Venksta wrote:Mkall wrote:There is a difference between Venksta and Dr Wu. Venksta crafts each item personally (to my knowledge anyways) whereas Dr Wu does chinese labour.
Also I've never heard of poor quality with Renderform, and Dr Wu seems to be kind of hit-and-miss.
They're just different groups doing things differently.
Yes, Renderform products are not 3RD Party class material. Each item is to be viewed as a custom piece, as I have to hand finish everything myself.
I find it funny when people compare Renderform to Dr. Wu. I've seen a lot of negative feedback for their resin stuff. They only produce in resin or diecast. And their resin stuff doesn't have good track record, from what I've seen on various boards. Not saying Renderform items are free from problems. The only major issues I've seen people complain about in regards to my stuff, was the missile launcher from the Red Alert kit and the Goldbug kit's head being loose for some people. As well, the long wait period when ordering. That last part now being taken care of by offering products through online retailers like BBTS, and Ages Three and Up, which is a plus and negative on how you view it.
As for pricing, I feel I've kept within 3rd party standards, even though I can charge for more based on recasted resin parts others sell, and what Shapeways would charge to produce my items (Hawk Saber would cost $35 at the cheapest through shapeways in a translucent material before markup).
I've seen a Dr. Wu kit for half a face, and a small little bomb retail at $19.99 at BBTS. The face is just recasted from the original toy, and then resculpted to have a mouth instead of a face plate. Compare to a full upgrade kit like my Hubcap kit where you get a whole head consisting of 4 parts, and 2 unique guns, all original designs by myself for $29.00, and limited to less than 500 sets. I can also compare the Gold Bug kit I made to Beezleboss. Both cost $30. Theirs was probably a run of over 1000, or 2000 pieces. I ended up making around 600 kits between four color variations, released at the same time. Both kits came with a head, and two guns. Beezleboss kit's gun were both the same design, where as the two guns in the Renderform kit were unique designs, not the same.
I don't mind if people don't like my stuff. I obviously don't like everything out there.
But if your going to go out of the way and bash me and my works, please be constructive and use facts, then I can make improvements, where I feel are needed.
Hi Venksta.
I wouldnt say Im
going out of my way to bash you as you put it, I just offer opinion like everyone else who use fan forums which encourage debate on new items posted for review?
All I have to go on when I see a new weapon or figure is any pictures or description given, usually from the production house behind that product, where I would then offer an opinion should I actually be interested in the company, new or old, behind it and their previous output, which usually helps when a comparison can be made?
I can not fault the points you made, being a sole business man, designing and hand finishing your pieces, no one could ask for more when it comes to that
personal touch.
I have seen a few items on your website which I have in my Favourites list which look very nice, so my comments where only focused more so on these particular new weapons, not everything you produce.
I felt the swords looked a little unwieldly, oddly shaped too, but I guess Im somewhat of a tradionalist sometimes?
I wasnt really taken by the gun/rifle either, but hey, its all down to opinion in end!
We all know that some of these new pretenders to the crown 'borrow' designs from Shapeways or rip an entire
head, making a small percentage of changes and call it their own, but these things can turn up some types of awesomeness, sometimes for the wrong reasons. They can be so bad it makes them good!
Regarding pricing with not only yourself but other 3rd Party producers, it can be all over the place, sometimes inconsistant?
I dont agree with the pricing of some 3P items, they just seem ridiculously overpriced for a little piece of plastic, painted or not.
That will always be there, no matter who makes these add-ons.
I dont go out of my way to flame, bait or generally upset any of the contributors to these forum pages, so sorry if my, sometimes on-point, often crazy blatherings cause
irritation?
I come with an special tube of cream which should be applied before use!
Hey Venksta, I have both your website and Facebook page on my Favourites list, but neither (especially the website) seem to be updated very regularly?
What are your first ports of call when it comes to promoting new products? Fansites; Twitter; Facebook...?
Its all for the love of giant transforming alien robots!