moredakka/Vanguard Minis,
Its really sad to see so many 6mm sci-fi manufacturers close recently, but great to see that there are still two great ranges available through Vanguard miniatures. I backed TMGs last kickstarter, the miniatures are brilliant. I want to get more but, much like others I'm sure, I'm a bit hesitant to buy in to a range that maybe pretty stagnant in the future. For example the Trojan vehicles are fantastic, especially with the variants that were produced during the kickstarter, but there's no 'Predator'/tank version (even though I'm sure I saw a render of one at some point!) which makes me unsure whether to buy any more or not. Is there any scope to kind of finish the range off by producing these extra vehicles? Is there any chance for running a mini kickstarter/pre-order to make it happen!?

Thanks!
Ben

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Warterrier.co.uk

Another funder is something i've considered as a future possibility but it's early days yet I need to get a good level of stock to hand and ensure the continued availability of the range for the future before committing to funders. Additions to the range could also be added by the traditional method of me actually paying someone to produce new designs that I could release as finances allow.

The range is no more stagnant than the official GW epic ranges. I'm one man with a full time job and vanguard takes up a lot of my spare evenings time just packing customer orders and such so it will be awhile before I can consider any expansion of the range anyway. As for the elites APC's well more versions could be created but at the moment i've sold none which means I have money I could use elsewhere tied up in models that are not selling so it would be foolish for me to invest in expanding a group of vehicles that no ones buying anyway.

I think you can see my point of view on the situation, I need solid steady sales in order to keep the range available for everyone including myself. With limited resources funds wise I need to be careful I don't get carried away this early with my fledgling business. I intend to be doing this for many years so as long as you guys keep buying i'll keep the store running.

Thanks for your interest and input.

Regards

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Vanguard Miniatures

Link, http://vanguardminiatures.co.uk/

Stockist of:

Vanguard Miniatures
BattleGroup Helios
Onslaught Miniatures
Pyrkol Gaming Markers
Gregster's Lab
Microworld Games
Troublemaker Games

Or as I like to put it, "If you buy it, more will come"

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He's a lawyer and a super-villian. That's like having a shark with a bazooka!

-I HAVE NO POINT
-Penal Legion-Fan list
-Help me make Whitescars not suck!

I am very impressed by the continued dedication shown to the 6mm community. I think that the recent shuffle has made it clear to most people that this is nothing you make a living out of. I would rather remind myself of the incredible growth we saw the past years than the demands of real life on some of the people behind these brave new brands.

Give it some time and we might all just think of the current situation as a temporary hiccup. After all, all products seems salvaged and will still be available.

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Nitpicks Knapsack (Scratchbuilding and 3D designing and printing and painting)

I too would love to see the range expand, but I totally understand the need to generate sales to allow this to happen. I seriously invested in the kickstarted (a little over £800) in the hope that that in itself would help stimulate expansion. What we got in the kickstarted was a massive increase in the range of elites, novans, skinners, and the start of the eloi expansion.

What you have is the classic catch 22 of need sales to complete and then expand range, but to generated sales people want a complete range..... For me it is a leap of faith and as and when funds are avaialble I will support mordakkas venture as much as I can. I call upon the community to invest in the commitment that E&C and moredakka have expressed, this will be how we all get new toys.

@ moredakka - Its early doors yet and I suspect sales will pick up as things are in stock rather than pre-order.

The glass half empty "If you don't buy it, more won't come!"

Another order placed :-)

Thanks for the speedy reply! I appreciate your comments on the subject - I'll keep my eye on the range for any new developments in the future. In the meantime I'd better get on with painting the ones that I have! Cheers!

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Warterrier.co.uk

Hey, get the mold for that Cybershadows guncrab thing (the one that was a one figure addition to all funders) and I bet there will be nice sales on it.

Rob

Guys thanks for your comments and support it's greatly appreciated.

@ Cranium27, thank you sir. Sales will also help me with a complete buy out of the range from Ben as it will cost me many thousands of pounds to purchase all the moulds which means I will be massively out of pocket for the forseable future. It's going to take a few years to break even from such an investment never mind make a profit. I estimate around 18 months to 2 years of sales to be back were I am at the moment financially.

