Comments On Expeditionary Force Future Releases, My very good friend Erwin Sell contacted Expeditionary Force. He contacted Scott for answers on size and French Grenadier drummer. I am sure you will find the responses interesting.
Comments On Expeditionary Force Question One
As for your questions:-
Would the scale in the description be corrected and update as a 60mm or 1/30 scale?
Generally, all our ranges from Ancient (3500 B.C.) to Medieval (15th Century) will be in 60mm size or 1/30 scale. We use our Greek/ Macedonian models as our size reference (height and heft) for sculpting. (The only exception to the above is our 40mm Dark Ages range which is painted.)
We seek only to ensure consistency within our company’s own products as we have no access to other companies’ products.
The plastic model soldier market is really very small and fragmented. Cost recovery can be a struggle.
For matured collectors in popular periods, many already have everything they want except for a few odd subject pieces to plug the gap. Some are in plastic, some in metal, some in 54mm, and some in 60mm, etc.
This niche market with numerous existing product specifications is beyond our capability to meet.
As a retiree, I am just happy to be able to share what I enjoy most; and hopefully don’t lose my retirement savings doing it.
Second Part of Question One
The WW2 Pacific War Japanese are designed as 54mm and already adjusted for a slight size reduction from our standard 54mm standard. It will match with our later 54mm British and American series in due course.
I do not know how it matches up with the other products you mentioned as we do not have those models in our collection.
(It may sound ridiculous but the size is a tricky thing with shrinkage from clay-sculpts to PU prototypes to PVC products. Small items like heads shrink at different degrees from thick items like torsos. It took time for us to strike the right balance.)
We are still constantly learning how to improve our product; and customers’ input is most welcomed and appreciated.
Question Two
Would drum in French Drummer be changed!?
Actually, it has already been done. The photo with the crowned GR was a work-in-progress shot. The sculptor used a lay-about piece.
Thank you for pointing this out. I was of two minds on making the change as there were pictures of various drum stick holds. Will do so.
I have been stuck in Singapore since January 2020 and what used to be a momentary exchange between design and sculpting now involves multiple drawings and voice mails.
Take care and stay safe.
Cheers,
Scott
Still very confusing on size of figures.
I agree .when I ask I specially mention the irregularities of the scales range The Japanese’s I noticed the EXF “” standing shooter “” is 57/58 mm but his torso leaning forward and legs flex bend, meaning standing up would be even taller . While next to Airfix ,MPC, Britain standing firing pose that are true 54 mm in standing almost straight pose ,the EXF looks like a super Japanese soldier in steroids with much larger head ,arms ,hand and super strong body .
Also considered the same rifle model in same soldier can not grow in thicker and length with person even if would be some special super Japanese imperial soldiers giants .The weapon should stay same .
I pointed that considered Japanese Asians are smaller person overall versus European and most Americans soldiers they will need go in the 60 mm range least as no way the EXF are 54mm or near at all.
Yet…
I collect many scales and this is no issue x me as I can blend with ,OLIVER,BMC in that range scale plus vintage such Jecsan and Lido still farly common around and i have all those ..
But to many other collectors who will love have a good match it will be a big disappointment .
In the other hand I think EX is trying it best when making figures in order to make happy most ,but you can never archive it .
In my view and describing EXF figures
Pros
Their figures and amount wars eras covered is great overall .
Detail and historical accuracy is great .
Amount poses and variety is great too .
Diversity of periods great.
Amount sets per year produced-The best in decades .
Cons-
Scale description incorrect and often inconsistent.
Dynamism of body parts in figures a bit stiff and had not improved still .
Price elevated x been mass produced ,but more likely almost in the cost range production of actual prices.
I think will be fear say that a correct simple scale description in set title would avoid some confusing I guess.
my thoughts
Great reply. Tremendous figures.
The Hobby has Spoken!!
Get your scale issues in order.
You should be either 1:32 = 54mm or 1:30 = 60mm.
everything else is folly.
Everyone knows i much prefer 54mm scale figures, Although i dont mind 60mm either, But over 60mm i’m not interested at all. When Ex-Force started bringing out there Ancient and Medieval figures a few years ago which are the eras i collect i was very excited, However and Erwin makes a very good point in the thickness of Ex-Force figures. A few years ago i brought 2 sets of the Medieval figures and although i was slightly disappointed that they were about 60mm, The thing that really disappointed me was the thickness of the figures, Compared to other figures they look like bulked up 24 stone super soldiers which is ok in themselves but when they mixed in with most other makes they just look to big, So sadly i haven’t brought anymore of there figures, And on a personal level unless the Medieval and Ancient range is made smaller although i really like the look of them and there are plenty to choose from i wont be buying any and i’m sure i’m not the only one who feels this way. I would just say to them that making them this size is losing them many sales and i wish they were smaller in height but especially the girth, Just my opinion.
I can’t invest in figures that are too big. I think if they were 54-56mm range they would have done better.
I prefer the bulkier looking figures as opposed to the skinny looking figures of ESCI & others. Does anyone know why EXF has never produced their set of Confederate Raiders that they had in their lne up many many years go??
TSSD Medieval Men-At-Arms although based on the RH/King John era, fit good in height and girth next to Ex-Force 100 Yrs War Medievals. Marx 60mm Medieval match height wise but some are thinner girth wise. There is multi-conversion options in Medieval 60mm. Italeri Medieval although 54mm, the heads are large and can be cut and converted on Ex-Force, TSSD, Marx and the Spanish makers Reamsa and Jescan. As far as Robin Hood, Ex Force, TSSD, Marx and some of the William Tell Reamsa figures all match.
I think you will find that TSSD have not made medieval figures. They did make Romans and Barbarians
Your right! I meant LOD Medievals.
