New Hasslefree Miniatures Kickstarter

[paintybeard]

A new kickstarter from Hasslefree Miniatures.:

 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hfminis/hf-minis-galactic-universe-sci-fi-miniatures/description

 

While I personally have never had any real problems from this manufacturer, I'm aware that many people have had some nightmare experiences. So I am in for a dozen metal figures with fingers firmly crossed. Caveat emptor!

[Humansquish]

Yeah there were lots of issues fulfilling their last kickstarter, so proceed with caution on this one.

[Great Khan Artist]

The problem with these guys is that they are such a small company and have been plagued by chonic illness. I wish they would just sculpt for someone else, like Midlam Miniatures. 

[Cygnwulf]

8 minutes ago, Great Khan Artist said:

The problem with these guys is that they are such a small company and have been plagued by chonic illness. I wish they would just sculpt for someone else, like Midlam Miniatures. 

That or if they're going to run it themselves maybe make it part of the KS to contract with a company that could handle casting and/or shipping, move Kev and his family out of the lynchpin role for fulfilment...

There is a note in the 'risks and challenges' section that they do have a backup plan in place in case of the 'aformentioned injury or illness' so there is that.  

[Guindyloo]

Beautiful sculpts as always but as someone who backed their mess of a first kickstarter, which was well before world shipping and supply chains went to hell, it's a big no from me. I genuinely hope that their kickstarter is very successful and that their communication, dedication to sending out shipments in a reasonable time frame and ability to reasonably manage the promises that they've put forth all match that success.

[CashWiley]

Quality is top notch and I've had no problems with HF in all the years I've done business with them. They've always communicated well with me and I've never had any major issues with orders or the KS. I always feel like people are talking about an entirely different company. To anyone unfamiliar with the company, remember you'll always hear the complaints but rarely the praise, happy people tend not to post about being satisfied on the Internet, compared to people airing grievances. Important to consider both sides, and your own personal comfort level with communication and delivery. Some people need constant updates for whatever reason, and after 10 years of Kickstarter, I still don't understand why delays still bother people. If this is you, avoid HF and probably KS in general.

 

At the end of the day, it make take some patience dealing with HF (as it does with most mom&pop shops), but they deliver a top-notch product from both a sculpting and casting perspective (neither of which is a given with mom&pop shops).

 

I don't collect minis anymore, I don't even pony up for KDM stuff with game content at this point. But Kev's stuff is so great I'm having a hard time convincing myself I can stick to 6 (plus add-ons) metal minis instead of going my usual resin master route from my collecting days. The metal is top-notch, but so is that resin...either way, it's the first minis I'll be buying (that aren't in a game box) in many years.

[Inarah]

I'm watching this one because, as mentioned above the quality is top notch.  My main concern is that previous items I've bought are a bit on the small side, true 25mm scale, and aren't likely to mix well with the current majority of "heroic" figures in the sci-fi genre.  I hope to see some comparison pictures before dropping any money. 

 

 

[JoeGKushner]

I backed their KS with the figures in the various outfits, summer/winter/etc...

 

Terrible communication.

 

They wouldn't ship my stuff out until I put in an unrelated order and asked them to send the missing stuff, at which point they did.

 

I then warned people about Kevin's 'separate', totally not Hasselfree related' Kickstarter.

 

Which also had problems.

 

It's not a mater of technical skill.  Great sculpts.

 

It's a matter of running a project.

 

I'm not talking about being late.

 

I'm talking about minimum level professional communication with the people you are hat in hand to ask for money to.

 

I hope it does well and that it's the start of timely work from them.

 

And again it's not that I have anything against the company.  I have an order that took advantage of their Halloween sale that won't ship till after next week, which they told buyers ahead of time.  No problem.  Stuff they have in stock isn't the issue.

 

 

[mikem91]

I too experienced issues with the previous KS from Hasslefree.  Quality is good, sculpts are interesting, and I did eventually get what I'd pledged for. I was troubled by the communications cadence and I'm concerned that shipping and fulfillment problems previously encountered would be amplified during this time of covid.  Regretfully, this will be a pass for me.

[paintybeard]

4 days left on this one. Quite a lot of stretch goals reached. (But few that appeal to me.)

[Inarah]

8 hours left.  Some of the nicest sci-fi figures cast in metal I have seen in a long time. IMO the pledge levels are quite reasonable , too.