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Post by Zach on Oct 4, 2020 23:59:08 GMT
Hi everyone, I mentioned this in a blog post here link but I don't blame you if you missed it because I don't update the blog as much as I'd like. So, now that I've started to play around with my 3D printer, I've got some ideas on how to expand FMS into a larger company. Or rather, a company with more traditional presence. So, I'm actually from a pretty big family, and my one younger brother is going to college for computer science. He's more of a Dungeons and Dragons guy hobby-wise, but he's really intrigued by 3D printing and what can be done with it. So, he's going to be helping run FMS starting this December when his semester is over. I'm going to be selecting certain models from the FMS range (with y'all’s help) and he'll be manufacturing them back in Pennsylvania (re: he'll be running a few printers 24 hours a day). We'll be building up a large supply of the basic units, and then opening with a bang in January. He'll be handling most of the printing and order fulfillment. I'll continue designing models, telling everyone how 2mm is superior to their favorite scale, etc. My usual thing. As for the Members: None of this will effect your licenses in any way, shape or form. But that said I think some people will be glad to have the option to have FMS print the models off and mail them. I'm going to avoid doing custom designs initially. And I'm leaning towards a narrower catalog at first. Do we really need to stock all 70 or 90 (or whatever it is now) infantry models? I don't know. I want to avoid a situation where we have a ton of back orders and a line to get onto each printer, and narrowing down the selection would really help with that. I still have a lot of work to do to get this ready, and it'll be an adventure fitting it in with my new job, I'm sure. But, I think that the advantages of running a traditional online store this way will outweigh the opportunity costs. North American still doesn't have a 2mm supplier, and this will fit the bill. I'm also planning on flying back home in July next year to attend Historicon, and will have a table in the dealers hall, complete with a humming 3D printer and tens of thousands of tiny little 3D printed soldiers. Well, that's the update for now. There will be some sort of unofficial polling on what models I should include in the initial wave. Obviously infantry, cavalry, artillery, command, train, skirmishers, and buildings will be included. I've no specifics on prices yet. We'll cross that bridge when we get there. It also means that the website will change, because the current one can't handle a proper web store. I'll make sure that the Members learn about any big changes first, natürlich. |
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Post by 6mmfan on Oct 5, 2020 4:26:34 GMT
Good luck with your new venture. I've got more questions/suggestions than answers for you!
Have you also considered printing them in different colours as some customers may be happy with that and not paint them? Or course that means carrying more stock and offering more options.
I'd suggest army packs for different periods as an option as not everyone wants to figure that out for themselves. The tricky part is for what rules do you want to make them for? or smaller packs of a generic Napoleonic Corp, Army wing etc. Actually after reading your blog post I think offering them in formations might be better, if you having numbers on the bases.
If you have the printer up and running then you might want to calucate how many bases per 24 hours you can print out, and that will help give you an idea in regards to stock levels. Also how quick/easy is it to get spare parts for the printer locally, as shipping time from China can be erratic.
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Post by bayernkini on Oct 5, 2020 6:49:25 GMT
For me a clear "no"!
Do it similar as i did it for my medieval range and create a small appropriate single strip range for different eras
1. Determine the era (for this example ACW)
2. Determine the strip size (maybe 20-30mm would work for single stripes well). 3. Create all units which are needed for this era. So infantry in 2rows would be ok (different to Napoleonics, here 3 ranks fits the era better). Then you need artillery, cavalry, supply wagons and also formations in column. So you should have at last not more than 10-15 different single stripes in this era. 4. Optional: If players want "group" unit bases, create for the main unit types such bases. 40x40mm should work for many rules systems. 5. Create buildings and supply for those era, so players can do scenario gameboards.
So for ACW you would need not only generic houses and bridges, but also some specific historical buildings, trains, tracks and stations.
Then go on to next era with the same numbers. There will be for sure some units/terrain, wich can be used for more than one era, so you dont need to create it twice  But some unit stripes should be different, as i said, the infantry strip in Napoleonic (and 7YW e.g) should be in 3 ranks. And you should have different cavalry stripes here, to represent the heavy, medium and light cavalry, while in ACW only one cavalry type is enough.
After you created you basic era units/buildings, you have time, to expand the different ranges (units and terrain), most only if people say, they need for special scenarios a "new" kind of unit stripe or a special terrain feature.
This way i would do it.
