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After buying most of the Death Korps line, I'm now in my 4th or 5th debacle with FW's customer service over miscasts. The quality of the miniatures is all over the place and their customer service has refused to replace parts that I believe are of an unacceptable quality. What seems an obvious miscast to me is apparently within their "quality requirements".

So I'm curious, considering the price what is an acceptable level of quality for their stuff? At what point would you ask for a replacement?

Post a picture maybe? I could compare what I've seen from finecast, but I don't have any Forgeworld models to compare to.

Sure, this is one of the most recent ones they denied. Under the foot of the left rider/coming out of the side of the horse there's a large blob of resin, right guy just for comparison.

 Irkjoe wrote:
Sure, this is one of the most recent ones they denied. Under the foot of the left rider/coming out of the side of the horse there's a large blob of resin, right guy just for comparison.

Could you circle it? I'm not seeing what you're talking about. I actually for a moment was looking for the horse's balls and then realized that DKOK probably chops them off with a shovel, then I winced, looked back, couldn't find it.

Anyway, I've had some issues with them- but it's always been with larger things. Had to send back parts of every Sicaran I ordered from them. Tracks are HORRIBLY miscast most of the time. So, basically out of about 6 Sicaran tanks of different varieties, I have 3 that just end up doing turret swaps and the Venator has a little strip of foam tape under the tracks to keep it from wobbling on the warped side.

But like, oddly- every single infantry model or helmet or any other little thing has always come to me in great condition. I don't get it.

FW isn't known for their QA, be it rules or casting.

Nothing you can do when it comes to them. They've never gotten any better.

 Adeptus Doritos wrote:

 Irkjoe wrote:
Sure, this is one of the most recent ones they denied. Under the foot of the left rider/coming out of the side of the horse there's a large blob of resin, right guy just for comparison.

Could you circle it? I'm not seeing what you're talking about.

Might be hard to see because it's all grey or maybe I'm being too picky.

 Irkjoe wrote:
Might be hard to see because it's all grey or maybe I'm being too picky.

I won't say you're being too picky, but for stuff like that, when it comes to Forge World... rather than trying to look for them to lack those faults, you're better off just sending back the ones you can't fix with a knife, file, and rotary tool. Otherwise you guys are gonna be playing back and forth with models for a year, especially with DKOK.

 Adeptus Doritos wrote:

 Irkjoe wrote:
Might be hard to see because it's all grey or maybe I'm being too picky.

I won't say you're being too picky, but for stuff like that, when it comes to Forge World... rather than trying to look for them to lack those faults, you're better off just sending back the ones you can't fix with a knife, file, and rotary tool. Otherwise you guys are gonna be playing back and forth with models for a year, especially with DKOK.

The clam packs make them impossible to return, can't really inspect the model unless you open it up unfortunately. I already sent back all the finecast-like weapon teams.

I can see what you mean, but the only problems I've had are with finecast (Night Lords conversion kits ALWAYS have shoulderpads with air bubbles on the underside on at least a couple of them).

Honestly? I've never asked for a replacement regardless of the quality of the mold. If it's bad enough, I just won't buy it again, or won't buy it at all in the first place (Which was easy enough to do when finecast first came out and you could clearly see the imperfections in the model if you turned the packaging around). If this was a plastic mold that would be a different case, but I've never had a plastic miscast, so meh...

@AdeptusDoritos: Resin casting quality even for other companies seems to get worse in parallel to the size of the model. I think it's just par the course for resin and no-one has really solved the problem, other than to find a better replacement for people who report on bad quality kit molds.

@Irkjoe: So if you don't want to deal with miscasts like this you're pretty much out of luck I think. It sucks, but I doubt that we'll see decent quality resin molds (Lacking excessive flash, moldlines in very weird places, air bubbles in places you wouldn't expect, etc) made by GW in our lifetime that aren't human-sized. On the bright side, these problems are easily fixed and they do warn you about the miscasts somewhere (I can't remember where exactly).

a fat guy wrote:
@AdeptusDoritos: Resin casting quality even for other companies seems to get worse in parallel to the size of the model. I think it's just par the course for resin and no-one has really solved the problem, other than to find a better replacement for people who report on bad quality kit molds.

I've been told it has a lot to do with the temperature where the kits are stored, and often how long they let things 'cool' before popping them out of the mold, but I can't verify it.

a fat guy wrote:
@Irkjoe: So if you don't want to deal with miscasts like this you're pretty much out of luck I think. It sucks, but I doubt that we'll see decent quality resin molds (Lacking excessive flash, moldlines in very weird places, air bubbles in places you wouldn't expect, etc) made by GW in our lifetime that aren't human-sized. On the bright side, these problems are easily fixed and they do warn you about the miscasts somewhere (I can't remember where exactly).

I'm fine with resin being prone to issues like this, my problem is that the manufacturer won't replace the bad part. I got the same response for some poorly cast bodies(soft, undefined details), the claim was that it can be fixed with "standard level hobby work".

 Adeptus Doritos wrote:

 Irkjoe wrote:
Might be hard to see because it's all grey or maybe I'm being too picky.

