"3D Printing Review" Topic

I ordered some 1/144 3D Printed models from three different sources – did a little review and shot some pictures.

link

Thanks for sharing.

WAYYY!!! Sorry, the Unimog was my first model. I am passed it onto AORTS Shipyards so other folk could get hold of them. You forgot to say you can can see the badge on the front of the grill if you look closely! Also I an upset you did not point out (unlike metal UGHH) it has an open back, looks much better. Sorry about the UGHH but once you go 3D you never want to go back, they don't bend or chip paint even when dropped and you can replace turrets etc if you lose them. Mind you I an looking to ad turret retention on the LUCHS, we will have to wait and see.

Alex of AOTRS Shipyards keeps a log of requests, he up's the priority if there are requests for large numbers.

Ps I an currently working on a replacement for my LUCHS which may come available from Shipyards. It might even have the Propellers (sort of, there are limits at 1/144).

I like the way he dismisses print lines as if they don't matter. They are a big turn off for many of us, especially if you game in 28mm. People used to complain about mould lines on metal models, yet seem to drool over models that look like the all have some sort of Zimmeritt paste all over them. Each to their own, but for me they have a long way to go before I'll switch from metal, resin and plastic. For smaller stuff, like accessories, printing can work well. I've recently bought a bunch of budionovka caps from Shapeways to convert late war Soviets into Winter War troops and am happy with them.

I am watching the cost of printers go down. I'm so tempted to take the plunge with posts like this. But I'm gonna wait a year or more to see what further progress is made.

This company does 3D resin printing and the model look like they were injected mold plastic!!

minutemanminiatures.com

the web site is a little skimpy but email Michael Elices (mike@minutemanminiatures.com) and he can send you a list of WWII thru Modern vehicles. They have 20 variant Strykers

@UshCha – I'll have to check for the badge but nice work on this model. Keep it up!

@Vigilant – I was reviewing 10mm miniatures, if I was reviewing 28mm I would probably make a bigger deal. To be honest, with a coat of primer on them now, I see zero print lines unless the model is practically next to my eye. So, in my scale the print lines don't seem to matter. I'll post up pictures of finished projects when I get to them.

@Twoball – The quality is improving and the price is decreasing, seems like a nice formula for sure.

@ODGW Kenny – Thanks for that link, I realized who it was after clicking on the link (the guy that puts your face on miniatures) – will give it a shot.

Minuteman miniatures uses an SLA printer, which is why their quality is so nice. I am working on getting one of those myself.

Yep SLA's are down to ~$500 US and resin is also getting cheaper. Using the FDM for terrain and an SLA for models is becoming quite practical

MPatton,

Your pictures are taken far away. As vigilant stated, I too am really bothered by the print lines. Did any of the models have them? Is there a way to get rid of them?

Thanks

Joe

@Joe – If you click on the pictures in the blog it makes them larger. They were not taken from far away. In those pictures you do see some print lines, none of the miniatures had been cleaned up at that point. I used a set of hobby files and hobby sanding pads to clean them up which helps smooth out the model and clean that up.

With a coat of primer, it is very difficult to see. Standing next to the shelf where I let stuff dry I can't see the lines. If I bend over and look (12-18 inches) I can see them. Once I paint them up and do my usual weathering I'm guessing they'll look great.

As I said above, I will revisit this once I complete some of the models.

I use FDM printed 1:100 models, they look no worse than metal or resin/metal battlefront ones, though not as clean as the plastics. When you consider I can print a tank for <$1 versus $15 USD to buy here in Australia, it's not really a contest. They are wargame models, not replicas or display pieces