Casting quality - time for new moulds?
- Thread starter Poi
- Start date
Talliostro
Mongoose
I love the models of Acta, but I have to sign this.
I got a Centauri Fleet Box and had to work 3 hours straight on the models to get the chips and miscasts away with my dremel. Left me somewhat dissapointed, tbh. Some are still there, because I couldn't differentiate between "Model" and "Miscast" (mostly on the Engines of the Vorshans and on the body of the Primus).
I wanted to get more ships, but now I wait for new moulds, which I hope will come someday.
I got a Centauri Fleet Box and had to work 3 hours straight on the models to get the chips and miscasts away with my dremel. Left me somewhat dissapointed, tbh. Some are still there, because I couldn't differentiate between "Model" and "Miscast" (mostly on the Engines of the Vorshans and on the body of the Primus).
I wanted to get more ships, but now I wait for new moulds, which I hope will come someday.
CheesyRobMan
Mongoose
Some of my Vorchans haven't been built yet because I can't be bothered to slice away large chunks of metal that shouldn't be there. My Primus had some noticeable air-bubble damage too. Still, they do clean up OK if you put the time in.
My Centauri ships had the same problems. I cut and filed and filled and made them work.
However, I suspect all three Earth Fleets are under my Christmas tree. I'm worried what I'll find in the 3rd Age box :shock: However, if they suck, I'll request to have them replaced. I had problems before and Mongoose fixed them immediately.
The replacement experience was good enough that I'll press on with my goal of collecting EVERY SINGLE MODEL IN ACTA!
Still, ACTA is a model based wargame. The rule set and the models are the heart and lungs of the game. Both need to work. The molds need to be updated if they're not up to par. It's a simple business quality issue.
However, I suspect all three Earth Fleets are under my Christmas tree. I'm worried what I'll find in the 3rd Age box :shock: However, if they suck, I'll request to have them replaced. I had problems before and Mongoose fixed them immediately.
The replacement experience was good enough that I'll press on with my goal of collecting EVERY SINGLE MODEL IN ACTA!
Still, ACTA is a model based wargame. The rule set and the models are the heart and lungs of the game. Both need to work. The molds need to be updated if they're not up to par. It's a simple business quality issue.
Shadow Queen
Mongoose
me too 3 months for a new Victory how many years for a drakh mothership
CodeofArms
Mongoose
The worst casts I got were the engine blocks on my Hyperions. Mutilated with horrible excess that robbed me of a lot of detail, I considered sending them into mongoose for replacements but the rest of the boxset was fine. The Nova was perfect, the Omegas needed a few snips here and there but overall to complain about two or three models seemed unnecessary so decided not to. The second worse I have seen were the wing slits on some Dilgar Targrath's and the verticle wing slot for a pair Vorchans. One had such a thick filling that I had to saw it out.
A fellow player has had to put alot more man hours into his Tinashi's and believe he had to replace a couple due to gaping mould holes. What added insult to Injury was the fact he got three wings of Frazi's rather than Raziks with his Centauri boxset.
I would not mind if the boxsets cost £10-£15 but the fact most sell for £50 its a bit of a jyp to have to repair models which should, in essence, be high quality to begin with. Further the fact that its become a case of 'Hit and Miss' regarding purchases means that I'm often put-off from buying, especially because I do alot of shopping online, its a good thing I came to these boards otherwise a Drakh Boxset with missing Mothership would have been purchased for a very disappointing B-Day present.
On the other hand some models are lovely. I recived a box of Chronos, a Dargan and EA Re-enforcements Boxset and all were perfect. The Dargan looked like it had just been cast (twas all shiny) and my faith at least took a step towards being restored. My Narn was largely intact though the G'Quans were fiddly.
*Edit*
Gah...Stands, I knew I forgot to add something.
Again Vorchans and Hyperions are my problem here. I don't own a drill (though that small present under the tree looks interesting enough) so i'm left with alot of stands and wonky, unuseable models. One thing i'd like to push for too...make sure models are weighted better. Trying to get a T'Loth to stand up before i put a stabiliser on it was so frustrating....
*End Edit*
A fellow player has had to put alot more man hours into his Tinashi's and believe he had to replace a couple due to gaping mould holes. What added insult to Injury was the fact he got three wings of Frazi's rather than Raziks with his Centauri boxset.
I would not mind if the boxsets cost £10-£15 but the fact most sell for £50 its a bit of a jyp to have to repair models which should, in essence, be high quality to begin with. Further the fact that its become a case of 'Hit and Miss' regarding purchases means that I'm often put-off from buying, especially because I do alot of shopping online, its a good thing I came to these boards otherwise a Drakh Boxset with missing Mothership would have been purchased for a very disappointing B-Day present.
On the other hand some models are lovely. I recived a box of Chronos, a Dargan and EA Re-enforcements Boxset and all were perfect. The Dargan looked like it had just been cast (twas all shiny) and my faith at least took a step towards being restored. My Narn was largely intact though the G'Quans were fiddly.