I won't say you're being too picky...

I will. Emphatically. Demanding to return a model because it has a wee blob on it that's not obscuring any detail and you could remove in literally seconds with a pair of clippers? I mean, I could understand being annoyed if it was right in the middle of a face, or some intricate armour detail, or if there was some catastrophic mold misalignment, but it's a sodding blob on the sole of a shoe.

I mean, I'm kind of stunned that anyone would even think to contact CS over something so monumentally trivial.

 Yodhrin wrote:

 Adeptus Doritos wrote:

 Irkjoe wrote:
Might be hard to see because it's all grey or maybe I'm being too picky.

I won't say you're being too picky...

I will. Emphatically. Demanding to return a model because it has a wee blob on it that's not obscuring any detail and you could remove in literally seconds with a pair of clippers? I mean, I could understand being annoyed if it was right in the middle of a face, or some intricate armour detail, or if there was some catastrophic mold misalignment, but it's a sodding blob on the sole of a shoe.

I mean, I'm kind of stunned that anyone would even think to contact CS over something so monumentally trivial.

It's absolutely obscuring detail, the straps and stirrup are covered. There's also supposed to be some space between the riders foot and the horses body that's filled. I'd have to cut it off and re-sculpt what I can. This is also only one example, another rider has the back end of his coattails filled and a third has a similar blob on the sword.

I understand that you wouldn't notice once on the table but I want the army to be done to a high standard and these horses cost a bit.

I hate FW, mostly because of their horrible prices and the fact that resin is crap. The model designs though are amazing so I have to come crawling back...

 Irkjoe wrote:
I understand that you wouldn't notice once on the table but I want the army to be done to a high standard and these horses cost a bit.

I won't fault you for wanting a really good product when you've payed Forge World prices. Apparently there's unicorn blood and the tears of cherubs in their resin mix, because I can't really understand the price point otherwise.

But, my honest advice is- you gotta realize quite a few of your models are going to have flaws like that, I'd even go as far as to say that if half of them don't have visible flaws you're getting a good batch (based on my experience with their stuff, at least). To get them to the really high standard that justifies the money you're spending is going to take a lot of work either cutting and grinding, or putting stuff back and forth and playing model tennis with Nottingham. In fact, one guy I know plays DKOK and he did both of those things for over a year before he had all his models put together, and still had to paint them. So... whether it's worth all that work between cutting your fingers and licking stamps, that's for you to decide.

I'd be lying if I said that I don't regret buying a Horus Heresy army, and most of my Marines were plastic kits with a few scattered upgrades and bits in resin. The primary reason I stopped playing was the very small, and often frustrating and elitist community- but the salt in that open wound was the fact that those expensive kits very often felt like they weren't worth the high price point, so there I was- with an army that I paid too much for and regretting buying, and the very reason I bought the army wasn't worth the trouble of even gluing the things together and hauling across the state.

So, do what you feel you need to do, just be aware- you're not really wrong for wanting good models. But you are really expecting more out of Forge World than I think they're capable of, despite them wanting you to think otherwise.

Seriously?

OK. It's not "perfect". You're entitled in many countries to get refund or replace under consumer laws.

You're concerned about detail on the underside of a boot, when there's a whopping great pole up the horse's nose?

From here - it's a resin product. I would say it is of acceptable quality. Your mileage presumably varies.

I have no idea what you're talking about. Even after you've highlighted the "flaw" I still can't see anything, which means we're talking about the kind of tiny flaw that takes a few seconds with a knife to correct. You're being way too picky and doing your best to try to get their generous replacement policies shut down for the rest of us.

Edit: looking at the full-size picture, yeah, I see. JFC you're whining about nothing. That's going to take a few seconds to clean up yourself, and even if you aren't 100% perfect with it any damaged detail is going to be in a spot that you can't even see unless you pick up the model to look at the bottom and deliberately search for flaws. You've probably spent more time begging for replacements than it would have taken to just fix the problem yourself.

I have to agree with Peri in that it looks like a pretty simple fix with a blade. I can't see any detail that should come to harm - its covering one tiny strip of the harness and the block under the foot appears to be in the flat of the shoe so the stirrup shouldn't be an issue either.

I can see why, at least from the photo evidence shown above, FW wouldn't consider it a viable error to return for.

I'd agree if it were clearly obscuring or splattered right over detail there would be grounds and I would certainly ask for a replacement part. But this looks like a fairly simple fix for most gamers with some experience working with models to repair.


If you're still convinced its a problem you might have to take photos a different angles to show the detail that's really lost. It might be that your photo isn't doing you the best of favours.

stroller wrote:
Seriously?

OK. It's not "perfect". You're entitled in many countries to get refund or replace under consumer laws.

You're concerned about detail on the underside of a boot, when there's a whopping great pole up the horse's nose?

From here - it's a resin product. I would say it is of acceptable quality. Your mileage presumably varies.

It may be nitpicking details but at that price point I wouldn't be satisfied with just "acceptable" but want "exceptional".

