the figure and a lot of the choice does come down to preference either by manufacturer or buyer/customer.
Resin casting has evolved so much that it is possible to pick up the slightest detail and so in my opinion offers the best representation of the master.
Regards
Gra

 

[Helm]

Metal is also more forgiving for those like me who are a bit heavy handed. I prefer it for that reason myself.

Steve

 

[Mark S]

I believe the best figures or busts are ones which combine the two materials. As mentioned the increased international trade in figures means the cost of postage is an important consideration these days, with resin obviously being far more economical in that respect.
But as Einion mentioned earlier some smaller parts are much better in metal without distortion or brittleness, or resin blocks larger than the piece itself. You can just forget about a resin spear shaft, flag pole or bayonet. There's no need at all for entirely metal figures anymore just as there's no need for all resin ones either.

 

[Helm]

Dont buy cheapo drills then To be honest I have those problems with plastic stuff myself.

Steve

 

[Tecumsea]

Thanks for the response Graham, it was you who showed me the two kits at euro and the difference was substantial, it certainly opened my eyes as to the quality of casting available in Resin-it also showed that there is no excuse for some of the shoddy casting work I have experienced.

Keith

 

[Redcap]

For me, I prefer white metal to resin simply because;

1. Especially with larger figures (75mm upwards) or mounted pieces, a white metal figure on a robust base has a satisfying "feel" and substance to it making it feel more like an ornament or presentation piece.
2. I am very wary of the long term health effects of the resultant dust from sawing/sanding resin even if using a face mask when doing so. On more than one occasion whilst sanding resin (even wet) it has caused me to have a sneezing episode.

These are personal observations only and like many have already noted on this thread, I fully accept that despite my own preferences, resin does indeed hold detail much better than white metal.

Gary

 

[Mirofsoft]

White metal ?
Because 90%of my grey army is metal ( remember 7oies 80ies no big choice in resin )
Because more than once you don't have the choice : fig exist only in metal
BUT what a pleasant surprise end of the 70ies with the Verlinden Vietnam 1/32 serie ( resin ) ... some; base and figures moulded in 1 piece ( almost), so, I do not neglect resin, they are very nice AND... the 30mm resin from Illyad !!! and the....
Well I don't realy care about the material.. I answer usualy to compulsive buy...

 

[Johan Kees]

OK, let me say this directly. I will never buy resin figures again, ever! I bought a few in the past and they were all without exception bad or very bad casts. And no, these were not products from pirate casters but the original ones from well established manufacturers. So I ask myself where are all these well-cast, sharp detailed resin figurines? With the figures I bought, detail was far from sharp although, going by the box art, it was supposed to be so. Also I hate the low weight of resin figures when I am painting.​

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Secondly, I find cleaning up resin figures really a pain in the *** with all the large moulding blocks to remove, the pitholes, the smaller parts being very damage prone, the warping of parts, etc. I accept that for busts resin might be an obvious choice regarding their massive weight if cast in metal. But not for full figures in 54, 75 or 90 mm.​

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So for me it is metal all the way. I like the weight and the sturdyness of the material. I also wonder if the metal figures from let us say Pegaso Models or Romeo Models would (or could) look better if cast in resin. I really doubt this. I only hope that these manufacturers will not start using resin to cut costs. I gladly pay more for a metal figure, that's for sure.​

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Jhan​

 

[Einion]

I also wonder if the metal figures from let us say Pegaso Models or Romeo Models would (or could) look better if cast in resin. I really doubt this.

You've been very unlucky to get nothing but sub-par casts in resin so far but let me be the first to reassure you: those aren't the rule, they're the exception.

If you can't adapt to working in resin and the low weight puts you off this won't make any difference to you of course but the superior surface quality and detail capture of resin really is on a different order to white metal, particularly further along the production run (I'm talking about good casts in both, obviously any material can be cast shoddily if the person doing the job doesn't pay attention and then QC lets crap get packed and shipped off to customers).

