Forgeworld model quality

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**motyak**

Not sure if this is the correct forum, but here I am.

I am interested in buying some Elysians from Forgeworld (via the site), so I was wondering what quality the models are? I have seen some videos of people building forgeworld models/read some of their blogs and they are always seeming to be heating this piece to straighten it, or altering that piece so it fits in there. Then I noticed that it seemed to be always on larger projects (the large tau carrier (manta or orca, I forget), titans, etc, where this happens. What is the quality like on the individual men? The images on the site look amazing, but I just thought I'd ask here for a second (and often more scathing, harsh, and even sometimes truthful) opinion of things.

**H.B.M.C.**

I take it this would be your first time ordering/handling Forge World miniatures? Well miscasts are pretty common with FW, sadly, but the general rule of thumb is that the newer the kit, the less likely it is to have casting issues.

Elysians are not new, but they're not exactly old either, so you're probably safe. You may need to bend the odd gun or sword back into place, but that can be done by running it under some hot water for a while and then physically bending it back in place. It might take a few tries, but eventually it'll get there.

**motyak**

Yeah I've never bought from them before, I just love how they look, as well as their weapons. Thanks for your help

**ArbitorIan**

Generally good - larger, multipart models might have fitting things, and they need a bit more care in terms of flash cleanup, washing before painting, etc.

But their miscast rate is nothing compared to regular GW's at the moment, and if you do get a miscast piece their customer service is very good.

**BrookM**

As an Elysian player I can say that the overall quality of the models is all over the place. Some casts are sharp as hell and easy to put together, others are a pain to assemble or just poorly cast. For my Elysians so far I've only had to call once to get a replacement sprue of shotguns for my veterans, other problems were more or less easily rectified. All you really need is a ton of patience when it comes to those arms, they never seem to properly fit.

**darknightwing**

The Elysians that I have are very nice with few to no flaws. The bigest issue I had was a few of the lasgun barrel tips were broken in the bag, this was easily fixed though. The lack of variety of figures was a little dissapointing as well. Most of the different sets are just difernt guns and arms.

**nightside**

Not Elysians I know but I just got a bunch of marines in MK IV armour and a Medusa siege gun, all pretty damn good quality. The biggest problem I had was gluing - until I read about washing the models to clean off the mold release agent. I couldn't be happier, there's always the risk of slight imperfections but the good outweighs the bad

**Chowderhead**

They are damn fine at replacing miscasts, mate. If you have a problem, they are more than willing to help you!

**Obsidian Raven**

I ordered some armour marks, renegades stuff and a contemptor from forgeworld, and there was some miscasts.

On the mark 3 armour, the torsos were really thin in the place where the torso meets the crotch plate thats attached and that section was outright missing on some. That was the worst miscast, but it was an easy fix (just basic GS gapfilling).

The other issue was the guns for the renegades were bent, but i fixed that easy with hot water

Overall though, my order was very good quality. The contemptor, MK6, MK4, Contemptor weapons, and the Tyberous were perfect.

**inquisitorlewis**

I had always been happy with FW in the past.

Until I received my latest order last week. It was full of miscasts, most of them due to mold slips. Very shoddy quality.

For the unbelievers: http://s953.photobucket.com/albums/ae13/jasonlewis02/Forge%20World%20QC%20Issues/

**Mad4Minis**

My experience with FW stuff was been hit and miss. Some stuff was great, some terrible. One thing I did notice...the more expensive (and larger) stuff tended to have fewer problems.

Sadly the other day I saw a Dakka thread that was telling of FW going over to a FInecast type material, with FInecast quality issues. OP in that thread had actually obtained some of the product.

**Kanluwen**

Mad4Minis wrote:My experience with FW stuff was been hit and miss. Some stuff was great, some terrible. One thing I did notice...the more expensive (and larger) stuff tended to have fewer problems.

Sadly the other day I saw a Dakka thread that was telling of FW going over to a FInecast type material, with FInecast quality issues. OP in that thread had actually obtained some of the product.

And if you'd read that thread more, you'd have noted that FW has come straight out and said that they are not using the exact mixture of resins that Finecast uses. And that it's been reported multiple times beforehand--and every time it's been debunked by myself or someone else.

FW is not using Finecast. The OP in that thread's models likely had not fully cured, as a great many of the issues he brought up(most notably the "glossy surface" and the "sweating resin") are hallmarks of resin not fully curing.

