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Post by Michael O'Brien on Apr 21, 2016 14:40:19 GMT
Mithril Miniatures is after moving from the traditional style clay sculpting to new digital processes like 3D modelling packages and 3D printing this year. This means enhanced detail and better accuracy than every before yet have the same great style you know and love at the same price. It also means a faster production of miniatures so that annoying waiting list of Fellowship figures will drastically shorten over the coming months. This new development has been marked with a new designation of 'MZ' before any number for new releases. We should have some of these new figures in development in May. You can see previews of these amazing new figures on our Prince August blog. Tell us what you think with the poll above. It ends at the start of May.
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Post by Mornedhel on Apr 21, 2016 18:41:42 GMT
A really great news. Is the Z means the initial Zbrush tool used for modelling?
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Post by Milo on Apr 22, 2016 10:15:08 GMT
I love what I see.
I wonder how 3D printing will lead to metal castings. Master will be 3D printing and mould for metal casting will be created or all castibg will be 3D printing?
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Post by Milo on Apr 22, 2016 10:32:46 GMT
Few questions. Will MZ range replace MS range? What about M, MB, MV, MX range ?
I would suggest to have MZ, MZB, MZV, MZS, MZX if possible.
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Post by Gildor on Apr 23, 2016 21:11:36 GMT
This new 3D modelling looks great. Could you tell us if the 3D printing will use photopolymerisation or extrusion deposition. I really hope it is photopolymerisation for details... Extrusion would not be fitting enough for this scale and detail... Also Milo is correct, if you add "Z" in the reference, maybe it would be better to decline all the series from now on, else we won't make the difference between a fellowship or a common release (if mithril ever plans to release regulars again in the future  ... let's say "sets", instead of regulars) One last thing, I noticed that in all the 3D renderings provided on the blogs we don't see : - Elfhelm the Marshal (April 2015 suggestion) - Tobold Hornblower (May 2015 suggestion) which were sugested before those seen in your blog but not released yet. Have those been sculpted "old fashion" yet, or will they be Zbrushed? Does that mean they will both be released after the advertised MZ ones? And at the very last, from the references used in the blog, it appears we still have a hole in the referencing: MS621. Is there something planned to fill this gap? (I am very happy that you managed to fill all the others holes so far... except the 10 slot hole planned for a full set (541-550)... maybe one day...) |
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Post by Michael O'Brien on Apr 26, 2016 14:13:17 GMT
A really great news. Is the Z means the initial Zbrush tool used for modelling? Yes, well spotted. |
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Post by Michael O'Brien on Apr 26, 2016 14:14:26 GMT
I love what I see. I wonder how 3D printing will lead to metal castings. Master will be 3D printing and mould for metal casting will be created or all castibg will be 3D printing? We are still working out the exact process but so far we are not 3D printing the figures we sell, only the master figures. |
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Post by Michael O'Brien on Apr 26, 2016 14:15:38 GMT
Few questions. Will MZ range replace MS range? What about M, MB, MV, MX range ? I would suggest to have MZ, MZB, MZV, MZS, MZX if possible. The MZ is replacing the MS series. I am not sure about the other series yet. Your suggestion may be used. |
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Post by Michael O'Brien on Apr 26, 2016 14:16:49 GMT
This new 3D modelling looks great. Could you tell us if the 3D printing will use photopolymerisation or extrusion deposition. I really hope it is photopolymerisation for details... Extrusion would not be fitting enough for this scale and detail... Also Milo is correct, if you add "Z" in the reference, maybe it would be better to decline all the series from now on, else we won't make the difference between a fellowship or a common release (if mithril ever plans to release regulars again in the future ... let's say "sets", instead of regulars) One last thing, I noticed that in all the 3D renderings provided on the blogs we don't see : - Elfhelm the Marshal (April 2015 suggestion) - Tobold Hornblower (May 2015 suggestion) which were sugested before those seen in your blog but not released yet. Have those been sculpted "old fashion" yet, or will they be Zbrushed? Does that mean they will both be released after the advertised MZ ones? And at the very last, from the references used in the blog, it appears we still have a hole in the referencing: MS621. Is there something planned to fill this gap? (I am very happy that you managed to fill all the others holes so far... except the 10 slot hole planned for a full set (541-550)... maybe one day...) All those are good questions but I will have to send them to Chris and Lars for an answer. |
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Post by harrek on Apr 26, 2016 15:41:55 GMT
I'm all for the 3D modeled figures. I've had the pleasure of watching a master sculptor who went from clay to digital work in digital. Even took a Z sculpting class myself to see what it was all about with him. He follows the same work flow as you. Simply print a highly detailed master for casting purposes and then sell metal. These figures (when digitally done correctly) are just as (if not more) detailed as the clay versions. In addition you have the added advantage you can print another master anytime if something happens!
I'm all for it!
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Post by harrek on Apr 26, 2016 15:43:43 GMT
And eager to see the new diorama! Any hints? :-)
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Post by sevlag on Apr 27, 2016 6:24:35 GMT
This new system allows for more detailed figures and it's beautiful. But can you tell me if it will still be produced in metal with an underlayer as usual?
Does this will also help to reduce prices of each figure ?
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Post by maenas on Apr 27, 2016 11:41:44 GMT
Really excited about this. Sounds like an opportunity to relaunch the brand.
As Sevlag I am also interested on how the prices will be affected. Since I would prefer a drop in prices than terrific punctual discounts.
