Join us on a journey of discovery as we unravel the mystery behind the 3D printing lines everyone sees on Forge World and painted GW models.
Hobbyists have asked for a long time why their Forge World models have 3D printing lines on them, with some thinking that GW is actually printing them and not casting the models.
People have even asked Rob where he got his Adeptus Custodes files from, as they have visible print lines on them. Naturally people assumed they had to be printed; however, the truth is, they are straight from Forge World!
Why GW Forge World Models Have 3d Print Lines On Them
People seem to think a lot of Forge World models are 3d prints and want the files when people post WIP pictures online, etc. As we said, people have even asked Rob in person about his painted models and where he got the files from, but again, they are all actually all Forge World models!
Here’s a great meme from Facebook that made us laugh while explaining the whole process and the situation we just described from everyone’s favorite fighting father and son:
The “secret is” Games Workshop does 3D print their models to not only make master molds but also to paint on tight deadlines for their product shots and marketing material. In fact, since about 2014, every painted model for box art and their webstore is a painted 3d printed model, as we explain further here.
For many this wonky-looking 3D-printed Taurox Prime was the first plastic production model spotted with 3d print lines when it was released in 2014. In fact, up until just a few years ago, this exact model was still the product image on GW’s site when you went to purchase this kit even!
The Future of Mold Making
The following is a brief rundown of how GW supposedly makes their Forge World models now (with less Orange County Choppers meme.)
First, GW’s designers make a model using 3D programs; then, they make a master model by printing it out on a 3D printer. Once that comes out how they want, they make a silicone master mold from that 3D-printed model and pour the resin into it.
Then when they have a good cast, they make additional production molds from that one master model to make the kits they ship out to customers.
They essentially make a copy of a copy of a copy, which does make a model with print lines if they were pronounced on the master mold as in the case of the Horus Heresy Exodus model above.
Forge World even has a canned message they use to reply with when customers contact them about these visible lines on models:
Having checked over the images I can confirm this is the current standard of the model, the lines you see are leftover printing lines from production that are picked up with fresh molds. These can be smoothed over with a little super glue or filed down with a fine-grade hobby file or sandpaper.
Painted Knight on display at Warhammer World
This also brings up the same issue that some have noticed in product shots for Games Workshop’s plastic kits too. These kits are produced using injection molding from digital files is an entirely different process altogether. When you get a plastic model kit from Games Workshop, there will be no 3d Print lines on it.
However, in all their painted model images and marketing material GW uses images of painted 3d printed models so that they can keep up with their frenetic release schedule.
The Knight above can be seen in this Warhammer Community image from April 21, 2022:
With the time their ‘Eavy Metal team spends painting new models, they need the extra lead time 3d printing provides to completely assemble and paint models before it’s time to start designing the model’s packaging and marketing them to customers.
There you have it; GW doesn’t 3D-print the models they send to customers, but they do use 3D models for thier masters, which produces those mold lines you can see!
Now you know why you sometimes see lines on those Forge World models and on the painted plastic ones in GW’s marketing images for new products.
What do you think about 3d printing lines now on Forge World resin kits, and the painted plastic models from GW?
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About the Author: Travis Pasch
Travis Pasch
Job Title: Head Writer & Editor
Socials: @paschbass
About Travis Pasch: Travis has been a Warhammer 40k hobbyist since the 1990s, playing the game since Third Edition. Through extensive traveling, he’s seen a lot of the miniatures hobby from across the world, giving him a unique perspective on the latest gaming topics and trends.
Travis’s brother even owns a commission painting studio, where he’s picked up a lot of good advice and techniques for painting Warhammer and tabletop miniatures over the years, as well. Travis joined the Spikey Bits team in 2019 and has been the lead writer since 2020.
Currently, he’s working on converting all his 40k Adeptus Mechanicus models and becoming a true tech enjoyer, complete with both sad and happy robot noises!
