So it's out there now and it's going to mean some changes for most of us. I'm not going to get into the greater scheme of things with GW's policies here. I'm simply going to look at how the new "Finecast" models are going to affect my hobby.
The cost
Let's get this one out of the way. As prices increase, it means that people are going to look closer at what they buy, when they buy it and where they buy it from. That means there is the potential for me to lose some work due to the constantly rising costs of the hobby. I'm not sure how I'm going to deal with this over time.
I have my thoughts on how the average "cost of the game" will affect the kinds of people playing it, but they are just that... theories. In the end, I think I may see a decline in some project types due to people being able to convert their own stuff with the new resin figures. That being said, the new resin models will allow me to expand my abilities as well and be able to offer even more to potential Clients in terms of what I can do for them. A loss in one area and a gain in another.
The added workload
Yep, with resin coming into the mainstream, we're going to have to alter how we work on our models. For those already familiar with working with resin (most likely due to Forge World), it's not big deal. For those not familiar with it, the idea of washing your models prior to assembling will become common practice.
I tend to go all out when building my models for two reasons:
1. They are for others and they deserve the attention to detail.
2. I prefer to do lots of prep work in the beginning for nice results in the end.
I find it odd that the most recent issue of White Dwarf only mentions this in passing... the fact that the GW painters did NOT have to wash their new Finecast models, but you might want to consider doing it just in case. Anyone who has worked with resin and did not get all of the mold release off when it came time to paint and had their paint not cover the surface will tell you they will never let that happen again.
Wash with warm soapy water, rinse completely and let dry. Doing it any other way and you are just asking for problems.
Priming these models may become a bit more important too. With all the fine detail and the potential to lose it quickly with heavy layers of paint, you'll want to do it right and that's going to mean doing it well starting at the beginning. No more just throwing a quick coat of "whatever I happen to have on hand" on the model.
Related: Priming is more than just black and white
Then there is the issue of mold lines or flash that may be more prevalent with resin models. Again, Forge World users will be used to this. It's worth noting that it may take a bit more work getting these cleaned off resin models than our plastic counterparts on occasion. If you aren't big into getting them cleaned off your plastic models, then Finecast models may not be for you.
Related: Cleaning mold lines off models, Cleaning larger problematic mold lines
On top of that, you may run into the occasional problem with bubbles in the resin and dimples on the surface where the resin did not completely fill in the mold. Things that can be cleaned up with some additional greenstuff work.
I prefer plastic over metal and resin
Personally, I'd much rather work with plastic over anything else. I love the detail that can be achieved with resin, but plastic is where my heart lies. Metal models are not "conversion friendly" and with as much converting as I do, they just don't help me create the models I want to.
Resin models can capture amazing detail (more than plastic can) and while I like that feature, the fragility of finer detailed resin pieces leaves me wanting the sturdiness of plastic sometimes. Don't get me wrong, you can break plastic too, but it's a bit more "gaming" friendly and forgiving.
Related: Scratchbuilding vs. kitbashing, Conversions live and die by the details
Resin can capture amazing detail, but with that comes an increase in fragility. I like to display my models, but I like to play even more. We may see an increase in "battlefield repairs" as Finecast models make it into our armies. And we haven't even gotten into painting all those tiny details. I mentioned it once before when Dark Eldar came out and I thought I was going to start a fight.
Related: Dark Eldar models, good or bad?
The dangers of working with resin
For those who don't already know. Resin dust can be harmful. How harmful... I don't know exactly. I can tell you that I go outside if I have any resin models that need sanding or cleaning and I wear a simple face mask.
I'm a bit disappointed GW and FW don't have "working with resin" info that is easy to find on their sites. Maybe it's too soon and we'll see something in the coming weeks. I suspect we may not and if we do, it will be cursory at best since preparing a resin model requires a bit more work than a regular model and that's not what your average hobbyist wants to hear. Do we get the super fine detail? Yes, but it comes at a price and I'm not talking just about money.
So what does it mean in the end for me?
I think I'll see a gradual change in the kind of work I get from Clients. I may be tempted to pick up a model for myself eventually as something to paint for a challenge, but other than that, I won't be using Finecast stuff in my army on a regular basis.
Does it make the specialty models/characters easier to work with? Not really for me since I tend to build my own based on what I want. Will it help others? I suspect it will for some folks.
Ultimately, I think the increased conversion flexibility and superb detail that comes with the
