"3D Printed 2mm Figures" Topic

A Fellow named Blackbitz has started a range of
2mm Ancients. Just some Romans, Archers and Irregular
infantry for now. I don't own any so can't comment too
much but the photo of the painted cavalry looks good.

Check them out at

link

Very interesting! I like the painted cavalryman, too.

Also known as "tiny blobs of plastic." At 2mm they could be ancients, moderns, napoleonic, sci fi … At that point just use cardboard counters.

Gee, no one ever said that about small figures before…..

I'm surprised that someone with such poor eyesight feels the need to comment.

Interesting – wonder how they match up against OO 1/600th figures

I'd be interested to see the infantry in the flesh – the renders look deeply unpromising, but tiny scale stuff usually does, and the actual physical example of the cavalryman has come out far better than I'd expect based on the renders, so they may have promise….

I think they look fine. These would be great as board game pieces for games like CnC Ancients or even as realistic armies scaled for DBA.

Joker I've been basing my 2mm on 30mm wide bases so I can do 25mm games using 4 bases. Roman Blades are 480 figures and Warbands 300/360 strong.
Currently expanding some Armies to BBDBA and they do look like armies.

I quite like the 2mm figures, myself. They can look very pretty, when painted, and the villages and so forth are rather nice.

Great idea Kodiakblair.

Some questions:

What does this mean…. cm: 4.1 w x 0.34 d x 7.906 h

I would assum 4.1cm X .34cm (per strip) X 7.906cm (a little tall for 2mm!). Obviously I am reading it wrong. Anyone have a clarification?

How easy, hard are they to cut?

Does anyone know if the maker will be making elephants or chariots? That's about all that is missing really. I reckon there is always Irregular minis for that though.

I think I'd just apply a little common sense there – 0.34 is clearly the height – 3.4mm from base to weapon tip.

I think I'd just apply a little common sense there – 0.34 is clearly the height – 3.4mm from base to weapon tip.

So the stands are 8cm X 4cm? Or is that the entire lot?

I'm a bit confused too Joker. Looking at the picture of the ten blocks 16 wide 25 deep could mean 2.5mm by 2.8mm if the size given is for the overall block.
TC3mm on the Yahoo 2mm group has ordered some so hopefully he can shed some light on sizes soon. Even better he says he'll post some photos. If your not a member of the group I'll keep you posted.

I've had an Email from the designer so I've asked him if he can clarify the base sizes for us. Not sure where the man hails from so depending on what time zone He's in can't say when we'll hear back. He did say he's waiting on delivery of his models himself and it could be a week or so before he can post more details.

Heard back this morning. The blocks are a very usable 20mm x 15mm. And he says they are easily cut. Hope this clears things up a bit

Thanks Kodiakblair! Clears things up greatly!

Firstly – why do people who prefer larger scales feel the need to chime in with their 'insight'? Frankly I view the attempts to portray battles with 28mm plus frankly laughable but I dodn feel the need to make this observation on every 28mm related thread!

Anyway I have ordered a test batch of the Republican Romans so I will put some pictures up as soon as I can. I am a little apprehensive about how they will paint up – Irregular produce 'blocks' whereas these are all individually rendered figures so it may be challenging to paint them….I guess I will find out!

I think it's a defense mechanism Marius, if you've invested time and money in larger scales and the ground scale nearly always beats you. I gave up on 6mm when I fielded 300 odd Huns and thought they looked like some guys in a field. 16 models towering over 6 model trees and they say I should use cardboard counters.
It's great to see the interest Blackbitz has started and it bodes well for the future. Good luck with the painting I remember SteelonSand saying the detail on the Oddizal Osmy 3mm was great but lost when on the table. Still if you paint all the details you'll hear " How did you manage to paint their ?? "

Hmmph Cardboard Counters Indeed

Never understood that need to carp on about the smaller scales either. Most 28mm games look out of kilter to me, the figure size, ground scale and scenery all look way to 'vertical' for my tastes. Different scales for different periods/level of game/style of play.
Maybe its a GW hangover? If it aint 28+ with a GW sticker on it then its not a real figure? lol
L

I think Peter Berry explains the whole 28mm issue pretty well..baccus6mm.com/includes/news/28mmmyth.inc.php

Really we are lucky that whatever your scale preference you have alot of choice and decent quality these days. I have just noticed over the years that there is outright hostility from some who prefer larger scale to smaller scales – surely whatever people choose to spend their precious hobby time doing should make no difference to anyone else – cant we live and let live?

