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Resin is resin there are always those accidental miscasts from any resin model company but usually there is strong quality control to prevent these things from happening.

But when it comes to finecast the amount of miscasts that come along is ridiculous. When I pay for a product I expect the product not part of a product or a damaged product. When you buy legos you expect all the pieces to be there and useable. When I buy finecast I end up with a product that is either damaged from bubbles in the casting or missing entire parts (mostly a tube of some sort) and have to go back to my GW store for a new one if it is a major miscast and if it isn't a major miscast I usually end up with him telling me to buy greenstuff or liquid greenstuff and then I break into an argument with him until either I get my way and get the product I payed for, or a refund at best.

Due to the constant times that I have this happen I have moved to ebay to get metal models which I prefer over resin any day because it is malleable enough to work with and dependable with casting.

I like finecast. I do a fair amount of converting to make character models unique and finecast makes this very easy. I well remember the days when most models were metal and a major pain in the ass to build, and the littlest bump would break them. The old metal Screaming Skulls Catapult, what a nightmare, along with trying to get the legs to stay on a Tomb Scorpion.

And a big ride on the fail boat to those who have posted hate for finecast and the model they complain about isn't even a finecast figure. I really believe that at least half the people who complain on the internet haven't really ever bought or painted a model, they just repeat the posts of others so they can sound like an expert.

When it comes to fine cast I can understand all the hate (had missing/ bent parts, bubbles in the model ect)

My experience with fine cast is a bit like how the internet talks about it`s really good or really bad. I don´t hate fine cast but I don´t like playing Russian roulette every time I’m buying something made of fine cast...

As many said, "regular" Resins (including those used by Forge World) and Finecast aren't the same.

Regular Resins for miniature-making (incl. Forge World) usually take a few hours to set and harden. Likewise, there is generally some element of manual labour involved in getting it out of the mold again.

I am sure FW has a highly efficient assembly-line set up, but there're limits to the level of automation you can do with the material.

The engineering brilliance of Finecast (whatever its hobby-qualities are) is that it actually works with GW's old pewter molds (with some re-fitting / tuning I would guess) and the high-volume machines that spew out a bunch of minis each minute.

I just finished constructing a Heldrake, and more then a little part of me wishes it was resin. Nice and solid that way. Except for GW's prices that is. Same price for a massive plastic Heldrake as three Obliterators. That is the only part I agree with. But if you cant afford it, don't buy it I guess. We are not paying for the materials, we are paying for the brand. Which is the same as everything, including clothing, and food etc.

 Rippy wrote:
I just finished constructing a Heldrake, and more then a little part of me wishes it was resin. Nice and solid that way. Except for GW's prices that is. Same price for a massive plastic Heldrake as three Obliterators. That is the only part I agree with. But if you cant afford it, don't buy it I guess. We are not paying for the materials, we are paying for the brand. Which is the same as everything, including clothing, and food etc.

I gladly payed the Riptide's price, the new codex, the supplement because in my mind, they are worth it. The Riptide is a beautiful model, the new codex format is such a joy I'm collecting them all, the supplement is great for fluff nuts like me but Finecast?! We are not paying for the brand, we are paying for a resin train-wreck.

The real kicker is how GW said it was cheaper than metal. Cheaper for them, maybe. It really, really pisses me off nowadays when I see a kit with the "Finecast" up front. I'm always trying to find the old metal alternative when that happens.

About your question: 2 of my Crypteks broke at the exact same area, their right ankle being it awfully thin and had several other bubbles. My Overlord contained several bubbles and deformed areas. My Lord was actually OK, I was blown away it was a finecast product with no flaws. This got me hoping. I was a fool. Nemesor and Vargard in a sorry state aswell.
A friend of mine started recently 40k with SW and bought Njal and Rockfist. Crap products again.

Really, besides the Lord everything else went wrong with Finecast. When I pay a higher than normal price for a product, I expect it to be in pristine condition. NO, it has more defects than plastic, I have to fill bubbles and it even has more flash than metal and I have to spend way much more time fixing the mini than I have when working with plastic / metal.

