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GW have stopped making metal models
https://wap.one-ring.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=20551		 Page 1 of 12
Author:  Osbad [ Mon Apr 04, 2011 12:20 pm ]
Post subject:  GW have stopped making metal models
This is not an April Fools' joke, which is why I waited until today to post, rather than posting on Friday when I found out about it.

Reliable inside sources have said (including GW sales reps to indie stores) that new metal models are not being produced. All that is currently available is old stock, and empty SKUs are being withdrawn from sale and are now OOP in many cases.

The story is that the recent massive increases in metal raw material prices have made it more financially sensible to switch as many models as can be justified by volume sales into injection molded plastic, and convert the remaining metal moulds for use in spin-molded "resin". GW have something like 15,000 active spin moulds (and 25,000 inactiiv ones) so it makes commercial sense to re-use them rather than scrap them and start from scratch with a completely new technology for these models.

Now there has been much speculation as to the appropriate type of resin that will be used, but my guess is something along the lines of the kind of resin/plastic that Privateer Press use now, or Mantic used for their experimental Revenant Cavalry.

Given the tail off in LotR model sales that has occurred in the last 12+ months, I suspect there is plenty of metal LotR stock still to be hoovered up, and so there is no reason to panic. But just to be on the safe side, if there are any metal models you simply *must* have then it might be prudent to buy them sooner rather than leave the decision for too much longer. Also, don't expect any new models produced for The Hobbit to be in metal.

More discussion on this can be found on Warseer: http://www.warseer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=298959, and also where I found it first, Frothers: http://www.frothersunite.com/phpBB2/vie ... sc&start=0
Author:  dave85uk [ Mon Apr 04, 2011 1:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: GW have stopped making metal models
So how does this affect us? iF they are simply converting white metals to plastic, why would there be incentive to purchase metals now, if they are being replaced by plastics won't this mean that the price of the blisters go down, or at least stay the same for longer?

Im a novice mini-painter, am i over-looking an advantage to having metals over plastics?
Author:  General Elessar [ Mon Apr 04, 2011 7:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: GW have stopped making metal models
Osbad wrote:
Reliable inside sources have said (including GW sales reps to indie stores) that new metal models are not being produced.



How reliable?

If this is happening, how long before it starts to have an effect?
Author:  dave85uk [ Mon Apr 04, 2011 7:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: GW have stopped making metal models
Well after reading the threads on the other sites, looks like GW are already changing their manufacture.

General Elessar wrote:

If this is happening, how long before it starts to have an effect?


in answering your question it depends on your definition of 'effect', effect your local store? or Gamesworkshop products. i guess it depends how fast your local supplier needs to restock. But unless more info is supplied from GW its hard to guess how long it will take to change the manufacture lines...
Author:  Whiskas [ Mon Apr 04, 2011 9:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: GW have stopped making metal models
Maybe now we'll get plastic armies for more things...
Author:  valpas [ Tue Apr 05, 2011 6:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: GW have stopped making metal models
I've never worked with resin models before so I don't yet see how it will affect my hobby, especially if the material is not yet known. Would it be easier to produce large multi-part models whose pieces would fit well without extensive filing?

Good thing would be (I guess) if they still used casts of their old moulds instead of going all the way to the injection moulding. Those one-piece injection-moulded LotR plastics are mostly hideous compared to metals or multi-part plastics.

-- Pasi
Author:  Osbad [ Tue Apr 05, 2011 8:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: GW have stopped making metal models
General Elessar wrote:
How reliable?


As reliable as it gets.

General Elessar wrote:
If this is happening, how long before it starts to have an effect?


It started a few weeks back. And is happening now. Walk into your local GW and you will see racks of empty pegs where many of the metal blisters used to be. Contact any online retailer and they are out of stock on many items.

GW have also published a list of OOP metal items: http://www.tabletopgamingnews.com/2011/03/30/45177 and more will follow.

Some will come back as resin (if the technology works), some may not. As yet, they do not know which ones for certain.
Author:  Dagorlad [ Tue Apr 05, 2011 11:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: GW have stopped making metal models
RIP Games Workshop!