Edit: That being said, it's FW and you could probably complain for an eternity until you get everything (of a big order) at that level of quality :/

Seriously? Well, brah, you haven't seen nothing yet, if you are complaining about a tiny blob of resin that can be easily cleaned.
Wanna see something really, really bad? Buy a Zone Mortalis tile.

UK distance selling laws give you two weeks to return an item if you are unhappy, opening the clam won't affect your entitlement to return it.

Whilst small, you will loose detail on the sole of the foot and straps. I'd return it.

 JamesY wrote:
UK distance selling laws give you two weeks to return an item if you are unhappy, opening the clam won't affect your entitlement to return it.

Whilst small, you will loose detail on the sole of the foot and straps. I'd return it.

UK distance selling laws give you two weeks to return an item merely for being unhappy at your own expense. In order to insist they take a product back as faulty, it actually has to be unfit for purpose, and frankly anyone who thinks this is unfit for purpose shouldn't be buying resin models.

Christ what's next, people demanding to return models because they have a mold line on them?

That actually depends, where the mold line is going. Good luck cleaning one from ribbings or a teeny tiny Aquila. Too small to clean, too large to deform and ruin. Even more so, that the mold line should not be there in the first place (!)

 Overread wrote:
I have to agree with Peri in that it looks like a pretty simple fix with a blade. I can't see any detail that should come to harm - its covering one tiny strip of the harness and the block under the foot appears to be in the flat of the shoe so the stirrup shouldn't be an issue either.

I can see why, at least from the photo evidence shown above, FW wouldn't consider it a viable error to return for.

That's odd because I've already gotten several replacement parts for chipped helmets and soft details on special weapons, smaller blemishes than that rider. There isn't any guidance for what a viable error would be so if there's something that isn't readily corrected I ask them for a new piece.

And as far as I understand, FW only accepts returns that are still sealed in their original packaging. Most of what I got came in blisters, wouldn't be an issue if it were the bags.

 Yodhrin wrote:

 JamesY wrote:
UK distance selling laws give you two weeks to return an item if you are unhappy, opening the clam won't affect your entitlement to return it.

Whilst small, you will loose detail on the sole of the foot and straps. I'd return it.

UK distance selling laws give you two weeks to return an item merely for being unhappy at your own expense. In order to insist they take a product back as faulty, it actually has to be unfit for purpose, and frankly anyone who thinks this is unfit for purpose shouldn't be buying resin models.

Christ what's next, people demanding to return models because they have a mold line on them?

Yes I'm aware that it is at your own expense, I didn't say anything otherwise. I said I'd return it, I didn't say it was faulty.

 CragHack wrote:
Seriously? Well, brah, you haven't seen nothing yet, if you are complaining about a tiny blob of resin that can be easily cleaned.
Wanna see something really, really bad? Buy a Zone Mortalis tile.

You know, Forgeworld's quality issues (and people's tolerance for them) might be why some people don't buy from them anymore. If you are okay with the price–performance ratio then keep buying and have fun with the stuff. For some people Forgeworld's quality isn't good enough at that price point and they will complain and/or avoid them because of that reason.

Also: Why would one brag about buying a bad a Zone Mortalis tile? I'm sorry that they couldn't send you a higher quality product in the first place (I just looked, that thing costs 124€). But if you are happy with the quality at that price point then keep enjoying it.

Drill a hole, clip at it then carve the area to restore the space, no one will notice this as we game 3' away and up close only you will know where it is.

I've dealt with far worse from FW, and always thought it was part of the perils of resin, well mainly Forgeworld resin. I've also got perfect casts that remind me to buy again. You have to expect a degree of modelling will be required to finish your pieces.

Yes, this is entirely your own fault for thinking something you paid a premium for might actually be passable.

If you can't tell, I don't think that. I think the opposite of that.

I would return it.

 Excommunicatus wrote:
Yes, this is entirely your own fault for thinking something you paid a premium for might actually be passable.

If you can't tell, I don't think that. I think the opposite of that.

I would return it.

I do wonder, have any of you guys who spout this "muh premium" stuff ever actually cast anything in resin yourselves?

Also, "passable" - lol. Again, it's ten seconds of work with clippers and blade to remove the wee blob from the sole of the foot, not mold slip or missing detail. Again, anyone who things this is beyond the pale shouldn't be buying resin models.

 Yodhrin wrote:

 Excommunicatus wrote:
Yes, this is entirely your own fault for thinking something you paid a premium for might actually be passable.

If you can't tell, I don't think that. I think the opposite of that.

I would return it.

I do wonder, have any of you guys who spout this "muh premium" stuff ever actually cast anything in resin yourselves?

Also, "passable" - lol. Again, it's ten seconds of work with clippers and blade to remove the wee blob from the sole of the foot, not mold slip or missing detail. Again, anyone who things this is beyond the pale shouldn't be buying resin models.

A) What does it matter if we've cast anything ourselves? I don't need to be a cobbler to know if I've received a defective shoe.

B). Passable means different things for different prices. At FW prices, any kind of detail erasing flash is unacceptable.