Firelock Games, the makers of the popular naval miniatures game Oak & Iron, recently announced the release of their newest miniature, the English 3rd Rate Ship of the Line. This is a highly detailed and historically accurate representation of a powerful warship from the 17th century. The backbone of the English Royal Navy for decades, this Man O’ War was a fearsome sight on the seas, and the new mini is equally fearsome on the tabletop.
The English 3rd Rate also represents a significant change to the manufacturing process used by Firelock Games. The company has decided to switch from its standard plastic casting method to a new SiOCAST technology to produce its miniatures. This change has caused some excitement and curiosity in the wargaming community as the industry continues to evolve to deal with the rising prices of metal miniatures. In this article, we will take a closer look at Firelock Games’ new English 3rd Rate Ship of the Line model to see if it lives up to the expectations of the previews.
What is SiOCAST?
In a previous article, we discussed Firelock Game’s decision to adopt SiOCast as a new manufacturing system to be able to produce plastic minis in the USA instead of outsourcing to China.
SiOCAST is a new technology that uses a type of silicon mold to create plastic gaming miniatures. The process involves first creating a master model of the desired miniature using a 3D printer or other similar technology. Then, the master model is used to create a vulcanized rubber mold for the injection process.
That mold is then capable of being used to produce 300-500 castings of miniatures. The process is extremely fast taking 10-20 seconds to suck the air out of the mold and inject plastic. Then wait another 20-45 seconds to cool and you have a completely “done” and ready-for-release miniature/sprue.
The SiOCAST technology uses a special type of plastic that can be injected into the mold under high pressure and temperature to produce highly-detailed and accurate copies. It is capable of producing high-quality miniatures with sharp details and clean lines. It is also known for being relatively quick and cost-effective, making it a popular choice for producing large numbers of miniatures for gaming enthusiasts and collectors.
Companies using SiOCAST
- Reaper Miniatures
- Corvus Belli (Infinity)
- Titan Forge
- Creature Caster
- Broken Anvil
- Kraken Games
- Scale75
English 3rd Rate Ship Overview
The English 3rd Rate model is the first Oak & Iron mini to be created using SiOCast technology. This mini is also the first single-ship expansion to the game. It comes with a single miniature, the standard set of ship tokens, and two stat cards. The first stat card is the standard stats for a 3rd Rate as contained in the Ships of the Line boxed set. The second is based on the historical ship the HMS Anne.
Pricing of the Single Ship Oak & Iron Expansions
Firelock Games has set the price of the individual ships for the game at $18 per ship. Previously ship expansion sets came in 3 packs for $24-49. The average price for a Ship of the Line was $16.33 ($49/9), so the 10% increase in price seems fitting for standard inflation that has occurred since the game launched.
This price seems to be on par with that of other mini companies offering multi-part minis using about the same amount of material. Since the game lacks a Hollywood-based IP or premium brand it isn’t inflated to cover those costs.
English 3rd Rate Model Review
Let’s get to the real meat of this article – the ship model itself! I was able to get a pre-release copy of this mini while attending ADEPTICON 2023 while helping Firelock Games set up their vendor booth (Thanks Mike!). As of 4/12/2023, the miniature is now available on Firelock Game’s store.
The Hull
The level of detail on the hull compared to the original sculpts in the Oak & Iron starter box and expansion packs is EXCELLENT. Things are much less “mushy”.
- The chain plate/shroud platforms actually stick out from the ship and you can see the angled supports underneath where they were pretty much just rectangles on the old version
- All Gun port covers are clearly visible and raised making them easier to paint. The hatches and rings around it are more visible.
- The ship’s bow has more detail and greebles that give new points of contact to paint.
- From above, the cannons have more depth, and details like wheels and the cascabel button (rear part of the cannon with the knob) are clearly visible.
Bowsprit Mast
One of the best changes they made to this model over the standard 3rd Rate is the connection point for the Bowsprit Mast. The connection point is a larger round hole. The previous standard version has a connection point that is small/tight and needed some trimming of the mast to get it to mount properly. This version slides in place with zero effort.
There is a minor negative of the new style connection point. Since it is round you can bump the mast and will easily rotate out of alignment. But throw in a little superglue and you are in business.
Main Masts
My understanding is the new material used in the production process required some changes to widen the masts to help keep them upright and avoid warping. The base of the mast remains roughly the same width. However, as the mast progresses upward it doesn’t narrow quite as quickly. For my particular model, the main mast needed a bit of clean-up work to get rid of some “flashing”. There is still a little bit of texture on the masts to help give them some wood look.
