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Hey guys, I'm just wondering what the issue is with 40k players and metal minis. I've seen complaints about metal showing through the paint or paint chipping off of the model easily, but that can be solved with a good coat of primer. I've been painting metal miniatures for years and I was under the assumption that metal was prefered to plastic. I certainly prefer to work with metal miniatures. I'm not trying to knock anyones style here, I'm just curious. Thanks in advance.


P.S. Are plastic models more popular with younger gamers and hobbyists? And as such, are metal minis more popular with older gamers?

I have to say I prefer the conversion ease that is accompanied by plastic. As for me conversions are a massive part of the hobby as it leads to your own unique creations. Now that said metal does have its uses. Allthough I am more fond of finecast now that most of the casting issues have been worked out.

Most people hate finecast but I find that its overall decent material and i enjoy working with it. It makes converting previously metal only hqs and Lords a dream.

Personally if I could have my entire army in metal I would, and I have been collecting and painting for over 10 years, so perhaps your theory is correct... I will be interested to find out the results of this. :-)

The question of whether some are more popular with one group or another is really un answerable. As theres a lot from both groups that prefer one over the other.

Some older hobbyists that came in with the pewter stick with them mainly for a nostalgic feel.

Because when I start losing, It's good that my dead pile can be used to brain my opponent.

I love the metal models personally, they have a great weight, especially with the monsters. I don't think paint chipping is the problem if people clear-coated their models. The problem was putting them together, because some were a pain to assemble.

Also I dropped one of my metal plague marines once, it survived without even a scratch, although there was quite a dent in my shelves though, where it landed

I myself have been around the hobby since I was 4 years of age (second generation wargamer lol) As my father played it religously and owned a small game store when I was growing up. Though I didnt really take my actual steps into the hobby till much later. I honestly like the two basic materials equaly as they both have pros and cons that bieng said im also liking fine cast.


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Arm.chair.general wrote: The problem was putting them together, because some were a paint to assemble.

That is very true. Im still trying to get a '98 marauder Wyverm model to pin together properly. Such a pain to do its almost unbearable lol.

I'm with you jirc, I would love an all metal army. But on the other hand metal does present a certain level of difficulty when trying to convert a mini.

I don't understand it myself, the detailing is better with metal figures, you get greater undercut, and weight is satisfying. Maybe if finecast improves it will be a good replacement.

Plastic has lots of advantages, easy to glue, soft, strong. It's nice - bit different.

The metal-hate, don't get it at all, it's not that hard to work with. I guess it mostly is newer gamers because older gamers are used to a large proportion of metal figures.

Whole armies were metal, the few plastics were crude. With 2nd ed 40K if you didn't want the gak plastic marines out the box you had to make an entirely metal army. I think the RT plastic marines were better but you couldn't get them by 2nd ed. Collecting a Skaven fantasy army was a nightmare, a ton of lead, the alternative being some pretty poor plastics. Now gamers make a fuss because a few single characters are metal. Pfft.

Ever since I "inherited" my fathers D&D collection from the 70's and 80's I find myself drawn to every metal mini I can find. I told myself I was going to make an IG army using the plastic Cadian sets but then I saw the metal Vostroyans on the GW website and couldn't help myself

Problem with those old D&D figures is the high lead content. If not stored correctly they corrode.

I had heard that they have a tendency to corrode but its been over thirty years and they don't show any signs of it.

I used to be vehemently anti-plastic and all about the metal, it was generally more detailed and the weight gave a feeling of worth that you just don't get from plastic.

That being said plastic has come along way with the multi-part kits allowing you to field entire regiments with a decent amount of individuality that you have a hand in deciding. They're easier to assemble, super easy to convert or 'kitbash' and are generally more cost effective.

All of these reasons have caused me to switch camps to the point where I actively avoid metal. Times are a'changin

I feel its easier to justify paying $35 for metal models than it is paying the same price for plastic. I'm not anti-plastic, I just prefer using metal.

Guardlard01 wrote:I had heard that they have a tendency to corrode but its been over thirty years and they don't show any signs of it.

It's dependent upon the way you store them. One cause of corrosion is the chemicals used in some wooden furniture. So if you have an old cupboard or box the chemical leaches out and reacts with the lead. Certainly the lead figures in a particular oak cupboard in this house show a very high frequency of corrosion.

One cause of corrosion is the chemicals used in some wooden furniture. So if you have an old cupboard or box the chemical leaches out and reacts with the lead.

Thankfully I don't have them displayed on any real wood furniture. And if they aren't on display they're tucked away safely in their original box.

