"Predict: 3D Printing & Wargaming" Topic

How long will it be before 3D printing makes an impact on miniature wargaming?

* it already has
* one year from now
* five years from now
* ten years from now
* never

It already has, to some degree. Give me a short while and I'll tell you if the quality is good enough.

It seems like a lot of masters for vehicles are already made this way. But the process doesn't seem to be getting much cheaper. I think one year is too short and five years is too long, but I think within 2-3 years maybe we'll see even more of this.
Mongo.

I have seen some miniature prototypes done from 3D models, but the resulting models tended to have a rather grainy look to them, due to the poor resolution.

It already has.

Regards, the Gorb

I've made enquiries through the university. I can get a staff rate, but it still works out cheaper to build them by hand (especially if you have to pay for the 3D modelling work first) and, as Griefbringer says, you need to go to a very fine resolution to avoid grain, which increases the writing time. Not good when it is charged by the hour.

I'd say fifteen years.

All the best,

John.

It already has in the 15mm Sci-Fi realm for vehicles and buildings/furniture, but it will probably be 5 – 10 years before it has a huge impact on the miniatures front.

The issues currently keeping it from more widespread use are the high costs of 3-D printing, and the striations created by the layering process.

As the process gets better and less costly, look for figures made using this process as well.

I want one that layers in lead, or pewter.

10 years, if then.

It already has. Three of my War Rocket fleets are from Hydra; two others are from Shapeways printed on demand, as are all of the "variants" I've added to the original three fleets.

I've been buying 3D Printed Space fleets for more than a year already and the prices are competitive with lead.

We are seeing a lot higher quality minis with rapid prototyping from 3D CG models. Look at John Bear Ross' stuff!

Take a look here:

link

when you order $25 USD or more shipping is free. Compare these with the quality of the old School ADB stuff and the difference is startling.

Nice link Only Warlock.

Did you see this?

link

Sure have! Awesome stuff!

Bonkers…

Sorry, I wouldn't know if it impacted wargaming if it bit me.

mjc

Within 5 years I think we'll feel more of an impact. However, just as Wings of War do reasonable quality ready painted plastics I can see similar being done with 28mm historical figures in a major way within the next ten years.

I'll be dead before it matters to me.

It seems space combat miniatures are the initial wave of this technology. I am a space gamer but dont consider it to be mainstream wargaming. I think it will be five to ten years before mainstream gaming is significantly impacted. Probably SF/40K and fantasy first and then historical stuff.

Have you ever noticed that futurists predictions are rarely correct?

Al

I've already seen printed 28mm figures at about $12 USD each as good as anything GW produces (And that's cheaper than many GW singles nowadays)

The technology is getting dramatically cheaper all the time. i would be unsurprised if it starts really hitting big time next year or perhaps 18 months from now.

I think we should see it have effect within 5 years. Shapeways makes it very easy for people to make their visions into reality but learning to use 3-D grapics/cad software. As soon as it becomes more mainstream to use this kind of software we will see the price of both printing and printers come down. The demand is not there yet, but I can see it coming.

Remember the desktop publishing craze, and how it drove computer sales. We could/should see a similar development happen with 3-D printing.

I think it will take the time-frame of one company using it to great effect in a unsuspected way. Then everyone will be clamoring to give it a whirl.

What I would love to see, is a merging of old and new. I have said before and still think that using the 3d printer as a basiss and then detailing with greenstuff is the best of both worlds.

Sculptors can try out multiple poses and find the one they like without having to to build up, scrap it, and start again. And they can add in the fine detail that gets lost with the printing.

five years from now and china exports less aswell.

It seems space combat miniatures are the initial wave of this technology

Because anything sci-fi is as right as it looks, whereas anything historical or current has to be as right as it is :-)

As ith all things, the biggest problem will be the initial transition, investment in both equipment and training time to learn the CAD stuff to the level of detail that is required to match what can be produced by hand, assuming the printer is capable of matching that quality at a cost effective price.

I would like to design my own miniatures. I looked into this technology a few years ago. I think about 2 more years.