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Post by Zach on Oct 5, 2020 7:24:11 GMT
Good luck with your new venture. I've got more questions/suggestions than answers for you! Have you also considered printing them in different colours as some customers may be happy with that and not paint them? Or course that means carrying more stock and offering more options. I'd suggest army packs for different periods as an option as not everyone wants to figure that out for themselves. The tricky part is for what rules do you want to make them for? or smaller packs of a generic Napoleonic Corp, Army wing etc. Actually after reading your blog post I think offering them in formations might be better, if you having numbers on the bases. If you have the printer up and running then you might want to calucate how many bases per 24 hours you can print out, and that will help give you an idea in regards to stock levels. Also how quick/easy is it to get spare parts for the printer locally, as shipping time from China can be erratic. Well, it's going to be multiple printers up and running  I'm buying a few for my brother to run and I'll be keeping mine here for design (and printing off fan mods, of course!). I'd definitely like to make army packs, which would include some featuring the numbered bases from the latest blog post. That would also synch with the rules I'm working on for use with the numbered bases; they're all part of a system that stands alone, with no need of other models from the Library. As for generic formations, you're right about that - I'm actually setting up the files so I can print out complete formations with all the command, arty, train, skirmishers, etc, and toss them into a bag and staple it shut, then mail it. Which brings us to Bayernkini's point, which is that keeping the number of figures available in this manner limited is important. I think so too. I mean, look at Old Glory 10mm (random example). They have one base size for infantry: 1". Of course, they have a lot more specific figure types, but I think I may actually have more varieties available. I have 4 widths (20mm, 30mm, 40mm, and 60mm), 3 formations (2,3,4 ranks) and single-flag, double-flag, and no-flag variants. 36 variants right there. And that's just the basic infantry. Then I have the Danger Cats (1.5:1) and the Deployed sub-range (the ones with correct formations). And then the numbered and non-numbered game-pieces. It's really not stock-able. The question then, is what size to limit the models to in the store? Specifically the infantry? This is the most vexing question -it's actually the one I've been meaning to get feedback on. Currently there are 20m, 30mm, 40mm, and 60mm width infantry pieces. People use all of them. There are no pieces in inches, but literally nobody has ever asked for them, so I don't think there's too much demand. What do you guys think? What width of infantry should I focus on for the online store? At least to start. I'm going to do a poll on the 2mm Facebook group too... |
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Post by Zach on Oct 5, 2020 7:26:23 GMT
For me a clear "no"! Do it similar as i did it for my medieval range and create a small appropriate single strip range for different eras
1. Determine the era (for this example ACW)
2. Determine the strip size (maybe 20-30mm would work for single stripes well). 3. Create all units which are needed for this era. So infantry in 2rows would be ok (different to Napoleonics, here 3 ranks fits the era better). Then you need artillery, cavalry, supply wagons and also formations in column. So you should have at last not more than 10-15 different single stripes in this era. 4. Optional: If players want "group" unit bases, create for the main unit types such bases. 40x40mm should work for many rules systems. 5. Create buildings and supply for those era, so players can do scenario gameboards.
So for ACW you would need not only generic houses and bridges, but also some specific historical buildings, trains, tracks and stations. Then go on to next era with the same numbers. There will be for sure some units/terrain, wich can be used for more than one era, so you dont need to create it twice But some unit stripes should be different, as i said, the infantry strip in Napoleonic (and 7YW e.g) should be in 3 ranks. And you should have different cavalry stripes here, to represent the heavy, medium and light cavalry, while in ACW only one cavalry type is enough. After you created you basic era units/buildings, you have time, to expand the different ranges (units and terrain), most only if people say, they need for special scenarios a "new" kind of unit stripe or a special terrain feature. This way i would do it.
As stated above, I agree with your thoughts here. I will need to streamline what is available. The big question I have on the strips is what size? And I also agree that larger multi-bases would be popular. I think people would like 40 x 40s with a few small battalions and skirmishers placed on them. For that matter pre-printed Blucher bases would be popular, I think. |
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Post by suntzu on Oct 5, 2020 7:57:29 GMT
good luck with your new venture , here's an idea how about creating something along the lines of the perry's travel battle with rules , map and unit stands for say 1st bull run and have the units printed in blue & grey in a sort of redy to go format which would require minimal work for the end user
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Post by 6mmfan on Oct 5, 2020 10:06:23 GMT
Good to hear, it sounded like you brought 1 printer!
Bases sizes is an eternal wargames question, as every game system is different. I'd suggest 20 and 30mm as you can combine them to make large bases.
Well, it's going to be multiple printers up and running I'm buying a few for my brother to run and I'll be keeping mine here for design (and printing off fan mods, of course!). I'd definitely like to make army packs, which would include some featuring the numbered bases from the latest blog post. That would also synch with the rules I'm working on for use with the numbered bases; they're all part of a system that stands alone, with no need of other models from the Library. As for generic formations, you're right about that - I'm actually setting up the files so I can print out complete formations with all the command, arty, train, skirmishers, etc, and toss them into a bag and staple it shut, then mail it. Which brings us to Bayernkini's point, which is that keeping the number of figures available in this manner limited is important. I think so too. I mean, look at Old Glory 10mm (random example). They have one base size for infantry: 1". Of course, they have a lot more specific figure types, but I think I may actually have more varieties available. I have 4 widths (20mm, 30mm, 40mm, and 60mm), 3 formations (2,3,4 ranks) and single-flag, double-flag, and no-flag variants. 36 variants right there. And that's just the basic infantry. Then I have the Danger Cats (1.5:1) and the Deployed sub-range (the ones with correct formations). And then the numbered and non-numbered game-pieces. It's really not stock-able. The question then, is what size to limit the models to in the store? Specifically the infantry? This is the most vexing question -it's actually the one I've been meaning to get feedback on. Currently there are 20m, 30mm, 40mm, and 60mm width infantry pieces. People use all of them. There are no pieces in inches, but literally nobody has ever asked for them, so I don't think there's too much demand. What do you guys think? What width of infantry should I focus on for the online store? At least to start. I'm going to do a poll on the 2mm Facebook group too... |
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I'm buying a few for my brother to run and I'll be keeping mine here for design (and printing off fan mods, of course!).