[Archive] Why doesn't GW mold in black plastic?

Archive [Archive] Chaos Dwarf Discussion
1

Tarrakk Blackhand:

I just had a thought. Why doesn’t GW use black plastic for their models as opposed to the current “Neutral Grey”?

I know on certian model cars from Revell and Amt they are molded in black and it saves a lot of time when it comes to undercaridge parts and even body/interior colours.

Black molded GW figures would save time on undercoating and at the same time, GW can still sell Chaos Black paint as many people would still use it.

2

Grimstonefire:

You cannot see details on black plastic in all the photos they would need. Admittedly they could just do grey for the promotional shots, but the cost would add up. Some things look better undercoated white, and being white on grey is also easier than white on black (if like me you don’t use half a can per batch)

3

Kera foehunter:

ahh !! i think black plastic would be better!!

i have an old ogre in black plastic and i think it look great !!

4

Thommy H:

Yeah, as Grim says, some people undercoat in white. That would be that much harder if the plastic was black.

5

Warhammerman:

Yeah, it’s hard to do bright colors when you undercoat in black.

6

Gar Shadowfame:

colour of plastic doesnt matter for modeling purposes, model needs undercoat anyway.

and the actual type could depent on technologies they decided to buy for models production

7

Kera foehunter:

they don’t want you to know that this is made from oil !! so they can jack the prices up when they feel like it

8

Bolg:

I would still undercoat a black plastic model with black paint (makes the paint stick better) so I dont see the advantage.

9

Gar Shadowfame:

so they can jack the prices up when they feel like it
western economy bases on this possibility
10

Arashi:

I actually had a few Morian orcs made in black plastic. Don’t know why they were that way, but it’s not that big of a change. You will have to undercoat them anyway if you want a really good painted mini.

11

Kera foehunter:

yes but why does gw sell black paint as primer!! that is there under coat it just plain black paint!

12

Bolg:

I dont understand the question…

13

clam:

Nor do I - and who cares what colour the plastic is anyway? Only kids toys are made from it :wink: Real men plays with metal dolls :smiley:

14

Revlid:

  1. Black plastic is more expensive than grey.

    2) Black plastic is harder to undercoat white than grey.

    3) Black plastic is harder to see details on.

    4) You’d still have to undercoat the plastic.
15

Hashut’s Blessing:

Undercoating is necessary for the paint to stick better, so the colour isn’t useful in that sense.

As has been said, you would need to use more undercoat when using white or other light undercoats, which is likely to obscure details.

Again, as has been said, pictures of the unpainted models would be less obvious as tot he sculpting because shadows would be less obvious.

On top of all of this, you would have to add a lot more pigment to make it black than you do when it is grey, upping the costs of production.

16

Tarrakk Blackhand:

1) Black plastic is more expensive than grey.
Colour doesn't determine price. If it did, then a TV set molded in a grey plastic box would cost less than the exact same TV if the box was molded in Black. And it doesn't work like that.
On top of all of this, you would have to add a lot more pigment to make it black than you do when it is grey, upping the costs of production.
Plastic comes in all colours and costs the same price. They don't add in a pigment to grey plastic to make it black. This isn't baking with food colours and white sugar. :D

If you've ever seen a plastic injection molding machine and know how it's operated, then you know that plastic companies buy shreaded plastic in pellets, put the pellets in the machine, which melts them, and then the liquid plastic is forced into the metal mold (Your model kit) at high pressures. Once the liquid plastic dries, the mold is poened and the plastic parts are taken out. Look for a video on You-tube. It's quite amazing.

Haven't you guys ever built any other plastic models besides Games Workshop ones? Like a tank (Molded in Green) or car (Molded in white, grey, black, red, yellow, blue, purple and tan.)?

Just be glad they don't mold them in red - White undercoat tends to go pink when sprayed over red plastic!
17

Thommy H:

Colour doesn't determine price. If it did, then a TV set molded in a grey plastic box would cost less than the exact same TV if the box was molded in Black. And it doesn't work like that.
I can't speak for the rest of your post, but the cost of the raw materials of a high-price consumer product are rarely reflected in how much you end up paying for it.
18

Swissdictator:

Well look at it this way: Most people debate about white or black primer (or for me gray or black as I hate every white primer I have tried.

It’s about seeing detail (and in the case of primer the base color), and a few other factors. Gray is a nice medium between the two.

They used to have white (or perhaps more cream) molds, you can see examples in the old VC book. I think the gray was an improvement.

19

Gar Shadowfame:

Tarrak 50 dollars bottle of top brand perfume costs less than a dollar to produce.

Colour of plastic models is a minor feature since stuff like elasticity and hardnes are more important.

Also the individual type of plastic ( color is just feature, chemical formulae determines the type) is part of production technology which is most likely bought by GW, and during the course of proces of acquiring the technology the decision makers dont look at the colour but at the costs, eficiency, (recently on ecological aspects) etc.

For modeling purposes grey is better, as it is equaly covered by black or white primer.

And using primer strongly improves the look of one’s miniatures.

20

Tarrakk Blackhand:

I took a plastics Technology course back in the past and I don’t remember ever hearing about colour being a factor in price of plastic. It was usually like what Gar Shadowflame says - it’s the type of plastic.