FAQ – Figure Forge

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHO ARE YOU?

My name’s Todd and I run Figure Forge from my small workshop in Gloucester. I’ve been mad on D&D for a while now and, when I began 3D printing, miniatures were really what I wanted to make. Having printed a heap of them, I’m still amazed by the technology and what it can produce. It’s also a great meeting of the old and the new: while many people are transitioning to playing their tabletop games virtually, I really like holding something physical. I both play and DM and I love seeing people’s reactions to the miniatures that I whip out. I started Figure Forge as a means of spreading a bit of that joy (and maybe avoiding my house filling up with minis…)

HOW ARE THE MODELS PRINTED?

We use SLA resin printers. They work by exposing very thin (25 micron) layers of resin to carefully guided UV light which cures the resin, turning it solid. It then moves on to build up the model layer by layer. The advantage of using SLA printers is that they offer much better detail reproduction than other 3D printing technology and are amazing for small things like miniatures.

WHAT MATERIALS DO YOU USE?

We exclusively use top-of-the-line TGM-7 resin from Ameralabs. This specialist resin has been formulated especially for tabletop models and offers an unbeatable mix of toughness, flexibility and high level of detail. As a result, it stands up to the knocks, drops and everyday rigors of tabletop play far better than any other resin we’ve tested.

We also use Citadel Matt Black primer if you select to have your models primed. This primer is outstanding because it gives excellent coverage, has a consistent matt finish and dries to a very thin layer that doesn’t mask the fine details.

WHAT PRINTERS DO YOU USE?

We use the latest professional-grade SL1S printers from industry leader Prusa Printers.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?

Normally we’re able to print your models within a couple of weeks. At busier times it might take a little longer but rest assured that we’re on it. We’ll keep you updated as we go along. We ship hundreds of minis each month but every one is lovingly crafted and held against our very high standards. The best measure of current lead times is the banner found on our home page under the menu bar.

IS YOUR CHECKOUT SECURE?

Our shop is hosted by WooCommerce, one of the world’s leading e-commerce platforms and we offer payment through PayPal or Stripe. So yes!

HOW DETAILED WILL MY MODEL BE?

Our models are printed using finely tuned settings to maximise detail and we use a 25 micron layer height which is significantly higher resolution than the standard 50 micron layers used by many resin 3D printing providers. Our printed models won’t look identical to the computer renders you see on our product pages but they’re close to this level of detail. You will be able to see fangs, buttons or any other small details in the final prints. Here’s a comparison:

STORE IMAGE

PHOTO OF THE PRINTED MODEL

ARE RESIN MODELS BRITTLE?

Normally, yes. Ours aren’t though. If you’ve got experience of buying resin miniatures in the past then you’ll likely have been disappointed by how brittle they are. Our TGM-7 resin is a whole different class of resin to typical consumer resins. It’s flexible and durable. It’ll stand up to knocks and drops far better than any other resins you’ll typically find being used for minis. Don’t just take our word for it though. Here are a couple of objective reviews:

Play Video

WILL MY MODELS COME WITH A BASE?

All of our models come with the bases pictured. These will be unattached for easier painting. Some models come with specifically designed bases while others come with a plain base ready for your imagination. The image on the product page will indicate where models have specially tailored bases.

WILL MY MODELS ARRIVE READY TO PAINT?

We take great care when getting the models ready for you. We carefully remove all of the support material (necessary when printing in this way, similar to models that arrive on sprues) and then use a combination of high-grit sanding and a craft knife to clean up any support marks. I think we do a great job of this but, since they’re handmade products, you might notice the odd area that you want to tidy up further. If you plan on painting your model, we highly recommend priming the model first. Alternatively, we can prime it for you using the superb Citadel Matt Black primer.

DO MODELS REQUIRE ANY ASSEMBLY?

Our models come unassembled and require assembly. However, in most cases this is not especially complex. The vast majority of medium minis come whole and simply need attaching to their base. Larger models, such as those with wings, will likely come in a few pieces.

WHAT GLUE SHOULD I USE AND CAN I USE PLASTIC CEMENT?

We recommend using Gorilla Glue to adhere the parts but any superglue will be fine. Please do not attempt to use plastic cement (as you might with Games Workshop/Airfix models) as this works by melting plastic and will not react with the resin we use.

HOW CAN I KNOW HOW BIG THE MODEL WILL BE?

There are a few ways to talk about the size of our models.

