The Energon Pub

Delta Magnus wrote:This looks pretty neat. I'm planning to get at least Bloodbath or Bitemark with the Skull-FCKR head.

The Bitemark body will match the colors of the Skull-FCKR head.

New color render. Looking sweet.

Body render for Bitemark.

Will you let us know, Scaleface, as soon as you do that the crowd funding is available? My days have gotten crazy lately and I don't know how much I'll be hanging around here for a while.

Thanks in advance!! (I'm definitely thinking seriously about that Diablo homage. I'd have to look up the names, but I think it's the same combo Delta Magnus is talking about...)

Will do.

New images of Flarestrike.

New Ankhor details.

These guys seem to be way too far ahead of themselves with the artwork. They should just focus on getting one figure out in physical form and see if it sells or not. Since this group seems to be so interested in creatiog a "fiction" for their characters, maybe they should just drop the figures all together and create a 3rd party comic saga. Books actually work on Kickstarter unlike TF figures. Just my opinion here, not trying to sound offensive.

Rated X wrote:These guys seem to be way too far ahead of themselves with the artwork. They should just focus on getting one figure out in physical form and see if it sells or not. Since this group seems to be so interested in creatiog a "fiction" for their characters, maybe they should just drop the figures all together and create a 3rd party comic saga. Books actually work on Kickstarter unlike TF figures. Just my opinion here, not trying to sound offensive.

Yeah, that's how most 3PTF companies do it, make one figure, sell it, use the profits from it to make another, so that's probably why you think that's normal.

That's NOT how Play With This Too is doing it because they are doing a Kickstarter with as many as 40 action figures in it. Most action figure Kickstarters are done that like.

Scaleface wrote:

Rated X wrote:These guys seem to be way too far ahead of themselves with the artwork. They should just focus on getting one figure out in physical form and see if it sells or not. Since this group seems to be so interested in creatiog a "fiction" for their characters, maybe they should just drop the figures all together and create a 3rd party comic saga. Books actually work on Kickstarter unlike TF figures. Just my opinion here, not trying to sound offensive.

Yeah, that's how most 3PTF companies do it, make one figure, sell it, use the profits from it to make another, so that's probably why you think that's normal.

That's NOT how Play With This Too is doing it because they are doing a Kickstarter with as many as 40 action figures in it. Most action figure Kickstarters are done that like.

That actually makes an amount of sense. If an action figure doesn't get enough interest in the Kickstarter, do they refrain from producing it? Or does it impact the number that gets manufactured? I could see this as a way to gauge interest before fully committing...

Agamemnon wrote:

Scaleface wrote:

Rated X wrote:These guys seem to be way too far ahead of themselves with the artwork. They should just focus on getting one figure out in physical form and see if it sells or not. Since this group seems to be so interested in creatiog a "fiction" for their characters, maybe they should just drop the figures all together and create a 3rd party comic saga. Books actually work on Kickstarter unlike TF figures. Just my opinion here, not trying to sound offensive.

Yeah, that's how most 3PTF companies do it, make one figure, sell it, use the profits from it to make another, so that's probably why you think that's normal.

That's NOT how Play With This Too is doing it because they are doing a Kickstarter with as many as 40 action figures in it. Most action figure Kickstarters are done that like.

That actually makes an amount of sense. If an action figure doesn't get enough interest in the Kickstarter, do they refrain from producing it? Or does it impact the number that gets manufactured? I could see this as a way to gauge interest before fully committing...

As I understand it the more people order in the Kickstarter, the more figures they will produce. The Kickstarter starts with a couple figures, but if they get enough orders for the first couple, they add more and more figure to those available, since the more you manufacture the cheaper they are each to produce.

So they could end up making no figures, making 4 figures, up to making 40 different figures, depending on how many people want. That's why they have to have 40 different designs ready to go in case they sell out. They want to manufacture as many at once as the money they raise can pay for.

Color guide for Bloodbath.

