So now the resin dust has settled...

[Mr Mystery]

Afternoon.

Going through my new White Dwarf, and of course there's another raft of Finecast releases of older models.

When it came out, I was a regular on DakkaDakka, and my word the hatebois were out in force. Sure, it had initial problems, but it was mostly horribly overstated, such as claiming they melted in strong sunlight (of course they don't, as proven when I was drunk and oven baked a Liche Priest. Model was fine, base wasn't). And although I did received a few duff casts, returning them to my local GW was as hassle free as ever.

Now of course the hysteria has settled down, and I'm wondering how people have been getting on with it. Try to keep it to personal experience!

[Wildeybeast]

Nooooo! The dust has settled, why would you kick it up in everyone's faces again? The hatebois will on here in force before long.

I do like the fact that your idea of drunken highjinks is to test the resilience of FC models. I bow before your superior nerdery.

[eldargal]

My experience has been consistently good, I think I've had one Finecast model that needed to be returned out of many dozens purchased. The failure rate in my games club has dropped from around 6% in the first few months to around 1%.

[Tzeentch's Dark Agent]

I haven't had a problem with Finecast since it's release...

[Mr Mystery]

Bum cakes! Wrong board! Can a mod move this to 40k general? Sorry!

Anyway. Dust kicking is fun!

Me, I've not had a duff one in months, not since Dreadfleet. At first (on account I went mental and placed a £3,000 mail order...) I had around a 15% failure rate, which was less than impressive. However a quick jaunt to my local store and all was ticketyboo with replacements.

And I've found the sculpt detail keeps getting better. I'm very happy with my limited models this year (30th, Games Day, Pirate White Dwarf) all of which have not a bubble between them. Though I still staffs and banners to bit a bit bent in most clam packs, but a bit of careful choice and it's avoided!

[Tzeentch's Dark Agent]

It is done.

[Mr Mystery]

Aww thank you petal!

[Tzeentch's Dark Agent]

No worries babe. :p

[Wildeybeast]

Bum cakes! Wrong board! Can a mod move this to 40k general? Sorry!

Anyway. Dust kicking is fun!

Me, I've not had a duff one in months, not since Dreadfleet. At first (on account I went mental and placed a £3,000 mail order...) I had around a 15% failure rate, which was less than impressive. However a quick jaunt to my local store and all was ticketyboo with replacements.

And I've found the sculpt detail keeps getting better. I'm very happy with my limited models this year (30th, Games Day, Pirate White Dwarf) all of which have not a bubble between them. Though I still staffs and banners to bit a bit bent in most clam packs, but a bit of careful choice and it's avoided!

Yeah the bent staffs are a bit annoying. My DE Sorceress had a pretty bad bend, heated it and straightened it only for it to bend back again when cool. I ended up snapping & pinning it. That is my only negative experience, all the others models have been great apart form the odd bubble.

[Mr Mystery]

I've just kind of put up with the staffs! Only affects one of my Crypteks, so it's not disastrous.

Even the finest of details, like noses are fine and dandy on the ones I've bought. Though I have suffered from squidgy squig syndrome on my Manglers. Nothing major, but irritating all the same!

[eldargal]

Have you tried dunking the re-positioned staff in icy water? That usually stops it bending again for me.

[Wildeybeast]

I have not. I shall try that in the future. Thanks you EG.

[Kirsten]

Have you tried dunking the re-positioned staff in icy water? That usually stops it bending again for me.

definitely an innuendo in there...

I have only bought a few fine cast models so far, I almost invariably just build characters out of plastic, but everything I have bought has been fine.

[Deadlift]

I have had the odd cast with the big hideous mould line down the middle, most recent was a sternguard model, but to be honest I had the odd metal model with the same problem. I generally think finecast is a vast improvement over metal, the ease of converting a finecast model over its metal equivalent alone makes me a big finecast fan. Oh and anyone who tried glueing a metal Nightbringer will know that the finecast version is sooooooo much easier to put together.

[Mr Mystery]

Also, although now defunct, my Finecast Hive Tyrant didn't reduce me to tears. The metal version didn't! Bloody legs on that thing...

[Psychosplodge]

I miss metal. There was something a lot more satisfying about the weighty feel of a metal space marine.