I've never understood it. But for me, I love both. I even prefer metal because its getting rare now, because GW doesn't produce many anymore. Its a part of history now

I do have to admit, I like the plastics for conversions. I wish they made both metal and plastic versions of their stuff, just cause haha

Guardlard01 wrote:I feel its easier to justify paying $35 for metal models than it is paying the same price for plastic. I'm not anti-plastic, I just prefer using metal.

That's a secondary subject. Plastic prices, in my opinion, should not be the same or more than metal. That would be a deal-breaker for me, however so far I've been able to collect plastic armies for a much cheaper cost than I ever could of metal. And to be honest, 99% of the time, when painted, most can't tell the difference between the two until physically picking it up. I think a lot of old-time gamers are less fond of the plastics as it feels like a step away from 'figurines' and a step towards them being 'toys'.

I much prefer the metal figures to plastic. I have recently bought my first Finecast model. Putting it together was a breeze and the detail was excellent. But it just doesn't feel right. I've considered coring the base and filling it with a couple of pennies to add some heft to it. I guess I just like knowing that there's something to the figure I just spent $20-$30 on, or more.

Chowderhead wrote:Because when I start losing, It's good that my dead pile can be used to brain my opponent.

I always bring a sock with nickels in it to my FLGS, just in case.

I feel the same way Lord Skulk. I suppose at this point gamers are paying more for the quality of the sculpt of the mini than the material that is being used to produce it.


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I always bring a sock with nickels in it to my FLGS, just in case.

I don't like metal models because they're harder to assemble, harder to paint, heavy, and very easy to break.

Tronzor could i reccomend picking up some two part miliput. Its usualy pretty cheap and if you just fill the bottom of the model with it it will add a nice bit of wieght. Albiet no where near that of a pewter model but deffinatly enough to make it more solid.

Plastic minis are much easier to clean up, assemble and convert, they tend to be more robust, and they're lighter to transport as well.

I've been in the hobby, what... 16 years? So it isn't just a new player thing.

Guardlard01 wrote:

One cause of corrosion is the chemicals used in some wooden furniture. So if you have an old cupboard or box the chemical leaches out and reacts with the lead.

Thankfully I don't have them displayed on any real wood furniture. And if they aren't on display they're tucked away safely in their original box.

That's not enough, we have them in originals boxes/blisters, or in plastic storage boxes, but they were together in a large wooden cupboard. The chemicals released go through everything. First they go black, then they crack and crumble and turn to dust.

That's not enough, we have them in originals boxes/blisters, or in plastic storage boxes, but they were together in a large wooden cupboard. The chemicals released go through everything. First they go black, then they crack and crumble and turn to dust.

Thats terrible news Howard. How many did you lose?

If I might reccomend something Guardlard01 Take your d&d Minis and go out and buy a little fire proof safe and put them in there. The run roughly 25ish bucks and the way they are made its a great way to keep very important things like that safe from chemicals and what not.

I want metal back

Plastic - Nice and easy to convert and glue.
Cleaning it up doesent take a great deal.
Dont mind it over all.

Resin - Easy to glue.
Painting it is a dream, however, the clean up stages are massive.
"Finecast" seems to be very bad quality at the moment, meaning ive been burning through GS trying to fix constant issues with bubbles and poorly moulded parts.
Not to mention that thin parts break soo easily its beyond a joke.
Far less stable than plastic.

Metal - Love it, my 1st mini's were metal though, so its how ive started.
Nice weight, quick clean up, most of the time assembly isnt a real issue (Thirster wings exempt)
Painting it i find is second to resin, but still good enough for me.
Strength wise it wins out.
Even the smaller parts simply bend now and then, which can be set right in a few seconds.
Granted the paint may chip, but as stated, sealer works.

Well TheNewMexicanGeneral I might just do that. Thanks for putting that out there.

Guardlard01 wrote:

That's not enough, we have them in originals boxes/blisters, or in plastic storage boxes, but they were together in a large wooden cupboard. The chemicals released go through everything. First they go black, then they crack and crumble and turn to dust.

Thats terrible news Howard. How many did you lose?

Well my parents were collecting them from when I was young. But I would say that over a dozen crumbled to nothing on a recent examination but we have several dozens more that are black but hopefully not beyond use.

it does seem dependent on the alloy in individual figures, sometimes in a box one will rot and another will be untouched.

Sorry for your run of bad luck. Those old Ral Partha and TSR minis are getting more and more rare as time goes on. At least you haven't lost all of them.