Mast Connection Points
There is a minor issue with the center 3 masts. They don’t fit as seamlessly as the other masts on the other ships. The pins that recess into the ship’s hull at too long for the holes.
Talking with Mike Tuñez, cofounder and lead designer at Firelock Games, the depth of the holes had to be reduced to allow better flow of the thermoplastic material in the main hulls to the other details.
Sails
The sails themselves also seem to be just a tiny bit thicker, but they are very clean and aren’t thick enough to cause a visual distraction. There is a bit of texture on the sails which adds a bit more realism than a perfectly smooth surface. It gives them a brushed texture.
Stern
The model has 3 large lanterns at the top, but they are closer to the hull rather than raised and easily broken off or bent on the standard 3rd Rate.
The stern chasers and gunport hatches are clearly visible.
There is a lion and horse flanking the center emblem above the cabin windows. I’m sure someone with better painting skill than myself will make those look gorgeous.
Pros
- The detail is excellent. It’s easily a 50-75% improvement over the previous Oak & Iron ship models. Details like the stairs, railing, cannons, and gunports are AMAZING. It’s hard to grasp the level of detail in this 1/600 mini in photos.
- If you store your minis in baggies/containers rather than mini cases or containers, the mast/sail slots are easier to insert and tear down the sails for storage.
- The mast pegs are now round instead of oblong. This feature allows you to position your masts at an angle if you want.
- The material is sturdy and feels heavier duty than the light plastics of other ships.
- You get two stat cards (standard and unique HMS Anne) with the single model allowing you extra force-building options.
- SiOCAST is ready for paint without primer.
Cons
- The solid grey plastic removes the “minimalistic visual charm of the core boxed sets minis for board game players. The lack of a brown hull and white sails out of the box means this model will only appeal to the more serious players wanting to paint the ship.
The Stat cards are “locally printed” on cardstock and not quite up to the same quality level as the high gloss, coated cards of other standard units.This was apparently an AeptiCon only thing and the new ones have standard cards – YAY!- SiOCAST can be a bit odd to cut or sand. It is a polymer plastic so resistant to damage making sanding tough.
- When using a hobby knife, it sometimes wants to cut more than you intend. The blade can “slide” at weird angles due to the micro textures of the material.
Working with SiOCAST Material
Editor’s Note: The “Working with SiOCAST Material” section was added after the initial article.
Now that I’ve added multiple SiOCAST minis to my fleets and worked with SiOCAST minis in other games, I’ve unfortunately added to my initial opinions on the material.
- I’ve noticed more anomalies in the consistency of the SiOCAST material. Minis can have degrees of density that vary greatly. There may be hard areas that are tough and resistant to cutting and then in neighboring spots, they are “soft” and a hobby knife glides through them faster than you want leading to inadvertent damage or breakage.
It’s odd, but I would compare it to really cold butter with spots that are room temperature in the middle. The cold parts are stiff and hard to work with, but then there are pockets of smooth/softness that react differently than the cold bit you just tried to cut, - It reacts much better to “shaving” rather than “cutting”. When you apply pressure to it, the material can sometimes snap or break in unintended ways. And this reaction is VERY inconsistent. Some pieces bend or flex without issues and others don’t flex, they just pop and break in a harsh sharp edge.
- Small bits of SiOCAST are prone to bending/warping. This can happen with the masts (or weapons/arms on other minis). You can hit them with a hair dryer or heat gun (briefly, ON LOW!!) and reshape them. If you immediately dip them in cold water afterward to it will lock them in place.
Conclusion
The English 3rd Rate Ship of the Line miniature for the game of Oak & Iron by Firelock Games is an outstanding addition to any naval wargaming collection. The level of detail on this miniature is exceptional, capturing the essence of the 17th-century Royal Navy warships. The ship is sturdy and well-balanced, making it easy to maneuver during gameplay. Whether you are a seasoned wargamer or a fan of naval history, the English 3rd Rate miniature is a must-have for any Oak & Iron enthusiast.
Product Referral Links
The new English 3rd Rate Ship of the Line (HMS Anne) is available directly from Firelock Games for $18 per model. Get yours now!
Additional Content Suggestions
- English 3rd Rate Ship of the Line – Ultimate Ship Guide for a look at the new stat card and breakdown of the ship’s abilities and comparison to other Oak & Iron ships.
- Standard 3rd Rate Ship: Ultimate Guide for the Oak & Iron Ship
- Get a preview of the other new ship miniatures coming in 2023 for Oak & Iron