Star Trek CTA models: Resin vs. Metal?

[Rerednaw]

I have always wondered why metal is preferred over resin in so many miniature settings. Aside from WoTC's DnD and Heroclix most other IP's lean towards metal.

I started with the old lead figures in the 70's. I always wondered why plastics were not used more often. Figured it was cost... :?:

Recently I was talked into a steampunk game called Dystopian Wars. And the detail was amazing. Most models were resin, with some metal and metal components. And I have been sold on resin ever since.

For someone like me (accident prone :mrgreen: ) I find resin to be just as detailed and more 'user-friendly'. a.k.a. 'Oops, I knocked it over/drop friendly.'
I don't set off the alarms at the airport.
And a full crate doesn't double as an exercise accessory. :mrgreen:

So I was ecstatic when I heard that the new Star Trek game was going to be resin.

Now I hear they are going back to metal? With resin as a maybe future?

What's your view on resin vs. metal and why?

 

[billclo]

I have always wondered why metal is preferred over resin in so many miniature settings. Aside from WoTC's DnD and Heroclix most other IP's lean towards metal.

I started with the old lead figures in the 70's. I always wondered why plastics were not used more often. Figured it was cost... :?:

Recently I was talked into a steampunk game called Dystopian Wars. And the detail was amazing. Most models were resin, with some metal and metal components. And I have been sold on resin ever since.

For someone like me (accident prone :mrgreen: ) I find resin to be just as detailed and more 'user-friendly'. a.k.a. 'Oops, I knocked it over/drop friendly.'
I don't set off the alarms at the airport.
And a full crate doesn't double as an exercise accessory. :mrgreen:

So I was ecstatic when I heard that the new Star Trek game was going to be resin.

Now I hear they are going back to metal? With resin as a maybe future?

What's your view on resin vs. metal and why?

While I do like the resin ships I have so far, the technology isn't quite there yet. I had to deal with an annoying amount of bubble holes to repair, as well as misaligned molds, a miscured engine assy, etc. I mean a 5-ship Squadron box was requiring 2+ hours PER SHIP to patch up and make look nice.

The metal ships, if there is a major miscast, can be just tossed back into the melt pot. So the defect rate should be less and it's much faster to produce metal ships. Mongoose expected X production rate of resin ships, and got 1/3rd of X. Plus there were still annoying amounts of defects.

I haven't yet seen any metal Mongoose minis, so I have to reserve judgement until I do.

 

[Da Boss]

I'd prefer resin myself as its lighter and easier to convert than metal.

But as noted it appears the technology is note there yet.........

 

[McKinstry]

I prefer resin (yes, the Spartan Dystopia stuff is wonderful) but, I have both resin and metal Fed FF and BC models and right now, the Mongoose ACTA-SF is better in metal.

Over time I am sure Mongoose will experiment and maybe someday, be able to go back to resin.

 

[katadder]

resin is ok if you have the right type and decent moulds or ways or producing (see aforementioned awesome DW models) but seeing mongooses models in resin they are better off sticking to metal.

 

[Sgt_G]

I put down more money thatn I had a right to because the 2500-series minis were supposed to be resin. I was really hoping that I could have a collection that was lighter and easier to transport. Sadly, I now have a mix of resin and metal 2500-minis. The detail on the metal minis is astounding, I'll admit, but the resin are crisp enough that I was very happy with them.

 

[Greg Smith]

Resin: so much flash that that the Fed saucers might as well have no detail on the edge - cos it all got sanded off. Parts with round tabs for fitting together are a real pain - there is so much excess resin, it is easier to cut the tabs off.

Resin: really easy to clean up and file down tabs to fit.

Resin: really easy to drill through the top of the ship when enlarging the stand hole.

Resin: superglue works great.

Metal: when the Fed nacelles aren't quite parrallel, I could bend it. Can't do that with resin.

Resin: Connie nacelles are light, so they should support their own weight.

I've made 5 resin and one metal ship. The metal on was flash free and dead easy to assemble. The resin ones needed loads of cleaning up and the parts did not fit together without loads of sanding and trimming (but that was easy to do - cos they were resin). That said, the metal one was a battle destroyer, so bigger metal ones may be a bigger pain.