Not bought any FC apart from the limiteds, which I haven't had any problem with.

[Mr Mystery]

It does take a bit of getting used to, but I've found the ease of assembly more than makes up for it. Plus as they say, the lack of weight has allowed for more dynamic sculpts.

Oh, and as a side effect of baking the Liche Priest, I found whilst it didn't damage the model, it did affect the superglue, making it crumbly. Might be useful for separating parts.

However, please note that Mystery Industries, a wholly owned subsidiary of Rosstech (Rosstech, what could possibly go wrong?) accept no liability should following our advice lead to 'buggered model syndrome'.

[JxKxR]

I had some Incubus recently that had a few bubbles here and there, but GW sent me a brand new box, and I was able salvage the others. It's just in places that get really thin the resin gets brittle and a sword or fin will snap. I'm super careful with the finecast and cringe every time pile-in moves are made.

Now that being said I love finecast for converting. It's super easy to cut and work with.

[Psychosplodge]

Oh, and as a side effect of baking the Liche Priest, I found whilst it didn't damage the model, it did affect the superglue, making it crumbly. Might be useful for separating parts.

But what did it taste like?

[Asymmetrical Xeno]

I'd like to see more photos of "good" finecast figures.

Whenever you google peoples reviews of them, you only find the negative ones (and to be fair, those folk DO have reason to complain, judging by the photos they've posted) but I assume that is not the "norm" and those are the ones who have had the worst experiences -so it would be nice to see some stuff from those who have had the "best" experiences, so that there is some balance and people like me on the side line can form a more objective opinion on wheather to buy or not.

[Mr Mystery]

Thing is, acceptable casts are a matter of being subjective. Whereas as I'm not fussed over a couple of small bubbles, someone else might return it, and another person might rant on the interwebs.

I'll try to remember to put up pics of my limited ones!

[Phototoxin]

I needed 3 necron overlords before I got one, a lhamean, castellan crowe (banner was practically non existant) which overall was disgraceful. However since they've moved to automated resin mixing it's been a hell of a lot better. But it should have been that way in the first instance.

[Cap'nSmurfs]

No bad experiences with Finecast. Jumppack Chaplain had a few more holes than those I've had subsequently, but none ruined it. They stick together much better, which is huge. They're also easier to clean up, and a million times easier to convert. I love it.

[Emerald Rose Widow]

I had a zoanthrope one time that had a bungled up face, but in the end all worked out rather well, brought it to the guy I bought it from, he took it back and gave me a new one that was perfect. That was my only bad experience with finecast, the rest have been stellar (other than the occasional bubble in an odd piece of carapace), with great details, especially the zoeythrope brains.

[Learn2Eel]

Never had any miscast models. The closest to that would have been Draigo's sword bending all wonky-like, but that's nothing some hot water can't fix. My Fateweaver decided his front leg would bend enormously and make his faces touch the bottom of the base, but my LGS manager fixed that for free. Can't even say I've had bubbles on any of my resin models.

[Vangrail]

Ive never had a miscast. But my only problem is fine smaller pieces in heat because of warping....my main curse is Servo arms is a pain to keep straight and not bent.

[RGilbert26]

I haven't had too many problems with Finecast especially models that are made for it instead of metal first. Just don't do what my friend did and put his freshly finished and finely painted Blue Scribes on top of his Microwave. When he came back after it had finished cooking (whatever it was) he found a pile of goo ontop of his Microwave.

[Cap'nSmurfs]

...why would you ever do that?

Those poor Blue Scribes. :(

[DarkDesigner]

I'm going to start off by saying I'm not a Finecast hater, I was extremely excited when they announced the move away from metal as I am a converter first and a gamer second and I continue to be optimistic about them.

However I have so far had a 100% poor cast rate - as I have only bought one model. I didn't return it though as I took it as a challenge - one bubble was on a part I was replacing anyway and the other two I resculpted and are good as new. My main gripe about fine cast is that I don't see how they justify the prices of some units, but then anyone who knows me knows that I'm like a broken record about GW prices.

Oh, I was also sad panda that the only Chaos Lord not to appear in the recent CW finecast releases was the Slaanesh one, which is the model I have been waiting for since finecast was announced. But that's just me.

