My wife made an interesting observation the other night. I ran to the store whilst working in the command bunker (ok, the unused dining room I converted to my studio) and my wife came up to me looking sheepish. She said “You better tell me that I love you A LOT.” She was insistent so I became quite worried.
As I was unsure of which miniature purchase she found out about, a myriad of excuses and lies swirled about my head. Before I could blurt out an excuse, she said that she had fished out of the kitchen drain “one of your really valuable ones”. While I was relieved that I was not in trouble (at least not that I was aware) my mind quickly turned to all of my valuable minis that could have met an ugly fate.
Is There Even A Question of Metal vs Plastic Miniatures?
A Sign of Everything Wrong With Society Today? Yes.Yes it is.
Turns out, it was actually a not at all particularly valuable Warhammer model got knocked into the sink. She said “I know it’s one of the valuable ones since it was really heavy.” Hmmmmmmmmmm, that got me thinking. Is there some primordial association with weight equating with value? Is it that metal is “real” and has value over a disposable plastic society we live in today?
We live in an incredibly disposable society. Mind you, every generation complains about how the current generation is wasteful, but now it is especially true. The whole idea of planned obsolescence has really gone to the extreme. When you buy something now, it seems that more and more is being made out of cheap plastic since the makers assume you aren’t going to repair it if it breaks, just toss it and get a new one. Think about the humble box of Cracker Jacks.
Not All That Is Wrong In This World
And You Thought Toy Soldiers Were Expensive
Permanence folks, the difference between metal and plastic miniatures is permanence.
So, this is why I prefer metal toy soldiers over plastic or resin. I love the feel, the heft I think is what I am looking for, that is provided by a metal object. Also, I like my models to be able to survive an afternoon in the sun or in my car. Some resins (and the one everyone is thinking of isn’t the only guilty one) just can’t make it if it warm. In Houston, there are a LOT of warm days.
One Can Survive In My Car, One Will Melt
Last, there is a real anachronistic feel to metal toy soldiers. Since so much is cheap lightweight impermanent plastics, there is something very old school feeling about working with metal. I’m proud to have almost all all-metal armies. I just can’t see myself going back if I have a choice.
Am I wrong? What do you think?
Nice nicely minded post. I like a lot of it.
I have to admit that I am preferring metal figures over plastic at the moment… although some of that is down to MFG choice – by just-arrived Wargames Factory WSS infantry (plastic) are just not as appealing as the yet-to-arrive Ebor Miniatures offerings (metal). The Ebor stuff looks better even from the ‘Net, and metal figures seem to take gesso priming better as well.
PSC does put out an INCREDIBLE set of minis in plastic. They are true to scale, even more than Battlefront etc, but their level of detail is so amazing.
I am pro-plastic. I have a view metal models, but to me they have serious drawbacks.
1.) They weigh more. I play guard… I like not needing a forklift to move my stuff.
2.) They chip. The paint chips a lot. Nothing you can do about it, but grin, bear it, and pray the paint you used does not get discontinued… Games Workshop, I am looking at you and your commando Khaki right now. Plastics don’t chip like that, almost never ever.
3.) So much easier to modify, pose, etc… I can kit bash plastics easier, so on so forth.
4.) When a plastic model drops, it bounces.
5.) When a metal banner breaks, say good bye to an afternoon as I fix that bitch.
6.) Pinning, don’t miss it one little bit.
7.) Superglue.. yeah you can go f’ yourself Superglue.