Scale: Our models are printed as standard in 32mm scale which has increasingly become the go-to for players of games like Warhammer or Dungeons and Dragons. ’32mm scale’ means that if you were to take an average human model, it would be 32mm from the ground to their eye-level.

Traditionally both games used 28mm scale but many people are moving towards the larger scale for easier painting and better fine detail that is possible on the slightly larger models. However, if you want a model in 28mm scale, any of them can be downscaled to suit your needs. This option appears on each product page.

In addition, you’ll also find an option for 75mm scale prints. There larger prints are great for painting, collecting and displaying.

Model height: The height measurements are absolute values, not related to scale. They tell you exactly how tall a model is from the very top to the very bottom. This measurement includes the base and applies to the model in 32mm scale. To work out the height of the 28mm scale model, it would be 88% of that value.

Base size: All of our models come with a base. The base size indicates the diameter (where circular) or width (where square) of that base. The exact base size is always listed in the model description. Our bases come in 12.5mm (roughly 1/2 inch), 25mm (roughly 1 inch), 30mm, 32mm, 40mm, 50mm (roughly 2 inches), 75mm (roughly 3 inches) and 100mm (roughly 4 inches).

Creature size: Creatures are all listed with their creature size as is standard in 5e Dungeons and Dragons.
A ‘Tiny’ creature uses a 12.5mm base.
A ‘Small’ or ‘Medium’ creature typically uses a 25mm base. However, some (especially Sci-Fi) are based on slightly larger 30-32mm bases. Check the model description for details.
A ‘Large’ creature uses a 50mm base.
A ‘Huge’ creature uses a 75mm base.
A ‘Gargantuan’ creature uses a 100mm or 125mm base.

HOW SHOULD I CARE FOR MY MODEL?

UV resin is a great material and the premium TGM-7 resin that we use is far more resilient than others on the market. However, all UV resin will continue to cure when exposed to UV and could potentially over cure if left in direct sunlight for long periods of time. This could potentially cause a model to warp or degrade. Therefore we recommend priming/painting your model or avoiding placing it in direct sunlight.

ARE PHOTORESINS SAFE?

In its solid, cured form, the resin we use is completely safe to handle.

As a liquid, the resin is acutely toxic, however. In the highly unlikely event that you find liquid resin on or around your model, do not touch it. Wash skin thoroughly if you make contact with liquid resin.

Due to the inherent hazards associated with with resin, we advise that you do not give the models to young children who may put them in their mouths. For that matter, we advise you also don’t put them in your mouth.

More information and the material safety data sheet can be found on the Ameralabs website.

HOW MUCH DOES DELIVERY COST?

It does change as Royal Mail change their prices but the most up to date price will be shown at the checkout.

UK delivery is typically between £3.00-£4.00 although free for orders over £50 when you use code ‘FREEUKDELIVERY’ at checkout.
Closer European countries (France, Germany, Netherlands etc.) will be about £12.00.
The rest of Europe can typically expect between £14.00-20.00.
Delivery to Canada or the USA will cost approximately £20.00.

I mean, I’d love to recommend moving to Gloucester (I could even drop it round) but nobody wants to live in Gloucester.

HOW LONG SHOULD DELIVERY TAKE?

Standard UK delivery is 3-5 days. Please remember that these are in addition to our processing time.

Delivery to Europe is usually 5-10 days.

Canada and the USA can take as long as 17 days.

WHAT IF MY PACKAGE HASN’T ARRIVED IN THE EXPECTED TIME?

In the UK, Royal Mail sometimes take longer than expected to deliver. This can be for any number of reasons and we’re really sorry that this does happen from time to time.

We ask that you wait 10 days from dispatch, just in case there is a delay. Then, please let us know. You can contact us at todd@figureforge.store. We’ll always make sure you receive your models.

In the case of overseas delivery, please use your tracking number on the Royal Mail tracking service (https://www.royalmail.com/track-your-item). If you have any questions or concerns about your order, please do get in touch with us though.

CAN I RETURN AN ITEM IF I CHANGE MY MIND?

Of course! We really hope you’re happy with your order. If you change your mind though, we are happy to accept returns as long as you contact us to arrange this within 14 days of receipt of the item.

If you do return your order to us, we ask that you carefully package any items so they are not damaged in transit. Unfortunately, we can’t offer a refund if items don’t return in the condition that they left us.

To begin this process please drop us an email: todd@figureforge.store

If there are any problems with your order, please get in touch with us and we’ll do what we can to put things right.