@ benmoor, no problem i'm always happy to answer questions and explain the situation.

@ Nitpick, at this time I have access to and will be able to purchase all the DiD range for as long as you guys keep buying it. And with an imminent purchase of the range from TMG by myself on the cards (still tweaking the contract) these models will become an in house Vanguard Miniatures range which will include the plastic round bases too.

@ Sawbones, Guncrab not available in store yet but hopefully soon once i've sorted out images and prices. I've PM'd you.

jimmy hit the nail on the head with his comment.



Cheers

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Vanguard Miniatures

Link, http://vanguardminiatures.co.uk/

Stockist of:

Vanguard Miniatures
BattleGroup Helios
Onslaught Miniatures
Pyrkol Gaming Markers
Gregster's Lab
Microworld Games
Troublemaker Games

Moredakka,

Think the store is pretty well stocked my self for variety But yes look forward to future releases
and completely understand about not rushing into investing more yet, fair play to you.

What I would consider myself would be breaking down the minatures, I have placed a few orders
with you and put another one in the other day, but it may be worth looking at selling the minatures
in less numbers say like skinnerz bikers, plastic bases and so on, say half the range, say rather than
48 bikes for 22 squid do 12 bikes for 5.50 and tanks and trucks in 2s.
Think less will mean more in the long run if you know what I mean.

A bit like a parts bin, I know keeping the stock numbers will be a bit pants to keep on top of
but if you sell in sprues etc people can see the minatures and will try other factions in your
model range, once they have them they will probably add to them.

Yes I know its not selling in large sterling going out the shop but small change x larger sales
may make more as you pull in impulse buyers. Like myself now starting skinnerz and a small
eoli group.

I think even if you tried it and said to people its a trail phase for say 2 weeks or month etc and see
how it goes, just my 2 pence mate just bare in mind I no f..k all about sales or running a shop

epic mate this is something i'm considering doing as several customers have asked after smaller packs similar to the onslaught ones in numbers. This can be done no problem as I have to count out the items to stick into bags anyway.

Tanks and trucks in two per bag would mean you not getting all varients in a pack though.

Someone asked after a sample pack as well which could also be a possibility.

Should I do a pole on the subject, what do other members think on this?

Suppose I could sell both pack sizes really come to think of it. Big packs for the army building guys and small packs for those toping up their forces.

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Vanguard Miniatures

Link, http://vanguardminiatures.co.uk/

Stockist of:

Vanguard Miniatures
BattleGroup Helios
Onslaught Miniatures
Pyrkol Gaming Markers
Gregster's Lab
Microworld Games
Troublemaker Games

If you think of the Baccus approach to 6mm then you have the small packs for the £6-8 mark then you have the expansion packs for the £12-15 mark then the army packs for £25-40.

You may even consider covering the common formations people are likely to use - such as 40 Heavy Novan Elites + Bulwark, or 20 Affray + specialists, 20 Forefront, and a Bulwark, or 30 Affray 4 Trojans (assuming one used as support tank option). This approach really helps the very idle as they can instantly get a common formation off the peg so to speak.

Offering options will in reality = more keeping track of etc though.

Moredakka

I think with the multi varients tanks you could look at it 2 ways, You could let the purchaser choose his
models by putting that feature on the website. Or just put on the website options may vary, say someone
orders 2 tanks, just make sure you don't put 2 of the same in the bag when packing it.

I think a pole on the subject would be good as that would show what the community would like.

JUST SEEN THE POLE POST DAKKA SO IGNORE MY LAST BIT

Regards Epic

Hi guys, thought I'd post some pictures of the first minis I've been able to paint from the TMG Crowdfunding campaign. This thread's been really interesting to read so I hope you don't mind me interrupting the discussion for some TMG model pics - thanks!

Still fiddling with my camera settings to get a better photo, but I figure this is good enough for now! I'll post some more up as I do them if anyone's interested?

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Warterrier.co.uk

Nice buggies.

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Vanguard Miniatures

Link, http://vanguardminiatures.co.uk/

Stockist of:

Vanguard Miniatures
BattleGroup Helios
Onslaught Miniatures
Pyrkol Gaming Markers
Gregster's Lab
Microworld Games
Troublemaker Games