We love Arttista figures as many have agreed. Modeltrainstuff.com offers these at excellent prices and puts them on sale 3-4 times a year. We have bought a lot of figures from them and keep a list of what we still need for when they go on sale again.
Model Power made plastic figures and I still see them advertised so it appears that they are still in business. Several years ago, a dealer bought almost their entire stock and offered them at a very acceptable price. We bought several hundred to use for populating the interiors of structures where we needed bodies and not finely detailed figures that would be examined closely.
You might want to check the internet to see what is available. If priced right, they can save you a lot for these kinds of uses.
Good luck.
