Hero Forge 3D Printing UK

FrEquEntly AskeD QUesTIons

• Hero Forge 3D Printing FAQs

• Where can I get my Hero Forge STL printed in the UK?

  I Cast Minis is an independent Hero Forge 3D printing service based in London, UK. Purchase and download your character’s 3D file from Hero Forge, then upload it directly on this page.

  I’ll turn it into a high-detail resin miniature, individually supported, printed, cleaned, cured, finished and inspected by me. Regular prints start from £5.95, with UK and worldwide delivery available.

• How much does it cost altogether to print a Hero Forge miniature?

  A regular, unprimed Hero Forge print costs £5.95. At the time of writing, a Hero Forge STL costs £7.99 and standard UK delivery from I Cast Minis costs £1.99, bringing the total cost of one regular miniature to approximately £15.93:

  • Hero Forge STL: £7.99
  • Regular I Cast Minis print: £5.95
  • Standard UK delivery: £1.99
  • Total: £15.93

  Adding grey, white or black primer costs £1, making the total approximately £16.93. Express UK delivery costs £3.99, while standard UK delivery is free when your I Cast Minis order reaches £30.

  A scaling quantity discount also applies when you order multiple copies, reducing the average printing cost further. Hero Forge’s STL price is charged separately and may change, so check the price shown in its Buy menu before ordering.

  For a fuller comparison, read How Much Does a Hero Forge Miniature Cost in the UK?

• Why use a UK Hero Forge printing service?

  Purchasing the digital STL and having it printed in the UK avoids the cost and delay of having a physical miniature shipped internationally from Hero Forge.

  Your miniature is printed and finished to order in London, with a choice of resin colour, optional primer, several size options and faster UK delivery. You can also order multiple copies from the same STL without purchasing the digital file again.

• What do I need to buy from Hero Forge?

  Complete your character on Hero Forge, add it to your cart and open the Buy menu. Choose the STL Download option rather than a physical miniature.

  Make sure “Disable Print Improvements” remains unticked. Hero Forge’s print improvements help prepare delicate parts of the model for physical printing.

  Once purchased, your file should appear in the Digital Downloads section of your Hero Forge account.

• How do I upload my Hero Forge file?

  Choose your resin colour, size and primer options on this page, then upload your downloaded 3D file using the upload tool. Your file must finish uploading before the miniature can be added to your cart.

  If the uploader is not working, you can email the file to hello@icastminis.com. For unusually large files, you can instead email a link from your preferred cloud-storage service.

• Which 3D file formats can I upload?

  The upload tool accepts all standard 3D model file types up to 200 MB.

  Hero Forge normally supplies an STL file, but files from other character creators and miniature designers are also welcome. If you are unsure whether your file is suitable, email it to hello@icastminis.com and I’ll check it for you.

• Can you make a miniature from a picture or character illustration?

  No. A picture shows what a character looks like, but it does not contain the three-dimensional model required by a 3D printer.

  You must first create the character using Hero Forge or another 3D character creator, purchase or download its 3D model file, and then upload that file when ordering.

• Do you inspect my file before printing?

  Yes. I manually inspect every uploaded file for faults, fragile parts, sizing problems or anything else that may affect the finished miniature.

  I choose the model’s printing orientation and create all the required supports myself. If I spot a potential problem with your file, I’ll contact you before proceeding rather than printing something that is unlikely to work.

  Every completed miniature is also visually inspected before packing. If a print fails or does not meet my quality standard, I adjust it and print it again before dispatch.

• What material and print quality will I receive?

  Every miniature is printed at a 50-micron (0.05 mm) layer height using high-quality ABS-like resin. All four available resin colours use an ABS-like formulation.

  This provides a highly detailed finish while making the miniature more durable than one made from ordinary standard resin. Resin printing is particularly well suited to reproducing small features such as faces, armour, clothing, weapons and equipment.

  Each miniature is printed to order in London, then washed, fully UV cured, removed from its supports, clipped, filed or sanded where required, and individually inspected before dispatch.

• Will there be any support marks or cleanup required?

  I carefully remove the supports and finish each miniature before dispatch, so most models arrive ready to prime and paint.

  However, as with any resin miniature, tiny support or scratch marks may occasionally remain.

• Will the colours I used on Hero Forge appear on the printed miniature?

  No. A standard 3D model file contains the three-dimensional shape of your character, but it does not contain Hero Forge’s colours or painted appearance.

  Your miniature will be printed in the single resin colour selected when ordering. You can choose grey, white, black or clay resin and then paint the miniature yourself.

• Will my miniature arrive painted or primed?

  Miniatures do not arrive painted. If you select No Primer, your character will arrive in your chosen resin colour, ready for you to prime and paint.

  Alternatively, I can apply grey, white or black primer for an additional £1. Primer gives the miniature a consistent base coat that helps subsequent paint adhere and apply more smoothly.

• Which size should I choose?

  Choose Regular for most standard adventurers and character-sized creatures. These are printed at the file’s normal scale and are usually around 32 mm tall. Regular prints cost £5.95 without primer or £6.95 with primer.

