3D printing is magic

[WarhammerAdjacent]

I’m not sure if this is the right place but I feel the need to shout into the void about the glories of 3D printing. I upgraded my machine this month (to a Mars 5 ultra if anyone is interested) and it’s ace. More than that though, there is something incredible about being able to make pretty much whatever I need in the convenience of my shed. Planning a new tank build? Oh, here’s an upgrade:



I’ve got a figure that could do with a plinth, wait a couple of hours and pow…




Haven’t got my head round sculpting boots yet, ahh, there we are:



My daughter is going through a dragon phase, I wanted to give her something to paint, a quick poke about online and there you go:



What really gets me is that if you’d told me 10 years ago I’d be able to do this I’d have thought you were nuts. It’s so cool!

 

[Merryweather]

Welcome to the club!

 

[Ferris]

I’d love to throw money at a 3d printer, but am hesitant about the digital modelling. I’m afraid that once the 3d bug bites, I’m behind the PC more than behind the painting desk…. How do you handle that? And how much time did it take before you managed the digital part?

Cheers
Adrian

 

[WarhammerAdjacent]

Most of what I print I find online, there are tons of designs already out there so you needn’t do any CAD yourself. The only time I really design anything myself is if I want something pretty niche; I did a 2 inch bomb thrower a while back, I’ve made some 25 pounder shell cases and charge bags, that sort of thing. I’m not skilled enough to get wrapped up in the design work in the same way I do in painting and sculpting, yet anyway.

 

[Nap]

Hi Stefan

It’s funny really there was horror when 3D first arrived ,now it’s a recognised tool in modelling no matter what type

It’s definately here to stay and the variety being produced seems to be endless as your thread shows

Personally I don’t have a 3D printer but can appreciate the skill involved

Nice paint ....and base ......on the bust ( from Hawk Miniatures sculpted by Rob Lane I believe )

Enjoy the printing

Nap

 

[WarhammerAdjacent]

Spot on with the Hawk miniatures sculpt, it's a nice little figure, I particularly liked the scope to paint him as any of the LD regiments.

 

[MCPWilk]

Spot on with the Hawk miniatures sculpt, it's a nice little figure, I particularly liked the scope to paint him as any of the LD regiments.

A full size 150mm (1/12) can be found here: https://www.planetfigure.com/threads/150mm-officer-9th-light-dragoons-1812-15.114689/ and here : https://www.victoryminiatures.co.uk/index.php?id=models&pid=68

Mike

 

[WarhammerAdjacent]

Lovely work!

 

[theBaron]

...What really gets me is that if you’d told me 10 years ago I’d be able to do this I’d have thought you were nuts...

That's about how long ago I first saw a video on YouTube for the MakerBot printer; maybe a little longer ago than that, early 2000's. That one came as a kit, with a laser-cut plywood cabinet, and the mechanism, which was extruded styrene at that time. As a demo, they printed a TARDIS in around 1/12 scale or so. At that time, the technology was still at the level of leaving rows where each extruded bead had been laid down. So you had to clean the printed model up with a solvent, and maybe some sanding. But I saw that and thought that we'd reach a point were companies wouldn't bother producing parts, just the files. And the technology would continue to improve, and the price would drop, to the point where most modelers would own a printer. He would just print out the kit himself. It didn't turn out that way for scale modeling, but it has certainly become a regular method in our branch of the broader hobby.

I'm not going to buy a printer, myself, but yes, it is certainly worthy of interest and appreciation for the skills you need to execute.

Prost!
Brad

 

[WarhammerAdjacent]

The transition for scale modelling is interesting. I do t think it can compete with injection moulding for ease of production of kits but there’s so much aftermarket out there to be downloaded and printed, it’s a revolution in its own way. I hardly ever touch PE now, most of the time I can find or design an alternative to print.