New deco on the Jetstrike mold's tech drone. They said we will see the character associated with it when the Kickstarter opens.

I give you R-Buke!

Play With This Too posted an unused recolor of Bloodbath, called Bloodsoaked.

Wow that is neon and I love it.

I'm getting a Guyver feel from this one...

The development process can often times be slow. We wanted to share the process of creating a figure with you from start to finish. We're happy to let you know that Desolataur and his Tech Drone are finally going to print! We're waiting to hear back from the printers so we can finally show you the prototypes!

Scaleface wrote:

The development process can often times be slow. We wanted to share the process of creating a figure with you from start to finish. We're happy to let you know that Desolataur and his Tech Drone are finally going to print! We're waiting to hear back from the printers so we can finally show you the prototypes!

These are all being made on a Printer? wouldn't that cost more than the injected molds process?

Sounds like the way the Shapeways site prints stuff.

Didn't think printing toys out on a computer was perfected enough to create a entire durable action figure line from.

Tsutsukakushi wrote:

Scaleface wrote:

The development process can often times be slow. We wanted to share the process of creating a figure with you from start to finish. We're happy to let you know that Desolataur and his Tech Drone are finally going to print! We're waiting to hear back from the printers so we can finally show you the prototypes!

These are all being made on a Printer? wouldn't that cost more than the injected molds process?

Sounds like the way the Shapeways site prints stuff.

Didn't think printing toys out on a computer was perfected enough to create a entire durable action figure line from.

The key word here is prototypes.

Tsutsukakushi wrote:These are all being made on a Printer? wouldn't that cost more than the injected molds process?

Sounds like the way the Shapeways site prints stuff.

Didn't think printing toys out on a computer was perfected enough to create a entire durable action figure line from.

They are making the first prototype on a 3D printer, so they have something to show for the Kickstarter, then the Kickstarter money pays to buy a plastic injection mold to make your figure.

Hooray!

Scaleface wrote:

Tsutsukakushi wrote:These are all being made on a Printer? wouldn't that cost more than the injected molds process?

Sounds like the way the Shapeways site prints stuff.

Didn't think printing toys out on a computer was perfected enough to create a entire durable action figure line from.

They are making the first prototype on a 3D printer, so they have something to show for the Kickstarter, then the Kickstarter money pays to buy a plastic injection mold to make your figure.

Exactly how much do plastic injection molds for the average 3rd party figure cost ?

Rated X wrote:

Scaleface wrote:

Tsutsukakushi wrote:These are all being made on a Printer? wouldn't that cost more than the injected molds process?

Sounds like the way the Shapeways site prints stuff.

Didn't think printing toys out on a computer was perfected enough to create a entire durable action figure line from.

They are making the first prototype on a 3D printer, so they have something to show for the Kickstarter, then the Kickstarter money pays to buy a plastic injection mold to make your figure.

Exactly how much do plastic injection molds for the average 3rd party figure cost ?

Just some rough estimates, based off of my experience with a previous company and injection molding, and some educated guessing at this mold estimator site, it looks like each mold could easily run in the five figures, and pop over $100k without much problem. And remember, there pretty much has to be a unique mold for each plastic color cast. Also, this is just the mold and tooling. Factor in the cost of plastic, setup of the mold, and actually running the mold, and it gets expensive. The larger the run, the cheaper the cost per unit. Then there is the cost of designing the mold, which if these guys are doing it as a hobby and have some good CAD equipment...

I am NOT going into the business like these guys. I'll happily wait for the accountant approval on a $300 3D printer.

Vitruvian H.A.C.K.S. started their Kickstarter with a goal of $75,000 needed to make the first 4 figures, and they charged $115 for the basic 4 figures. Of course those were 4 inch figures not 6 inch figures, so plan to increase those numbers.

Damn thats some serious cash. I dont think none of these projects will see light of day. Just my opinion. Im not trying to jinx it for those who believe otherwise. I think kickstarter is better suited for books than action figures. Blind faith isnt common among 3rd party collectors.