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Any news on the US sets?

Last time I read about it, it suppose to be released after the Amerika game which it hasnt yet. I think the us set its about 3 months late as of now, Im really concern that coach ran into problems with the chinese factory. He is the only one to clarify whats the problem and its taking so long for the us set.

@georgemak1:

Last time I read about it, it suppose to be released after the Amerika game which it hasnt yet. I think the us set its about 3 months late as of now, Im really concern that coach ran into problems with the chinese factory. He is the only one to clarify whats the problem and its taking so long for the us set.

We have another batch in the works and should have it in 4-5 weeks.

Any word on the French set Coach?

Awesome newsletter email update!

Loved the Nimitz and Tomcats! That was just unbelievably cool if utterly ridiculous!    http://www.historicalboardgaming.com/Nimitz-in-Time-Nimitz-CarrierF-14s-3D-Printed_p_1884.html?mc_cid=993c327d8b&mc_eid=61dfa6b239

V-2 launchers look amazing too.    http://www.historicalboardgaming.com/V-2-Rocket-Set-3d-Printed_p_1968.html?mc_cid=993c327d8b&mc_eid=61dfa6b239

Still excited for US set… can’t wait to get my Enterprise, Hornet and Yorktown!

Wait until “Thor” comes out as well as Ju-89, Ju-287, Sunderland, and the V-1 among others.

@LHoffman:

Awesome newsletter email update!

Loved the Nimitz and Tomcats! That was just unbelievably cool if utterly ridiculous!    http://www.historicalboardgaming.com/Nimitz-in-Time-Nimitz-CarrierF-14s-3D-Printed_p_1884.html?mc_cid=993c327d8b&mc_eid=61dfa6b239

V-2 launchers look amazing too.    http://www.historicalboardgaming.com/V-2-Rocket-Set-3d-Printed_p_1968.html?mc_cid=993c327d8b&mc_eid=61dfa6b239

Still excited for US set… can’t wait to get my Enterprise, Hornet and Yorktown!

I still didn’t see anything on the French set in the news letter.  Did I miss it?

@jim010:

I still didn’t see anything on the French set in the news letter.  Did I miss it?

Only Coach has the time frame, but the next set will be a German set, then the French set will be after that. Because of what is happening on the West Coast, the French set maybe months down the road.

Sorry, that is about as good of an answer I can give you. The shipment issues have become a major problem and manufacturers and businesses have suffered tremendously for it.

I hope that answers your question. :-)

Sigh…

@John:

The shipment issues have become a major problem and manufacturers and businesses have suffered tremendously for it.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t the West Coast port dispute settled on May 22, when “the membership of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Friday voted overwhelmingly to approve a new contract that should ensure labor peace at West Coast ports for at least the next four years”?

@CWO:

@John:

The shipment issues have become a major problem and manufacturers and businesses have suffered tremendously for it.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t the West Coast port dispute settled on May 22, when “the membership of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Friday voted overwhelmingly to approve a new contract that should ensure labor peace at West Coast ports for at least the next four years”?Â

Marc, your right about that, but for whatever reason, companies, including my own bedding store, are still having problems getting merchandise from the West Coast, when it comes to products from China.

No one seems to have an answer, but there are still problems out there, because like I said, I’m even having problems getting things I need.

I even quit special ordering certain things, because I can’t trust that it will get here. This is very frustrating to businesses and their customers.

I wish we had answers, but I haven’t heard of any myself. I’m no expert, but obviously there are still problems out there, and it may just take time to sort through the mess. I really don’t know anything, but what effects me.

Thanks for the info John.

@CWO:

Thanks for the info John.

No problem, I just hope things get back to normal for all our sakes. :-)

Just a question for HBG. Is HBG moving more towards 3D printing rather than plastic injection molding in it’s product line?  If so are you move toward more frequent smaller 3D, rather than larger and less frequent injection molded set? Or will you begin going more toward larger more frequent 3D sets ?

@toblerone77:

Just a question for HBG. Is HBG moving more towards 3D printing rather than plastic injection molding in it’s product line?  If so are you move toward more frequent smaller 3D, rather than larger and less frequent injection molded set? Or will you begin going more toward larger more frequent 3D sets ?

