Well I finally took the plunge and got myself the new Liche Priest model complete with the new controversial Finecast material. Here is a quick review. I don't know who produced the image I have as the header for this blog but I pinched it off a random forum. It certainly made me chuckle so kudos to the creator on the off-chance he is reading this! As an aside I also purchased the Khalida mini because I thought she would make a better second caster than the old goofy model. I intend to just use her as a Liche Priest rather than the special character although now I have the model I guess the option is always open to me. The advantage of building this at the same time is I got to build a model in the tried and tested metal at the same time as the new fangled finecast which enabled me to make some comparisons.
So here is how the chappy looked on the sprue. Remarkably like the title font! Whilst it looks a flash ridden mess this isn't a problem at all. Its certainly true that Khalida had less than 1/10th of the flash but being metal that was harder to get rid of with a modelling knife. The resin on these models is soft...super soft. Your knife will glide through it so I would urge caution when you first approach the stuff! There is a danger of cutting through it so easily you end up lopping extra detail off, or worse one of your fingers! I think however this is just a case of not being used to working this material. After using plastics and metal for so long you become accustomed to the give and the resistance both materials offer. I think in time using this new resin will become second nature.
You will also notice the staff was bent which requires a different approach to that we are normally used to. Khalida's staff was also bent but a simple push and a twist and all was well. For the resin however a quick blast from a nearby fan heater and it bent into position and hardened without issue.
So as for the much flaunted lack of pinning etc how did construction fare? It is indeed handy that the weight of this material is so low as the facilitate easy bonding. So I would at least give that a big thumbs up. I don't think it is a huge problem for a model such as this but for the bigger models I can see it being a huge blessing. And so finally? What about detail? Well I think the detail is stunning. It really is fantastic. But....I'm not sure much more was needed than what we already had in metal (as silly as that might sound). I'll hold my hand up and confess that Games Workshop do one thing well even if they make mistakes everywhere else. They make fantastic looking models. I don't think in the decade and a half of my time in the hobby I've ever thought "If only the metal models looked better". So I am indeed left wondering if much has improved at all or if "marketing" has won me over. And now....for the bad....
What you can't see so easily on this picture is the model is in fact miscast and in quite an annoying way. I gave the model a once and twice over when it was the on sprue and thought all was well with the exception of a bit of flash. Alas however the models left hand (your right from the picture) is actually badly miscast! Annoyingly I didn't realise this until I had it out the blister and glued together making it a bit late to go to GW and request a swap. Perhaps if I pulled it apart and pleaded my case I could but I'd rather avoid the hassle. Its kind of my mistake for not glaring at it hard enough and for also ordering online rather than going into the store (although I'll admit I never had these concerns with metal). Never the less Finecast is going to be here to stay so rather than whine along with the rest of the Internet I'll break out my greenstuff and correct the miscast part of the model as I would do with anything else. This is also one model along with being a very early run of a brand new method of production for Games Workshop. My hope is that errors like this are slipping past their usually excellent quality control due to inexperience and in time things will improve.
So if I had to give Finecast a grade? Lets go 8/10. I don't mind the material too much if I'm honest. I've knocked a point off for the miscast in this case but I expect that to improve. If I can think of one weakness its the softness of the material. I do worry that very fine pieces of the model will just break off if dropped or knocked during the rigours of gaming. But I can't confirm this for sure and only time will tell!
Toina Failcast
If there is a failcast part of this post its my current efforts to cast my own models. I've made several silicone moulds by now and even got the stage of injecting some resin. Through the course of this I have wasted a ton of materials and made mistake after mistake and followed disaster with disaster. Never the less I am actually feeling quite upbeat about the project. I feel I've made enough mistakes now to know how to do things better! Despite the fact that in terms of cost its more expensive than sourcing ready made models and in terms of time a much larger investment I remain undeterred. Part of me is just enjoying the experience! Besides what other hobby lets me wear medical gloves without being kinky....
...until next time folks!
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