1/32 figure collectors: How do you want your figures? - Poll

Complicated question, but generally I prefer limited arm options for a command figure or 2 only, and head options where appropriate (i.e. Austrian napoleonics).

I think napoleonic command sets should have only 1 figure with swapable arms to make it either “marching flag” or NCO with cane.

I agree with Matt. Although it can sometimes be a pain to glue parts together, at least in this scale it is easier to do, and it gives that variety which enhances the look of the figures.
If you have swappable heads, you can put them at various angles to give that feeling of movement to the figures.

I like the acronym, KISS - Keep it Simple, Son.

There are advantages to multiple pieces on figures that will give us superior figures without undercuts and I see those. At the same time, as I've said many, many times before, if I wanted to assemble many pieces and parts I'd still be modeling. I like to get my guys off the sprues and "in action" as soon as possible - painting even takes some of that joy for my part.

But if a separate arm or two, or spare head is necessary please make sure it is well-engineered - I know there are glues and epoxies that work pretty good on plastics these days, but there is nothing more frustrating to me than to spend hours putting together figures (and one can do that if one buys in bulk - as many of us do) - gluing them, just to have to put them back together again the next time you get them out.

So I guess, my opinion is keep parts at a minimum.

It depends on plastic used. For example Napoleonic Russians are made of horrible plastic (or maybe its just mine sets) and are very hard to assemble because of this plastic quality. On the other side SYW Prussians and Napoleonic Prussians are made of well quality plastic and you can even put them together without using glue. I think best solution is to use good quality plastic which makes possible making nice looking figures that are easy to assemble.

I prefer one-piece for most figures.

For figures that are cast in styrene (rigid plastic that can be glued easily), I like the idea of multiple parts--a figure 'kit' so to speak.

I would be wargaming with them - I have terrible trouble with separate packs falling off all the time and damaging finished paint jobs. The figures need to be robust enough for frequent handling and with as little fuss as possible (ideally none) in assembly. Perhaps there is a market for simple Airfix style hard styrene figures to construct?

Dear Bongman,

I support Phil's comment. I always paint after assembly (in fact after basing) but it's that the back packs do not fit particularly well, so a) look pretty ordinary with a large gap between pack and figure, and b) the darned things fall off during use in a wargame.

Regards, James