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I'm sorry, Dakka.

I'm thinking about making my first Finecast purchase, but I'm uncertain on what trouble it might bring.

There's been lots of talk back and forth like "Finecast is crap", "Finecast was crap", "Finecast has always been good", "Only the models that used to be metal is crap, the original Finecast is good" blah blah.

Thoughts? Worth the risk of the hassle?

I'm asking specifically about models that are "Web Exclusive" on the GW site. That means I can't swap the model on spot if there would be issues.

Personally if you can't check it in hand then I wouldn't bother otherwise you could be spending weeks sending items back and forth.

Personaly I have found recent fincast to be no problem at all. I would go for it. Even if there is a problem (Unlikely now) they will sort it out as fast as possible.

If you are going to buy finecast do it at a GW store, I hate suggesting that but its not worth the hassle of trying to do it through a LGS or website, you have spend money shipping it just to have them send you a new one that might be no better then the last, and for some reason there is a massive delay (up to 6 weeks) for a turn around on finecast through a LGS.

In my experience 66% of finecast is fail quality. To get 27 good wracks I had to trade in18 boxes and even then I was just exhausted with the scuplts, as for Grotesques, I ordered 3 and traded them in 7 times with no results.

All of the recent Finecast I've seen has been great quality, so I'm not sure if they finally upped their QC or if our stockers are just very lucky.

Definitely try and check the models before you purchase, because when Finecast is bad.. it is horrifically bad.

If it's more or less recent it's rather safe. Still, buy it at GW just to be sure that you can return it if it has any defects. YMMV etc.

I've had good luck in general with finecasts, but I got both Belial and master of the ravenwing and his jetbike was bent. Not terrible since some hot water and bending it back into shape fixed it. Just look at the model before you pay for it if you can.

Generally the 'it's not terribad, just buy it in a GW store' works but for a monster that size... well I am 4 for 4 on miscasts with larger models and if it comes on a sprue then a lot of the problems can be hidden.
That's a GW direct model (won't have any sitting around in store) so I suggest that if you do get one go to the store to pick it up, sit down and build it right there and check ever millimeter of it. You'll also need to be aware that if there is a problem with it it'll take another week to have one sent to the store and, depending on the problem that might be just as bad. I went through 4 vargulfs but it became apparent they are all bad because of the placement of the mold from back when they were metal.

All the finecast i have Bought has be good.

Since you are looking at buying direct from It's a no risk transaction. You get it and it's not okay GW will refund the money you might even get I keep the duff model. If its okay then naysayers good.

For all the pissing and moaning about GW their CS has always been top notch.

I was gifted a Minas Tirith command box set from one of my relatives and upon opening the box, I found horrors beyond explantation. I had never seen a sword so bent.

I went to the GW in Dundee and expressed my disappointment to one of the staff members there. Without hesitation, he opened another box and compared the models, giving me ones that were in a far better condition.

For my troubles, and the off chance I couldnt repair one of them, I was given a second model of that type.

Customer support, second to none! Very pleased in the end.

 Ravenous D wrote:
If you are going to buy finecast do it at a GW store, I hate suggesting that but its not worth the hassle of trying to do it through a LGS or website, you have spend money shipping it just to have them send you a new one that might be no better then the last, and for some reason there is a massive delay (up to 6 weeks) for a turn around on finecast through a LGS.

In my experience 66% of finecast is fail quality. To get 27 good wracks I had to trade in18 boxes and even then I was just exhausted with the scuplts, as for Grotesques, I ordered 3 and traded them in 7 times with no results.

You sir are dedicated!

Re:Finecast - is it safe? Should be if you do not put it in your mouth.Also try not to inhale to much of the dust.

 Bat Manuel wrote:

 Ravenous D wrote:
If you are going to buy finecast do it at a GW store, I hate suggesting that but its not worth the hassle of trying to do it through a LGS or website, you have spend money shipping it just to have them send you a new one that might be no better then the last, and for some reason there is a massive delay (up to 6 weeks) for a turn around on finecast through a LGS.

In my experience 66% of finecast is fail quality. To get 27 good wracks I had to trade in18 boxes and even then I was just exhausted with the scuplts, as for Grotesques, I ordered 3 and traded them in 7 times with no results.

You sir are dedicated!

and then 6th curb stomped the idea into the ground. Thanks GW

It's been shown that Finecast can have a severely negative impact on your financial health, especially in combination with other GW products.

 Ifalna wrote:
All of the recent Finecast I've seen has been great quality, so I'm not sure if they finally upped their QC or if our stockers are just very lucky.

Definitely try and check the models before you purchase, because when Finecast is bad.. it is horrifically bad.

This has been my experience, as well. My recent purchases of the C:CSM Warpsmith, Dark Apostle, and Sorcerer were all just fine, with no bubbles or other issues.

I've seen some VERY crappy 25th anniversary models, though. Ugh.

If you're so desperate for this, just get a metal one off of eBay, the sculpt is nearly 20 years old (Finecrap. Brings out hidden details in 20 year old models apparently!). That or get the Raging Heroes one (as a "Shedu" on this).