Please just let this rumor die. It's annoying, it's been debunked time and time again, and FW has outright said they are not using the exact same mixtures as Finecast, but they are using some of the same casting techniques.

**Nrljm**

Honestly dude don't stress, if its a bad cast all you got todo is email FW photos and the batch number and they will express ship you a new set. - I had an issue and it took 4days for me to have an entire new set in my hands in Melbourne. Their customer device is fantastic. I may also note that out of over 40 models only 1 had an issue.

**motyak**

Thanks for all your help and recommendations guys, its good to hear that even if there is a problem, they are top notch replacement-wise.

**Yodhrin**

Put it this way; I ordered the Renegade Psyker pack and found when it arrived that one of the two back-poles for one of the models was missing.

They UPS-shipped me a replacement in two days.

For a centimeter-and-a-half long back banner.

Forgeworld are top. As for regular infantry, while newer than the Elysians, I'm working on a unit of Kreig Engineers right now an have not found a single miscast, bubble, or mould slip. YMMV of course, but in general I had far more issues with a lot of GW's metal kits than I've ever had with FW.

**LunaHound**

Hmm I have bunch of shoulder parts with airbubble in it making the arms unable to fit into the socket.
Still awaiting for replacement. 3more days and it'll be 1 month of waiting.

**-Loki-**

Kanluwen wrote:Please just let this rumor die. It's annoying, it's been debunked time and time again, and FW has outright said they are not using the exact same mixtures as Finecast, but they are using some of the same casting techniques.

Just playing Devils Advocate, someone posted this over at wargamerau. They got this email after questioning FW over some models received in 'Finecast resin'.

"(...)To address your points, however, we'd like to point out that Forge World do not sell Finecast products; Finecast is a Citadel brand, not a specific type of resin, and so we are not operating some sort of scam as you imply in your e-mail, nor are we misrepresenting our products. As we are perhaps the largest single manufacturer of resin models in the world, it should be unsurprising that the Citadel decision to begin using similar materials a certain amount of consultancy with ourselves.

"Forge World use a huge range of different types of resin and just as wide a range of casting methods depending on the kit in question. You'll note that the resin used for a Titan is very different for that used to produce solid resin scenery, or a smaller resin infantry model, or indeed the new range of hollow resin scenery that we're starting to release. What you describe as 'Finecast resin' is simply a different mix, one that we've used for some time for smaller and more detailed models where appropriate.

"The centrifugal casting process used to produce the Citadel Finecast range is again something that Forge World began looking at some time ago; you rightly point out that the traditional drop-casting method is extremely time- and labour-intensive, the spin-casting method is just as involved but the quality checking is rather more critical. This has obviously not been performed as stringently as it should have been, but as the Citadel and Forge World production teams are separate we're obviously unable to comment upon, or influence, the policies in place regarding Finecast."

Ead Brown, Customer Service Manager, Forge World, March 7, 2012

From that, they have, and do, use 'finecast resin', or at least the mix GW uses for Finecast, for some models. Models where it's appropriate to use that mix - unlike GW who use it for everything. GW use it because they got the mix from FW after consulting them.

**Kanluwen**

-Loki- wrote:
Kanluwen wrote:Please just let this rumor die. It's annoying, it's been debunked time and time again, and FW has outright said they are not using the exact same mixtures as Finecast, but they are using some of the same casting techniques.

Just playing Devils Advocate, someone posted this over at wargamerau. They got this email after questioning FW over some models received in 'Finecast resin'.

"(...)To address your points, however, we'd like to point out that Forge World do not sell Finecast products; Finecast is a Citadel brand, not a specific type of resin, and so we are not operating some sort of scam as you imply in your e-mail, nor are we misrepresenting our products. As we are perhaps the largest single manufacturer of resin models in the world, it should be unsurprising that the Citadel decision to begin using similar materials a certain amount of consultancy with ourselves.

"Forge World use a huge range of different types of resin and just as wide a range of casting methods depending on the kit in question. You'll note that the resin used for a Titan is very different for that used to produce solid resin scenery, or a smaller resin infantry model, or indeed the new range of hollow resin scenery that we're starting to release. What you describe as 'Finecast resin' is simply a different mix, one that we've used for some time for smaller and more detailed models where appropriate.