[Asymmetrical Xeno]

Awesome, a pile of resin goo would definitly vastly improve the Blue Scribes to look better - more an amorphous lovecraftian form. If it still had the faces visible, even better.

[Tzeentch's Dark Agent]

Hahahahaha!

[RGilbert26]

No idea why he placed them on top of the microwave.

[Slacker]

I have had pretty positive experiences with most of my FC purchases. Mostly some odd bubbles here and there, but nothing that couldn't be fixed. The biggest problems I have had (as others have mentioned) are with staffs and banners. Hot water re-shaping generally does the trick. The plague marine box was probably the worst castings I've had in a long time, but I think that was more of a mold problem than anything related specifically to the material.

[DrLove42]

The only bad experience with finecast isn't even a bad experience.

The iron halo on the new Dark Apostle is finecast. But its so ludicrously thin and spindly theres no way it would stay in one piece (it bent if you held it and blew on it too hard). So i didnt put it on him (stuck it to the back door of my chaos rhino in the end)

I've lost a few gun barrels and thin weapons during transport before, but nothing that can't be fixed

[isotope99]

I've noticed the GW space marine bias carrying over into finecast. Pretty much all my space marine kits have been completely fine, with only the tiniest bubbles but the eldar/dark eldar have been more mixed.

Generally, it has been OK just not the big leap forward we were promised. More clampack mini plastic kits please GW.

[Psychosplodge]

I thought the SM terminator Librarian was notorious as one of the worst?

[RGilbert26]

The problem I found with first run Finecast was that there were just too many air bubbles. However the new stuff is cast really well especially original Finecast molds - I.e not converted from metal.

[Wildeybeast]

Mine was absolutely fine and I got him when he was first released.

[Psychosplodge]

I'm I thinking of the wrong model? I thought that was the one everyone was on about in the F/C rant/critique threads.

[Wildeybeast]

Don't know about that, it could be. All I'm saying is mine was fine, make of that what you will.

[Psychosplodge]

Either I'm wrong or you were lucky lol.

Probably shouldn't breath that resin dust though...

[The Sovereign]

Okay, I'll bite.

My experience with Finecast has a success rate around 60%. As another commenter said, power armor chaps tend to turn out better. Except Lukas the Trickster, I've tried to get a good cast of him on three different occasions, and none were acceptable. Finally went with metal for him.

Some Dark Eldar casts tend to be terrible, particularly the medusae and Lelith.

And speaking of new models, noticed a lot of the Ahriman models have flaws.

I still buy Finecast, but I tend to be wary of it. I might try my hand at the new Be'lakor model to see how he turns out. But I much prefer plastic over all other mediums.

[alshrive]

i have had about an 80% success rate i would think. most have been good and i am happy with. Although i still have my metal blister of astorath the grim still sealed! the only problem is they forgot to put him in it! i got a blister pack with just an awesome jump pack! Metal fail :(

[Psychosplodge]

Yeah I once got a terminator with lightning claws without the lightning claws, but they special delivered the missing claws next day to me...

[alshrive]

i never got around to sorting it, kinda my own fault. i will use it when i make a finecast jump pack character because then it will have a bit more wait and stability!

[Cap'nSmurfs]

Should also say here that I have the Sternguard weapons pack that everyone was all "lol its so badly cast lol" when it came out, and it was absolutely fine. Okay, the picture on the website is clearly one that they painted up quickly for display purposes, but then they've also had a picture of a Space Marine bike with a wonky boltgun on their website for ages too and nobody gets up in arms about how terrible plastic is.

I mean it has all those awful mould lines and everything! Boycott plastic!

[Psychosplodge]

I think the uproar with them was the appalling sculpts not the fact it was FC.

[Durendin]

I have a couple of issues with Finecast.

Firstly, I have a Castellan Crowe with a very droopy Blade of Antwyr. Since finecast is way softer than it should be the storage case foam wins the battle.

Secondly, every Finecast product I've purchased was flawed. I was unimpressed at being offered liquid green-stuff to fix the casting ****-ups in such and expensive model.

Thirdly (and most importantly for me) I have miniatures from the RT era that are quite acceptable given the usage they've seen in their lifetimes. I sincerely doubt we'll see many of today's Finecast miniatures lasting a fraction of that time if used for anything other than display case pieces.

