Paul I think I have some Mike's Models

[rudynelson]

Paul Hannah, As the topic states I have some castings that I got at Atlanta and I think they may be Mike's Models. But they look to be later DBR era maybe 30yrs War.

I did not know if you might be interested in that era.

[Paul A. Hannah]

30YW is not my greatest of needs, but, hey, how often do I act rationally when someone dangles old Mikes Models before me? (Answer: Not often.) :D

I'll gladly offer to take them, sight-unseen, Rudy. If you are so inclined, feel free to assign a fair value for them and send me a PayPal invoice at PAHANNAH-at-AOL-dot-COM. Thanks, Rudy.

[ June 27, 2004, 12:28: Message edited by: Paul A. Hannah ]

[imported_Lee Shackelford]

Paul,

you see the auction at ebay?...think they are the same time

Lee

[rudynelson]

I have not posted these on ebay yet. i will lsit the numbers later.

[jimbo (5)]

i would also be interested in knowing about any source of ancient and renaissance Mike's Models. Does anyone know who owns the molds?

[rudynelson]

Donnington/ Essex bought them back in the early 1980s. The Ren was re-released as Essex as are the Incas which are still being sold.

[Paul A. Hannah]

Originally posted by jimbo (5):
I would also be interested in knowing about any source of ancient and renaissance Mike's Models. Does anyone know who owns the molds? Another person who still likes old Mikes Models. What's this hobby coming to? ;)

Jimbo, Essex UK has told me that the molds for Mikes Models ancients were destroyed long ago. (Essex 15mm Incas are the exception: They are the one range of Mikes Models figures still in production.)

Essex continued the Mikes Models "RP" Renaissange range under the Essex name for a few years, before slowly re-doing all their Renaissance ranges. Apparently, Essex UK still has decent molds for some of the original MM Renaissance "RP" figures. They are reportedly available on a special-order basis for a limited time only before those molds are also destroyed. (Dunno when "last call" will be.)

I learned recently, however, that the real question should be not "who has the molds?", but "who has the master figures?". I'm not in the biz, so those who are can correct me. Production molds get old and wear out, but can be re-done so long as master molds or master figures remain. While all (or most) Mikes Models molds have been destroyed, I have no idea if any of the original masters still exist.

The best sources are e-bay, Bartertown and other second-hand sources. I've acquired a fair number of MM figures from Fanatici here. I have a "modest" stash of unpainted Mikes Models, in all, probably enough MM lead to withstand a direct nuclear blast. I will gladly offer to do some trading with you.

So the more sane readers here don't have to endure all this Mike's Models blather, I just formed a niche Yahoo group for those of us with this odd affection for Mikes Models. :D
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/Fans_of_Mikes_Models_15s/

See you there, perhaps.

[ July 02, 2004, 08:46: Message edited by: Paul A. Hannah ]

[Asterix]

So why do manufacturers destroy the molds. Is it from use or intentional to produce a "limited edition" set of figs?

The thought of destryoing good figure molds seems very wasteful to me!!

Asterix

[Chris Brantley]

Originally posted by Asterix:
So why do manufacturers destroy the molds. Is it from use or intentional to produce a "limited edition" set of figs? The thought of destryoing good figure molds seems very wasteful to me!! Asterix Not usually. Moulds get old and burnt out through repeated use (causing flash problems like raised seams, etc.). Hence they are most often destroyed to prevent low quality figures from circulating. The key is who has the master figures used to make the moulds.

[rudynelson]

Paul a guy on the Miniature page under the Medeival forum indicated that he has some Mikes Models. Under the Norman topic. Even mentioned your name.

[Paul A. Hannah]

Originally posted by rudynelson:
Paul a guy on The Miniatures Page under the Medieval forum indicated that he has some Mikes Models. Under the Norman topic. Even mentioned your name.Thanks, Rudy. I had not seen that posting. I'll get in touch with him.

BTW, despite my obvious hoarding instinct when it comes to MM figs, I do sometimes trade them, or even give them away. Okay, not often, but anytime I have about 50,000 more of a type than I could possibly ever use, I figure I can risk letting a few go. Just a few... ;)

[Paul A. Hannah]

Oh, the vintage Mikes Models are certainly flying about the globe right now. Le'see, there are currently... MM Greeks and Persians outbound to two different locales in Ohio MM Koreans (3 Kingdoms era) in-bound from Oregon MM early Medievals outbound to Indiana Greeks and Macedonians in-bound from NZ.Such fun, this dealing in "rare commodities". (Grins.)

[Mike Porter]

Yeah, there's a lot of messages flying around on the Yahoo! group! MM's seem pretty hot right now. I was going to post my quarterly Bartertown want ad when I noticed someone else had beaten me to it (incedentally, someone I didn't recognize).

So it looks like none of my spares will work for those 3 Kingdom era Koreans?