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I have been collecting a number of FW pieces for my chaos army, and have scoured eBay for better pricing on certain bits. Most of it I have received from some awesome folks here on Dakka, but on occasion I will check out the auction block for some steals. I have noticed a growing number of existing pieces on eBay advertised as authentic pieces and upon examination they are surely not. I have nothing against re-casting when you are doing it for yourself. But selling the stuff as the real deal...

This came to light when i received an authentic Blight Drone secondhand from another Dakka user via the swap shop. I then got a great deal on an auction for an additional drone. When i received the drone it was pre-primed and was missing the base, cabling, and a couple other bits not to mention it was broken. I thought well What the heck, I've an original I can just make the additional bits and fix it which I did. Anyway if you ever have questions I follow these rules...

1. Primed already- This can be an indication as the recast resin is generally not the same as the resin used by FW. Not always the case though.
2. Missing pieces- Generally re-casters don't take the time to re-cast all of the small pieces.
3. It's really cheap- Sometimes when it looks to good to be true it is.
4. Quality is lousy- This is the number one reason to avoid re-casts.

Anyway, what do you dakkanauts think about it?

Which Dakka user sent you the Blight Drone? I only ask because Tony Heath is a known recaster, and he has a nasty habit of showing up here under new aliases from time to time.

You may want to check out the thread below about a known recaster on ebay and who keeps popping up under new aliases in the swap shop.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/356447.page

Was the user in the UK? If so, it might be Heath.

LittleLeadMen wrote:Which Dakka user sent you the Blight Drone? I only ask because Tony Heath is a known recaster, and he has a nasty habit of showing up here under new aliases from time to time.

Theophony sold me the good blight drone. The re-cast I got off of eBay. Sorry if I wasn't clear on that.

Sarpedon_702 wrote:

LittleLeadMen wrote:Which Dakka user sent you the Blight Drone? I only ask because Tony Heath is a known recaster, and he has a nasty habit of showing up here under new aliases from time to time.

Theophony sold me the good blight drone. The re-cast I got off of eBay. Sorry if I wasn't clear on that.

Where was the recast sent from?

So, The Phony sent you a real one.

Am I the only one laughing a bit?

You forgot an "o" Chowder (it's Theophony)

Ah. I see.

It still has phoney in it, so it's still funny to me

Either way, this should serve as a timely reminder to users to be especially wary when approaching any trade, be it on Ebay or somewhere else, especially when the item is marked as OOP or rare and is priced accordingly. Sad to say but irrespective of the methods taken to safeguard buyers, there will always be bad apples who try to fleece honest buyers. As the OP states, be sceptical, inspect and query where possible and do some research. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. In the case of Mr Heath, the major give-away with his stuff was the fact it was all primed to hide the difference in colour between what the resin *should* look like and what his cheaper homemade stuff looked like. Of course, that is never concrete proof that something is a re-cast but it should be a reminder to approach with a degree of caution. As always, caveat emptor and hopefully, fewer Dakka users will have to learn the hard way as it is a painful lesson to have administered.

The Re-casters here in the USA seem to be out on the west coast mainly in Washington State. I have seen a number of them posted out of Shanghai, which is also somewhat of a giveaway.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I would like to reaffirm that all trades thus far I have made on Dakka have been awesome and will give proper compliments to WarOne, Theophony, and The Green Git. All of our trades have gone seamlessly.

I sent a message over to FW as well, they have more time and money to go after these guys. It's generally just a matter of, IP and quality. Nothing wrong with getting stuff cheap, just making sure you get what you pay for.

Sarpedon_702 wrote:I have seen a number of them posted out of Shanghai, which is also somewhat of a giveaway.

Yeah, I stay away from ebay sellers in China for a variety of reasons, some of which has to do with knock offs.

The only time I'd buy from them is if I was deliberately looking for a KO.




Not that I've ever bought a chromed KO Classics Seeker mold. *shifty eyes*

There are some reliable.. discount FW sellers on ebay who are from russia. It's not mentioned they are recast and it looks legit, however no one sells FW for cheap. I have purchased quite a bit in the past from the russians and the quality is basically 100% the same as FW

Now, small recasters thats another story as the quality is usually suspect

As for emailing FW. Im sure they are aware about the russians considering they had a rule where they wouldnt ship to russia. But there is nothing really else they can since they're in russia

Its not a crazy discount but its usually about 20% from FW prices

I have no problem with the re-casters as long as they sell it as a recast. I actually messaged one of the eBay sellers telling them that their posted pic was obviously of a recast and they should sell it as such. (legality?)

They assured me it was authentic and that FW doesn't cast the feet for Dreadnoughts in their bases, though everyone I have certainly does...

Anyway, I guess I shot my wad on the subject, but as always I always love the comments of the users on this forum. Great Insight and info!

Platuan4th wrote:

Sarpedon_702 wrote:I have seen a number of them posted out of Shanghai, which is also somewhat of a giveaway.

Yeah, I stay away from ebay sellers in China for a variety of reasons, some of which has to do with knock offs.

Truth right there. Same for Russia, Ive seen a ton of recasts on ebay lately listed out of Russia. Still not as many as China, but close. Prices are great, and models in the pic look good, but Im still not falling for it.

