Home casting for cheap?

[Wolf Lord]

Hello! I am new here, and to sculpting, but not new to the gaming community (I'm CaptainOfTheWolfRiders on OR, but that name wouldn't fit here!).

I am currently working on a range of miniatures for a "supplement" using rules for LotR, but the story and figures are based off of my "Shadow of the Dog Lord" story I've been working on for a long time (To find out more, just ask).

I have a few figures started (they're my first sculpts) and I have a few questions for the community:

How can I cast these sculpts easily at home and as cheaply as possible? If it's any consolation, I live in the United States. They will be cast for extra wieght and detail on the battlefield for my purposes and potentailly being sellable, which comes to...

Would anyone be interested in buying them? I'll post pictures as soon as possible, and unlike GW, if you want a supplement, I'll ask the gamers what they want to see and (hopefully) do it!

Thanks for your patience in reading this exhaustfully lengthy post, and hopefully someone can help me!

[eBob]

Some issues to consider:

No.1 - copyright. You cannot consider selling any miniatures that Newline or GW might consider to break copyright - that means if they look similar to anything from the movie or products from GW. That also means you can't say 'these miniatures are for a suppliment to GW's LOTR game'.

Names are also copyright, but merely changing the name is not enough, the miniatures must be of your own design if you wish to sell them openly and safely.

With regards to home casting - it's not as easy as it sounds - and materials aren't cheap. My best advice is to seek out someone who is into home casting - they will be able to offer advice or even better - cast the figures for you on the cheap.

[greenstuff_gav]

Welcome!

of course, there's no problem with IP and copyright if they are for personal use

you cannot use peices from other figures either in the sculpts, unless you have permission to get them cast (rather like Ebob's puppets!)..

As to casting, Jeff Valent Studios is a US based company that gets alot of good press... I emailed him about getting some casts done and heres what i got in reply:

"... most are two parts I could make a dedicated master mold for you and discount the cost for you.
Lets say you have 10 pieces total, normally this would run $400 for the master molding. I
would be willing to make you a master mold with just your pieces for $250.
This cost would include 12 of each figure cast in lead free pewter."

so, welcome & show us some pics! (nosy? me? never! :lol: )

[Wolf Lord]

Well, allow me to re-phrase the suppliment bit...

They are not based upon GW at all (they're a bunch of half man, half dog/wolf/foxes running around with swords and armor), but like ToTE, they CAN be used in a GW game. That's a little better.

Hmm, well, I may be able to go to the school art room and see if the teacher could help me out. That'd probably save a little money, effort, and time!

Sorry though, pics will have to wait!

[nikin]

they just use adapted forms of the rules then, I was a little curious about home casting, as I wanted to cast a couple of minis I made so that I can paint them but keep the greens