I really, really, dislike finecast ><

 Zweischneid wrote:
The engineering brilliance of Finecast (whatever its hobby-qualities are) is that it actually works with GW's old pewter molds (with some re-fitting / tuning I would guess) and the high-volume machines that spew out a bunch of minis each minute.

Well, for certain extremely generous definitions of "works". From an engineering perspective finecast is a failure worth committing suicide in shame over, the real brilliance of finecast is GW's marketing department somehow managing to get people to buy such a terrible product.

 Rippy wrote:
Except for GW's prices that is. Same price for a massive plastic Heldrake as three Obliterators. That is the only part I agree with. But if you cant afford it, don't buy it I guess. We are not paying for the materials, we are paying for the brand. Which is the same as everything, including clothing, and food etc.

Yeah, except for the fact that when models started to make the switch from metal to finecast, they suddenly jumped massively in price. So apparently you are paying for the materials, too.

I've never bought Finecast. I can't justify the ridiculous pricetags, especially when I know the models used to be much cheaper and the material sucks.

All I know is my finecast Typhus and Obliterators (with 0 flaws) are beautiful and well sculpted.
Also the jump in price came at the same time they always raise their prices each year, it was just a coincidence.

I guess if it's something big like a monster or a thunderfire cannons finecast is slightly better?

that's about the only good thing i can say about, it's an awful product.

 Zweischneid wrote:

The engineering brilliance of Finecast (whatever its hobby-qualities are) is that it actually works with GW's old pewter molds (with some re-fitting / tuning I would guess) and the high-volume machines that spew out a bunch of minis each minute.

Finecast isn't made on same molds as metal minis. They have new sprue which is made using original master model. Casting process appears to be distinctly different.

GW has claimed that Finecast models are actually more expensive to manufacture than old metal ones.

Backfire wrote:

 Zweischneid wrote:

The engineering brilliance of Finecast (whatever its hobby-qualities are) is that it actually works with GW's old pewter molds (with some re-fitting / tuning I would guess) and the high-volume machines that spew out a bunch of minis each minute.

Finecast isn't made on same molds as metal minis. They have new sprue which is made using original master model. Casting process appears to be distinctly different.

GW has claimed that Finecast models are actually more expensive to manufacture than old metal ones.

I have only seen quotes from GW saying they switched to resin to save money, other then the initial cost of new molds. What is your source?

Backfire wrote:

 Zweischneid wrote:

The engineering brilliance of Finecast (whatever its hobby-qualities are) is that it actually works with GW's old pewter molds (with some re-fitting / tuning I would guess) and the high-volume machines that spew out a bunch of minis each minute.

Finecast isn't made on same molds as metal minis. They have new sprue which is made using original master model. Casting process appears to be distinctly different.

GW has claimed that Finecast models are actually more expensive to manufacture than old metal ones.

they have to pay someone to make the molds and cast the models i would assume. after wages, shipping, packaging, returns, im not so sure they make tons off of finecast.

I´ve got a couple of Finecast models (Archon, Sammael, Belial, Lord Commissar) and a Contemptor Dreadnaught from forgeworld and gotta say that i seem to be lucky with them. Except of the "problem" with the bend swords (which even i can fix and i suck at stuff like that) and quite a lot of cleaning off huge mold lines it´s a cake walk compared to the khador plastics out of the 2 player battle box for warmachine... They were a major pain and took really long to clean and fill up bubbles...

Unfortunately due to the shocking quality of some direct-only Finecast stuff I've ordered I would from now on only buy it if I can inspect it first.

Too bad because of the few Finecast models I've bought that have not had major flaws I can tell that when the cast turns out OK the results are excellent. I have a Librarian that I was going to convert to be wearing a helmet, but the level of detail on the face and armour is so clear that I just don't want to (that said there are still two large air bubbles in the head of the staff that spoil it pretty badly, so that will probably need to be swapped).

kb305 wrote:

Backfire wrote:

 Zweischneid wrote:

The engineering brilliance of Finecast (whatever its hobby-qualities are) is that it actually works with GW's old pewter molds (with some re-fitting / tuning I would guess) and the high-volume machines that spew out a bunch of minis each minute.

