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I play many things in many scales. One of my pleasures has always been plastic 1/72 figures – ‘airfix’ scale. I have a number of ancients armies built using some of the more modern, very good ranges from people like Caesar and selected HAT offerings. I cherish them because they are big enough to see and paint, look good on the battlefield, and are by far the least expensive way to build a large force. There was no way I was ever going to do a proper Hail Caesar Egyptian and Hittite army in 28mm when I needed 30 chariots a side, not when I could buy three armies of something else with the money it would cost for one.
It’s always made me curious why no one, ever, has done SF figures in 1/72. Imagine the fun you could have with ‘Not Marines’ and ‘Alien Bugs’ and all the conversion possibilities for the huge number of AFV models on the market in that scale.
I am fully aware that 1/72 is the Ginger Stepchild of the Wargames world, everyone I suspect has idly looked at some of the ghastly figures available from some manufacturers, shuddered and walked away – but Manufacturers like Caesar or Emhar have shown what CAN be done in that material and scale if they are willing to take some care. I am just curious why no one has ever had a go?
Admittedly not in plastic but there are some about……..
MJ Figures have ‘not-Dune’ and ‘not-Stargate’ baddies…..
http://mjfigures.co.uk/product-category/20mm/20mm-scifi/
RH Models have several opposing factions in 20mm too…at bottom of page and follow link to old website…..
Both Caesar and Airfix have produced astronauts….more ‘present’ than sci-fi tho’…….
http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=2245
"Even dry tree bark is not bitter to the hungry squirrel"
Then again, who is to say that someone doesn’t invent a game that is wildly successful in this size and spur a growth of lines trying to cash in on it’s popularity like all the 40k wannabe companies or the 15mm manufacturers of late.
Yes…. a bit like the way Battlefront suddenly had huge numbers of people collecting WWII in 15mm that previously had no idea there WAS a 15mm… or a WWII… 🙂
Write a game called ‘Flames of 50k’ and sell it as ‘In the Dark Grimness of the Far Future there is only 20mm’ and you suddenly won’t be able to move for 1/72 scale SF.
If I was fabulously wealthy I would certainly think of it.
Pat
I suspect it is simply an historical accident.
Airfix laid a massive base for 1/72 plastic figure collectors/gamers in the UK. That was nearly all historical. They were priced at the toy market.
Other historical producers and ranges found a ready market.
SF never had that base and the lead wargame manufacturers who saw a market stuck to their own (non-scale) figures. Tooling a production line for a range of figures that traditionally has been low (ish) volume/high unit price is a big gamble. The switch to resin and plastic for existing manufacturers had an existing (captive?) audience. A new scale venture wouldn’t have that.
Just a prohibitive market entry cost for the perceived return?
Edit: Sorry Pat posts crossed – Yes, it s the old joke isn’t it – how do you make a million in the wargame business – start with 2 million.
Only if you can find an opponent surely? Otherwise they will end up gathering dust, ‘cos no other bugger has a 1/72 army.
I ended up having to buy Egyptians… then Hittites to fight them- then Sea People – then Libyans as allies for the Sea People – then Assyrians as a break from painting things brown and off-white. 5 armies. It’s a burden….
FIVE 750 point Hail Caesar armies – my god, I must have spent well over £300.00 in all! I can see why no one uses 1/72.
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