G2 custom blanks?

I would 1000000000000% support a kickstarter <3
 
Just an update on this project! We're moving forward behind the scenes. I have a good idea of how much this is going to cost now and I am weighing up the best way to fund it.

I have a manufacturer in mind

I'm thinking about a kickstarter to see if we can raise the money to make it a reality. This would also allow stretch goals such as extra moulds - mainly the pegasus body which I desperately want and the unicorn head. Then after that alternate poses etc etc

At the minute it's looking as though one blank pony would retail for £10 / $13 with discounts for bulk orders, which would be how the kickstarter would be mostly structured. If the project got funded, everyone who backed would recieve their ponies

Does this sound good to people? Would you prefer a private preorder basis? Another funding method?
Please god don't use Kickstarter, the email spam is too real. I'm not sure about GoFundMe in regards to that, but it gives you stretch goals and stuff too I believe. I made the mistake of using kickstarter once, the only way anyone ever gets rid of kickstarter spam is to erase the email and make a new one (which I haven't done since it's my main email so I'm extra annoyed with it). I will never use that platform again, even if I like what's on it.
 
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I've been lurking here for some times, and that idea is genius !

I may not be able to support it alot, but I can put 5-10$ per month into your project easily!
And I'll definitely get two blank Pegasus just to do a Derpy.. :ponylove: and stock a blank one as a trophy !
 
Thank you!
You can do pre-sales. Get a group to agree on what they’d like to see most, draw a concept, then pre-sell for the funds to get the first batch completed. I’m pretty sure that’s how clipper got hqg1c started. Get everyone who is interested to spread the news to other collectors, so the group of pre-sales is big enough to cover what you need.

Otherwise, with a kick start, you’ll need enough to make a mould and manufacture a prototype. Advertising the prototype would bring in sales. Have you considered conferring with clipper about adding hqg2c to what they already have going?
 
Thanks for all this feedback everyone! And for the tip about kickstarter!

The reason I'd need to do some sort of crowdfunding is the moulding. The ponies themself per unit are affordable, it's the cost of the tooling that is not something I could afford on my own. A factory run is definitely something that I'd need to fundraise for. The lack of a protoype would be fully explained and the factory I'm working with specialises in vinyl toy production. Their portfolio is very impressive so between examples of the factory's work and my mockup images I believe I could fully illustrate on kickstarter what the finished products will be like. However, you'd also know going in that you're backing it based on the factory's previous work and projected outcomes, and you'd have to make the choice to pledge without seeing a prototype immediately. However updates would be provided and when the first ponies came out the mould everyone would get to see what they were like. If they aren't satisfactory then the factory tries again until the items are approved.

The reason I moved to a factory run is, if funded, it would be a lot easier but also it would allow for the use of PVC vinyl which is what all genuine MLPs are made of as far as I'm aware. However, I am going to keep up with my handmade experiments by trying to cast one at home with polyurethane which is similar to PVC. There is still a chance this project could work on a 100% handmade basis - though each pony would likely cost more as I'm one person with a craft room and can only produce one at a time as well.

I'm thinking perhaps if successful at home I could start off like this and put the money made towards the factory run - though there is not a lot of profit in handcast toys given just how expensive DIY equipment is unfortunately. Still I have the materials on order and it'll either be successful or fail haha.

In the mean time, here are the mockup product images illustrating the first pose and how the final things should look from a factory:

Mockup 1.jpgMockup 2.jpg
 
I assume designing new wings is entirely off the table, since you'd have to make your own sculpt for it?

Outside of that, I'm down for the factor approach. It looks like you've picked a good one, so hopefully they'll do it well. As you said handmade can tend to be really expensive, often a bit unreasonably so, and I think there's no need to put that kind of strain on yourself if you don't need to even if you enjoy making them.
 
I'm with Glistening Rainlight, it seems like a great factory !

And I love the wings with the g2, it makes it very cute !
 
I assume designing new wings is entirely off the table, since you'd have to make your own sculpt for it?

Outside of that, I'm down for the factor approach. It looks like you've picked a good one, so hopefully they'll do it well. As you said handmade can tend to be really expensive, often a bit unreasonably so, and I think there's no need to put that kind of strain on yourself if you don't need to even if you enjoy making them.
It’s not totally off the table, my partner and I both digitally sculpt in 3D software, I just love this wing style so much!
 
Ahhh, okay, I see! It is cute, and it fits it fairly well as far as proportions. The distinct G3-ness is just slightly distracting to me at times haha
I agree. I’m okay to back it up and it’s cute, but I wish it looked more like g2 wing clip wings. Are they more butterfly?
 
I could definitely do butterfly wings later but for now the traditional pegasus wings are most in demand. I am making wing clips separately though
I’m so sorry! I must have missed that… or just got it jumbled in my brain. Either way I’m pretty excited for g2 blanks. I just love the g2 body styles.
 