What an absolute farce.
Author:  Ukfreddybear [ Tue Apr 05, 2011 12:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: GW have stopped making metal models
This just sounds to me like a clever market scam to get people to panic buy GW metals because their sales have been so poor lately. Since there has been no formal announcement I doubt the whole truth behind this. I am sceptical to say the least. I wouldn't be surprised if GW started the rumour themselves to get sales up. Having said that. I do believe they will pull all metals back to direct sales only to reduce overheads. There won't be any in stores.
Author:  Jobu [ Tue Apr 05, 2011 12:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: GW have stopped making metal models
I don't think it is RIP GW.
Looking at Forge World you can see that they really have some good experience in making resin models, and not just small ones either, big big ones like the TItans and the Valkryies. Not saying they are cheap, they most certainly are not. The small 3 man Cadian resin kits cost about 25 USD, while the 5 man Marine kits cost about $40. Sure that is more expensive than a 5 man plastic kit but it is supposed to be a premium kit. Look at the Ork Trukk, it is also a fairly large, complex, resin kit that is $42 USD. That is at least as big and complex as the cave drake, which is metal and @30% more at 62 USD.

I see GW making all current metals into resin and keeping the same price structure. Certainly all rare formations in WoTR, which are metal, will be made resin. Who knows, maybe they will start selling them in 4 packs instead of 3 packs. One can only dream.
Author:  Ukfreddybear [ Tue Apr 05, 2011 1:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: GW have stopped making metal models
Hmmm, I see some models are listed as no longer available on the GW webstore. Metal Haldirs elves, Metal Harad raiders, Older Hasharin, Arwen&Frodo mounted. Just a few that I noticed. No real surprises though as they all either have a newer sculpt or are now available in plastic. Armored Merry&Pippen blister no longer available (£6.85), although you can still pick them up individually at £4.10 each. What a rip.
Author:  BlackReaper [ Tue Apr 05, 2011 2:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: GW have stopped making metal models
Wow,even though I have never used a single metal model or owned one I know that this is Bad News,even resin can't get as much detail as white-metal (still at least Green-Stuff is still the best)...Hmm,nows the time for someone with a deep pocket to start buying off all the metal figs they can so they can sell em later.
Author:  Oldman Willow [ Tue Apr 05, 2011 3:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: GW have stopped making metal models
People don't like change.Some people will get rid of every thing in their collection and move on.Some will regret it later. Most will move on. Wait a bit there will be lots of bargains.
I did not think the GW LOTR license would be around as long as it has. Nice to be wrong.
Author:  dave85uk [ Tue Apr 05, 2011 3:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: GW have stopped making metal models
ukfreddybear wrote:
Since there has been no formal announcement I doubt the whole truth behind this. I am sceptical to say the least. I wouldn't be surprised if GW started the rumour themselves to get sales up.


If your referring to the cost of metals, you only have to check price on London Metal exchange, Tin has increased in price by 500% in the last 2 years. We're all lucky that GW blisters haven't followed this trend.
Author:  Cyndra the Grey [ Tue Apr 05, 2011 3:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: GW have stopped making metal models
dave85uk wrote:
ukfreddybear wrote:
Since there has been no formal announcement I doubt the whole truth behind this. I am sceptical to say the least. I wouldn't be surprised if GW started the rumour themselves to get sales up.


If your referring to the cost of metals, you only have to check price on London Metal exchange, Tin has increased in price by 500% in the last 2 years. We're all lucky that GW blisters haven't followed this trend.


That's because GW metals use pewter.

Cyndra the Grey

EDIT: Sorry my bad just looked it up, but I was convinced they used pewter in them.
Author:  Jamros [ Tue Apr 05, 2011 4:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: GW have stopped making metal models
There are some metal blisters I've always meant to purchase...but I really just don't have the money for it right now. Hopefully the miniatures I want will still be around for a while yet.
Author:  General Elessar [ Tue Apr 05, 2011 6:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: GW have stopped making metal models
I wonder if this incident is linked to those rumours about a big LotR/WotR release this year...
Author:  Dead Marsh Spectre [ Tue Apr 05, 2011 10:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: GW have stopped making metal models
No way - just as i thought i was catching up on the out of production lot GW move the goalposts again!!!!!!
Author:  Jamros [ Wed Apr 06, 2011 1:27 am ]
Post subject:  Re: GW have stopped making metal models
So can we assume that the new metal blisters being released with the Grey Knights are going to be some of the last?
Author:  kidterminal [ Wed Apr 06, 2011 6:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: GW have stopped making metal models
Interesting, but I doubt it's really driven by the price of white metal. Other companies, Reaper for example haven't felt the need to jack up their prices as much or as often as GW.

Rob
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