Hi everyone,

For a while Ive been thinking about why GW would stick with finecast for so long when clearly it is much more fragile and people generally hate it.

One thing I thought could be a reason is that Finecast models are a lot harder to strip of paint (as far as I know) which means second hand trade for painted finecast will be much lower than it previously was for metal, possibly leading to GW making more sales?

Has anyone heard of this theory before/ what do you think?

I think finecast is way cheaper because of the lower cost of the material and lower shipping costs.

I don't hate finecast, there are pros and cons in my opinion.
Pros :
1) cheaper prod. cost for GW : but the prices keep going up for the costumers.
2) I think finecast allows to reach a high level of details, higher than metal (fur, chainmail, hair, etc)
3) less paint chipping

Cons
1) less paint chipping, also a con as it kills second hand trading (as you said)
2) Models need a lot of cleaning. Finecast products are of variable quality, sometimes the cast is perfect, sometimes it's terrible.

I prefer painting plastic, but I know many prefer metal! (sorry I speak French)

It's hard to say, but it might be a combination of reasons.

For one, I don't think Finecast is as unpopular on a whole as its seems. I for one like it (just as much as I like metal)! Elrohir though, prefers metal, but doesn't think twice about using resin. As Stam158 says, it has its pros and cons. Preferably I would have different models in either plastic, Finecast, or metal (depending on the model). Some models suit plastic best, others are great in metal, and others cannot be realised in anything but Finecast. I have had many metal casts that where just as terrible as Finecast ones. Metal suffers form tough mould lines, cooling cracks, lots of surface imperfections, and bothersome chipping. Finecast has warped pieces, easily breaks, and has air bubbles. Its also cannot be stripped.

I have noticed however, that GW is moving toward all-plastic miniature ranges, dumping both resin and metal. All the new Warhammer and 40k miniatures have been in plastic. The Hobbit is the only range with new releases still made in resin. (Cheaper, easier for GW to make for an uncertain market, etc.) I am personally not against the idea of fully plastic ranges of models. Plastic is getting more and more detailed, and the possibilities are greater than with metal or resin. Its also a lot easier to work with, and doesn't have all of the problems of the other two.

Elladan

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Yeah, it's all about money. It's cheaper and easier for them to make models that don't sell that well out of finecast. It would be too expensive to do them in plastic.

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Superglue?

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And as others have said it seems that finecast is not being used for anything but lotr figures any more, and it is being used there because the risk is lower as the moulds cost a lot less for finecast as compared to plastic moulds.

I just wish they'd pass the savings on to us. However, I have heard that 40k and WHF are mini per mini more expensive than lotr/the hobbit

The newest Space Marine plastic characters tend to be 30 dollars per mini. Which is $10 more than models like Bard, but they are quite a bit bigger. Points wise, the LotR models tend to be a bit more cost effective, but not by much.

_________________
"Leave Sauron to me."
If you're in the Raleigh, NC area, let me know.