😳Rather Barszo!
I dont mind some figures being 60mm but there is a definate trend these days for figures being 60mm to 70mm a thicker set. Now i’m from England where almost every figure made when i was growing up was between 50mm and 54mm, So that is what i’m used to and prefer. When i discovered the wonder of the internet and saw all these Great figures from around the world i brought many more butr always concentrated on 54mm, Although as ive said i dont mind at all some 60mm figures as i look on them as just bigger men as in real life, But the hobby is losing me now as most figures are just to big to go with my smaller figures and i just will not buy large figures that i dont agree with. Why companies dont make figures at around 57mm to fit in with 54mm and 60mm figures is beyond me. First it would keep people like me who prefer the smaller scale happy, And i’m sure at 57mm the sales would be much better as everyone would be happy with that, Still nevermind what do i know?
As another British collector who like Darren grew up with Airfix and Britains I would echo the comments about size and bulk in figures today. There is something immensely pleasing about putting different 1/32 figures together which compliment each other in size and stature. I recently converted the Mars Soviet infantry officers (from a not particularly impressive set, in my own opinion) and used the heads of Britains zoo keepers to create two far more attractive figures which complement Airfix Soviets pretty well. It’s the simple things in life which bring happiness so often.
Mars is making figures in the old 54mm or close to 1/35 as Airfix was doing in their later sets. Once Mars gets off their WW2 kick maybe they will make some Medievals.
Well I hope Mars future come as later Napoleonic and few last in quality as Mars quality is very crude as well in mold excess plastic issues in most set with few exception . They have so far inter mix with off WW2 sets on and off with pirates, Napoleonic sets recently .Their HO production cover a huge line from ancient till modern time and is true the 1/32 are classic perfect match 54 mm range ..
Yeah that would be Great, I wont fully give up the hobby although i haven’t brought many figures these last few years because as ive said they are getting to big, But now and then someone from around the world does produce a set of 54mm figures, Plus i convert and make quite a few of my own figures from bits and bobs of figures from many sources which keeps me going. So come on Mars when your finished with the WW2 era how about something Medieval or Ancient? By the way i’m also very much into Fantasy figures and i brought 2 sets of there Zombie Pirate figures which were interesting and different and 54mm scale. So i look forward to what they will produce in there upcoming releases.
I wish Dark Alliance would produce some of their 1/72 fantasy sets in 1/32. Their 1/72 war trolls make the best 1/32 orcs available. I’d love to see their Uruk Hai, Barbarians, Orcs, Elves etc. in 1/32.
I totally agree Mark, Dark Alliance make some fantastic Fantasy figures in 1/72 scale but ive never been into this small scale, If they made them into 1/32 scale that would be amazing. I was hoping one day soon that 3d printing would be much easier and cheaper and making these figures into 1/32 scale might be possible, But alas that is probably still years away, So here’s hoping that Dark Alliance take a leaf out of Mars book and start making 1/32 figures, But if so not to big? By the way i brought those War Troll figures and they go well with 1/32 scale figures.
I pretty much restrict my collecting to 54mm Wild West and ACW figures and accessories. The 54mm, 56mm, 60mm, 70mm discussion reminds me of my HUGE regret that Auburn made their Western Cowboys in 60mm vs. 54mm. Those figures and accessories are some of the best sculpts I’ve ever seen and they are just too big to mix in with my 54mm dioramas. I have them in a box, but my preference is to see them on a shelf.
I really liked the Auburn GI’s when I first saw them but they were just TOO BIG to mix with my Lido/Timmees and their Vehicles were TOO SMALL.
I’m currently molding some 70mm figures in silicone rubber. (Thanks to Rich Fisher for the Elastolin ACW figures!) The plan is to obtain some shrinking resin from ‘The Engineer Guy” online (about $40) and cast this material into the 70mm molds. The hope is that approximately 54mm versions of the figures will result and then be remolded with bases, to be re-cast perhaps in tin or hard resin. I’ll send the results with photos to Stad .
Good luck with the project. Hope it works!! looking forward to positive results.
I’m looking for an example of the Preiser or Hauser Elastolin 70mm ACW kneeling pose, preferably un-assembled and un-painted. Anybody have one to spare?
Interested in exchanging ideas with anyone working with Ex Force Napoleonics. I paint everything and have been experimenting with conversions such as a variety of loading poses. Starting with separate arm sets and heads etc is a good start for creating ideas. I had done a lot of conversions with the poly plastic and it was always a challenge reassembling the figure. Superglue works very well with whatever Ex Force is using to cast their figures. Scott at Ex Force said several new sets in the works.
If you want to correspond with Adam email me and I will forward it to him.
Adam, there is a group for Expeditionary force onFacebook as well.
I have done a few conversions with swapping legs to make casualties.
Conte’s Napoleonic / Mexican army has loading arms that work well.
I managed a couple loading poses using the “port arms ” sets that came with ex force….takes 4 separate cuts and I lose the right hand that had been on the stock…but have plenty of extra parts. Is it possible to post pictures here? Will certainly look for conte mexicans I had a couple 60mm mexicans but they are too large and kinda crude.
Adam, welcome, you can send photos to pestad@gmail.com.
Well while you can do many conversion by simple swapping or light adapting you still will have only same amount figures in any giving poses as only one torso each per set box with many arms else .Generally 9 figures only
So most EXF sets you are paying not counting shipping $3.77 USD per foot figure and soon may increase as shipping cost will increase worldwide very soon again from other non US shipping companies such DHL that is used by EXF often .
While the amount variation that can be done are great ;for been mass -steel mold produced figures the price per figure seems a bit high in my opinion .
my personal views only .