 

[Iain McGhee]

Metal: when the Fed nacelles aren't quite parrallel, I could bend it. Can't do that with resin.

Dunk it in some hot water and you can :wink:

Pretty much the same points Greg made, although only 4 out of the 18 (resin) ships I've got needed much more than a quick cleanup and they all look great at tabletop range. Much as I prefer resin usually, from what I've seen of both I'm not sure if it's the best medium for these at least for now.

 

[Greg Smith]

Metal: when the Fed nacelles aren't quite parrallel, I could bend it. Can't do that with resin.

Dunk it in some hot water and you can :wink:

I will give it a go. Thanks.

 

[tneva82]

Metal: when the Fed nacelles aren't quite parrallel, I could bend it. Can't do that with resin.

Dunk it in some hot water and you can :wink:

I will give it a go. Thanks.

Works great. I dipped twisted resin piece to boiling water and it became like spaghetti. Then just set it straight and cool it off with cold water and it's all solid again.

 

[Apep]

Resin will be the way forward - but the technology requires a lot of improvement. I will be sticking with metal for a wee while yet.

As an Engineer I understand the issues with casting and there are a few processes and equipment which could help improve the situation - but the capital expenditure is currently very high and well outwith many of the smaller minature companies reach.

Some companies have gone down the "Airfix" route where they have developed plastic sprue minatures. I have seen these figures and the detail was reasonable - however nowhere near as detailed as resin or metal.

 

[katadder]

mongoose should talk to spartan about their process as their dystopian wars stuff and the new firestorm ships are amazing

 

[MongooseMatt]

mongoose should talk to spartan about their process as their dystopian wars stuff and the new firestorm ships are amazing

We know exactly which factory Spartan use (they do not cast their own) and _have_ been talking to them

 

[Totenkopf]

mongoose should talk to spartan about their process as their dystopian wars stuff and the new firestorm ships are amazing

We know exactly which factory Spartan use (they do not cast their own) and _have_ been talking to them

Is that allowed?

 

[MongooseMatt]

Is that allowed?

Not sure why it wouldn't be. We know pretty much all the factories used by companies who don't/didn't produce models themselves. The industry is quite incestuous

However, to expand upon this, Spartan models are designed, from the outset to use resin, and to be cast as efficiently as possible in resin. Star Fleet models _cannot_ be done this way without a major redesign of their hulls, which was never going to be permissable.

On the other hand, the new Victory at Sea range _is_ designed to use resin from the outset and, because of that, we will be able to handle their production ourselves.

 

[McKinstry]

Spartan's stuff is gorgeous but they also have their issues with miscasts and errors although flash is minimal.

I'm perfectly pleased with the metal 2500's I've received so far, I just wish I had more of them.

I can see where the Federation and Klingon stuff would be inimical to the resin casting process but maybe things such as Hydrans or ISC will be friendlier to the medium?

 

[Greg Smith]

I will add that I don't like the way the resin models take paint. On the smooth surfaces, like warp nacelles, secondary hulls and the whole of the Texas OCL, the paint just slides about. Doesn't go on smoothly at all.

 

[billclo]

I will add that I don't like the way the resin models take paint. On the smooth surfaces, like warp nacelles, secondary hulls and the whole of the Texas OCL, the paint just slides about. Doesn't go on smoothly at all.

Have you tried a spray on primer first (after washing the mini in warm soapy water)?

 

[katadder]

yeah the ole wash and spray was an annoying thing about resin in the past. dont know if other companies resin still needs this but I tend to do it now on all resin as a standard prep

 

[scoutdad]

I will add that I don't like the way the resin models take paint. On the smooth surfaces, like warp nacelles, secondary hulls and the whole of the Texas OCL, the paint just slides about. Doesn't go on smoothly at all.

Weird.
That's one of the things I do like about the resin minis.
They all take paiint very well.
But that could be because of my anal-retentive prep routine.
sand/file, was, prime, sand, wash, prime, sand [repeat as needed to fill defects] paint, gloss coat, decal, matte coat, matte coat again... play!