Finecast isn't made on same molds as metal minis. They have new sprue which is made using original master model. Casting process appears to be distinctly different.

GW has claimed that Finecast models are actually more expensive to manufacture than old metal ones.

they have to pay someone to make the molds and cast the models i would assume. after wages, shipping, packaging, returns, im not so sure they make tons off of finecast.

Believe me they make a killing, the combination of mass producing a product and using a much cheaper material saves a lot of money, sure they have a high initial cost that comes from making new molds but other then that not much of a down side to it

Backfire wrote:

 Zweischneid wrote:

The engineering brilliance of Finecast (whatever its hobby-qualities are) is that it actually works with GW's old pewter molds (with some re-fitting / tuning I would guess) and the high-volume machines that spew out a bunch of minis each minute.

Finecast isn't made on same molds as metal minis. They have new sprue which is made using original master model. Casting process appears to be distinctly different.

GW has claimed that Finecast models are actually more expensive to manufacture than old metal ones.

'Fine'cast is cast in silicone moulds. I can't see them individually choosing more to produce than vulcanised rubber, but they would need to do it more often, since the silicone will wear out faster. Particularly when there are models going out with pieces of the moulds still attached...

I really wish GW would just make a finecast and a plastic version of all models, so everyone could be happy.

I've only had two miniatures in finecast, the crimson fist 25th anniversary figure and an emperors champion, the champ had a small bubble on his blingy chain and the crimson fist guy was perfect so finecast stuff doesn't bother me much.

I had a Sgt. Talion and Lord Commissar with no major problems. I just had an issue with a box of Eldar fire dragons. One had some large bubbles in his thighs, which were not apparent on first glance, but showed up when I was doing the fine cleanup. GW promptly shipped me a new one, but screwed up the postage, so my mailman needed $1.15 before he could hand me the package. Mini was fine though.

Solis Luna Astrum wrote:
I like finecast. I do a fair amount of converting to make character models unique and finecast makes this very easy. I well remember the days when most models were metal and a major pain in the ass to build, and the littlest bump would break them. The old metal Screaming Skulls Catapult, what a nightmare, along with trying to get the legs to stay on a Tomb Scorpion.

And a big ride on the fail boat to those who have posted hate for finecast and the model they complain about isn't even a finecast figure. I really believe that at least half the people who complain on the internet haven't really ever bought or painted a model, they just repeat the posts of others so they can sound like an expert.

And you know this second part how exactly? I can say the following with no justification, and it is made no more true. I don't believe this, I am merely using your same logic process to point out the flaw in it.

"And a big ride on the fail boat to those who have posted love for finecast and the model they supposedly love isn't even a finecast figure. I really believe that at least half the people who talk about enjoying finecast on the internet haven't really ever bought or painted a model, they just repeat the posts of others so they can sound like an expert."

 troa wrote:


I really believe that at least half the people who talk about enjoying finecast on the internet haven't really ever bought or painted a model, they just repeat the posts of others so they can sound like an expert.

This is impossible. The chances he found a second person online who likes Finecast are too small for that to happen.

Backfire wrote:

Finecast isn't made on same molds as metal minis. They have new sprue which is made using original master model. Casting process appears to be distinctly different.

GW has claimed that Finecast models are actually more expensive to manufacture than old metal ones.

This is quite correct. The finecast material is cheaper than metal. A finecast mold is literally ten thousand times (or more) as expensive to produce as a mold for metal figures.

Finecast is a long term investment for them.

In my own personal experience with finecast models, they are neither higher or lower quality than any other miniatures ever produced. Some are perfect, some are garbage. But I've assembled second edition metal Land Speeders, so what do I care.

Well.... I like finecast - never had an issue with 10 + models so IDK!

Finecast isn't good, it's really not.
But I do have to say that I'd infinitely prefer a finecast Penitent Engine over a metal one. The metal one was the most frustrating model I've ever assembled.