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Post by Gildor on Apr 27, 2016 15:08:55 GMT
well, considering the master is not unique and can be reprinted... considering it may be more robust than greenstuff ones after being used to produce a mould we MAY ... (but it requires confirmation by mithril), well we MAY imagine they have a better batch management and thus the price MAY be better (maybe not immediatly because there will necessarily be a payback period but afterwards, who knows ?
Indeed, now it all comes from how much time/money/effort is made in the mould creation process and its reusability/reconditionning.
The time of "rarities" is over, with 3D concept/printing, we could not have any more M16 or Halbarad since the originals are "digital" and can be remade.... unless the file is accidentally lost but I do not think they intend to delete files intentionnaly that would be odd, risky, and illogical.
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Post by Halbarad II. on Apr 27, 2016 16:08:42 GMT
On a second look at the preview pictures
of Othar, Easterling champion, Dain Ironfoot, the Snowtroll and Duinhir
I want to mention that the weapons,
- especially the Shards of Narsil (carried by the boy it looks like a dagger...)
look to small and thin for me compared with older productions,
is that just preview?
And Gollums log is too short, also
Novel says "a hump on the end of a log floating in the water" sorry, I'm critical.
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Post by Michael O'Brien on Apr 28, 2016 15:09:20 GMT
This new 3D modelling looks great. Could you tell us if the 3D printing will use photopolymerisation or extrusion deposition. I really hope it is photopolymerisation for details... Extrusion would not be fitting enough for this scale and detail... Also Milo is correct, if you add "Z" in the reference, maybe it would be better to decline all the series from now on, else we won't make the difference between a fellowship or a common release (if mithril ever plans to release regulars again in the future ... let's say "sets", instead of regulars) One last thing, I noticed that in all the 3D renderings provided on the blogs we don't see : - Elfhelm the Marshal (April 2015 suggestion) - Tobold Hornblower (May 2015 suggestion) which were sugested before those seen in your blog but not released yet. Have those been sculpted "old fashion" yet, or will they be Zbrushed? Does that mean they will both be released after the advertised MZ ones? And at the very last, from the references used in the blog, it appears we still have a hole in the referencing: MS621. Is there something planned to fill this gap? (I am very happy that you managed to fill all the others holes so far... except the 10 slot hole planned for a full set (541-550)... maybe one day...) Chris has responded with answers to your questions here: |
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Post by Michael O'Brien on Apr 28, 2016 15:11:33 GMT
This new system allows for more detailed figures and it's beautiful. But can you tell me if it will still be produced in metal with an underlayer as usual? Does this will also help to reduce prices of each figure ? The prices are not reduced, the workflow will increase and the figures will be of better quality than ever before. Perhaps a price change may occur as time goes on and we find ways to further integrate 3D printing into our process. The figures will be metal and will be primed. |
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Post by Theobald on Apr 28, 2016 16:52:01 GMT
All in all absolutely great news.
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Post by Michael O'Brien on Apr 28, 2016 17:31:27 GMT
On a second look at the preview pictures of Othar, Easterling champion, Dain Ironfoot, the Snowtroll and Duinhir I want to mention that the weapons, - especially the Shards of Narsil (carried by the boy it looks like a dagger...) look to small and thin for me compared with older productions, is that just preview? And Gollums log is too short, also Novel says "a hump on the end of a log floating in the water" sorry, I'm critical. Here is a quote from Chris about your criticisms: |
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Post by Gildor on Apr 28, 2016 18:36:50 GMT
wow, these are astonishingly great news ! I can't wait to see the results! Hopefully this will even bring back some motivation in my fingers to start painting again ! I hope !
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Post by Thingol on Apr 29, 2016 6:46:11 GMT
I cannot wait to see all those great news in real and in my hands.....
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Post by Gerold on Apr 29, 2016 7:11:50 GMT
What a fantastic world we live in!
Not only the high quality of the figures remains (or is even better), but I have the impression that sculpting digitally goes much faster than we are used to. Does this mean we may expect more regular M-releases in future, next to the MZ-releases ?
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Post by Gildor on Apr 29, 2016 15:49:12 GMT
fact is with digital sculpting you don't have to worry about mistakes nor reaching small curves or angles, nor the fact the greenstuff is slowly - but surely - drying and become less and less workable. you can also zoom in and zoom out for very small details such as faces... I can't wait to see the results/improvments done on faces thanks to 3D design ! It also means we can now have poses we could never dream about before because it was impossible to reach "unreachable parts"... which is both great, but will become quite a challenge for painters  Also, you can decide to "explode" your model in whatever combination of smaller parts for master printing in anticipation for mould creation. |
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Post by rohangrl on May 1, 2016 11:18:46 GMT
This is fantastic and in future I have hopes we will see some miniatures which I have dreamed of but knew could never be sculpted.
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Post by Milo on May 3, 2016 18:46:09 GMT
Ma Mia ! I just read Michael's posts. Only good news !!!
I can't wait until next release. I need to calm down a bit...
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Post by Halbarad II. on May 4, 2016 18:29:40 GMT
Thanks for the statement.
That's good news about the future modeled weapons,
I'm happy.
I'm sure Gollum will be fine also, no bad mood.
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Post by Theobald on May 10, 2016 16:16:57 GMT
So does all this also mean that we might see another great Christmas-figure 2016 ?
(after that second gap in the tradition last year)
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Post by Michael O'Brien on May 11, 2016 11:56:28 GMT
So does all this also mean that we might see another great Christmas-figure 2016 ? (after that second gap in the tradition last year) While I cannot guarantee it, there should be future Christmas figures once we get the hang of the new process. |
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Post by Theobald on May 11, 2016 14:54:35 GMT
Thank you, Michael, that also is good news.
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... let's say "sets", instead of regulars)