Just to let everyone know I got mine delivered yesterday and managed to paint a few – have linked a photo album which will hopefully give people some idea of what they are like 'in the flesh'.

They are easy to paint I just painted the base a neutral brown and them picked out the shield, helmet and spear in the relevant colours straight onto the white plastic.

After some consideration I gave them a light brown inkwash which I think was a good idea though I may repaint the base as there is alot of brown going on.

They come in blocks of 5 strips each with 8 figures – its easy to seperate the strips and once the joining plastic is cut away five strips will happily fit on a 20x15 footprint (thats 40 men).

Congrats to Blackbitz he seems to have pulled it off! I will be ordering some more and trying to other troop types.

plus.google.com/photos/115843650859189800644/albums/5943815127556751857?authkey=CIXUuq3choieMw

They turned out well

If its not too much trouble could you do some with a black wash as well just to see the contrast?

cheers

Too much emotional ranting on both sides, people should try thinking a bit for a change lol
L

I gotta admit, these 2mm and 3mm forces look really good en masse. If I wasn't so heavily invested in 15mm scenery, I'd be interested. I admit that I'm a bit concerned about paintability, but the idea of having an entire force consisting of 400+man battalions is tempting.

I don't know about the 3d printed minis, they seem awfully rough in surface texture.

Lion I just do highlights like shields and flags, barding on horses etc. So Legionaries are drybrushed with silver, Bronze Age Greeks copper or gold and my Warbands hints of colour here and there. Course mine's are the Irregular blocks so apart from the mounted troops it's a different style of painting.It's the arrangement on the bases that counts.
Just had some 60mm wide bases delivered yesterday and more Irregulars so back to prepping.

I have 2mm War of Spanish Succession armies painted by Gildas, 2mm Ancients painted by me, and 3mm ACW and Moderns. I have no trouble telling one stand from another. Not only can nationalities and troop types be seen, they even have a bit of individual character.

They are certainly not "counters".

I am not sure if I prefer the look of these to the Irregular, Peter Pig and O8/Pico Armor. They do look nice enough that I will probably get at least a few to try out.

As for decrying counters, look at Ogre Designer's Edition or any of the Lock'n'Load board games and tell me counters aren't looking pretty good these days.

Joining this discussion a little late but it's one that really interests me. The space I have available to game is one metre tenty by 90 centimetres so I chose small scales as a no brainer. My troops range from 2mm to 10mm but a big chunk of my gaming uses hair curler armies at about 5mm. I thinkj the other factor apart from space is the wow factor. If you like your figures beautifully sculpted with undercuts bigger than some of my figures and your first reaction with figures is to drag them a foot from your eyes and say "OOOOOH" then the bigger scales are for you . They work for me like that but on the table they just don't yell battle at me. Put down masses of small scale figures on the table and that works . just don't expect to go "ooooh" when you stick them under your nose!

Oh dont know seems odd to think smaller figures cant have a Ohh factor, plenty do!
L

Based on what I've seen Tuffskull do for 10mm minis (individual heraldry o_O), another gent's Vietnam 6mm over on the GHQ forum, and the Baccus shop minis, I have *no doubt* that you can get excellent results on small minis.

The gent here on TMP making real headcount 2mm or 3mm Napoleonics, using 40mm x 20mm (iirc) bases has done some beautiful work, too.

I'm getting to the point where I'm considering 28mm shade/highlight style on 15s, but I need to figure out how to get my shaky hands under control first.

Hi. Just found your forum and your thread. liked the photos MariusSulla posted.

Let me know if you have any questions on the 2mm models. I hope to upgrade the range soon.