Generally I try not to order anything unless its from the USA or a very reputable company. UK exchange rate kills me, so its got to be something special to get my order. On ebay its US sellers only. Though I want a Space Hulk Librarian for a conversion, and it looks like UK may be the only way to get one...

I wouldnt dismiss just because of area. Ive gotten 50 elysian drop troops, nightwings and other FW stuff from the russians, all top quality. Check their ebay reputation if anything heh

I mean if you're willing to buy possible recasts you should base your rationale on available data not knee jerk reactions. To be perfectly honest, FW quality isnt exactly all that high either so its not some bar that is difficult to reach

Virtually every eldar model I buy from FW direct or otherwise requires so much work

20% off doesn't seem a good deal for a recast. Just sayin'.

my dread had separate feet. The base with feet on it is like £6 extra. I think filbert basically did the summing up on the issue.

I bought some Mk 2 marines from Russia a while back to use for a CSM Chosen squad. I thought they were legit FW models when looking at the auction. It took a few weeks to get them (which was stated upfront in the auction), but in the meantime I continued watching their items. I noticed stuff go as it was sold, and then suddenly it all reappeared. That's when I first twigged that they might be recasts. When I got the models I went over them with a fine toothed comb. They're flawless. 20% off with cheap shipping? Ethically, I'd find it hard to do again now that I know, but I don't feel ripped off in the slightest. Where I do feel ripped off is the price that GW AUS charged me for a pack of five meltaguns to use with them.

How long before we start seeing finecast been recasted?

I'll be amused if ends up with less flash, bubbles, miscasts.

People who don't want to pay forgeworld's asking price(s) and go on eBay looking for deals and get copies and then go online to complain about it makes me amused.

Sarpedon_702 wrote:..on occasion I will check out the auction block for some steals...

Sarpedon_702 wrote:Nothing wrong with getting stuff cheap, just making sure you get what you pay for.

So, you don't want to pay the original creators their asking price and go online to get 'deals' and then get irritated with the seller for giving you what you wanted, the stuff for cheaper. There's a word for that; hypocrisy. If you want the real deal, order it form the real source.

Sarpedon_702 wrote:... I have nothing against re-casting when you are doing it for yourself...Anyway, what do you dakkanauts think about it?

I think you should order one original and make the recasts yourself then.

I also think Forgeworld makes such a poor product and has such terrible availability, and distribution that they pretty much deserve it.

I get a but fed up of people saying FW is a 'poor product' sure it's expensive, but 30% more detail/coolness for 30% more price will do for me, both my friend and I's FW goods have been fine. I work for just above minimum wage but still set aside monies to treat myself btw so no 'moneybags' digs please.

Its a QA problem, i think chimps must be bagging them, or vindictive humans....

Objectively speaking they are over priced but Toy soldiers are a luxury after all.

@ Augustus...I think you misunderstood me. Out of all the product I own i have gotten one recast, and it actually was of a decent quality and I got it for cheap. I did not ask for a recast I was looking for another Blight Drone. There was a bid going on so I threw in my hat. I won it and got about 20% less than FW and relatively cheap shipping for it. When it arrived It was missing pieces and a base, not to mention it was broken. I fixed it since I had an original so made parts to replace the missing ones and I am happy. I have ordered from FW on more than one occasion and I certainly do not decry their product at all but like you said the availability and distribution can be a little tough for time getting over here.

I go on eBay and here on Dakka looking for deals and I have gotten them. I'm not angry about getting a recast, I was just disappointed when the seller assured me it was authentic and advertised it as such. Now stop being a curmudgeon and go back to painting the wonderful models I saw in your gallery.

How about we compile a list on Dakka listing all the re-casters on Ebay?

Mods could sticky it once it has been confirmed.

Sarpedon_702 wrote:@ Augustus...I think you misunderstood me. ... Now stop being a curmudgeon and go back to painting the wonderful models I saw in your gallery.

OK, sorry.

Rule of thumb is to never, ever buy models from China. Doing that alone will go a long way towards cutting down on the recasts you buy.

Brother SRM wrote:Rule of thumb is to never, ever buy models from China. Doing that alone will go a long way towards cutting down on the recasts you buy.

...and if everyone were to do this, what options would the re-casters have?

Move to a more "reputable" country and continue?

Close down?

Anything else?

Aspiring Champion wrote:I bought some Mk 2 marines from Russia a while back to use for a CSM Chosen squad. I thought they were legit FW models when looking at the auction. It took a few weeks to get them (which was stated upfront in the auction), but in the meantime I continued watching their items. I noticed stuff go as it was sold, and then suddenly it all reappeared. That's when I first twigged that they might be recasts. When I got the models I went over them with a fine toothed comb. They're flawless. 20% off with cheap shipping? Ethically, I'd find it hard to do again now that I know, but I don't feel ripped off in the slightest. Where I do feel ripped off is the price that GW AUS charged me for a pack of five meltaguns to use with them.

One of the locals did the same, and he was very impressed with the quality, I can't wait to see them myself, as I've seen firsthand the crappy casts of "Authentic" FW MK2 marines. Ethically I know I'm supposed to think that what they're doing is wrong, but after the last few months of Games-Workshop treating me like they are an abusive spouse, I find myself unable to muster the moral outrage.

Understandable.