  Choose Mounted if your character is riding a horse, beast or another creature. Mounted prints cost £8.95 without primer or £9.95 with primer.

  Choose Double Size to print the entire model at twice its normal dimensions. These are usually around 60–70 mm tall and are ideal for display, painting practice or showcasing additional detail. Double Size prints cost £14.95 without primer or £15.95 with primer.

  Find out more about sizing in Regular, Large or Double Size: Picking Your Hero Forge Miniature Size.

• Do wings, oversized weapons or extra details cost more?

  No. Choose Regular for any standard-scale Hero Forge model, including characters with large wings, oversized weapons, elaborate equipment or multiple figures. You won’t be charged extra simply because your character has more detail.

  You only need to choose Mounted if your character is riding a horse, beast or another creature.

• Can you print the base or other parts separately?

  Your miniature will be printed in the form in which it is supplied.

  If the file contains the model and base as separate parts, I will print them separately. If they are supplied as one complete model, they will be printed together as one piece.

• Can I order multiple copies or several different characters?

  Yes. You can upload several different character files within the same order.

  To order multiple identical copies of one character, increase the item quantity and leave a note through the upload tool confirming that the uploaded file should be used for every copy.

  A scaling quantity discount applies as you order more copies, and standard UK delivery is free when the order reaches £30.

• Can you accommodate an urgent order?

  Possibly. If you need your miniature for a particular game, event or gift, contact me before ordering and tell me the date you need it.

  Depending on current capacity, same-day dispatch may be possible and I can arrange a faster delivery service where available. Urgent turnaround cannot be guaranteed until I have checked the file, destination and required date.

• How quickly will my Hero Forge miniature arrive?

  Hero Forge prints are normally printed, cleaned, cured, finished and dispatched within 1–3 days.

  After dispatch, standard UK delivery is estimated to take another 2–3 working days, while express delivery is estimated at 1–2 working days. A standard UK order will therefore typically arrive approximately 3–6 working days after it is placed, although postal delays and unusually busy periods can occasionally extend this.

• How will my miniature be packaged?

  Every miniature is carefully packed by hand. It is wrapped in layers of tissue paper and supported with crinkle-cut card so that it is held safely inside the box during delivery.

  All the packaging used is recyclable.

• What happens if my miniature is damaged during delivery?

  If your miniature arrives broken or damaged, contact me with your order number and photographs of the damage.

  You can choose between a full refund or an immediate fast-tracked reprint, which will be produced and dispatched as quickly as possible.

• What happens to my uploaded file after printing?

  Your uploaded file is used only to produce the copies you have ordered. Only I can access it.

  Files are automatically deleted after 30 days and are not retained for future reorders. If you want another copy after the file has been deleted, you will need to upload it again.

• Can you change or redesign my Hero Forge model?

  No. This is a 3D printing service rather than a character design or 3D model editing service, so your miniature will be printed from the file you upload.

  Purchasing an STL locks that version of your Hero Forge character. If you later change its pose, equipment or appearance, you will normally need to purchase and download the revised file before I can print the new version.

• Do I need to wash the miniature before painting?

  No. Your miniature will already have been thoroughly washed, fully UV cured and finished before dispatch. You can prime it as supplied, or begin painting immediately if you selected the primer option.

• How should I care for my resin miniature?

  ABS-like resin is durable, but miniature weapons, limbs and other fine details can still break if they are bent or repeatedly dropped. Handle the miniature by its base where possible and protect it during storage and transport.

  Keep unpainted resin miniatures away from prolonged direct sunlight and excessive heat. Priming and painting the miniature will provide additional surface protection.

• Are these miniatures toys?

  No. These are collectible resin models intended for tabletop gaming, miniature painting or display rather than use as children’s toys.

  They are recommended for ages 14 and over and may contain small, delicate or pointed parts. They are not suitable for children under 36 months due to small parts and should be kept away from young children.

• Can I return a custom Hero Forge print?

  Because each miniature is made specifically from your uploaded file, custom prints cannot normally be returned or refunded simply because you have changed your mind.

  If your miniature arrives damaged, you receive the wrong item or there is a problem with the print, contact me with your order number and photographs. You can receive a replacement or refund where appropriate.

• Do you ship outside the UK?

  Yes. I Cast Minis ships worldwide.

  Available delivery services, prices and estimated delivery times will be shown at checkout based on your destination. International orders may take longer to arrive and can be subject to local customs procedures or import charges.

• Is I Cast Minis affiliated with Hero Forge?

  No. I Cast Minis is an independent UK 3D printing service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Hero Forge.

  Hero Forge provides the character-design software and downloadable 3D file; I Cast Minis provides the physical resin printing service.

• Can you print files from somewhere other than Hero Forge?

  Yes. You can upload suitable miniature files from other sources such as Eldritch Foundry, TitanCraft, MyMiniFactory and Cults3D.

  AI-generated 3D files are also accepted, but they are often not properly prepared for printing and may contain faulty geometry or unusually fragile details. I’ll always do my best with the file supplied, but I cannot guarantee that an unprepared AI-generated model will print perfectly or remain fully intact.