"The centrifugal casting process used to produce the Citadel Finecast range is again something that Forge World began looking at some time ago; you rightly point out that the traditional drop-casting method is extremely time- and labour-intensive, the spin-casting method is just as involved but the quality checking is rather more critical. This has obviously not been performed as stringently as it should have been, but as the Citadel and Forge World production teams are separate we're obviously unable to comment upon, or influence, the policies in place regarding Finecast."

Ead Brown, Customer Service Manager, Forge World, March 7, 2012

From that, they have, and do, use 'finecast resin', or at least the mix GW uses for Finecast, for some models. Models where it's appropriate to use that mix - unlike GW who use it for everything. GW use it because they got the mix from FW after consulting them.

I know about that email Loki. I've read it multiple times and even quoted part of it in the "FW is using FC!" thread.

Biccat made my point for me in that thread though. "Finecast" is a specific title. FW does not use Finecast, they use a "similar resin mix" and "similar casting methods". People use the term "Finecast" to stir up a crapstorm and rightly so.

It still does not, however, nullify my point that the OP in that case just got shoddily cast models.

Also: It does not nullify the point that FW has been casting in this resin for years, and has had problems cropping up then as well.
It's simply a case of "The sky is falling! The sky is falling!" coming up now because people are fallaciously comparing it to a similar product which has far more widespread issues.

**-Loki-**

I know, I was just adding it for posterity. It's relevant to the OP. FW even make the distinction, and it's a good way to explain the situation.

FW don't do 'Finecast', which is the marketing name for GW's resin models. They do use the same mix when it's appropriate, however, and did experiment with centrifugal resin casting (which, going by recent models still using pour tabs, they didn't like).

That doesn't mean your shoddy models are Finecast, or even using that mix. Bad casts happen with resin. But this explanation is good for people still crying 'FW use Finecast!'. They use the mix and have been for longer than GW (they gave the mix to GW), but not the technique, and only on some models.

**Kanluwen**

Since we're mentioning posterity...

I'm fairly certain that GW's mix is a smidge different than FW's, as GW needs to legally be able to say there's not really any potential health hazards.

It's another pedantic distinction, but it might very well be the big difference between the materials.

**-Loki-**

Kanluwen wrote:as GW needs to legally be able to say there's not really any potential health hazards.

There's going to be health hazards from any resin dust. Just like plastic dust or wood dust or (ugh) metal dust. Different types of health hazards, but they're there. Even with Finecast, I wouldn't do anything that produces significant amounts of dust without a breathing mask and doing it outside.

**Kanluwen**

-Loki- wrote:
Kanluwen wrote:as GW needs to legally be able to say there's not really any potential health hazards.

There's going to be health hazards from any resin dust. Just like plastic dust or wood dust or (ugh) metal dust. Different types of health hazards, but they're there. Even with Finecast, I wouldn't do anything that produces significant amounts of dust without a breathing mask and doing it outside.

Shhhh! Don't tell anyone that!

**LunaHound**

Now Im angry.

FW sent TWO shoulder pads ( it was 4 broken NOT TWO )

and for the 2 shoulder pads I was charged $15 for tax because they declare the value as $30

WTF??????

someone explain what the ******** just happened and what I should do.

**Nrljm**

Uhhh email them and explain then patiently wait for a reply. No need to stress untill they tell you feth off lol. Which won't happen.

**Kaldor**

LunaHound wrote:Now Im angry.

FW sent TWO shoulder pads ( it was 4 broken NOT TWO )

and for the 2 shoulder pads I was charged $15 for tax because they declare the value as $30

WTF??????

someone explain what the ******** just happened and what I should do.

Well, I can't speak for your tax system. It sounds pretty messed up in that regard.

But I can say that a nice, friendly email or phone call should resolve the replacement parts issue.

The key here is nice, and friendly. I don't care how upset you are, an angry or condescending tone will result in your case being 'forgotten' or being pushed to the bottom of the pile.

You catch more flies with honey, carrot before stick, and all that.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
On-topic: I've ordered a gakload of FW stuff over the years. From big models (a Thunderhawk that still needs painting) to small ones (servo skulls and BFG scale Thawks) and while I've encountered some problems, they've never been significant. A little mold slippage here and there, but nothing I couldn't work around.

Warping is a fact of life when dealing with resin. Even a perfectly cast model will often warp during transit. Just using some warm water and a hair dryer, I'm yet to encounter a warping problem I couldn't fix.