Einion

 

[balder]

Personally, I hate white metal figures. I started modelling large garage kits (1/6 scale stuff) so am quite comfortable with resin. I use a dust mask when sanding and also have a workshop dust filter. Granted, thin resin parts sometimes warp but they straighten easily using hot water. I also don't like the weight of metal figures. The only problems I've had with cast quality have been with some of the early garage kits I've built.
I know I'm missing out on some great kits out there, but if it's metal I just won't order it.
Gerald

 

[Colin_Fraser]

Personally, I hate white metal figures. I started modelling large garage kits (1/6 scale stuff) so am quite comfortable with resin. I use a dust mask when sanding and also have a workshop dust filter. Granted, thin resin parts sometimes warp but they straighten easily using hot water. I also don't like the weight of metal figures. The only problems I've had with cast quality have been with some of the early garage kits I've built.
I know I'm missing out on some great kits out there, but if it's metal I just won't order it.
Gerald

Agreed - I will be happy if I never have to touch white metal again, with the notable exception of 28mm minis that would be too breakable in resin. Plus my general feeling is that they cost significantly more and getting them through the mail is even more costly. More money for less detail. The only time I would want metal is with a 2nd rate sculpt (e.g. rough surface) where I didn't want micro detail copied.

Colin

 

[GregMcEvoy]

Johan, you must be very unlucky to have only handled bad resin castings, or maybe you've just been seeing figures from low-quality manufacturers. In the past 15 years or so, with it being relatively easy to get into resin casting, we've seen alot of new manufacturers come and go, the majority unfortunately not striving for a high standard of casting. Stay away from these figures, or take a look before buying. In any case if you get a bad casting, the matter should always be resolved by either the manufacturer or the retailer. That all being said, the quality coming from manufacturers like Alpine, Tommy's War, Stalingrad, Young, and others, is exceptional, so much so that it's hard to believe it possible to get such fine detail. This level of detail simply can't be reproduced in white metal. However, wether or not that kind of detail at smaller scales is correct or not is altogether another question for debate.

Allergies aside, if it's a figure that you love and want to paint, why not go with it no matter what the material.

 

[Joe55]

A good casting is a good casting. Makes no difference to me if its metal or resin, I'll work either one.

Joe

 

[Showlen]

This may be a dumb question, but are there companies that will cast 54mm in resin? I've seen one instance where Latorre offered a limited supply of a new 54mm in resin. If I had my choice, I'd take resin. Though I don't really know how a 54mm metal kit would compare to a resin kit... I'm assuming it would be a better cast. I've compared 90mm metal kits with resin and felt resin was much better due to the fact there was less pitting & the detail was better. I sometimes run into holes with resin which for me, as a beginner, is easier to fix with a string of green stuff. Whereas with metal, I have a much harder time fixing issues.

Ron

 

[Helm]

Filler works just as well on metal as resin I have a Verlinden kit that is more Milliput than resin shocking fit of parts and casting in that particular case but I'm using it as an example I've had metal kits as bad some of the old Minot kits spring to mind there.

Steve

 

[jenghiz]

I'm wth Johan on this,for me it's metal every time.Although there is a difference in some metals from different manufacturers there is a much greater variation in the resin quality from companies Problems such as paper thin garments to brittle pieces are some of the problems I've had.Though there are some great 54mm resin pieces being produced I do prefer the solid joy of a metal piece.Ian

 

[Johan Kees]

It seems I stand rather isolated on the issue .

I might have been unlucky alright, as Einion and Greg said. But again, my purchases were not longer than two years ago and were from well-known firms with a good reputation.

Sadly enough the pics shown in the review and figure news sections here on the pF, mostly confirm my reluctance towards resin figures. Again, my concerns go out to full figures in resin, not to busts.

I will not name any manufacturer, nor will I add any link to the figures offered here in review or figure news sections, which could proof my arguments because they are - in my opinion - of a much lower casting quality than the metal figures I own in my grey army. I hope that you will not take this as a lack of evidence for my assertions but I do not want to excite any bad feeling. There is already enough needless striving and fighting on the internet.

In the end we all have to decide for ourselves on whci product we want to spend our hard earned cash. I only can hope that manufacturers will not be guided by the poll started here. Too bad, but at the moment it seems that resin is leading...

Jhan