Wargames Factory
Encyclopedia
Wargames Factory is a plastic
miniature manufacturer
opened in 2007. It specializes in highly detailed, multi-part models in hard plastic for wargaming
. Wargames Factory produce models mostly in the 28 millimetres (1.1 in) range, but have done other scales
as well. It is unique in the way it chooses the subject of its miniatures, using what they call the Liberty and Union League to produce models submitted by consumer
s.
They are also unusual in using a "direct to digital" approach which does not use an original physical sculpt
. This is unlike many other plastic wargames figure manufacturers who sculpt the figure at three times the eventual size (called three-ups), then digital
ly scan
and reduce them for production.
s of the early American colonists and the raising of liberty poles
.
Ideas are submitted by customer
s and then wait for approval by the Wargames Factory staff
. Once the idea is approved as being viable it is listed on the Liberty and Union League, and on the Wargames Factory message boards
on the company's website.
After its listing, people are then able to pre-order
sprues of that idea for a miniature. The pre-orders are to gauge the interest in a sprue idea, and once they reach a thousand the models are put into production
.
program in which environmentally
conscious wargamers could send in their unused plastic sprues for recycling. The factory could then melt these down and use them in new frames of miniatures. As an incentive for participation in the program, the company entered the names of the participants into a raffle
to win Wargames Factory products. This program has since been discontinued and no longer recycles old sprues, however Wargames Factory encourages wargamers to recycle their old sprues locally.
Plastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
miniature manufacturer
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
opened in 2007. It specializes in highly detailed, multi-part models in hard plastic for wargaming
Wargaming
A wargame is a strategy game that deals with military operations of various types, real or fictional. Wargaming is the hobby dedicated to the play of such games, which can also be called conflict simulations, or consims for short. When used professionally to study warfare, it is generally known as...
. Wargames Factory produce models mostly in the 28 millimetres (1.1 in) range, but have done other scales
Scale model
A scale model is a physical model, a representation or copy of an object that is larger or smaller than the actual size of the object, which seeks to maintain the relative proportions of the physical size of the original object. Very often the scale model is used as a guide to making the object in...
as well. It is unique in the way it chooses the subject of its miniatures, using what they call the Liberty and Union League to produce models submitted by consumer
Consumer
Consumer is a broad label for any individuals or households that use goods generated within the economy. The concept of a consumer occurs in different contexts, so that the usage and significance of the term may vary.-Economics and marketing:...
s.
They are also unusual in using a "direct to digital" approach which does not use an original physical sculpt
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
. This is unlike many other plastic wargames figure manufacturers who sculpt the figure at three times the eventual size (called three-ups), then digital
Digital
A digital system is a data technology that uses discrete values. By contrast, non-digital systems use a continuous range of values to represent information...
ly scan
3D scanner
A 3D scanner is a device that analyzes a real-world object or environment to collect data on its shape and possibly its appearance . The collected data can then be used to construct digital, three dimensional models....
and reduce them for production.
Liberty and Union League
The name Liberty and Union League was taken from the protestProtest
A protest is an expression of objection, by words or by actions, to particular events, policies or situations. Protests can take many different forms, from individual statements to mass demonstrations...
s of the early American colonists and the raising of liberty poles
Liberty pole
A liberty pole is a tall wooden pole, often used as a type of flagstaff, planted in the ground, which may be surmounted by an ensign or a liberty cap. They are associated with the Atlantic Revolutions of the late 18th century.-American Revolution:...
.
Ideas are submitted by customer
Customer
A customer is usually used to refer to a current or potential buyer or user of the products of an individual or organization, called the supplier, seller, or vendor. This is typically through purchasing or renting goods or services...
s and then wait for approval by the Wargames Factory staff
Employment
Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. An employee may be defined as:- Employee :...
. Once the idea is approved as being viable it is listed on the Liberty and Union League, and on the Wargames Factory message boards
Internet forum
An Internet forum, or message board, is an online discussion site where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages. They differ from chat rooms in that messages are at least temporarily archived...
on the company's website.
After its listing, people are then able to pre-order
Pre-order
A pre-order is an order placed for an item which has not yet been released. The idea for pre-orders came when people found it hard to get popular items in stores due to their popularity. Companies were then given the idea to allow people to reserve their own personal copy, before the release, ...
sprues of that idea for a miniature. The pre-orders are to gauge the interest in a sprue idea, and once they reach a thousand the models are put into production
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
.
Might of Rome (28mm)
- Ancient German Warband
- Ancient German Cavalry
- Caesar's Legions - Late Republican Roman Legionaries
- Celt Cavalry - Gallic or Briton Barbarian Cavalry
- Celt Chariots - Gallic or Briton Barbarian Chariots
- Celt Warbands - Gallic or Briton Barbarian Warriors
- EIR Cavalry - Early Imperial Roman Auxiliary Cavalry
- Numidians - North African Warriors
War of Empires (28mm)
- British Firing Line - Colonial British Infantry
- Zulu Warriors - Zulu Warriors
Dark Future/Sci-fi (28mm)
- Shock Troop Greatcoats - eighteen multi-part sci-fi troopers
- Zombie - multi-part and pose zombies
Old Soldier Recycling Program
In the past Wargames Factory ran a plastic sprue recyclingRecycling
Recycling is processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution and water pollution by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse...
program in which environmentally
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
conscious wargamers could send in their unused plastic sprues for recycling. The factory could then melt these down and use them in new frames of miniatures. As an incentive for participation in the program, the company entered the names of the participants into a raffle
Raffle
A raffle is a competition in which people obtain numbered tickets, each ticket having the chance of winning a prize. At a set time, the winners are drawn from a container holding a copy of every number...
to win Wargames Factory products. This program has since been discontinued and no longer recycles old sprues, however Wargames Factory encourages wargamers to recycle their old sprues locally.