Flashman14 | 20 Jul 2016 2:12 p.m. PST |
I wonder if I wouldn't find something else to do. I love converting bare metal into a lovely painted gaming piece. At some point 3D printing will be capable of demarcating colors, making what we would call "museum" class "paint jobs" within the realm of possibility and in the relatively near future. If that process resulted in these costing say a tenth of what an unpainted tin/pewter figure costs, what would you do? a) still paint what you got already b) switch over everything immediately c) both – paint the old stuff, buy the new stuff too d) ? At 10 cents a figure, I imagine Warlord could sell, for example, French Line Infantry unit, 1812-15, 24 figs, on six bases, with command and colors. Museum quality paint job: $5 USD each. |
SBminisguy | 20 Jul 2016 2:25 p.m. PST |
b) switch over everything immediately and then custom paint one of those if I wanted to. |
Mute Bystander | 20 Jul 2016 2:32 p.m. PST |
Depends. Probably just keep old figures in selected scales/sizes and see if anything new caught my attention. |
USAFpilot | 20 Jul 2016 2:36 p.m. PST |
b) I don't have the time, talent or inclination to paint; but I've always enjoyed looking at nicely painted figures and playing war games. I've often wondered why there isn't a company offering preprinted figures for wargaming. |
Winston Smith | 20 Jul 2016 2:37 p.m. PST |
Sorry, but I don't believe your scenario, particularly the economics of it. |
rmaker | 20 Jul 2016 2:44 p.m. PST |
Since most of my figures aren't painted as what the bag/box/blister said they were anyway, why would this matter to me? And I agree with Winston. |
John Armatys | 20 Jul 2016 2:52 p.m. PST |
c). I'd keep working at clearing the lead mountain acquired over the last 40 years or so. And I don't have much requirement for new figures. Like the Winston Smith I have doubts about your assumption on cost. |
gamershs | 20 Jul 2016 3:07 p.m. PST |
The higher the quality (color and sculpting) the more it will cost to print (3D). I can't see high quality, multi colored (with shading) and fast printing any time soon. Now high quality sculpted masters are already happening now and should result in more verity with lower costs at some point. |
Texas Jack | 20 Jul 2016 3:18 p.m. PST |
Most definitely B- goodbye to the lead pile! |
Calico Bill | 20 Jul 2016 4:06 p.m. PST |
B. I love gaming but hate to paint, nor am I good at it. |
rxpjks1 | 20 Jul 2016 4:47 p.m. PST |
Probably buy them and then touch them up. Pretty much what I do to most things I buy painted on e-bay. |
Frederick | 20 Jul 2016 4:57 p.m. PST |
c) 'cause I loves to paint and I loves to game |
robert piepenbrink | 20 Jul 2016 6:12 p.m. PST |
Well (a) I enjoy painting--mostly. (b) I pretty well have the castings I want, and (c)I'll be lucky to still need them in 15 years. Things aren't moving that fast. This would have been great news in 1969. |
IanKHemm | 20 Jul 2016 7:47 p.m. PST |
I've mentioned the future of full colour 3D priinting in the past. It will happen. It's just a matter of time. I like painting and get a great deal of satisfaction creating units/characters unique to my modeling style. But, it would be nice to never again have to put my nice painted troops on the table up against unpainted or sprayed black miniatures. |
piper909 | 20 Jul 2016 8:42 p.m. PST |
I'm with Frederick. I'd paint even if I didn't game (only not in such quantities) and I'd game even if didn't paint (but would then forfeit too much controlover what I played with). I enjoy the creativity of painting unique figures and units too much to ever stop. |
Weasel | 20 Jul 2016 10:09 p.m. PST |
It'd probably make no difference for me. Prepaints tend to look pretty bad, but they are okay on the table and you can play out of the box. If they bug you, spray and repaint and voila! |
PrivateSnafu | 20 Jul 2016 10:14 p.m. PST |
Once the self driving car is ready I'll send it to the store to pick up the color 3D printer. |
MHoxie | 21 Jul 2016 1:37 a.m. PST |
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Doms Decals | 21 Jul 2016 2:14 a.m. PST |
b, but frankly it's pure fantasy with those numbers. |
Old Contemptibles | 21 Jul 2016 8:10 a.m. PST |
b. I think there will always be unpainted figures available. They would be much cheaper than painted ones and some people like to paint and customize a figure to their liking. |
GatorDave | 21 Jul 2016 8:10 a.m. PST |
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BrigadeGames | 21 Jul 2016 9:15 a.m. PST |
You are dreaming. The cost structure you propose will never happen. 3D printing acceptable quality prints for a single figure is still expensive ($100+ per.) These are master prints that can be put into molds and show no "stepping" from the production process. 3D multi color printing will only increase the cost and push out any possible $1 USD per figure timeline. Add inflation and the requirement for suppliers of the printers and filament to make money and there is no way your price point is reached. |
eddy1957 | 21 Jul 2016 9:37 a.m. PST |
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Flashman14 | 21 Jul 2016 2:05 p.m. PST |
I was just describing a hypothetical condition where pre-painted miniatures were cheaper. It wasn't a business proposal. I said/suggested repeatedly throughout that the scenario was imaginary. Though, I am less pessimistic about the revolutionary prospects of 3D printing. A time will come when that vision won't be insane, but I know it is today. |
etotheipi | 21 Jul 2016 3:13 p.m. PST |
That vision isn't insane. You can get museum quality colored 3D printing now, but as above, the price for a 28mm fig isn't likely to get into a reasonable range for quite a while. To the OP, I would buy, modify, and repaint them the same way I do with current prepainted minis. While most current prepaints are not museum quality, and many are poor quality, and many have variable quality by what one can assume is batch, some are also quite good. Regardless, I buy them only at my own personal price point and hack and glue away. |
Oberlindes Sol LIC | 22 Jul 2016 8:22 a.m. PST |
I would never buy pre-painted (or pre-colored, under the scenario offered) figures. |
CeruLucifus | 23 Jul 2016 3:23 p.m. PST |
I expect I'll embrace the prepaints (actually I already do) and for key figures selectively enhance with shading / highlight / touchup, or even completely repaint. |