I'm actually hoping the brand name you decide to go with is easier to say than HQG1C's. No offense meant to them and I love thier products to death, but lord is thier name a mouthful to say.
Can relate.

Thanks for all this feedback everyone! And for the tip about kickstarter!

The reason I'd need to do some sort of crowdfunding is the moulding. The ponies themself per unit are affordable, it's the cost of the tooling that is not something I could afford on my own. A factory run is definitely something that I'd need to fundraise for. The lack of a protoype would be fully explained and the factory I'm working with specialises in vinyl toy production. Their portfolio is very impressive so between examples of the factory's work and my mockup images I believe I could fully illustrate on kickstarter what the finished products will be like. However, you'd also know going in that you're backing it based on the factory's previous work and projected outcomes, and you'd have to make the choice to pledge without seeing a prototype immediately. However updates would be provided and when the first ponies came out the mould everyone would get to see what they were like. If they aren't satisfactory then the factory tries again until the items are approved.

The reason I moved to a factory run is, if funded, it would be a lot easier but also it would allow for the use of PVC vinyl which is what all genuine MLPs are made of as far as I'm aware. However, I am going to keep up with my handmade experiments by trying to cast one at home with polyurethane which is similar to PVC. There is still a chance this project could work on a 100% handmade basis - though each pony would likely cost more as I'm one person with a craft room and can only produce one at a time as well.

I'm thinking perhaps if successful at home I could start off like this and put the money made towards the factory run - though there is not a lot of profit in handcast toys given just how expensive DIY equipment is unfortunately. Still I have the materials on order and it'll either be successful or fail haha.

In the mean time, here are the mockup product images illustrating the first pose and how the final things should look from a factory:

View attachment 55571View attachment 55572
Wow, can't wait to see this one finished.
 
This is very exciting, G2 blanks for customs would be great!

A bunch of random thoughts:

- From what I've seen on the HQG1C project, the ponies sent to create molds actually aren't destroyed in the process. However, they do need to be bald.

- About the eye crystals: my suggestion is to fill in the indent in the eye molding and not insert crystals.

Buying and inserting crystals is an extra step that some customizers (especially first-timers) won't want to do, and the indent will look weird. And if they do want to add gems, they can still do that with the "flat" eye; they'd just need to buy flat-backed craft gems instead of pointed-back. Also if the indent isn't present then people can experiment with using larger or smaller crystals, moving the crystals around to alter the direction the pony is looking, etc.

- Kickstarter or other crowdfunding is a great idea! Paying everything out of pocket yourself would be a financial burden and a risk. (It's nice when people are vocally enthused, but at the end of the day $$$ is what gets the molds made.)

- Love the mold mockups, they look great!
 
This is very exciting, G2 blanks for customs would be great!

A bunch of random thoughts:

- From what I've seen on the HQG1C project, the ponies sent to create molds actually aren't destroyed in the process. However, they do need to be bald.

- About the eye crystals: my suggestion is to fill in the indent in the eye molding and not insert crystals.

Buying and inserting crystals is an extra step that some customizers (especially first-timers) won't want to do, and the indent will look weird. And if they do want to add gems, they can still do that with the "flat" eye; they'd just need to buy flat-backed craft gems instead of pointed-back. Also if the indent isn't present then people can experiment with using larger or smaller crystals, moving the crystals around to alter the direction the pony is looking, etc.

- Kickstarter or other crowdfunding is a great idea! Paying everything out of pocket yourself would be a financial burden and a risk. (It's nice when people are vocally enthused, but at the end of the day $$$ is what gets the molds made.)

- Love the mold mockups, they look great!
I think the eye crystals would be surprisingly more important to G2 collectors than realized. :eek: Its a crucial detail that sets them apart from any other generation. Its distinctively g2, im personally super excited at the thought of buying my own crystals to insert into a custom eye. :D larger flat crystals can still be added over the small hole if someone wanted to! Maybe there could eventually be both? Both options?:ponylove:since theyre customs it would make for variation if someone wanted to have a specific custom with only a g2 mold body?
 
Thank you so much for the feedback it is all noted and appreciated, however I think Strawberry is right the eye gems are really important in G2 and the option to insert your own colour of gems for a custom is probably very desirable. Also easier as filling in the holes on the pony that gets used for moulding would require delicate work
 
in relation to other posters, i also think eye crystals are kind of important, all G2s are TE! but you could have the filled in option later!

Also I said I'd get back to this thread about the SS8 (2.5 mm) eye crystals I got, and they are a great match if a pony is missing only one crystal but they still aren't as completely flat-I'd still use them though, as you'd have to look for the difference to notice it. I haven't bought from Moonshimmer (yet) so I can't compare the ones I got off Etsy to the ones she's getting.
 
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