 MWHistorian wrote:
Finecast isn't good, it's really not.
But I do have to say that I'd infinitely prefer a finecast Penitent Engine over a metal one. The metal one was the most frustrating model I've ever assembled.

But why "isn't it good" in your opinion?
After reading a lot of replies in this thread, I think it is just popular for people to hate an actually decent product. I am not saying people don't have a genuine reason to be angry, but I do think a lot of people hate on it for no reason.

 Rippy wrote:

 MWHistorian wrote:
Finecast isn't good, it's really not.
But I do have to say that I'd infinitely prefer a finecast Penitent Engine over a metal one. The metal one was the most frustrating model I've ever assembled.

But why "isn't it good" in your opinion?
After reading a lot of replies in this thread, I think it is just popular for people to hate an actually decent product. I am not saying people don't have a genuine reason to be angry, but I do think a lot of people hate on it for no reason.

1. 50% price increase at time of release when discontinuing metal. Excuse given that metal was too expensive.
2. Poor quality. Numerous replacements need to be ordered. To the point that I refuse to get anything in finecast. This is especially true seeing the quality GW proves it is capable of in plastic.correct that.... will not order it without ability to examine it.
3. Brittle in thin locations. Order 9 Heavy destroyer mods. I hope you like curley or warped parts... I would avoid anything combining necron and finecast.
4. Weak build susceptible to heat and even gravity. Nephew got orc shaman on boar. Looked great initially but boar ended up wilting of its own weight. I want monster squigs but looking at the dynamic pose, sorry 50 bucks I will not spend for fear of weight droop.
5. I like forgeworld resin but find finecast resin has way too many unacceptable problems. Again, I find that GW has done some amazing plastic kits for liimited run characters so I find the persistence of Finecast a slap in the face of all gamers.

 Rippy wrote:

 MWHistorian wrote:
Finecast isn't good, it's really not.
But I do have to say that I'd infinitely prefer a finecast Penitent Engine over a metal one. The metal one was the most frustrating model I've ever assembled.

But why "isn't it good" in your opinion?
After reading a lot of replies in this thread, I think it is just popular for people to hate an actually decent product. I am not saying people don't have a genuine reason to be angry, but I do think a lot of people hate on it for no reason.

...I think what we're seeing here is you are set in your opinion, and based on the start of your last line I believe you don't actually see the problems others face as real. I'm simply not seeing that you're reading through replies, what I DO see is you ignoring what doesn't fit your perspective or experience. That's fine, you are able to continue buying and being satisfied, but a "convince me otherwise" thread(which I believe this has become) is about the most pointless thing anyone can spend time on. Especially when others are quite obviously NOT satisfied.

To go back to my red ring of death parallel... Some people did not experience it. But that did not mean it wasn't a pretty big problem in quality.

DAaddict wrote:

1. 50% price increase at time of release when discontinuing metal. Excuse given that metal was too expensive. .

And Finecast is more expensive initially. Please see the rest of the thread.

DAaddict wrote:
I hope you like curley or warped parts...

No different than any other model part. Literally 10 seconds of running hot water fixes that. Good luck carving a Land Speeder out of a lead brick.

 DarknessEternal wrote:

DAaddict wrote:

1. 50% price increase at time of release when discontinuing metal. Excuse given that metal was too expensive. .

And Finecast is more expensive initially. Please see the rest of the thread.

DAaddict wrote:
I hope you like curley or warped parts...

No different than any other model part. Literally 10 seconds of running hot water fixes that. Good luck carving a Land Speeder out of a lead brick.

If a company quotes rising prices of production materials as the reason to change, then goes to a method that is much more expensive to start and will take a very long time to break even with what the old materials cost, the argument becomes iffy. You do factor development costs into new casts, but with a price increase that drastic, it is fairly obvious that it will take years for the break even. Without seeing how long until that breakpoint is reached, it is difficult to say that it's worth it.

Plastic models typically do not warp. And landspeeders are plastic now, not metal, so what does a landspeeder have to do with finecast?