As far as 3D printing has come, it still seems like plastic injection still has better overall quality. The 3D pieces look coarse. Almost pixelated in 3D form.

You can easily see in these photos:

http://www.historicalboardgaming.com/Going-Nuclear-Expansion-Set-B-29-Atom-Bomb-markers_p_1880.html
http://www.historicalboardgaming.com/Me-323-Gigant-3D-Printed-Aircraft-Set_p_1881.html
http://www.historicalboardgaming.com/H-44-German-Super-Battleship-Set-3d-Printed_p_1981.html

The detail seems to be much better than OOB and as good as HBG pieces injection molding, however it is the surface texture (as a painter) that concerns me.

Here is one of Tall Paul’s APD destroyer/transports from another thread. They are 3D printed from Shapeways and you can really see the surface texture in this hi-res photo. Granted, it may not be quite as visible at distance, but it is pretty apparent to me. Looks like it was eaten by acid.
http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=26127.msg1287679#msg1287679

I guess this means I am voting to continue major set production with injection molding until 3D printing can be done with greater resolution, as it were. That is… if I had a vote.  :roll:

I would agree LH. Injection molding is superior. I pose the question because of the market and the place a small company like HBG and others are positioned.

There’s only so many miniatures to make for A&A and similar games that I wondered if the direction HBG was going was to; go with smaller but more numerous releases, or larger less frequent releases due to the high cost of overseas manufacturing.

@toblerone77:

or larger less frequent releases due to the high cost of overseas manufacturing.

I think that overseas manufacturing is actually used because it’s low-cost rather than high cost.  Getting HBG’s injection-molded sculpts manufactured domestically in the U.S. would probably be more expensive.  The problem with overseas manufacturing is low speed rather than high cost: the HBG units currently seem to be being manufactured at a very slow pace, on top of the shipping problems that have complicated matters further.

@CWO:

I think that overseas manufacturing is actually used because it’s low-cost rather than high cost.  Getting HBG’s injection-molded sculpts manufactured domestically in the U.S. would probably be more expensive.  The problem with overseas manufacturing is low speed rather than high cost: the HBG units currently seem to be being manufactured at a very slow pace, on top of the shipping problems that have complicated matters further.

Never been in the business myself, but it does seemed like you are damned either way:

Domestic manufacture: High Costs, but speed and reliability of product
Foreign manufacture: Low Cost, but slow speed, unreliability and complications

I feel for HBG’s situation.

In either case, quality is most important to me. I would rather wait longer (or maybe pay more) and get a smoother, more detailed product. As opposed to having a bunch of small, frequent releases that are of middling quality or detail. My opinion anyway.

The issue with the foreign manufacture route really appears to be reliability of shipments and communication. You roll the dice when you are a small company dealing with China it seems. Isn’t that what sunk FMG a while back?

You’re correct Marc at high volume it is cheaper to manufacture overseas. What I mean is the high production cost of the molds verses smaller printed domestic runs.

I’ve researched quite a bit about miniature manufacture. Although I’m no expert. I’m curious to see what HBG’s take is and what place they see themselves in the future.

I for one would prefer HBG to keep up with the injection molded sets. Sure they may take longer to get sometimes but they are of excellent quality and much cheaper. When they put out a new set that I am interested in, I tend to get several sets because I like large numbers of units for my gaming (I prefer not to use chips if possible). I can get the large numbers with the injection molded sets. For example, the sets usually average about $10-$11 for 28-30 pieces so I can afford to get 5 or 10 or even more sets if I want to.
With the 3D printing pieces, I could never get the big numbers that I want to. For example, take the new H44 German Battleship. They are $4.95 each. I like to have 20 of each for capital ships for each nation’s inventory. That would cost me about $100 and I wouldn’t get any of the other units that come in the injection molded sets (men, tanks, planes, other ships, etc.).

So, while printing 3D pieces may be cheaper than creating a new mold for injection molding (although I would point out once you have the mold made, you can make as many injection mold sets and keep selling them. Eventually the mold cost will be paid and you will start getting profit.)
From a gamer/collector stand point, the 3D pieces are actually more expensive. So I fervently hope that HBG keeps making the sets because that’s where my interest lies.