*Edit*
Gah...Stands, I knew I forgot to add something.
Again Vorchans and Hyperions are my problem here. I don't own a drill (though that small present under the tree looks interesting enough) so i'm left with alot of stands and wonky, unuseable models. One thing i'd like to push for too...make sure models are weighted better. Trying to get a T'Loth to stand up before i put a stabiliser on it was so frustrating....
*End Edit*
Scuzzlebutt142
Mongoose
Gotta agree here. My Vorchans engines were awful (all 10 of them), the Thunderbolts all had beards, the I pretty much had to hacksaw out the warlocks engines. The only models I haven't had issues with have been the shadows.
Greg Smith
Mongoose
A friend of mine has had significant problems getting stands to fit. He is prepared to assemble, clean off flash and paint his minis, but does not expect (nor has the tools) to have to drill them. He says he will not buy any more of Mongoose's ships.
Having just assembled a Vorlon fleet box, I agree with him - every transport, destroyer and heavy cruiser needed drilling. Only the light cruisers fitted the stands.
As he pointed out to me, his BFG minis fit straight on the stands. I don't know whether the holes are part of the moulding process, or drilled afterwards, but it does need looking at.
Having just assembled a Vorlon fleet box, I agree with him - every transport, destroyer and heavy cruiser needed drilling. Only the light cruisers fitted the stands.
As he pointed out to me, his BFG minis fit straight on the stands. I don't know whether the holes are part of the moulding process, or drilled afterwards, but it does need looking at.
Court Jester
Mongoose
I think when the figures are sculpted they fit the stands but as part of the metal casting process things shrink slightly which can result in stands not fitting. The BFG ships will generally fit their stands better because they are plastic. However some of the metal BFG ships have the same "hole" problems.
I have had to drill out every single ship I have bought for ACTA, sometimes because the flying sand did not fit, other times because I felt it was in a poor position on the ship so moved it.
I have found that using the largest drill bit found in GW's pin-drill fits the GW flying stands almost perfectly (so I swap the mongoose stand parts for GW stand parts and sometimes the base parts as well.
As for the casting and quality of the models. I think it os very obviouse the molds need re-making. The quality of the castings is just not up to industry standards. Even if you take into account many of the smaller historical mini companies.
I have had to drill out every single ship I have bought for ACTA, sometimes because the flying sand did not fit, other times because I felt it was in a poor position on the ship so moved it.
I have found that using the largest drill bit found in GW's pin-drill fits the GW flying stands almost perfectly (so I swap the mongoose stand parts for GW stand parts and sometimes the base parts as well.
As for the casting and quality of the models. I think it os very obviouse the molds need re-making. The quality of the castings is just not up to industry standards. Even if you take into account many of the smaller historical mini companies.
Kosh127
Mongoose
I two have had many problems with my ships. The Majority of the ships require holes to be made and or moved. My Dilgar fleet is ok for the most part how ever my Targrath the best ship in my fleet is terrible. It takes over one hour to fix the damage. Then I have to cut out new slots for the wings. All the forward guns are not there and the side guns just don't fit flush. My Minbos are also terrible. I don't know what to do or say as Mongoose does not seem to care. If they did they would resculpe the figs. Mongoose has said they hate GW as do most people. (me much more than most) However its very clear that GW has a much higher respect for there figs as they keep there molds at a much higher quality. I hope mongoose see this post and takes action. I do not want to have people think I am trying to hurt Mongoose I love there games and wish they to prosper that why I am making to post to help them.
Court Jester
Mongoose
Making new molds does not even require the resculpting of the figures. A talented model maker could take an old copy of the figure, patch it up, maybe re-do some of the details and then it could be re-cast.
However any attempt to re-mold the ACTA range would be hard because as it is rather big with many models requiring re-mastering.
Anyway, lets just sit tight and wait for the plastic pre-painted B5 ships... :wink:
However any attempt to re-mold the ACTA range would be hard because as it is rather big with many models requiring re-mastering.
Anyway, lets just sit tight and wait for the plastic pre-painted B5 ships... :wink:
Shadow Queen
Mongoose
LBH would be happy with plastic painted ships.....
Court Jester
Mongoose
It was meant in "semi" jest.
I would welcome such a thing but I doubt it would have the "evolution" tag. And I would certainly be interested to see the quality of pre-painted plastic B5 ships.
Although I would re-paint mine of course... :wink:
re-painted-pre-paints has a certain ring to it...
I would welcome such a thing but I doubt it would have the "evolution" tag. And I would certainly be interested to see the quality of pre-painted plastic B5 ships.
Although I would re-paint mine of course... :wink:
re-painted-pre-paints has a certain ring to it...
lastbesthope
Mongoose
Shadow Queen said:
I wouldn't you know.
LBH
Shadow Queen
Mongoose
lastbesthope said:
U like unpainted metal??
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