I ordered a finecast cockatrice model, got home and opened it... *BAM* my dog was murdered. Watch out for that finecast, it is dangerous stuff.

GW Customer Service is great. If you buy it and it doesn't meet your expectations, get a refund or exchange.

nkelsch wrote:
I ordered a finecast cockatrice model, got home and opened it... *BAM* my dog was murdered. Watch out for that finecast, it is dangerous stuff.

Way to trivialize a very real issue with GW's QC on Finecrap. But anything to get a snipe in on the "haters" right?

Oh come on, that was a good joke post.

 Ifalna wrote:
All of the recent Finecast I've seen has been great quality, so I'm not sure if they finally upped their QC or if our stockers are just very lucky.

Definitely try and check the models before you purchase, because when Finecast is bad.. it is horrifically bad.

This. When they first came out, finecast wasn't that fine. Every finecast I've purchased over the past 6-9 months has been almost perfect. Our local GW guy told us that they had changed the QC procedures at the factory or something.

But yes, buy finecast at GW stores. Open it up before you leave the store and if it isn't cool, return it. Say what you want about GW, but they pretty much have a no questions asked policy. If you think something is bad quality, they will oblige you. Make sure to buy some Liquid Green Stuff and an emery board while you are there. Finecast are amazing, but you do have to use some of your modeling skills to clean them up.

 Grimtuff wrote:

nkelsch wrote:
I ordered a finecast cockatrice model, got home and opened it... *BAM* my dog was murdered. Watch out for that finecast, it is dangerous stuff.

Way to trivialize a very real issue with GW's QC on Finecrap. But anything to get a snipe in on the "haters" right?

Way to trivialize a very real issue like dog murder. But anything to get a snipe in on the "apologists" right?

Please remember that Rule One is Be Polite. That includes no flame baiting or flaming. Thanks!

Chances are you'll find minor imperfections. And don't think of this as a finecast defense btw, I think products sold as expensively as finecast should have no imperfections and it shows what terrible quality control GW has.

 kronk wrote:
I've seen some VERY crappy 25th anniversary models, though. Ugh.

It took me nearly a month to get all mine replaced. I still see a "sealed package" auction and shake my head because there's no way the buyer will get that one fixed.

 col. krazy kenny wrote:
Re:Finecast - is it safe? Should be if you do not put it in your mouth.Also try not to inhale to much of the dust.

Of course it's safer and better. What other material chops up so finely to make lines so I can snort my GW crack

nkelsch wrote:
I ordered a finecast cockatrice model, got home and opened it... *BAM* my dog was murdered. Watch out for that finecast, it is dangerous stuff.

GW Customer Service is great. If you buy it and it doesn't meet your expectations, get a refund or exchange.

Dammit, I was going to post that Finecast is definitely not safe: it murders puppies and rapes kittens. Thanks for spoiling my fun.
*sulks in corner*

Oh well, great minds think alike, eh?

 angel of ecstasy wrote:
I'm sorry, Dakka.

The Storm of Magic (Finecast) Lammasu has caught my eye. However, I've never purchased Finecast nor do I know anyone who has.

There's been lots of talk back and forth like "Finecast is crap", "Finecast was crap", "Finecast has always been good", "Only the models that used to be metal is crap, the original Finecast is good" blah blah.

Thoughts? Worth the risk of the hassle?

I should add that the model is a web exclusive, so I couldn't go back and swap it on spot if there would be issues.

My finecast inspection miscast rate is running at around 30-40%. That being said, I don't personally buy much product from GW anymore since they bungled the finecast switchover combined with a price increase (see my sig) so my experience is limited to the 8 or so finecast figs I've ever bought/traded for. My personal advice is to buy the figs you feel you like enough to warrant the price but *ONLY* if you can physically inspect them first in a store before leaving (so no internet purchases). If you buy a boxed set that doesn't have clear plastic, don't leave the store without looking over every sprue for unacceptable defects.

Since you're talking about a web exclusive product direct from GW, you can usually exchange or return them in a local store as well as contacting customer service. GW prices and quality control may be crappy but their service has usually been good in my experience. Some people took advantage and tried to scam GW when finecast came out so it sounded like they got a bit more restrictive in their return policies but none of the restrictions sounded unreasonable (like asking people to send the product back for free or take pictures and email them).

If possible I try hard to get the metal versions. I feel that finecast breaks really easy. I have some harlequins that only have about 3mm of contact with the base. That's horrible to reglue seems everytime I transport. I prefer plastic to metal, but metal over finecast.

My one finecast model is very delicate. The model was holding a staff which had a big air bubble in the shaft and broke immedietly from the pressure of cutting the model off the sprue.

I hate using the model because it's so bendy and soft and delicate.

I bought a finecast bloodthirster and a finecast skulltaker about a year ago and they were perfect. No bubbles, no bent pieces, nothing wrong at all so I can't complain about finecast.