Thus my patience with Finecast came to an end.

[wittdooley]

Just got Valkia and a Khorne Lord. Both are beautiful.

[Daemonette666]

I waited about 6 months before I bought my first pack and many of the Plague Marines had huge air bubbles in their shoulder pads. I had to keep reminding the GW store every week till they finally got the replacements, and half of those were just as bad.

I then gave up on fine cast until someone told me that the raptors were of a better quality. The Raptors I got had a few miscasts with air bubbles, so I decided to just green stuff them and add detail. I find it more brittle than plastic (snaps easy, and is strangely softer than the plastic. I have tried to pin it, but the pins chew through it faster, so I made a few mistakes the first couple of minis I tried to pin (raptors that broke off their flying (flame) bases).

Early this year a friend tried to get a couple parts that were miscast replaced. GW staff told him, they had changed their policy on replacements, and he should have checked them out before buying them. It was in a sealed box, so he could not even look at the models. What was he suppose to do, ask GW staff to open the box so he could inspect them before buying them?

I have now sworn off Fine Cast. I will not buy models made with it. Even special characters. I would rather convert another miniature using plastic and metal parts to make the intended model.

It is just my preference. I hate Fine Cast, even if they perfected the technique to ensure that bubbling and miscasting does not occur anymore.

[The Madman]

"a satisfied customer will tell at average 3 people about their experience. an unsatisfied one will tell on average 10." - my business teacher from high school

the only major problem i had was that my LoC kept bending over but thats been fixed by propping his raised foot on top of a rock. the 5 raptors, Zoanthrope and Typhus are perfect. and none of them melt in sunlight, that Bs was made up.

[Durendin]

"a satisfied customer will tell at average 3 people about their experience. an unsatisfied one will tell on average 10."

Which illustrates exactly why you shouldn't rush rolling out a flawed product with no quality control.

[Anggul]

I've done okay with Finecast. I've bought: Haemonculus, 10 Wracks, Autarch, Zoanthrope, 2 Venomthropes, 3 Hive Guard so far and they've all been pretty much fine. The Haemonculus's snakey spine was a bit bent, as were the Autarch's sword and ankles and the Zoanthrope's point of attachment to the little thing it's sat on. Other than that just a couple of little holes on certain points on the Venomthrope whips and Hive Guard exoskeletons, but all of these were easy to fix and well worth not being metal (and thus always falling apart and chipping). Tyranids generally have less to go wrong with them, and with the Wracks I just coincidentally had no issues. As long as you get good casts it's fine as a material, but I imagine having to constantly go back and get replacements is a pain.

[Kirsten]

Should also say here that I have the Sternguard weapons pack that everyone was all "lol its so badly cast lol" when it came out, and it was absolutely fine. Okay, the picture on the website is clearly one that they painted up quickly for display purposes, but then they've also had a picture of a Space Marine bike with a wonky boltgun on their website for ages too and nobody gets up in arms about how terrible plastic is.

I mean it has all those awful mould lines and everything! Boycott plastic!

I am curious to know if the sternguard pack is as faulty as the pic, or whether they just painted up a badly cast one

[Mr Mystery]

I have an idea/challenge.

As soon as my finances have settled down (next couple of months) I propose a Finecast grand test. We vote on a model to test (I'll set up the poll) and those willing to take part buy one (ideally through mail order, for a genuine blind test...) and we contrast and compare, by posting up pre-agreed sets of pics (for instance, on sprue, post typical clean up, and assembled, this can also be discussed nearer the time).

I invite all to take part!

[Psychosplodge]

I have an idea/challenge.

As soon as my finances have settled down (next couple of months) I propose a Finecast grand test. We vote on a model to test (I'll set up the poll) and those willing to take part I'll buy you all one (ideally through mail order, for a genuine blind test...) and we contrast and compare, by posting up pre-agreed sets of pics (for instance, on sprue, post typical clean up, and assembled, this can also be discussed nearer the time).

I invite all to take part!

I for one look forward to receiving my free tester model...

[inquisitorsog]

I have an idea/challenge.
...


I would suggest taking a model that is a new sculpt. That's the true test I think. Perhaps the Dark Apostle as it features lots of detail and has some potential problem areas such as spikes and a shafted weapon.